☕ Your daily brief: Here's what matters this Mon, Sep 29
125th Edition | 29 September 2025
Good morning India. Congratulations on the win yesterday against Pakistan by 5 wickets! Hoping you’ve got enough rest after yesterday’s celebrations. The big picture today: Dr. Jaishankar speaks at UN without naming Pakistan, Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati arrested, big breaking news by NCERT and again, heavy rains lash Maharashtra. Let’s get into it.
🗣️ India Goes on the Diplomatic Offensive Against Pakistan at UN
EAM Jaishankar; slams “epicentre of global terrorism”
No country named; Pakistan responds
India’s Right of Reply; calls response a de facto admission
Cites Pahalgam attack; terrorism as “state policy”
India’s new diplomatic strategy at the UN seems to be a masterclass in the ‘vague-post’. You know, when you complain loudly about “some people” and wait for the guilty party to identify themselves. Pakistan, bless its heart, took the bait.
The Chessboard: This isn’t just about Pakistan. It’s India crafting its global brand. By framing the conflict in terms of a global fight against terror, New Delhi positions itself as a mature, indispensable power and a key security partner for the West, further isolating Islamabad on the world stage. 🔗
🌧️ Kolkata Flooding Aftermath Disrupts Durga Puja Festivities
Aftermath of Sept 23 cloudburst; continues
Durga Puja pandals damaged; waterlogging persists
Recovery efforts underway; more rain forecast
Scientists link event’s severity; to warming oceans
Just when Kolkata thought it was safe to get into the festive spirit, the weather gods decided to turn the city into a giant swimming pool. Now, Puja organisers are battling mud and meteorological anxiety, hoping their idols don’t need life jackets.
And Then What?: The immediate impact is a dampened festival. The second-order effect is a massive financial hit to local artisans, decorators, and vendors. This will trigger calls for better urban drainage and disaster-proof festival infrastructure, fundamentally changing how the city’s largest cultural event is planned. 🔗
💰 India Secures Over ₹1 Lakh Crore in Food Processing Investment Deals
World Food India 2025 concludes; major success
₹1.02 lakh crore in investment MoUs
26 global & domestic firms; Reliance, Coca-Cola, Amul
Projects 64,000 direct jobs
While the rest of the world worries about where their next meal is coming from, India just got companies to bet a cool one lakh crore that it’s coming from here. Suddenly, ‘Make in India’ tastes a lot like money.
The Signal: This massive capital injection goes beyond factories. It will accelerate the modernisation of India’s entire farm-to-fork supply chain, reducing waste and boosting rural incomes. This economic shift will inevitably reshape political dynamics in key agricultural states ahead of future elections. 🔗
📻 PM Modi Praises RSS, Pushes for ‘Swadeshi’ in Radio Address
‘Mann Ki Baat’ 126th episode; airs
Hails RSS on its centenary; “remarkable journey”
Urges buying local goods; for festive season
Pays tribute to Bhagat Singh; on his birth anniversary
The Prime Minister’s monthly radio show served up a familiar cocktail: a dash of history, a shot of cultural pride, and a heavy pour of economic nationalism, all topped with a generous nod to the mothership, the RSS.
Follow the Currency: The PM is optimising for ideological consolidation. By lauding the RSS on a national platform, he reinforces the organisation’s legitimacy and mainstream appeal, shoring up his core political base while simultaneously promoting an economic vision (Swadeshi) that aligns perfectly with its foundational principles. 🔗
🤢 Probe Continues into Delhi’s Buckwheat Flour Poisoning
Follow-up to Sept 23 incident; 200+ fell ill
Food dept collecting flour samples; for quality checks
No fatalities reported; all patients stable
Incident occurred during Navratri fasting period
A festive fast turned into a city-wide stomach ache, and now the great buckwheat flour investigation of 2025 is underway. Officials are on the case, trying to figure out how a staple of piety became a public health menace.
The Deeper Take: This highlights a persistent vulnerability in India’s informal food supply chain. During festivals, demand for specific items surges, creating opportunities for adulterated or poorly stored products to enter the market, disproportionately affecting those adhering to religious traditions. 🔗
⚖️ Spiritual Leader Arrested Over Sexual Harassment Allegations
Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati; arrested in Agra
Accused of sexually harassing; at least 17 female students
He was chancellor of the educational institute
Arrested by Delhi Police; from a hotel
A spiritual leader and chancellor of an educational institute, accused of harassing the very students he was meant to guide, has been apprehended. It’s another grim reminder that a saffron robe is not a get-out-of-jail-free card.
The Signal: The arrest of a high-profile religious figure signals a decreasing tolerance for impunity, even for those shielded by institutional power or spiritual authority. It reflects a broader societal shift where law enforcement is becoming more responsive to such allegations, driven by media scrutiny and public pressure. 🔗
✈️ HAL Defends New Tejas Order Amid Delivery Backlog
HAL chairman Dr. D K Sunil defends; new order for 97 Tejas Mk 1A jets
Previous order for 83 aircraft; yet to be delivered
States continuous orders needed; to sustain production
Aims to blunt criticism; of production delays
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited would like everyone to know that getting a massive new order before you’ve finished the last one isn’t a bug, it’s a feature. It’s the manufacturing equivalent of putting more food on your plate before you’ve finished chewing.
Follow the Currency: HAL is optimising for industrial capacity and strategic relevance. Securing a continuous order book, even with existing backlogs, ensures production lines don’t go idle, retains a skilled workforce, and signals to both domestic and international observers that the Tejas programme is a long-term national priority. 🔗
🌊 Heavy Rains Continue to Lash Mumbai, More Forecast
Overnight downpour; soaks city
Colaba observatory records; 120.8 mm in 24 hours
IMD predicts more showers; for the coming days
Disruptions to daily life expected
In what has become an annual monsoon ritual, Mumbai is once again auditioning for the role of Venice. The city is soaked, the drains are overwhelmed, and the IMD has confirmed that yes, it is indeed raining. More at 11.
The Bottom Line: This is the predictable outcome of urban planning that has consistently failed to account for climate change. Each year, the rains are a stress test that the city’s ageing infrastructure fails, revealing a systemic inability to adapt to more extreme weather patterns. 🔗
🕳️ Mohali Residents Decry Crumbling Roads After Accidents
Citizens report roads; in a shambles
‘Drive through potholes’; becomes local motto
Multiple accidents reported; involving children and elderly
Residents demand immediate repairs
The residents of Mohali are discovering the joys of off-roading on their daily commute. The city’s roads have apparently decided to return to nature, and the locals are, shall we say, not thrilled with the new, more adventurous terrain.
Follow the Currency: The municipal authorities are optimising for budget conservation, delaying non-critical repairs. However, as accidents increase and public anger mounts, the political cost of inaction is rising, forcing a recalculation that will likely lead to hurried, pre-election repair work to appease voters. 🔗
🎓 NCERT to Grant Equivalence to All State Board Certificates
NCERT announces policy change; for Class 10 & 12
Certificates from various school boards; to be treated as equivalent
Aims to streamline admissions; and government recruitment
Removes a barrier for students from state boards
In a move that will delight millions of students and give university admissions officers a massive headache, the NCERT has declared a truce in the great Indian board exam wars. All boards are now, officially, created equal.
The Signal: This is a significant step towards standardising India’s fragmented school education landscape. It centralises academic authority with NCERT and diminishes the perceived hierarchy among different boards, aiming for a more equitable system for higher education and employment opportunities nationwide. 🔗
👔 Mithun Manhas Appointed New President of BCCI
Former first-class cricketer; takes top job in Indian cricket
Succeeds previous administration
Appointment confirmed today
Will oversee world’s richest cricket board
A new king has been crowned at the BCCI, the organisation that has more money and drama than a Karan Johar film. Former cricketer Mithun Manhas now gets the unenviable task of herding the cats that run Indian cricket.
Follow the Currency: The appointment of a former player over a politician or industrialist is a strategic move by the BCCI to optimise for credibility. Facing scrutiny over governance, installing a “cricket man” at the top is designed to signal a focus on the sport itself, placating fans and former players. 🔗
The Brighter Side
🔭 ISRO’s AstroSat Observatory Completes a Decade in Space
India’s first multi-wavelength space observatory; 10th anniversary
Launched Sept 28, 2015; still fully functional
Made groundbreaking discoveries; on black holes, distant galaxies
Exceeded its original design life
India’s eye in the sky, AstroSat, just turned ten and is still going strong, outlasting its own warranty like a trusty old Maruti. It’s spent a decade solving cosmic puzzles and making the universe a little less mysterious.
The Signal: AstroSat’s longevity and success demonstrate ISRO’s capability to build and operate complex, long-duration scientific missions. This establishes India as a credible partner for international deep-space collaborations, moving beyond its reputation for just cost-effective satellite launches. 🔗
🦟 Dragonfly Populations Surge in Delhi’s Parks
Survey finds 54% increase; in dragonflies and damselflies
These insects are bio-indicators; of wetland health
New species spotted; Yellow-tailed Ashy Skimmer
Good monsoon credited; for creating breeding habitats
Good news for anyone in Delhi who hates mosquitoes. The city’s parks are teeming with their natural predators, dragonflies, which are basically tiny, beautiful, mosquito-murdering helicopters. The ecosystem, it seems, is fighting back.
The Signal: The dramatic increase in these sensitive bio-indicator species is tangible proof that Delhi’s biodiversity park programme is working. It shows that concerted ecological restoration efforts can yield significant results, even in a heavily polluted megacity. 🔗
Around The World
⛪ Gunman Kills Two, Injures Eight in Michigan Church Attack
Suspect rammed vehicle; into Mormon church
Opened fire with rifle; set building ablaze
2 dead, 8 injured; suspect killed by police
Motive under investigation
A church service in Michigan became a scene of horror when a man crashed his car through the doors and opened fire. It is a devastating and depressingly American story.
The Signal: This attack, targeting a place of worship, will be immediately absorbed into the US culture war. Regardless of the gunman’s actual motive, it will be framed by politicians as evidence of rising anti-Christian persecution, further fuelling political polarisation and the debate around hate crimes. 🔗
🇦🇷 Mass Protests in Argentina After Livestreamed Murder of Women
Suspected drug gang; tortured and killed 3 young women
Crime was livestreamed; on a private social media group
Thousands march in Buenos Aires; demanding justice
Crime shocks a nation; unused to such narco-violence
In a crime of unimaginable cruelty, a drug gang in Argentina livestreamed the torture and murder of three young women, sparking outrage and horror across the nation. This is a terrifying escalation of narco-violence into the public digital space.
Find the Pattern: This mirrors the brutal communication tactics used by Mexican cartels and ISIS. The goal is not just to punish a rival but to terrorise society itself by making violence a public spectacle, demonstrating the impotence of the state and establishing the gang’s absolute authority through fear. 🔗
🌉 World’s Highest Bridge Opens to Traffic in China
Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge; towers 625 metres high
Located in rugged Guizhou province
Reduces a two-hour canyon journey; to just two minutes
Showcases China’s engineering prowess
China has once again decided to casually defy gravity, opening a bridge so high it seems to be floating in the clouds. It’s an absolutely staggering feat of engineering that makes a two-hour mountain trek a two-minute drive.
The Chessboard: This isn’t just a bridge; it’s a projection of state power and competence. By building such monumental infrastructure in its own rugged interior, Beijing demonstrates its ability to conquer any challenge, a powerful message intended for both domestic consumption and international audiences watching its Belt and Road Initiative. 🔗
Question for the Day:
India’s diplomats are taking an increasingly hardline stance on the world stage, a strategy that plays well at home. But in a multipolar world, does a ‘my way or the highway’ foreign policy build alliances or just burn bridges?
Reply to this email with your thoughts.
Stay sharp,
Cyrus K.
Editor, The India Brief
P.S. Here’s what I was listening to today while curating this brief. A perfect track for a complicated Monday.