India News in Minutes | Ladakh Festival Kicks Off
Your daily essential | 23 September 2025 | 119th Edition
Good morning. It’s Tuesday and here are the top stories for today.
Absolutely Essential to Know 🚨:
SC Asks Delhi Police on Bail Pleas of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam
Uttar Pradesh Bans Caste-Based Political Rallies and Signs
Commerce Minister Heads to US for High-Stakes Trade Talks
India Extends Airspace Ban on Pakistani Airlines by a Month
And many more, read on…
Btw, here’s some music to accompany your read today. Hope you enjoy.
Our structure is simple:
The blocks are quick factual summaries as reported by news agencies.
Click "🔗" for a randomly selected source article from the many sources we referred.
Also, all our images are not original works of our journalists, but are sourced from elsewhere. Animated images are just for fun.
⚖️ SC Asks Delhi Police: Why Are Activists Still Jailed?
SC issues notice to Delhi Police; bail pleas for activists in 2020 Delhi riots case.
Petitioners include Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam; held over five years pre-trial.
Counsels demand expeditious hearing; next hearing on October 7.
The Deeper Take: Five years in jail without a trial is a long time. The Supreme Court stepping in highlights the tension between national security laws and the right to a speedy trial. This is a litmus test for the phrase "process is the punishment."
🚫 Uttar Pradesh Bans Caste-Based Political Rallies and Signs
UP government prohibits caste-based political rallies; citing threats to "public order".
Order extends to caste-based signs on vehicles; markings in police records.
Move comes two years before state assembly elections; follows Allahabad High Court order.
The Deeper Take: In a state where politics is practically defined by caste arithmetic, this is either a bold step towards social reform or a masterstroke to kneecap opponents' traditional mobilisation strategies right before an election. Place your bets.
🗣️ Supreme Court Judge Calls for Decriminalising Defamation
Justice M.M. Sundresh remarked it is "high time to decriminalise" slur.
Comment came amid frustration over increasing use of criminal defamation laws.
In 2016, the SC upheld criminal defamation's validity; often used by political parties to settle scores.
Why It Matters: This is a significant judicial pushback against a law many see as a tool to silence critics and journalists. Decriminalising defamation would shift disputes to civil courts, fundamentally changing the power dynamic between the powerful and the press.
🎭 Odisha Speaker Rejects No-Confidence Motion Amid Chaos
Speaker Surama Padhi rejects Congress's no-confidence motion against BJP govt
Reason cited: procedural lapses due to House disruptions
Congress alleges "conspiracy" between ruling BJP and BJD; stages walkout
The Real Play: Welcome to legislative theatre. Orchestrated chaos by an allied party (BJD) gives the ruling party (BJP) the perfect procedural excuse to dodge a debate. It’s accountability, cancelled.
🤝 Commerce Minister Heads to US for High-Stakes Trade Talks
High-level delegation led by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal visiting the US.
Aims to advance ongoing trade negotiations between the two countries.
Trip comes amid fresh tensions over the drastic H-1B visa fee hike.
Focus on investment and economic cooperation in key sectors.
The Big Picture: Sending your top trade negotiator to the US right after they've slapped a massive fee on your biggest service export is what's known in diplomatic circles as a "very interesting" choice. It’s a test of whether economic partnership can outweigh protectionist policies.
💨 Farm Fires Begin in North India, Air Quality Concerns Loom
Stubble burning season commences; 64 farm fires recorded in neighbouring states.
Punjab reports 56 cases; majority in the Amritsar region.
Current count low; negligible impact on Delhi's air quality for now.
Crop burning typically picks up sharply in October after monsoon withdrawal.
The Inevitable Reminder: The smoke signals are here. While the air in Delhi is still breathable, this is the annual prelude to the great winter smog. It’s a complex problem where agricultural economics clashes directly with public health, and a permanent solution remains elusive.
🛡️ Government Extends Ban on Naga Insurgent Group NSCN(K)
Centre extends ban on National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) for five more years.
Ban includes all its factions, wings, and front organisations.
Home Ministry cited activities prejudicial to India's sovereignty.
NSCN(K) has been a key player in the Naga insurgency for decades.
The Context: This is a continuation of the government's dual strategy in the Northeast: engage with groups willing to talk while maintaining a hard line against those who aren't. It signals that despite progress in peace talks, the state will not lower its guard.
📄 Centre to Study Andhra's "WhatsApp Governance" Model
Central govt to study and replicate Andhra Pradesh's governance model
Provides 738 government services via WhatsApp with security features
Hailed as a "national best practice" for e-governance
The Future of Babudom: This signals a major shift in e-governance, moving beyond clunky websites to using apps people already have. The goal is to meet citizens where they are, not force them onto another government portal.
✈️ India Extends Airspace Ban on Pakistani Airlines by a Month
India prolongs reciprocal airspace closure for Pakistani airlines and aircraft.
This marks the sixth month of the ban.
Reflects continued strain in diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Impacts flight times and operational costs for carriers on both sides.
The Deeper Take: Airspace bans are a tool of modern cold wars. They are less about immediate security and more about sustained diplomatic and economic pressure. Every extra hour a plane has to fly is a tangible cost of political disagreement.
☢️ NTPC Explores Acquiring Overseas Uranium Assets
State-owned power giant NTPC is looking to acquire uranium assets abroad.
Move is to ensure fuel availability for its future nuclear power projects.
NTPC is diversifying its portfolio to include more clean and nuclear energy.
Signals a long-term strategic shift for India's largest power utility.
Why It Matters: India is future-proofing its energy supply. By seeking to own the source of the fuel (uranium mines) rather than just buying it, NTPC is moving from being a customer to an owner on the global energy stage, securing its nuclear ambitions.
🔎 Karnataka's 'Caste Census' Begins Amid Technical Glitches
The socio-economic survey, or 'caste census', has started in Karnataka.
Technical glitches were reported in some parts on the first day.
Survey is contentious; petitioners challenge it in the High Court.
Opponents claim it violates the Aadhaar Act and exceeds state authority.
The Political Context: A caste census is a political powder keg. The data it produces could reshape reservation policies and political alliances for decades. The 'technical glitches' are just the start; the real fireworks will begin when the results are out.
🏨 Radisson Hotel Group Plans Expansion in Eastern India
Radisson Hotel Group is looking to expand its footprint in eastern India.
The hospitality giant has shown specific interest in entering the Bihar market.
Strategy focuses on balancing its portfolio between key metro and Tier-2 cities.
Radisson currently has over 200 hotels in its India portfolio.
The Economic Indicator: When a major international hotel chain starts looking seriously at a state like Bihar, it's a strong signal of changing economic perceptions. It's a bet on future business travel and tourism in a region that's historically been off the beaten path.
⚽ India U-17 Football Team Edges Out Pakistan in 3-2 Thriller
India's U-17 men's team defeated Pakistan 3-2 in the SAFF Championship in Colombo.
Victory ensures India tops Group B with a perfect record.
Substitute Rahan Ahmed scored the decisive winning goal in the 73rd minute.
A Good Day at the Office: A double victory over your arch-rivals in two different sports on the same day is rare. It's a moment of pure sporting joy that transcends politics, offering fans a straightforward reason to celebrate.
The Brighter Side: Good News from India
🤝 IIT Madras and Caterpillar Team Up for High-Tech Research
IIT Madras signs MoU with US manufacturing giant Caterpillar.
Collaboration to focus on AI, data science, advanced manufacturing, and batteries.
Aims to create global standard products; offer students internships and jobs.
Partnership builds on a long-standing relationship since 2006.
Why It Matters: This is 'Make in India' meeting 'Research in India'. It’s about moving up the value chain from just providing services to co-creating the next generation of industrial technology on Indian soil, with Indian talent.
🏔️ Ladakh Festival Kicks Off with Grand Cultural Celebrations
Annual Ladakh Festival 2025 began in Leh with vibrant cultural parades.
Four-day event showcases the region's traditional music, dance, sports, and arts.
Organised by the Tourism Department; aims to promote Ladakh's unique heritage.
Bollywood actor Siddhant Chaturvedi attended as Guest of Honour.
Beyond the Scenery: This festival is a crucial part of Ladakh's economy, packaging its unique high-altitude culture for a global audience. It's a strategic move to ensure tourism benefits go beyond just sightseeing to sustaining local arts and communities.
🏛️ Equinix Opens New AI-Ready Data Centre in Chennai
Equinix has launched its first data centre in Chennai, named CN1.
The facility, built with a US$69 million initial investment, is AI-ready.
It can support liquid cooling technology for heavy AI workloads.
Move aims to accelerate India's growth as a major technology hub.
The Digital Foundation: Data centres are the invisible backbone of the digital economy. An AI-ready facility like this isn't just a big building full of servers; it's critical infrastructure that enables the AI revolution to happen here, not just elsewhere.
🍄 Indian Innovators Create Furniture from Mushrooms
A couple is pioneering a method to turn agricultural waste into furniture using mushrooms.
Process uses mycelium, the root network of fungi, to bind waste materials.
Resulting products are biodegradable; can return to the soil in 180 days.
Represents a sustainable alternative to traditional manufacturing materials.
The Bottom Line: Believe me, we had the same reaction as you did! It truly is mind-boggling. This is the circular economy in action. Taking waste and using a natural process to create a valuable, eco-friendly product is the kind of innovation that could genuinely change how we think about manufacturing and sustainability.
Around the World
☢️ Putin Offers One-Year Nuclear Pact Extension, Puts Ball in US Court
Russia's Vladimir Putin offers to adhere to New START nuclear treaty limits for one more year.
The last remaining US-Russia nuclear pact is set to expire in February 2026.
Offer is conditional on the US reciprocating the move.
On-site inspections under the treaty have been suspended since 2023.
The Geopolitical Chessboard: This is Putin playing the role of the 'reasonable adult' in the room. It’s a low-risk move that costs nothing but forces Washington to either accept a small, temporary deal or be blamed for letting the last nuclear guardrail collapse.
🧠 Green-Mediterranean Diet May Slow Brain Ageing, Finds Harvard Study
Study co-authored by Harvard researchers suggests a 'green-Mediterranean' diet slows brain ageing.
Diet includes traditional Mediterranean foods plus green tea and the aquatic plant Mankai.
Participants on this diet showed lower levels of blood proteins associated with brain decline.
Effect is attributed to anti-inflammatory compounds in the added green elements.
The Takeaway: Your brain might care what you eat even more than your waistline does. This study adds to the growing evidence that specific, anti-inflammatory foods can have a direct, measurable impact on the long-term health of our most important organ.
⚕️ Trump Links Tylenol Use During Pregnancy to Autism Risk
US President Donald Trump announced govt would notify doctors of a link between Tylenol (acetaminophen) and autism.
Move comes despite a lack of scientific evidence supporting the claim.
A major 2024 study of 2.5 million children found no increased risk.
The drug is widely considered safe for use during pregnancy.
The Context: This is a stark example of politics overriding scientific consensus. By elevating a disproven claim, the administration is creating confusion and anxiety around one of the world's most common and trusted painkillers, mirroring previous controversial stances on vaccines.
🌍 Report Finds Nations Ramping Up Fossil Fuel Production, Defying Climate Goals
New report shows major polluting countries plan to produce more fossil fuels.
These plans contradict commitments made under the Paris Agreement to limit global warming.
20 biggest producers, including China, the US, and India, are all expanding production.
Planned 2030 output is more than double what's consistent with the 1.5°C target.
The Sobering Truth: The world's governments are saying one thing about climate change and doing the complete opposite. The gap between climate promises and fossil fuel production plans isn't just a gap; it's a chasm.
Stay sharp,
The OneRead Team
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