India Archive

In a significant judicial development concerning medical education in India, the Allahabad High Court has turned down a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought to overturn the recent changes to the NEET-PG 2025 eligibility criteria. The court supported the decision made by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) to drastically lower the qualifying scores required for admissions. The bench ruled that the petition did not have enough factual evidence to stand on and noted that the legal questions raised had already been answered in previous court rulings.

In a significant legal intervention concerning the administration of higher education in India, the Supreme Court has stepped in to prevent the enforcement of a controversial set of new regulations. On Thursday (29th January), the Supreme Court of India put a stay on the implementation of the draconian University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations of 2026.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court, on 21 January, firmly rejected a husband’s request to subject his wife to a virginity test under the guise of a medical examination. The man had approached the court claiming that his wife was refusing to engage in sexual intercourse with him and argued that a medical test would help support his case. The matter came up before a single bench of Justice Vivek Jain, who was hearing a divorce petition filed by the husband.

The recently notified Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026, have sparked widespread opposition across the country, with protests breaking out in several places. People from different backgrounds, especially students, have taken to the streets to express their concerns over the new framework.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has ignited a political firestorm in the wake of the tragic Baramati plane crash that resulted in the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. On Wednesday, she openly called for a Supreme Court–monitored investigation, suggesting that the incident might be more than a mere accident.

On the morning of January 28, 2026, the political and administrative machinery of Maharashtra was brought to a shuddering halt by a catastrophic aviation disaster in the Pune district. A Bombardier Learjet 45, registered as VT-SSK and operated by the New Delhi-based charter firm VSR Ventures Pvt. Ltd., impacted the ground near the runway threshold of Baramati Airport, disintegrating upon contact and erupting into a fireball.

On the morning of January 28, 2026, the political geography of Maharashtra was irrevocably altered not by the ballot box, but by a catastrophic mechanical impact at the threshold of a runway in the state’s sugar belt. At approximately 08:48 AM, a Bombardier Learjet 45XR, bearing the registration VT-SSK and operated by the New Delhi-based charter firm VSR Ventures Pvt. Ltd., plunged into the earth at Baramati Airport.

On 25 January, the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi publicly acknowledged that it had received “serious concerns” regarding the conference titled “Critical Philosophy of Caste and Race”, which was held on its campus from 16 to 18 January. Responding to the objections raised, IIT Delhi issued an official statement clarifying that it had sought explanations from the faculty members involved in organising the event.

Following strong public criticism over the University Grants Commission’s Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026, the Ministry of Education is expected to issue a detailed clarification addressing what it has described as “misinformation” surrounding the new rules. The regulations have sparked intense debate across academic and social spaces, prompting the government to step in and explain its position more clearly.

On the eve of Republic Day, Satyanarayan Nuwal, founder and chairman of Solar Industries India Limited, was awarded the Padma Shri in the category of Trade and Industry. The honour recognised his long-standing contribution to Indian industry and national defence. His company had drawn national attention after manufacturing the “Nagastra” weapon systems that were deployed during “Operation Sindoor” in May last year, as reported by The Times of India. These systems were successfully used during the operation, marking a key moment for private sector participation in India’s defence preparedness.