Innholdsfortegnelse for 23 June 2025 i India Today

Former Union minister Smriti Irani quietly dropped in at Amethi, some 11 months after the rude shock of losing the Lok Sabha seat to Gandhi family fixture Kishori Lal. But this time, there were no jabs at Rahul, no rousing speeches—just a brief sojourn and a cryptic Dinkar couplet: “Main mazdoor hoon, mujhe ameeron ki basti se kya (I am a worker, what will I do in the mansions of the rich).” BJP faithfuls were left scratching their heads: was it political fatigue or just Smriti being dramatic? Talking of drama, the buzz is she’s going back to doing her old TV avatar in ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’. Guess Tulsi Virani’s return is anyday a bigger story than any old Amethi visit. NEW ADDRESS HOME FOR THE CM…

ONCE DISMISSED AS THE “BADLANDS” of eastern Uttar Pradesh, Gorakhpur, the home district of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, is now seeing an industrial transformation, with many high-profile infrastructure projects coming to the region. The Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority (GIDA) has played no small part in this. CEO Anuj Malik says Rs 12,500 crore has come just in the past three years. “Proactive policy support, subsidies and easy availability of land are the key drivers in eastern UP,” she says. GIDA says it has 3,500 acres in its land bank, with 250 acres ready for immediate allocation. Indian Glycols Ltd, Gallant Ispat Ltd, Ankur Udyog, Varun Beverages, Keyan Industries… the list of big-ticket companies that have set up shop here is long. Altogether, 1,167 industrial units, currently operational under GIDA, have generated…

THERE WAS A PIECE OF PUBLIC performance, there were private conversations—and plenty of whispers off-stage. Happily for CM Bhajan Lal Sharma, the important facts all seem in virtuous alignment. When BJP president J.P. Nadda chose Jaipur to mark the 300th birth anniversary of Ahilyabai Holkar, it wasn’t just about honouring a Maratha queen. Sharma, 18 months young in his tenure, had never managed to get himself off the receiving end of pointed social media gossip. Credible or not, the buzz about a change of guard was always in the air, like a beast with a life of its own. Spurring it is the imminence of a reshuffle in a cabinet strikingly full of freshers. With veterans getting restive and rival power centres coalescing, the recipe also has that extra lemon…

ENVIRONMENTAL ↘ Plastics are non-biodegradable, taking 500-1,000 years to decompose, causing long-term accumulation in ecosystems ↘ They contribute 80% of marine pollution, with 4.8-12.7 million tonnes entering oceans yearly, forming garbage patches like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch ↘ Over time, plastics fragment into microplastics, contaminating water, soil and air WILDLIFE ↘ Microplastics find their way into the food chain, being consumed by wildlife ↘ Animals are often entangled in plastic, leading to injuries, suffocation or death GLOBAL PLASTIC POLLUTION IS EXPECTED TO TRIPLE BY 2040. PLASTIC WILL OUTWEIGH FISH BY 2050 AND MAY EVEN EXCEED THE BIOMASS OF ALL HUMANS HUMAN HEALTH ↘ Plastics contain toxic chemicals, including pesticides and flame retardants, linked to: cancer, heart disease, reproductive disorders and other severe health conditions CLIMATE ↘ Plastics are derived…

Late in May, the Tamil Nadu government took the unprecedented step of moving the Supreme Court, seeking the disbursal of over Rs 2,000 crore in funds under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme (SSS), claiming the Union government had withheld it in a bid to coerce the state into implementing the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020. Tamil Nadu has been vociferously opposing the NEP’s three-language formula and the tacit pro-Hindi tilt ascribed to it. This is the latest flashpoint in the battle between non-Hindi-speaking states and the Centre over the NEP. On May 9, the apex court had dismissed a plea filed by advocate G.S. Mani seeking directions to the governments of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal to implement the NEP. The court stated that its powers under Article 32 of…

BUREAU REPORT Looks Hues Here AkzoNobel India’s latest Dulux Maestro is a smart move to strengthen collaboration with architects and interior designers. For those not in the know, if there are any, AkzoNobel India is a leading global paints and coatings company and the maker of Dulux paints. Thoughtfully crafted to the needs of architects and interior designers, Dulux Maestro integrates the best of end-to-end business support with the brand’s global insights into colour, visualisation and personalisation. From site inspections, on-site sampling, expert colour consultancy to advanced digital visualisation with Dulux Colour Plug-in with over 2,000 shades—it is designed to empower professionals at every stage. With over 2,000 architects and interior designers already on boarded, it is live in 16 cities across five states and one Union Territory in phase…

The veteran architect I.M. Kadri, now in his 90s—who has designed iconic projects like the Nehru Centre in Mumbai and the Taj Mahal and Taj Palace hotels in Delhi—has fond memories of growing up in Diwans Bungalow, his ancestral home in Saiyad Wadu in Ahmedabad’s Old CIty. The charming bungalow, painted in resplendent white, marries traditional Indian architecture with colonial elements, and was built in 1875 by his great-grandfather Sayad Bavamiyan Kadri, the Diwan of the princely state of Radhanpur. The most striking feature of the stately home are two exquisitely carved wooden oriel windows which overlook the busy street in front. Lined with plush cushions, you can spend all day lounging here and watch the world go by. Inside is an island of calm, punctuated with fine jaalis, sharp…

If you are a new parent, your top priority is setting up that room which holds your heart and leads your home—aka the nursery. That’s exactly where Abracadabra steps in, a brand dedicated to creating thoughtfully-designed linen and accessories. Tailored for the 0–2 age group, they focus on everyday comfort and style. With over 30 years of experience in the global baby industry, this homegrown brand brings together international standards and handcrafted Indian soul. They not only understand or ‘get’ babies, they ‘get’ their parents too. “We don’t just follow trends—we reimagine them for Indian homes in ways that are both practical and beautiful,” explains Viyom Agrawal, COO Abracadabra. Purpose Meets Playfulness The brand’s philosophy is refreshingly simple. Each product is designed in house, allowing the team full control over…

1. ENGINE FAILURE AND FUEL STARVATION • Engine or propulsion system failure is a plausible line. It’s buttressed by videos that show the plane didn’t gain altitude after it took off • An unexpected loss of thrust in one/both engines caused by a mechanical failure, flameout or fuel starvation—where the engines do not get sufficient fuel—might have left the crew with little time to take control CRASH 30 SECONDS after takeoff 2. BIRD HITS Bird activity is not unusual in the vicinity of the Ahmedabad airport, especially in the mornings. But the winged creatures would have had to be ingested by both engines in the critical moments after takeoff for them to stall together 241 DEATH TOLL People killed on board, with one survivor. As yet unknown number of casualties…

LUDHIANA WEST is voting in a bypoll on June 19 because its last AAP MLA lost his life in a firearm accident. His party, having metaphorically met that fate in the Delhi election, has got more than redemption on its mind. At stake is a seat that captures Punjab’s urban pulse, and may shape the narrative for the 2027 assembly election—perhaps even inflect national politics. So AAP, Congress and the BJP are giving it their all. Each has fielded the strongest available hand. AAP’s face, Rajya Sabha MP and Ludhiana-based industrialist Sanjeev Arora, is interesting for another reason. Despite stone-faced denials, the buzz is that if Arora wins, party supremo Arvind Kejriwal may explore a Rajya Sabha route from Punjab. After his low-key retreat from the public eye in the…

IN 2020, GOA’S REPUBLIC DAY tableau on Rajpath had a giant green frog strumming a guitar. Back home, though, they often land on a plate. ‘Jumping Chicken’, they call it, for the benefit of meat lovers indulging in it on the sly. Up the chain from restaurants that serve it are poachers who track frogs when they surface during the rains, their breeding season. The most hunted species are the Indian Bullfrog and the Jerdon’s Bullfrog. Both have fleshy hindlegs, the part that’s curried or fried. What the frogs themselves eat is quite crucial. Adults and tadpoles feed on mosquito eggs and larvae, exerting a natural control on vector-borne diseases. Besides, they devour a whole variety of insects deemed farm pests, ensuring lower crop losses. Thus, frog poaching impinges on…

THERMOPLASTICS POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE (PET) Used in: Disposable water bottle, polyester cloth, ropes, binding straps, covering seats Recyclability: Yes, widely recycled HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (HDPE) Used in: Shampoo bottles, jerry cans, chairs, bottle crates, fertiliser bags Recyclability: Yes, widely recycled POLYVINYL CHLORIDE (PVC) Used in: Pipes, weather-resistant clothes, medical devices, toys, kitchen cling wraps, wires, shoe soles Recyclability: Often not recyclable POLYPROPYLENE (PP) Used in: Bottle caps, plastic cutlery, takeaway food containers, raffia bags, buckets, mugs, tubs, chairs, automobile parts Recyclability: Often not recyclable LOW DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (LDPE) Used in: Plastic bags, juice and milk pouches, electrical components Recyclability: Not recyclable POLYSTYRENE (PS) Used in: Home appliances like AC, TV, water purifier Recyclability: Not recyclable Source: Recykal THERMOSETS EPOXY RESIN, PHENOLIC RESIN, BAKELITE, MELA MINE, VULCANISED RUB BER Used in: Car…

The journey from apathy to empathy is a fraught one in Karan Tejpal’s debut film, Stolen, which is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Inspired by the horrific events in Karbi Anglong in Assam, in which two young men mistaken for being child kidnappers were lynched by a mob, Tejpal crafts a survival drama that pushes the anxiety buttons and touches on many pertinent issues afflicting society today. From the dangers of fake news shared on WhatsApp groups to public distrust of police and privileged middle-class India’s wariness towards those on the economic fringes, Stolen pushes audiences on the edge and challenges them with a stark depiction of reality. “The Karbi Anglong videos were always on my mind and left a knot in my stomach,” says Tejpal. “I wanted the…

The 2023 action film Lakadbaggha—based on an animal-lover vigilante—now has its own comic book. Lakadbaggha: The Prologue is illustrated by the American artist Brittain Peck, and takes you right into the thick of the action at Kolkata’s Khidirpur docks. “One of my favourite parts is doing research and development as I design the characters, location and details that will make up the world of the story. That part was especially exciting with this project because I love the variety of characters and Kolkata is such a visually interesting location,” says Peck. The comic is firmly rooted in the Lakadbaggha universe, with Peck drawing inspiration “from their nearly every aspect, including the music, lighting, costumes and settings”. The illustrations are in the ligne claire (‘clear line’) tradition pioneered by Hergé,…

BUREAU REPORT On May 10, leading architects and designers from the capital came together for an exclusive event that seamlessly blended networking, learning and leisure in a setting that embodied refinement and relaxation. Golf with Elegance The event kicked off with a warm welcome and elegant interactions as architects arrived and mingled over refreshments, exchanging ideas. The setting sun cast a golden hue across the greens, creating the perfect atmosphere for a meaningful, memorable experience. The highlight was a curated Golf Clinic led by seasoned instructors. The Future of Bathrooms Duravit India shared an inspiring perspective on the brand’s vision, reaf-firming its commitment to sustainable innovation, premium design, and creating bathroom solutions that truly “Upgrade Your Everyday”. Dinner, Dialogue and Deeper Connections The evening culminated in a curated dinner under…

Perched on the 21st floor and packing the personality of a rooftop soirée, Llofft is not your average duplex—it’s an architectural wink with high design and higher ambitions. A playful twist on “loft”, this home is equal parts sanctuary and stage, designed for a mother and her two kids who wanted serenity with a side of sass. Upstairs, it’s all about calm charisma. The master suite whispers luxury in off-whites and earthy textures, crowned by a sculptural, petal-shaped headboard and flanked by porcelain art pieces. Sunlight waltzes across the room through the day, creating a live light show no projector could match. Even the guest and parents’ rooms hum with understated elegance. The living and dining areas are wrapped in a moody teal that shifts with the light—chameleon chic, if…

In nearly three decades of service in the police force, one has come to understand that public order and safety hinge upon both past experience and continuous innovation. In India, a land of immense diversity and vibrant public gatherings, the frequency of stampedes is a recurring challenge, demanding our unwavering attention and proactive measures. Over the past five years, more than two dozen stampedes have been reported from all parts of the country. These are mostly triggered during religious festivals and large-scale public events. Each incident, whether during a cultural celebration or an unexpected rush, serves as a sombre reminder of the critical gaps in our crowd management strategies and state capacity. What remains evident is that our approach must evolve, and so must our leadership at every level of…

MUCH LABOUR HAS BEEN SPENT on this debate—never settled, it’s gasping for capital too. Left marooned by New Delhi 40 months ago, West Bengal has had to dig into its own scanty coffers to keep work afloat under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA). It’s nearly not enough for the state’s 138 million active job card holders. Consider the figures. Since March 2022, when the Centre suspended NREGA funds citing irregularities, Bengal has managed to create only 809.6 million person days—barely double the 364.3 million achieved in a single ‘normal’ year just before. Indeed, in FY22, it was also able to give work to 11.2 million individuals. NEGLECT VS ACCOUNTABILITY There’s a silver lining: under state financing, in FY25, the number of person days generated—which refers to the total…

THE INFAMOUS VYAPAM SCAM, which had once grown like weed over the state recruitment process, has just had a baby—in the digital age. The shadow of corruption this time is on a selection test held in 2023 to conscript fresh constables into Madhya Pradesh Police. As is usual in India, there were 7,411 posts and more than 950,000 applicants. So it seems the cannier ones among those who aspired to be footsoldiers of the law broke the law in the first instance, allegedly using impersonation, tampered documents and sophisticated biometric swaps. The modus operandi was a time-honoured one, but with a contemporary twist. Impersonators would take the written test. Since identity had to be confirmed through Aadhaar, the photograph and fingerprints of applicants were replaced with those of the ‘solvers’—who…

PLANET’S TOP 10 PLASTIC POLLUTERS Global plastic waste emissions were at 52.1 million tonnes in 2020, of which India was the highest contributor Plastic Waste Emissions (Million tonnes per annum) Source: Nature, Sept. 2024 (data for 2020)/Angeliki Savvantoglou of Bear Bones / phys.org LITTERING IS THE MAIN SOURCE FOR EMISSIONS IN THE GLOBAL NORTH WHEREAS UNCOLLECTED WASTE IS THE LARGEST SOURCE ACROSS THE GLOBAL SOUTH THE PLASTIC WASTE CRISIS The lion’s share of plastic waste disposal in India is unaccounted-for, lingering in the environment Source: A 2022 analysis by Centre for Science and Environment THE INDIA STACK The increase in plastic waste generated in the country (Million tonnes per annum) PLASTIC WASTE GENERATORS Quantity generated by the states/UTs in FY23 Sources: Central Pollution Control Board data shared by the government…

A Amidst the glitz and spectacle of the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES), one topic weighed on the minds of most film industry stakeholders—the current crisis in the theatre business. “I have always believed that India has too few theatres, given the size of the country and [number of] people,” actor Aamir Khan said at a session. “Our biggest theatre hits have had footfalls of 30-35 million. That’s 2 per cent of our population in what is a cinema-loving country.” Seated next to him was Ajay Bijli, founder of PVR Cinemas and managing director of country’s biggest multiplex chain, PVR INOX Ltd. Bijli replied in jest, “Main office jaata hoon [I better head to office to get work done].” The world’s most populous country has just about 9,000…

When KR$NA’s new mixtape, Yours Truly, reached No. 1 on Apple Music’s Top Albums chart within 24 hours of release last month, the hiphop star felt validated. He made the record at a point in his life when he was unsure of his next move. “For a while, I was like, ‘What can I do that will be liked [by the public] and satisfy me artistically?’” says KR$NA of the collection that’s been put out in partnership with Mass Appeal, the label co-founded by one of his idols, American MC Nas. He had a breakthrough after listening to a 2015 episode of VOTP, the Indian hip-hop podcast hosted by rappers Bobkat and Enkore, on which they discussed how he’s frequently been under-appreciated. Says KR$NA, “[I thought,] okay, I wasn’t crazy…

In May, Radheshyam Bishnoi died in a road accident near Jaisalmer while trying to intercept poachers. Devoted to protecting the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard, the 28-year-old conservationist did not merely profess environmentalism; he lived it. Like many others of his ilk, he paid with his life. In the 1990s, the Bishnoi made news for bringing actor Salman Khan to justice for hunting blackbuck on their lands. Martin Goodman’s My Head for a Tree attempts to clarify the context of their fierce activism. The Bishnoi are Vaishnavite Hindus who owe allegiance to the teachings of Guru Jambheshwar, a 15th-century mystic. “A tree covered in greenery is my temple and my home,” Jambhoji declared, advocating compassion to living things. Indeed, an oft-circulated and endearing cliché is an image of a Bishnoi…

Cleaning is a monotonous chore, but one can make it enjoyable. I put on my favourite playlist and hum along while cleaning. Plus, all that exercise makes up for not going to the gym. But enough about me. Let’s talk about seasonal deep cleaning. Trust me, it’s worth it. By breaking down tasks room-wise and season-wise, you’ll be amazed at how organised and clutter-free your home can become. In spring, declutter and refresh your bedrooms—swap the heavy winter quilts with the lighter Jaipuri sheets or dohars. In summer, service the air conditioners, change the curtains to lightweight fabrics and pastel shades, get the freezer ready for all the ice-creams you will need to stock. In autumn, as the weather cools, prepare for cosy indoor living. Deep clean carpets, flip the…