Caste enumeration inclusion in census urged; party demands funding, transparent process and implementation of reservation provisions.
Announcement of caste enumeration in the national census has led to demands for immediate budget allocation, a clear implementation timeline, and a transparent, consultative census process. Political leaders call for enactment of Article 15(5) to extend reservations to private educational institutions, removal of the 50% reservation cap, and central laws to secure SC/ST sub-plan funding so that caste data can drive development and empowerment programmes.

Fire safety negligence prompts criminal probe and accountability measures after deadly hotel blaze exposing regulatory lapses.
Preliminary inquiries attribute the rapid spread of flames and the high casualty count to gross negligence by the hotel management, including blocked egress, sealed ventilation points from unauthorised construction, and non functional fire detection and suppression systems. Fire services reported the hotel's safety clearance had expired, an FIR has been lodged, and owners are absconding; a police investigative team has been formed to establish cause, identify responsible parties, and examine regulatory enforcement failures.

Caste census welcomed as first step; demands clear implementation timeline and prompt enforcement of Article 15(5) reservations
The government's inclusion of caste enumeration in the forthcoming census is welcomed but must be accompanied by a clear implementation timeline, budget allocation, and an open, participatory design. The announcement is tied to demands to remove the 50 per cent cap on reservations and to promptly implement Article 15(5) on reservations in private educational institutions. State-level models and stakeholder consultation should guide a people-centred national caste census to ensure useful data on the share and institutional participation of Dalits, Adivasis, and OBCs.

Caste enumeration announced for upcoming census, framed as a transparent exercise to assess social and economic interests.
Caste enumeration will be included in the upcoming national census as a transparent exercise to account for the economic and social interests of all sections, framed as a social-justice measure linked to reservation policy. The statement accuses successive Congress governments of historically opposing or failing to conduct caste enumeration, cites prior rejection or suppression of commission recommendations and flawed survey data (SECC), and contrasts those past practices with the current Government's commitment to transparent data collection for welfare policy.

Strategic resource access via an equal joint investment partnership, requiring Cabinet approval and parliamentary ratification.
An agreement would create a jointly funded investment vehicle granting US access to Ukraine's strategic minerals, with cash contributions and only new US military aid after signature counting toward the US share. The partnership is designed as equal, limited to ten years, and calibrated not to conflict with Ukraine's EU accession. Cabinet approval and Parliamentary ratification in Ukraine are required before the deal takes effect.

State contribution omission in federal port adverts criticized; Kerala highlights its funding role and policy changes.
Centre's omission of the state's financial role in Vizhinjam seaport adverts was criticised; Kerala stressed it funds two-thirds of the project and acknowledged a Viability Gap Fund from the Centre and a supplementary agreement to hasten project completion. The State Cabinet also resolved to waive the state's share and royalty in GST on construction materials for future NHAI projects and to amend recruitment rules to remove disqualification for protruding teeth in specified uniformed services.

Price increase: Amul raises milk retail prices nationwide citing higher input costs, effective May first.
Amul implemented a uniform Rs 2 per litre retail price increase on fresh pouch milk effective May 1, 2025, citing higher input costs; the federation described the rise as a three to four percent MRP increase, noted no price change since June 2024, and said member unions have increased farm-gate prices over the past year. The release lists updated Gujarat retail MRPs for named product variants and states the hike applies across all markets.

Caste enumeration to be included in next census, enabling transparent nationwide caste data for equitable policy design.
The Union government announced inclusion of caste enumeration in the next nationwide population census as a centrally administered, transparent exercise to provide caste-disaggregated data for equitable social and economic policy design, replacing non-uniform state surveys and building on prior nationwide caste data collection modalities; effective use of the data and a clear implementation timeline were identified as key governance and policy considerations.

Modification of arbitral awards allowed; courts may alter awards under arbitration law in specified circumstances.
Courts can modify arbitral awards under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act of 1996 in specified circumstances, confirming that judicial forums may alter or correct awards where statutory thresholds for intervention are met and delineating limits between permissible modification and arbitration finality.

Caste enumeration in census to inform policy and strengthen social justice, emphasising transparency and corrective data collection.
The government will include caste enumeration in the census as a transparent corrective measure to identify social, educational and economic inequalities, center deprived and backward groups in policy-making, and strengthen social justice, distinguishing a nationwide census exercise from state-level caste surveys and rejecting politicisation of caste data.

International scientific cooperation advances fusion milestone, securing shared access to research and enabling industrial-scale demonstration.
Completion of ITER's main magnet system, including the final Central Solenoid module, is central to creating and sustaining the reactor's ultra-hot plasma for a self-sustaining "burning plasma"; ITER operates as a large research facility to demonstrate fusion at scale rather than produce electricity, with India supplying major components such as the cryostat, cryolines, shielding, cooling systems and heating elements.

Caste enumeration to be conducted transparently in upcoming census, factoring economic and social interests for social justice.
The central government will include caste enumeration in the forthcoming census and intends to conduct that enumeration with an emphasis on transparency, factoring in the economic and social interests of all sections to supply caste-related socio-economic data for policy and social justice purposes.

Socio-economic survey urged alongside caste census to inform evidence-based reservation policy and ensure social justice.
The Centre's inclusion of caste enumeration should be accompanied by a socio-economic and educational survey so caste data can be contextualised for social justice and evidence-based revision of reservation policy; Karnataka offers its state survey as a model and stands ready to cooperate, while noting courts' emphasis on socio-economic assessment in reservation matters.

Price increase for Amul milk takes effect, raising retail rates nationwide as a modest inflation-linked adjustment.
A national dairy marketing federation announced a uniform per-litre retail price increase for packaged milk effective from a specified date, describing the change as a modest adjustment relative to food inflation; the rise equates to a low single-digit percentage increase in MRP and the federation provided example 500 ml pack prices for different product variants.

Hotel fire fatalities highlight deadly accommodation blaze causing multiple suffocation deaths and numerous injuries.
A fire at a budget hotel in the congested Mechuapatti area of Burrabazar, central Kolkata, killed fourteen people and injured thirteen. The majority of victims died from suffocation while some reportedly jumped from upper floors. Three of the deceased were employees from Jagatsinghpur district, Odisha, who had travelled to Kolkata on official work; identities were provided by family sources.

Build-Operate-Transfer (Toll) project to deliver an access-controlled expressway with a two-decade concession and construction support.
The National Highways Authority will implement an access controlled Greenfield expressway between Agra and Gwalior on a build operate transfer (Toll) basis, comprising a six lane alignment through Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to improve connectivity and decongest the NH 44 corridor. The concession spans twenty years including a 30 month construction phase, with staged construction support from the authority linked to project progress and long term toll operations assigned to the concessionaire. The corridor traverses the National Chambal wildlife sanctuary.

Invitation inclusion: Opposition leader listed among invitees after controversy over commissioning attendance and invitations.
A dispute over the commissioning invite list arose when the Opposition leader alleged exclusion and later received an invitation; the Chief Minister said invitations to elected representatives issued after Prime Ministerial approval, with additions by the Centre. The Chief Minister framed the matter as invitation inclusion and invited participation despite boycott claims. The port, developed under a public-private partnership, received commercial commissioning certification after trial runs and will be dedicated at the inauguration, with full operational status contingent on completion of subsequent phases; the opposition alleges outstanding road and rail connectivity obligations.

Caste census confirmation frames caste-disaggregated data as official policy and a strategic political response to opposition demands.
The central government's announcement to conduct a caste census elevates caste-disaggregated measurement of SC, ST and OBC populations as an official policy priority and a political strategy to address opposition demands for social-justice data. While implementation details and timing are not yet specified, the decision signals formal recognition of caste-based statistics, aims to neutralize opposition electoral claims by adopting their agenda, and is likely to affect regional political alignments and policy discussions depending on the census design and subsequent use of the data.

Gold demand resilience persists despite record prices, sustaining festival jewellery and silver purchases nationwide.
Gold purchases during Akshaya Tritiya remained robust despite record prices, with steady volumes and higher sales value. Buying focused on jewellery, coins and bars, with stronger demand for mangal sutras, chains and silver utensils, rising interest in lab-grown diamonds, and widespread use of old-gold exchanges to manage affordability. Industry forecasts indicated higher festival sales value and significant tonnage, while annual gold imports remain substantial.

Operational freedom for armed forces clarified after Cabinet Committee deliberation on response to cross-border terror attack.
The rupee strengthened on sustained foreign capital inflows and optimism about a US India trade deal, supported by weaker dollar crosses and lower crude prices; concurrently, the Cabinet Committee on Security reviewed Jammu and Kashmir security matters following a prior decision to grant the armed forces operational freedom to determine mode, targets and timing of any response to a cross border terror attack.