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Donald Trump kills H1B visa program with $100,000 annual fee impacting the Indians most, companies ask H1B visa holders outside US to return within 24 hours

OpIndia Staff
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Donald Trump kills H1B visa program with $100,000 annual fee impacting the Indians most, companies ask H1B visa holders outside US to return within 24 hours

In a sweeping move, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation late Friday imposing a staggering additional $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications. The new fee is effective immediately for new filings and will be effective from 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on September 21, 2025 for renewals.

White House said that the visa fee has been hiked as a “crackdown on systemic abuse” of the H1B vista system. It stated that “the key facilitator for this influx of foreign STEM labor has been the abuse of the H-1B visa.” The presidential order further claims that American companies are laying off American workers to hire aliens on H1B visa on lower salaries.

The Executive Order by President Trump claims that “Information technology (IT) firms in particular have prominently manipulated the H-1B system, significantly harming American workers in computer-related fields.”

The H1B is already an expensive visa, costing around $1,700 to $4,500, depending on whether the visa is expedited. Now an amount of $100,000, around ₹88 lakh, will be added to this fee. The H1B fee is paid by employers, who consider this as a business expense. The Executive Order states a new or renewal application for H1B visa must be accompanied by the additional $100,000 fee, without which the application will be rejected. The additional fee is effective for 12 months, unless extended later.

The EO states, “Employers shall, prior to filing an H-1B petition on behalf of an alien outside the United States, obtain and retain documentation showing that the payment described in section 1 of this proclamation has been made.”

The hiked fee makes it almost impossible for companies to hire foreign skilled workers under this visa, it is higher than the average salary of an H1B visa holder. Only few top companies may be willing to pay this astronomical amount, that too for their most valuable foreign employees. Mid-level companies will stop hiring foreigners altogether, and big companies may hire only a handful of foreigners.

Notably, while the presidential proclamation said that $100,000 must be paid at the time of new or renewal visa application, implying it to be an annual fee, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that it is an annual fee. Therefore, if a company retains a foreign employee for 6 year, the maximum validity of H1B visa, the company will have to pay a staggering $600,000 fee.

India set to hit most hard by this move, as around 70% of H1B visa holders are Indians, with approximately 300,000 of its citizens currently working in the U.S. on H-1B visas—predominantly in IT, engineering, and healthcare fields. Indian firms like TCS, Infosys, Wipro, and HCL Technologies, which sponsor a significant portion of these visas, could face billions in added costs, potentially jeopardizing thousands of offshore jobs.

Similarly, global tech giants like Google, Amazon, Meta, IBM, Microsoft, Apple etc are also set to hit hard, as they have relied on the visa program to hire skilled employees from India and other countries.

“Trump’s $100K H-1B visa fee hits Indian IT firms hard: 13,000+ jobs at risk, soaring costs for TCS, Infosys, Wipro. US talent crunch forces major shift in India’s global tech strategy,” said investor Pariman Ade in a widely shared ? post that garnered hundreds of engagements.

It is expected that a large number H1B visas will not be renewed by the companies after their expiry, and the affected people will return to their countries. As a result, remittances from Indian H-1B workers, which topped $37 billion last year, can come down drastically within months.

Exemptions

The new rule is exempt for all foreign employees working in a company or in an industry considered to be of national interest by the administration. The text of the EO says, “The restriction imposed pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall not apply to any individual alien, all aliens working for a company, or all aliens working in an industry, if the Secretary of Homeland Security determines, in the Secretary’s discretion, that the hiring of such aliens to be employed as H-1B specialty occupation workers is in the national interest and does not pose a threat to the security or welfare of the United States.”

However, it does not elaborate on this, which may be clarified separately. However, it is expected that healthcare, critical infrastructure, defence etc could be among the exempted industries.

Visa holders outside USA asked to return within 24 hours

While existing H1B holders are not impacted by the fee hike, the situation is different from those who are currently outside USA. As the Presidential Proclamation is structured as a travel restriction, it has been interpreted by companies to mean that it also applies on H1B visa holders currently not in the USA.

The order states, “The Secretary of Homeland Security shall restrict decisions on petitions not accompanied by a $100,000 payment for H-1B specialty occupation workers under section 101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b) of the INA, who are currently outside the United States, for 12 months following the effective date of this proclamation as set forth in subsection (a) of this section.”

As per the order, beginning at 12:01 am eastern time on September 21, 2025, individuals will not be able to enter/return to the U.S. in H1B status unless their petition is accompanied by an additional $100,000 payment. Therefore, major companies have asked their employees to return before the deadline expires, which means within 24 hours, which may not be possible for many.

The timing of the proclamation, mere hours before the weekend, has triggered a frantic scramble among affected employees and employers. Several companies including Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, Apple, TCS and others have sent messages to its global workforce explicitly urging all H-1B visa holders currently outside the U.S. to “promptly return before the September 21 deadline” to secure stamping and avoid renewal complications.

Moreover, they have asked the foreign employees to not leave USA, to avoid complications in return. “Do not leave the U.S. for the foreseeable future,” one Amazon executive reportedly advised in a company-wide Slack message, according to leaked communications shared on social media.

Notably, while the Presidential order mentions only H1B visa, the companies have asked the H-4 dependent visa holders also to follow the same instructions.

One such memo shared on X states, “If you are in H-1B or H-4 status and are currently outside the U.S., we strongly recommend that you do what you can to return to the U.S. tomorrow before the deadline. The Proclamation was released within the last 30 minutes, so we realise that there isn’t much time to make sudden travel arrangements. But again, we strongly encourage you to do your best to return.”

Apple and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), which rely heavily on Indian talent, are also reportedly mobilising logistics teams to facilitate rapid returns, fearing a cascade of visa denials that could sideline key projects.

Social Media posts also show that many H1B visa holders who were about to travel outside the USA for personal or work-related reasons disembarked from flights in the USA after boarding as soon as they got information about the new rule. They stayed back as they feared that they won’t be allowed re-entry without the $100,000 fee.

With this steep fee hike, Donald Trump has effectively killed the famed H1B program. Now hardly any company will be willing to pay this steep fee to hire foreign talent. U.S. tech behemoths, which secured roughly two-thirds of H-1B visas in recent years, now will have to grapple with a talent crunch that could stifle growth. Smaller firms and startups, already cash-strapped, may abandon international hiring altogether. However, question remains on whether they will able local workers with similar skills.

It is almost certain that there will be no new H1B visa applications. Moreover, as the visa comes with a validity period of 3 years, which can be extended to maximum 6 years, the existing visa holders will gradually have to leave the country as and when their visa expires. President Trump has also tightened the Green Card regulations, which means the dream of graduating to Green Card from H1B visa is also killed.

It will be interesting to see how US-based companies deal with this, whether they will hire more locals as Trump intends, or whether they move operations overseas to hire foreign workers.

From spiritual discipline to political transformation: The story of Ajey, a cinematic tribute to Yogi Adityanath’s journey from monk to leader

Dr. Prosenjit Nath
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From spiritual discipline to political transformation: The story of Ajey, a cinematic tribute to Yogi Adityanath’s journey from monk to leader

Drawing from Shantanu Gupta’s insightful book, this film celebrates Yogi Adityanath’s spiritual journey and his mission to build a stronger Uttar Pradesh.

Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi is a remarkable cinematic effort that goes beyond a typical biopic to celebrate the life of a leader who has transformed India’s largest state, Uttar Pradesh, through determination, vision, and a deep spiritual foundation. Directed by Ravindra Gautam and based on Shantanu Gupta’s bestselling book The Monk Who Became Chief Minister, the film offers audiences an inspiring look into the life of a man who rose from the serene hills of Uttarakhand to the forefront of Indian politics.

The story follows Ajey, played with exceptional dedication by Anant Joshi, a character inspired by Yogi Adityanath. Joshi fully immerses himself in the role, embodying the calm wisdom of a monk and the commanding presence of a political leader. From his early days of spiritual pursuit to his later life as a reformer and administrator, Joshi’s performance captures the many dimensions of Yogi ji’s persona. The legendary Paresh Rawal shines as Mahant Avaidyanath, Ajey’s spiritual mentor, delivering a powerful performance that brings depth to the guru-disciple relationship central to the narrative.

The opening act of the film beautifully depicts Ajey’s childhood and his calling to spiritual life. The breathtaking visuals of Uttarakhand’s rivers, forests, and temples set the stage for a journey rooted in faith and service. The film captures the rigorous discipline of the Nathpanthi tradition, showing how Ajey’s spiritual training shaped his character, values, and vision for society. These sequences are emotionally stirring and establish a strong foundation for the later political chapters.

As the narrative progresses, Ajey’s transition from monk to public leader is handled with care and nuance. Under Mahant Avaidyanath’s guidance, he begins addressing real-world challenges like lawlessness, corruption, and social discord. The film skillfully portrays how spiritual values can translate into effective governance and public service. Paresh Rawal’s scenes with Anant Joshi are among the film’s most memorable, providing wisdom and gravitas that anchor Ajey’s transformation.

Visually, the movie is stunning. The cinematography captures both the serene spirituality of Ajey’s early life and the dynamic, often chaotic energy of political rallies and public meetings. The production design is meticulous, especially in depicting the Gorakhnath Math and the cultural and religious heritage of Uttar Pradesh. These elements ground the film in authenticity and give it a strong sense of place. The background score is subtle yet uplifting, supporting the film’s emotional core without overpowering it.

One of the film’s greatest strengths is its faithful adaptation of Shantanu Gupta’s well-researched book. Gupta’s writing has long been praised for presenting Yogi Adityanath’s life with accuracy, depth, and respect. The screenplay draws heavily from the book’s detailed accounts, making the film not only inspiring but also informative. For audiences unfamiliar with Yogi Ji’s life, the movie offers clarity on how his spiritual ideals have influenced his political decisions.

The second half of the film focuses on Ajey’s rise as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and his vision for transforming the state. These sequences highlight the incredible work done under Yogi Adityanath’s leadership. From drastically improving law and order to modernizing infrastructure and promoting industrial development, the film paints a picture of a leader dedicated to progress. It showcases landmark achievements such as new expressways, airports, and ambitious tourism projects like the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor and Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir redevelopment, symbolizing a revival of cultural pride and economic growth.

The movie also highlights initiatives like women’s safety programs, better healthcare facilities, and increased investment in education, showing how Uttar Pradesh has moved toward becoming a more developed and empowered state. The depiction of these reforms feels authentic and inspiring, especially when contrasted with the challenges the state faced in the past. These moments celebrate Yogi Ji’s commitment to both spiritual values and practical governance.

Anant Joshi’s performance in these later portions is commanding. His portrayal of Ajey in the political arena, addressing massive rallies, meeting common citizens, and making tough administrative decisions, feels natural and compelling. He successfully conveys the calm strength of a leader who draws power not from personal ambition but from service to society. Paresh Rawal continues to shine in supportive moments, reminding Ajey (and the audience) that true leadership is rooted in humility and duty.

The film’s message is clear and powerful: that spirituality and politics, often seen as separate, can come together to create meaningful change when guided by integrity and vision. By showing Ajey’s journey, the movie offers hope and inspiration at a time when people often feel disillusioned with leadership.

While the film is largely celebratory, it does not feel hollow or forced. Instead, it reflects the optimism of a state undergoing rapid change under a leader determined to break old patterns of corruption and stagnation. Yes, the film takes a largely positive view and does not dwell deeply on controversies, but this is fitting given its purpose as a tribute rather than a critique.

Technically, the film is polished and ambitious. The editing ensures that the story flows smoothly, and while a few political sequences could have been trimmed, the overall pacing keeps the audience engaged. The music, though understated, complements the themes of faith and determination.

Before its release, the film faced controversies with the CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification), with demands for cuts that were ultimately overturned by the Bombay High Court. This victory allowed the film to be released without edits, symbolizing a triumph for creative freedom. The publicity around this case only added to the film’s buzz and brought more attention to its message.

In conclusion, Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi is more than just a movie; it is a celebration of leadership, service, and transformation. By blending spirituality with politics, it reflects the philosophy that has guided Yogi Adityanath’s life and work. Through powerful performances, especially by Anant Joshi and Paresh Rawal, and through its faithful adaptation of Shantanu Gupta’s book, the film inspires audiences to believe in the possibility of change.

For those who admire Yogi ji or are curious about Uttar Pradesh’s remarkable progress in recent years, this film is a must-watch. It stands as both a tribute to a leader and a cinematic reminder of what visionary governance can achieve.

Gujarat: Violent Muslim mob ambushes police station, resorts to stone pelting, cops use lathi charge and tear gas in self-defence

OpIndia Staff
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Gujarat: Violent Muslim mob ambushes police station, resorts to stone pelting, cops use lathi charge and tear gas in self-defence

A violent Muslim stormed into the B Division police station in Godhra town of the Panchmahal district in Gujarat on Thursday (18th September) and pelted stones on police police personnel.

The police had to use lathicharge and tear gas to disperse the mob. Several police personnel were injured in the stone pelting.

As per reports, the incident occurred after the police brought a Muslim social media influencer to the police station to counsel him. The Muslim influencer used to post provocative reels on social media, some of which went viral.

The police cautioned him against posting religiously sensitive content as the festival of Navaratri is approaching, and such posts may lead to a law and order situation.

However, the man claimed in a video that the police had beaten him. According to Panchmahal Superintendent of Police Haresh Dudhat, a rumour spread that the police had summoned the man for uploading a religious poster.

“But it was wrongly believed that we had called him regarding a recent video he made with a religious poster,” said SP Dudhat.

Soon after, a violent Muslim mob surrounded the police station and started shouting slogans of ‘Allahu Akbar’. The mob also attacked police post No. 4 and pelted stones.

As a result, police resorted to a lathi charge and tear gas bombs to disperse the mob. A team of police, including the Range Inspector General and the Superintendent of Police, arrived at the scene to take control of the situation.

The mob was dispersed and the situation was normalised following police action.

The National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal: Modi govt’s tribute to the Indus Valley Civilisation’s rich maritime and engineering legacy

Sanghamitra
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The National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal: Modi govt’s tribute to the Indus Valley Civilisation’s rich maritime and engineering legacy

PM Modi on 20 September is scheduled to visit Gujarat. Among other engagements, the Prime Minister will also oversee the construction of the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal, in the Ahmedabad district.

PM Modi will check the progress of the project and will hold a review meeting to track the NMHC project.

What is the NMHC project at Lothal?

The National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujarat, is an initiative by the Modi government to honour the maritime and engineering achievements of the Indus Valley Civilisation, or, the Sindhu Saraswati Civilisation.

Lothal was a key port city of the IVC around 2400 BCE. The NMHC, a ₹4,500 crore project spanning over 400 acres allocated by the Gujarat government, aims to preserve and showcase this ancient site’s historical significance while promoting tourism and education for future generations.

The NMHC, approved by the Union Cabinet in October 2024 under the Sagarmala Programme, seeks to highlight this legacy as an ancient maritime engineering marvel. It aligns with the government’s focus on balancing development and heritage preservation, and the reinvigorated focus in highlighting India’s ancient maritime trade.

The complex, developed in two phases, includes a National Maritime Heritage Museum with 14 galleries covering India’s maritime history from the IVC to modern times. Phase 1A, over 60% complete and set to open by year-end, features six galleries, including an Indian Navy and Coast Guard exhibit with artefacts like the INS Nishank missile boat, a Sea Harrier, and a UH-3 helicopter. It also includes a recreated Lothal township and a jetty walkway.

NMHC under construction at Lothal, Gujarat, image via Desh Gujarat

Phase 1B will add eight galleries, a 77-meter Lighthouse Museum, planned to be the tallest in the world, a 5D dome theatre, and the Bagicha Complex with parking for 1,500 vehicles, food courts, and medical facilities. Phase 2, funded through public-private partnerships, will include coastal state pavilions, eco-resorts, a fully recreated model of the Lothal city, a Maritime Institute, and four theme parks focusing on maritime history, climate change, monuments, and adventure.


The project is supported by the Ministries of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Culture, with funding from major ports, defence, the National Culture Fund, and ₹3,000 crore in private investment. The Lighthouse Museum will be funded by the
Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL).

Economically, the NMHC is expected to attract 25,000 daily visitors, generating 22,000 jobs directly and indirectly, while boosting local industries in the region. It aims to position Lothal as a major tourism destination, comparable to India’s top heritage sites.

The significance of Lothal: How it is the testament of India’s rich maritime history

Lothal is a key site on the map of Sindhu Saraswati Civilisation that traces how the rich civilisation of ancient Indians spread from the Sindhu river, flourished along the Saraswati and progressed over North-Western India, marking the continuity in our legacy through trade, craft, city planning and culture.

Located in Gujarat’s Bhal region near the Gulf of Khambhat, it features the world’s oldest known man-made dockyard, a 214 metre long and 36 metre wide trapezoidal basin with vertical brick walls, connected to the Sabarmati River via inlet and outlet channels.

The people of the Sindhu Saraswati Civilisation possessed sophisticated knowledge of water management and planning. The dockyard of Lothal was engineered to manage the region’s high tides, with a spill channel to prevent silt buildup.

The initial excavations at Lothal happened between 1955 and 1962. The excavation project was led by SR Rao, the man credited with discovering 30 Harappan sites in his lifetime. Rao had written about Lothal in Penn Museum’s Expedition Magazine, describing the significance of Lothal.

“The largest structure of baked bricks ever constructed by the Harappans is one laid bare at Lothal, to serve as a berth for docking ships and handling cargo….Originally, the dock was designed to sluice ships 18m to 20m in length, and 4 to 6m in width… At least two ships could pass through the inlet simultaneously…”

Some Western experts were unconvinced with the idea that Lothal could have been a dockyard. However, a recent study by IIT Gandhinagar used satellite imagery to explain why the dockyard and port theories are more accurate. Satellite imagery revealed the old channels of the Sabarmati which flew right next to Lothal, reported Indian Express. The river gradually shifted course and moved away from the site, leaving the dockyard at Lothal at an odd orientation. When the old channels flew, boats could have easily sailed via Lothal to as far as Dholavira, another key IVC site on the Rann of Kutch.

The IIT Gandhinagar study, by Professor VN Prabhakar, Professor Vikrant Jain and Ekta Gupta, concurred with what Rao had written. The old flow of channels of the Sabarmati put Lothal at a convenient geographical position, at the heart of a thriving trade network, extended from the Indian ports on the Arabian Sea, especially on the Gulf of Khambhat, all the way to ancient Mesopotamia.

IIT Gandhinagar study found satellite evidence of Sabarmati’s old channels

This theory is further bolstered by the sheer number of ancient seals that have been excavated in the general area, more than any other site in Saurashtra, the Indian Express report added. The seals could have been used to mark cargo packages, and trade documents and letters.

Lothal saw settlements and resettlements in several phases. The gradual decline of the area was mainly due to catastrophic floods on the Sabarmati and the river changing course eventually, leaving the dockyard dry. Rao had written that after a major flood somewhere around 2000 BCE, the flourishing city was levelled, and what remained was an ill-planned village with a few people living. Then in 1900 BCE, another major flood destroyed the settlement for good.

The NMHC will preserve the legacy of the Indus Valley Civilisation’s maritime and engineering prowess while fostering economic growth and cultural awareness. To a population that has largely grown detached from its own maritime past, the NMHC will be a portal to our rich heritage of shipbuilding and maritime trade. Through state-of-the-art technology and thoughtful design, the NMHC will ensure that Lothal’s historical significance remains accessible to future generations of Indians, the descendants of the Sindhu Saraswati people.

Rahul’s imaginary villains and PM Modi’s stature: Why the ‘Priest King’ leader is the choice of Indian GenZ

आशीष नौटियाल
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Rahul’s imaginary villains and PM Modi’s stature: Why the ‘Priest King’ leader is the choice of Indian GenZ

Indian politics in 2025 continues to unfold like theatre, and the contrast between its two leading men could not be more vivid. On one side, Rahul Gandhi plays the excitable raconteur, insisting that shadowy conspiracies lurk just behind the curtain but forgetting to provide either evidence or a plotline.

On the other side, Narendra Modi strides onto the stage not merely as a Prime Minister, but as what many admirers now describe as a “priest king”—an ancient Indus Valley archetype reborn in modern politics, where governance blends with ritual authority and statesmanship becomes a way of shaping destiny.

Rahul Gandhi’s Conspiracy Monologues

Rahul’s attempts to rally the youth often resemble a one-man show of political folklore.

One moment he warns of invisible hands manipulating democracy, the next he announces dramatic revelations that feel suspiciously like unfinished Wikipedia entries.

His speeches can sound less like politics and more like bedtime stories told with grave expressions: intriguing, dramatic, yet missing the climax.

The result? The youth, armed with instant fact-checks and a radar for exaggeration, listen politely before drifting back to the leader whose words inspire action rather than amusement.

Rahul’s endless conjuring of villains has made him less a knight in shining armour and more the parable-writer of a parallel theatre the audience is no longer seated in.

Modi and the Priest King Archetype

But why “priest king”? To answer that, we must travel back several millennia to the seals and relics of the Indus Valley civilisation, where the so-called Priest King figurine was unearthed in Mohenjo-daro.

The image was of a dignified man draped in patterned cloth, serene but commanding, embodying both spiritual guardianship and temporal power. He was not merely a ruler—he was the custodian of culture, ritual, and social order.

This archetype resonates with the way Modi is viewed by much of India’s youth. He is not cast as just an administrator passing laws, but as a custodian of heritage who also charts the nation’s modern path.

Much like the Indus Priest King straddled sacred symbolism and civic authority, Modi blends ritual and governance: inaugurating high-tech projects with Vedic chants, addressing development in the language of both tradition and modern entrepreneurship.

Why Youth Revere the “Priest King”

India’s young generation finds this fusion magnetic for several reasons:

  1. Cultural anchor: Many youth see Modi as reconnecting India’s present with its deep civilisational roots, much like the priest king was a symbol of cultural unity.
  2. Authority with reverence: He represents clear, disciplined leadership that feels both strong and sacred.
  3. Tradition meets technology: By merging rituals with innovation, he appears to bridge India’s dual soul—ancient and modern.
  4. Personified archetype: In an era hungry for icons, Modi’s image projects the enduring power of the priest king, giving youth a mythic figure to rally around.

For young Indians, caught between global aspirations and local identity, Modi embodies both. His leadership reassures them that progress does not mean rootlessness, and tradition does not mean stagnation.

Curtains on Rahul, Spotlight on Modi

While Rahul Gandhi continues to warn of invisible cabals that no one can locate outside his speeches, Modi commands the stage with the authority of a modern sage-ruler.

One offers unrest wrapped in conspiracy; the other offers continuity steeped in ancient archetypes.

The Indian youth, pragmatic and proud, have chosen where their gaze rests. They have crowned the priest king—not in blind obedience, but in recognition of a leader who reflects India’s civilisational self-image while guiding it into the future.

Rahul may keep rehearsing his ghost stories, but the stage lights—and the audience applause—belong firmly to the priest king of India’s modern saga.

Election Commission delists 474 Registered Unrecognised Political Parties for not contesting any election in 6 years, 359 more identified

OpIndia Staff
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Election Commission delists 474 Registered Unrecognised Political Parties for not contesting any election in 6 years, 359 more identified

In a bid to clean up India’s electoral landscape, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has delisted 474 more Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs) for failing to contest a single election in the past six years, bringing the total number of such inactive outfits removed from the rolls to 808 in just two months.

The move, announced on 19th September, marks the second phase of a nationwide cleanup drive launched earlier this year. It follows the delisting of 334 RUPPs on August 9, underscoring the ECI’s zero-tolerance stance on parties that enjoy privileges like reserved election symbols and tax exemptions but do not contest elections.

As part of a comprehensive and continuous strategy to clean up the electoral system, the ECI has been conducting a nationwide exercise to identify and delist Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs) which have failed to fulfil the essential condition of contesting even a single election for 6 years continuously, since 2019.

Under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, political parties must actively participate in elections to retain their registration. The guidelines explicitly state that any party dormant for six consecutive years risks deregistered. The ECI’s exercise, targeting RUPPs that haven’t contested polls since 2019, aims to streamline the system and weed out “shell” entities that clutter the register of political parties without contributing to democracy.

Uttar Pradesh bore the brunt of Friday’s purge, with 121 RUPPs delisted, followed by Maharashtra (44) and Tamil Nadu (42). Other states like Delhi (40), Punjab (21), and Rajasthan (17) also saw significant culling.

But the ECI isn’t stopping there. In a third phase, proceedings have begun against 359 more RUPPs across 23 states and union territories. These parties, while have contested elections in last 6 years, have flouted financial transparency norms by not submitting audited annual accounts for the financial years 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24, or failing to file mandatory election expenditure reports.

To ensure due process, Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) in the states have been instructed to issue show-cause notices to these parties. They will then get a hearing opportunity before the ECI takes a final call based on the CEOs’ reports. Uttar Pradesh again leads with 127 such parties under scrutiny, trailed by Delhi (41), Tamil Nadu (39), and Bihar (30).

India currently has 6 National Parties and 67 State Parties, and after today’s decision, there are 2046 Registered Unrecognised Political Parties remaining.

Former SC judge whines about Akbar being exposed in textbooks, claims ‘distortion of history’: Read about the massacre of Hindus by the Mughal tyrant

OpIndia Staff
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Former SC judge whines about Akbar being exposed in textbooks, claims ‘distortion of history’: Read about the massacre of Hindus by the Mughal tyrant

Former Supreme Court Justice Rohinton Nariman has expressed concerns regarding the portrayal of Mughal ruler Akbar in history textbooks. While voicing displeasure over the portrayal of Akbar as a ‘tyrant’, Justice Nariman alleged ‘distortion of history’ in school textbooks.

The former judge made the remarks during the KM Bashir Memorial Lecture at the Press Club of Trivandrum on 1st September. Narrating a personal experience during this speech, Justice Nariman said that a child read out to him from a history book, and the contents shocked him.

“I was flabbergasted to find in a particular book, and a child read it out to me, to find that Akbar is stated to be a person who is a tyrant and a person who organised mass murders at Chittor, where so many women committed jauhar (self-immolation). That is pretty much all that was said about him, and almost nothing was said about any of the great Mughals. So there is a complete effacement followed by a total distortion,” the judge alleged.

Justice Nariman encouraged people to move courts against the purported “distortion of history”

According to Justice Nariman, Mughal rulers, including Akbar, made enormous contributions to the “composite culture” of the country. He added that it was our duty “to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture” and that if the duty was breached by “distortion or erasure of history”, citizens can move courts.

Admitting that courts lack the expertise on matters relating to history, they can appoint expert panels to examine the issue and recommend corrections. “The court would have no expertise to do so itself. It could perhaps order some panel of experts to look into it and restore what our actual history is. This is only a suggestion made by me. But prevention is always better than cure,” Justice Nariman suggested.

History book were revised to present an accurate picture of Indian history

Justice Nariman’s remarks came in the context of the recent revision of the Social Science textbook for Class 8, by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), in line with the recommendations of the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) 2023. 

The much-needed revision of a history, which for long presented a whitewashed picture of India’s medieval history, was done with the intention of providing a complete picture of historical events or periods by retaining their negative as well as positive aspects. The revision was based on plain historical facts rather than some romanticised version of history.

The revised book attempts to present a balanced and accurate picture of Indian history, and, therefore, while it mentions how Mughal rulers Jahangir and Shah Jahan patronised art and architecture, it also points out the brutalities of Mughal rulers like Babur, who massacred the entire populations of cities. The book describes Aurangzeb as a military ruler who banned un-Islamic practices and reimposed taxes on non-Muslims, and defines the rule of Mughal ruler Akbar as a “blend of brutality and tolerance”.

Akbar ordered the massacre of 30,000 Hindus after the siege of Chittorgarh

Earlier, the history textbooks portrayed Mughal ruler Akbar as the epitome of religious tolerance by selectively highlighting the abolition of the Jizya tax by him and cleverly omitting any reference to his waged Jihad against Hindus during the siege of Chittorgarh, when he ordered the massacre of 30,000 Hindus. At the end of the battle, which went on for four months, Akbar proclaimed the siege of Chittorgarh and the victory of Islam over infidels. The men were killed, and several women and children were enslaved.

The opinion formed by Justice Nariman about the revised history textbook seems to be ill-informed. While the students must get to know both the positive and negative aspects of a historical period or ruler, it is equally important that the account of history presented to them is based on facts rather than romanticism or ill-informed opinions, and the final judgment is left up to them.

PM Modi to participate in ‘Samudra se Samriddhi’ event in Gujarat tomorrow, country to get mega projects worth over ₹34,200 crore

OpIndia Staff
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PM Modi to participate in ‘Samudra se Samriddhi’ event in Gujarat tomorrow, country to get mega projects worth over ₹34,200 crore

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Gujarat on 20th September. He will participate in ‘Samudra se Samriddhi’ event and inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth over Rs 34,200 crore at Bhavnagar. He will also address the gathering on the occasion, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.

Thereafter, Prime Minister will undertake an aerial survey of Dholera. After that he will chair a review meeting and visit the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal.

During the visit, PM Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for multiple development projects related to the maritime sector worth over ₹7,870 crore. He will inaugurate the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal at Indira Dock. He will lay the foundation stone of a new container terminal and associated facilities at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata; new container berth, cargo handling facilities, and associated developments at Paradip Port; the Tuna Tekra Multi-Cargo Terminal; firefighting facilities and modern road connectivity at Kamarajar Port, Ennore; coastal protection works including sea-walls and revetments at Chennai Port; sea-wall construction at Car Nicobar Island; a multi-purpose cargo berth and Green Bio-Methanol Plant at Deendayal Port, Kandla; and ship repair facilities at Patna and Varanasi.

Further, the Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple projects of the central and state government, worth over ₹26,354 crore, catering to various sectors in Gujarat. He will inaugurate HPLNG Regasification Terminal at Chhara Port, Acrylics & Oxo Alcohol Project at Gujarat IOCL Refinery, the 600 MW Green Shoe Initiative, PM-KUSUM 475 MW Component C solar feeder for farmers, the 45 MW Badeli Solar PV Project, complete solarization of Dhordo village among others. He will lay the foundation stone of LNG infrastructure, additional renewable energy projects, coastal protection works, highways, and healthcare and urban transport projects, including expansions at Sir T. General Hospital in Bhavnagar, Guru Govind Sinh Government Hospital at Jamnagar, and the four-laning of 70 km of national highways.

Prime Minister Modi will also undertake an aerial survey of the Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR), envisioned as a greenfield industrial city built around sustainable industrialization, smart infrastructure, and global investment. He will also visit and review the progress of National Maritime Heritage Complex (NHMC), at Lothal, being developed at a cost of around ₹4,500 crore, to celebrate and preserve India’s ancient maritime traditions and serve as a centre for tourism, research, education and skill development.

Rahul Gandhi’s sinister game of power

સૌરભ શાહ
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Rahul Gandhi’s sinister game of power

(Left, Right and Center: Friday, September 19, 2025)

This writer had made two predictions before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. At that time, the media and a section of people firmly said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who secured a landslide victory in 2014, would get not a second term. They even predicted that the Bhartiya Janata Party would lose.

In such an environment, the first prediction I made was that the PM Modi-led BJP would get more than 300 seats. My second prediction was that the question is not whether Modi will win or not. The question is what will the opposition, stunned by the fact that Modi has won a second term, do? They will stir chaos and create a situation of civil war in the country. 

Fortunately, the first prediction came true. 303 seats were obtained. 

And unfortunately, the second prediction also came true. Anarchists staged farmers protests and the infamous Shaheen Bagh protest against the government. 

On one hand, the Modi government is fighting Maoist terrorism to its end and restoring peace in Manipur. On the other, it is bringing prosperity and taking it to the last person in the nation. However, this is not going very well with the Leader of Opposition (LoP), Rahul Gandhi. Perhaps, love for India is not in the Congress prince’s DNA. This child of a foreign mother and a dowdy father is now walking around with a tennis ball in his pocket and declaring that he has a hydrogen bomb. 

Rahul Gandhi says that in 1978, when the Janata Party was in power, two youth Congress goons showed off a toy pistol and a cricket ball and hijacked Indian Airlines flight IC-410, demanding that the Morarji government withdraw the allegations against Grandma Indira and Uncle Sanjay and resign. He also said that he will overthrow the Modi government by showing off the hydrogen bomb. At that time, the Congress had declared that Bholanath Pandey and Devendra Pandey had nothing to do with even squeezing the Congress out of the water. The Congress had lied blatantly. The two Pandey brothers were elected to the Uttar Pradesh assembly on a Congress ticket when Indira Gandhi became the Prime Minister again in 1980. 

After Rahul Gandhi conducted his infamous press conference to peddle his ‘vote chori’ bogey, the capabilities or rather, the incapabilities of his supposed ‘hydrogen bomb’ are evident to the people of this country.  In the last Karnataka election, in 2023, if ‘vote theft’ was committed by the BJP, then how did the Congress win? Rahul Gandhi does not have the answer to the question. Responding to the question that you will go to court with evidence of ‘vote theft’, Rahul Gandhi irresponsibly said that it is not my job.

Then is your job, brother? To incite people? Rahul Gandhi is raising the baseless issue of ‘vote theft’ with the intention that the people of India, would believe his falsehoods and will come out on the streets, enter the Parliament, enter the Prime Minister’s residence and create a situation like Bangladesh and Nepal.

Rahul Gandhi tried to position himself as the messiah of the SC/ST and OBCs by raking up ‘caste X-ray’ demands. However, the Modi government punctured his agenda to sow fissures in the Hindu community and exploit the same for political gains, by announcing that dozens of castes among Muslims will also be counted during the caste census. In addition, the Modi government also announced that the entire country’s voter list will be verified, apart from Bihar. When the opposition opposed the Special Investigative Role (SIR), the Prime Minister said in a loud and resolute voice that no one can break the government’s conviction to remove infiltrators from the voter list. 

Rahul targeted Ambani-Adani and launched a scathing attack on the government of ‘Suit-boot’ (Suit-boot ki Sarkar). The courts have dismissed the allegations levelled by Rahul against the two industrial houses. The last thing that was left was SEBI, which has also given a clean chit to Gautam Adani , closing the Hindenburg chapter for good.

The idea of ​​holding elections using ballot papers instead of EVMs also worked a lot. In 2004 and 2009, elections were held using EVMs and Congress governments were elected. At that time, EVMs were not hacked, but after Modi came to power, scams started happening in EVMs? Is the Election Commission Modi’s toy? During the 2014 elections, the Congress was in power. The Central Election Commission commissioners were chosen by the Congress. Despite this, the Bhartiya Janata Party got 303 seats. If hacking the Election Commission and EVMs is possible, why did the BJP not get a chance to cross four hundred in 2024? Why did it have to be reduced to 240 seats? 

Even the spiteful Sonia’s son Rahul knows that he is making false allegations and the courtly media, which has become accustomed to bashing the Congress, is pushing Rahul’s lies forward through its ecosystem.

As it should be the case with any emerging superpower, the voters in India do have their own set of complaints and expectations with the Modi government, be it for infrastructure development or other such issues. However, people have no other complaints against the Modi government. I have not heard of any country where governments are toppled for bumpy roads or traffic jams.

The 11-year record of the Modi government is bright. The people are happy, perhaps, ecstatic if we compare the socio-economic realities of the NDA era with the UPA I and II era. Now, there is political stability. The riots spread by anti-social elements are under control. Despite taking advantage of all the facilities of the government in some areas, some Muslim voters do not vote for Modi, yet Modi is sticking to Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas, as a result of which many intelligent Muslims of the country have become pro-Modi to live in peace. Overall, the country is functioning well. Whatever petty complaints there may be are negligible. Such petty complaints are bound to remain in your family, among friends, in the buildings of the society as well. Governments will keep changing, but such complaints will continue in one form or another. There are bound to be such shortcomings in the whole world.

Rahul Gandhi understands all this. He also knows that if Modi becomes the Prime Minister again in 2029, Congress will never get power in his lifetime (I pray that Rahul lives for 125 years).

The 2029 elections are not only the last chance for Rahul, not only for Congress, but for the entire opposition. The Bengal elections are also the last chance for Mamata Banerjee.

Rahul Gandhi has more than 1,000 days — to spread chaos in this country, to incite the youth, GenZ, to incite the Dalits, etc. and to bring all these on the streets and make efforts to make the situation go out of control. Neither the Congress nor Rahul Gandhi has any fixed direction, a fixed map or a concrete program based on which they can claim that the country can progress better. Neither do they have a single piece of evidence against the Modi government that the current government is not capable of running the country. 

Rahul is going to gain strength in the next three and a half years. By reaching out to the pliable media, which has a habit of eating the leftovers from the Congress party, he is going to spread such rumours that even the best Modi supporters will waver. Rahul Gandhi wants the Modi government to arrest him; he wants an opponent to attack him. Perhaps, that is why he speaks indecent words. That is why he keeps travelling, ignoring the Z Plus security provided by the government. 

The Modi government understands all this. If Indira Gandhi and Sanjay had not been arrested under the insistence of Home Minister Charan Singh during Morarji Desai’s rule, this pair of vengeful mother and dimwit son would not have been given the status of ‘martyrs’, would not have received the sympathy of the people. But the Congress came back to power by campaigning on the arrest of a widow, the arrest of a bright young man.

Modi does not want to repeat the past. Modi also understands that if the Bharatiya Janata Party loses to Narayan in 2029, the Congress and its allies will come to power and not only destroy the BJP but also the RSS. He will throw all Hindus including Modi in jail and take the Election Commission under his wing and form a non-BJP government in all the states of India. He will create a situation where Article 370 will have to be restored in Kashmir. He will spread such an atmosphere among Modi’s supporters in the country and all over the world that the Modi-era regime was corrupt, hollow, hiding its weaknesses by throwing dust in the eyes of the people. Like Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi will also open the country’s treasury for his corrupt allies by blatantly ignoring the judiciary.

Before the 2029 elections, Rahul Gandhi, along with opposition leaders, will create such a depressing atmosphere that this country has gone down the drain, the Modi government has failed, despite getting three terms, Modi has pushed the country back 50 years, the hopes of the youth have been dashed, the poor have become even poorer, Modi has ruled by dividing Hindus and Muslims, the secular fabric of the country has been torn to shreds, democracy needs to be restored in the country. And Rahul Gandhi will have a hydrogen bomb in his pocket to prove all these allegations. 

Rahul Gandhi is a key part of a global conspiracy to create distrust in Modi among the citizens of India by disrespecting all the constitutional powers of the country – Parliament, the judiciary and everyone running the government system – calling him a liar. All of them are making desperate attempts to fool the people of the country by casting doubt on all of Modi’s achievements, from demonetisation to Operation Sindoor. 

A dangerous game requires recklessness and always yields negative consequences. Only an outright evil person would want to play such a game.

Last ball 

Dil ke armaan aansuon mein beh gaye,

Zindagi ek pyas ban kar reh gayi.

(These lines from Hasan Kamal will be sung by Rahul Gandhi after the 2029 results, that you—you have to decide.)

Translation of Gujarati article published on OpIndia Gujarati

Japanese agency Rating & Investment Information upgrades India’s long-term sovereign credit rating to BBB+, third such upgrade this year

OpIndia Staff
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Japanese agency Rating & Investment Information upgrades India’s long-term sovereign credit rating to BBB+, third such upgrade this year

Japanese credit rating agency, Rating and Investment Information, Inc. (R&I), has upgraded India’s long-term sovereign credit rating to ‘BBB+’ from ‘BBB’. R&I also retained the “Stable” Outlook for the Indian economy.

This is the third such upgrade by a sovereign credit rating agency this year, following S&P’s upgrade to ‘BBB’ from BBB- in August 2025 and Morningstar DBRS’ upgrade to ‘BBB’ (from BBB (low)) in May 2025, reaffirming India’s position as one of the most dynamic and resilient major economies in the world.

Ministry of Finance issued a statement welcoming the decision by Rating and Investment Information to upgrade India’s sovereign credit rating.

As per R&I’s India sovereign rating review published today, the ratings upgrade is supported by India’s position as one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing economies, underpinned by its demographic dividend, robust domestic demand, and sound government policies. R&I in its report recognised the progress in fiscal consolidation by the Government, driven by buoyant tax revenues and rationalisation of subsidies, and manageable level of debt along with high growth.

The report also highlighted India’s strengthened external stability, reflected in modest current account deficit, stable surpluses in services and remittances, low external debt-to-GDP ratio, and sufficient forex cover.

The Japanese rating agency further stated that the risks associated with India’s financial system remain limited. “While the government has been increasing capital expenditures, it has managed to reduce the fiscal deficit thanks to the tax revenue increase backed by the strong domestic demand as well as the cut of subsidies”, the agency noted in its statement.

The recent increase in tariffs by the U.S. was acknowledged as a risk factor by the agency, however, it observed that India’s limited reliance on U.S. exports and its domestic demand-driven growth model will contain the impact.  Further it observed that while the GST rationalisation will result in revenue losses, the negative impact will likely be offset to some extent by the stimulation of private consumption.

The agency also praised the policies of the administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi aimed mainly at attracting foreign manufacturers to India, developing infrastructure, institutionalizing the legal framework to improve the business environment, reducing the reliance on energy imports and ensuring the economic security.

This is the third credit rating upgrade India has got this year from S&P, Morningstar DBRS and R&I and it reflects the increasing global recognition for India’s robust and resilient macroeconomic fundamentals and prudent fiscal management. It also underscores global confidence in India’s medium-term growth prospects amid prevailing global uncertainties. The Government of India remains committed to building on this momentum through policies that promote inclusive, high-quality growth alongside fiscal prudence and macroeconomic stability.

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