India Archive

In the Hassan district of Karnataka, a joyful Ganesh idol immersion procession turned into a heartbreaking tragedy late on Friday, 12th September. A truck lost control and crashed into the gathering, leaving behind scenes of horror and panic. At least nine people lost their lives, while 22 others were injured in the dreadful accident, officials confirmed.

The Ministry of Defence has now received and begun discussions on a key proposal from the Indian Air Force (IAF) for acquiring 114 Rafale fighter jets that would be ‘Made in India’. These jets are to be built by French manufacturer Dassault Aviation with significant participation from Indian aerospace companies.

In her editorial “The making of an ecological disaster in the Nicobar” (The Hindu, September 8, 2025), Sonia Gandhi declares the Great Nicobar Project to be a “totally misplaced ₹72,000 crore expenditure” that poses an “existential danger” to the island’s indigenous communities and “threatens one of the world’s most unique flora and fauna ecosystems.” She accuses the Modi government of “trampling on tribal rights” and making “a mockery of all legal and deliberative processes.”

On 12th September, the Supreme Court asked why the ban on firecrackers is applied only in the Delhi-NCR region and not across the whole of India. The question was raised by a bench consisting of Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran while hearing a petition filed by firecracker traders. These traders are challenging the year-round prohibition on manufacturing, selling, and using firecrackers in Delhi NCR.

On the evening of Friday, 12th September, a serious incident shook Shahjahanpur district in Uttar Pradesh. Reports revealed that a controversial social media post, containing remarks about Prophet Mohammad and the Quran, triggered anger among a section of the Muslim community. The reaction was immediate and explosive. Hundreds gathered outside the local police station, chanting slogans such as “Hand over the accused” and “Allahu Akbar.”

The Congress government in Karnataka, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has sanctioned an enormous grant of ₹398 crore for the development of Muslim colonies within the state. The decision was finalized during a cabinet meeting chaired by Siddaramaiah at Vidhan Soudha, where ministers collectively approved the allocation.

As the Bihar assembly elections draw near, politics is growing sharp and personal. The Congress Party has turned to direct attacks. After PM Modi and his late mother were abused during Congress-RJD’s ‘Vote Adhikar Yatra’ last month, now the Bihar Congress has posted an AI video online that involves PM Modi and his mother, Heeraben.

The rules India uses to protect most Very Important Persons (VIPs) have been fixed for a long time. A restricted manual called the Union Home Ministry’s “Yellow Book”, first formally cited in Parliament in December 2015 and repeated by the government in April 2017, lays down the rules for VIPs—except the President, Vice-President and Prime Minister. It sets standard categories (X, Y, Y+, Z, Z+).

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who has often been accused of promoting the ‘vote chori’ conspiracy theory to question and attack the credibility of the Election Commission of India (ECI), is once again in the spotlight. On Wednesday, 10th September, new findings suggested that the controversial document showcased by him during his press conference on 7th August this year was not prepared in India but in Myanmar. These revelations have raised serious doubts about the authenticity and origin of the material.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, one of India’s most prestigious engineering institutions, has found itself in controversy after its name appeared linked to a workshop that openly mocked top political leaders of the country. The event in question directly targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, raising sharp criticism about the institute’s role.