Archives of OpIndia

Who are Budhri Tati and Dr Armida Fernandez: Modi govt awards Padma Shri to social worker in Naxal-affected Bastar and the mother of Indian...

Back in 1989, Dr Armida Fernandez set up Asia's first human milk bank at Sion Hospital (Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital). It was a game-changer, slashing infant deaths by giving preterm babies donated mother's milk when their own moms couldn't provide it.

Modi govt awards Padma Shri to Satyanarayan Nuwal: Read how the weapon systems of his company, Solar Industries, were successfully battle-tested during Operation...

Solar Industries is currently one of India's key private-sector partners in strategic weapons manufacturing for multiple Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)-made missiles, such as Pralay, Pinaka, Akash and other guided weapon systems. It is also a major supplier of solid rocket motors and propulsion systems.

Rajasthan: Nagaur police seize 10,000 kg ammonium nitrate ahead of Republic Day, accused Suleman Khan arrested; Read what FIR says

Nagaur police seized nearly 10,000 kg of ammonium nitrate from a farmhouse days before Republic Day, arresting Suleman Khan and triggering a wider probe into explosive supply networks.

West Bengal SIR – Why is it necessary: An OpIndia Research Paper

The report examines the electoral rolls crisis unfolding in West Bengal in the backdrop of the Election Commission of India's nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR)

Stone pelting, idol vandalism and more: Here are 9 instances of attacks and disruptions during the 2026 Saraswati Puja

Hazaribagh has been a hotbed of Islamic violence against Hindus. Be it Ram Navami, Hanuman Jayanti, or Holi, Muslims often come up with trivial excuses like Hindus playing music, or carrying saffron flags, etc, to attack Hindus over the years.

Uttar Pradesh: Who is Samajwadi Party leader Rizwan Mansuri alias Chotu Tiger, accused of kidnapping a Hindu woman in Jalaun

Registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions, the FIR names Rizwan Mansuri and an associate, alleging the woman was lured away and ₹3 lakh taken. His political suspension, reinstatement history, and social media outreach now face scrutiny amid the investigation.

What is the ‘Mother of all Deals’ and why the trade pact between India and Europe is seen as historic

European leader Ursula von der Leyen has called this agreement the "Mother of All Deals," meaning it's the largest and most important trade agreement ever. The key reason is that when India and 27 European countries come together, they will create the largest and most powerful trading market in the world.

‘No signature, no seal’: Indian Law Ministry twice refused to serve US SEC summons to Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani

The first refusal came in May 2025, and the second in December 2025. This led the US SEC to approach a New York federal court to bypass standard international service procedures and serve an “effective” summons to Gautam and Sagar Adani via email.

Mirzapur conversion racket: 5 gyms, 50+ women targeted, constable Irshad Khan and Farid Ahmed arrested after encounter, 7 arrested so far for blackmailing and...

GRP constable Irshad Khan and his accomplice Farid Ahmed lured over 50 girls under the guise of running “Iron Fire” and “KGN 2.0” gyms. Earlier, the Mirzapur Kotwali Dehat Police arrested two accused men identified as Mohammad Sheikh Ali Alam and Faisal Khan.

UP’s historic leap under CM Yogi: Read how targeted welfare schemes lifted 60 million citizens out of poverty as the state celebrates Uttar Pradesh...

According to NITI Aayog, Uttar Pradesh has witnessed a historic decline in poverty, with the rate dropping from 37.68% in 2016 to record lows by 2025. Key drivers include the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative, interest-free startup loans, and extensive social welfare, marking the state's emergence as a national leader in poverty reduction.

Temple locked, threats by TMC goons, permission denied because most students are Muslims: Read about 4 cases where Saraswati Puja celebrations were disrupted in...

A female student studying at the government-sponsored Jogesh Chandra Chaudhuri College in South Kolkata has informed that a TMC leader named Daud Alam Molla has threatened them against organising Saraswati Puja.

Boost to Atmanirbhar Bharat: Gujarat to host India’s first private satellite plant in Sanand, Azista Space launches Electro-Optical Payload Factory

The name of this project is Electro-Optical Payload Factory, also known as the 'Palmnaro' plant in the company's internal context.

Ujjain: Muslim mob targets Hindu houses in Tarana after Friday namaz, several vehicles damaged, curfew imposed in area

Meanwhile, Ujjain district Superintendent of Police Pradip Sharma said, “We have already detained 15–20 men found involved in the violence. CCTV footage and video clips are being scanned to identify more rioters who engaged in violence.”

UP Police attach assets worth ₹28.5 crore belonging to Bhola Prasad Jaiswal, the main accused in the codeine cough syrup smuggling case

Giving details of the attachment proceedings, Sonbhadra Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhishek Verma said that the Special Investigation Team found during its probe that Bhola Prasad was running an organised syndicate. Prasad had amassed assets worth about Rs 28.50 crore through the illegal business.

Washington Post publishes leaked audio clip showing US diplomats wanting to be friends with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami: Read how US is warming up to perpetrators...

In the audio recording, the unnamed US diplomat conceded that the trial against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was not free and fair. He, however, lauded her conviction by a kangaroo court of Bangladesh and dubbed the move as 'political genius' and 'impressive.'

Vasant Panchami is not the beginning of Vasant Ritu: Read how most wishes and posts on Saraswati Puja have this common misconception

Vasant Ritu, or the spring season, begins much later than Vasant Panchami. Vasant Panchami, celebrated on Shukla Panchami of the Maagh month, is a part of the winter season.

EGI, Press Club outrage after police summon ‘journalists’ who spread propaganda against terror financing linked to mosques and madrasas? Here’s what we know so...

The outrage over journalists being summoned in Kashmir for reporting on a possible counter-terror financing exercise involving mosques and madrasas

Pak-linked LeT recruitment and radicalisation case in West Bengal: NIA special court in Kolkata sentences Syed M Idris to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment; read...

The NIA court detailed how Idris abetted LeT activities through cyberspace, recruited impressionable youths, and conspired with co-accused, while rejecting probation and stressing deterrence in terrorism cases despite expressions of repentance.

Landmark step towards Viksit Bharat: Modi govt approves ₹5,000 crore equity infusion into SIDBI to enhance MSME credit, create job opportunities for youth

The investment will be made in three stages, with ₹3,000 crore going towards the first phase in FY 2025-26.

11 years of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao: Read how the scheme helped curb female foeticide and improved the male-female ratio

Ever since its launch on 22nd January 2015, the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative has played a significant role in addressing the decline of the child sex ratio (CSR), preventing gender-biased sex-selective elimination, including female foeticide and infanticide, and promoting the protection and education of girl children.

Punjab: Amritsar police arrest Sikh man for desecrating Hindu deity images, Hindu activist flags rising attacks; Exclusive details

The accused was booked under Section 298 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita after identification from social media clips. Hindu organisations demanded strict action, cautioning authorities against attributing deliberate religious desecration to mental instability claims casually.

‘One lakh fake forged birth certificates issued in two months through Central Registration System (CRS)’: All you need to know about Kirit Somaiya’s explosive...

Senior BJP leader Kirit Somaiya has alleged that over one lakh fake birth certificates were generated by hacking the Centre’s CRS portal in just two months, calling it a serious national security threat.

Donald Trump made himself richer by $1.4 billion after becoming President for second term, says report: Read details

The NYT report titled “How Trump Has Used the Presidency to Make at Least $1.4 Billion” was published on 20th January, marking the first anniversary of Trump’s second presidential term. Donald Trump has pocketed at least $1,408,500,000 since his January 2025 return to the White House, through an unprecedented exploitation of the office for his personal enrichment.

FF BOT at armament depots: Indian Army signs ₹62 crore deal with Swadeshi Empresa for “Made in India” firefighting robots developed under iDEX initiative

The Indian Army has taken action to acquire the indigenous FF BOT after it was showcased at Army House in last December.

India’s poorest households are consuming gutkha, other tobacco products at an alarming rate, spending more and more on it: Study reveals

The country is expanding its subsidised healthcare system while gutkha is being consumed at an alarming rate.

‘Isko batana hai… anjaam kya hota hai’: Bombay HC denies bail to Yusuf Khan, accused in Umesh Kolhe’s murder, says killing was ‘meant to...

The bench rejected the business dispute defence, noting deliberate exposure of the victim, covert participation through intermediaries, and cumulative circumstantial evidence. It held bail standards under UAPA require only prima facie truth at this stage.

Uttar Pradesh: 10 illegal mazars on Suheldev Medical College land in Bahraich finally bulldozed by administration after years of legal battle

The management committee of the shrine declined to dismantle the unlawful structures despite offering numerous assurances.

Maneka Gandhi’s remarks irresponsible and should invite contempt: Read what SC said on callous statements by former minister over stray dogs issue

The court restrained dog lovers’ advocates from disputing the child’s cause of death, heard allegations of hospital negligence, questioned responsibility for repeat dog attacks, and underscored that public safety cannot be overshadowed by selective activism.

‘Udhayanidhi Stalin made hate speech against Hindus’: Madras HC quashes FIR against BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya, says DMK has a history of...

Justice S Srimathy said, “There is a clear attack on Hinduism by the Dravida Kazhagam, and subsequently, along with the DMK, for the past 100 years, to which the minister belongs. While considering the overall circumstances, it is seen that the petitioner had questioned the hidden meaning of the minister’s speech."

Rs 8031.56 crores saved, lakhs of fraudulent transactions stopped: Read how Centre’s Suspect Registry is helping India combat cyber frauds

Over 18.43 lakh suspect identifier data received from Banks and 24.67 lakh Layer 1 mule accounts were shared with the participating entities of Suspect Registry and declined transactions worth Rs. 8031.56 crores.

Shimjitha Musthafa booked after a man commits suicide following sexual harassment allegations: Kerala tragedy exposes dangers of social media vigilantism

On 16th January, Deepak U, a resident of Kozhikode’s Govindapuram area had taken a KSRTC bus, where Shimjitha Musthafa was also travelling. During the crowded bus journey, Shimjitha Musthafa recorded and shared a video claiming that Deepak inappropriately touched her.

Those who fear Babur should not guard Bharat’s culture

When the national debate on Babur resurfaced following NCERT changes, I was among the very few historians, apart from RC Majumdar and Sir Jadunath Sarkar, who were publicly referenced as part of the so-called “Nationalist-wing” scholarly tradition. When people now claim that the Right produces no scholars, it is precisely because individuals occupying decorated offices lend credibility to such lazy generalisations.

Has Iran been able to ‘deal with’ the protests despite Trump’s bravado? Here is what is happening under Ayatollah regime now

After weeks of unrest, Iranian authorities say order has been restored through arrests, patrols, and surrender ultimatums, even as foreign monitors dispute casualty figures and Trump’s rhetoric fuels regime change narratives with implications beyond Iran’s borders.

‘American consumers paying nearly all of the price’: Study finds the real casualties of US President Donald Trump’s tariff war

The report is titled, "America's own goal: Americans are largely responsible for funding Trump's tariffs."

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi walks out of the assembly again: Protocol, pride and the seeds of separation in Tamil Nadu

Regional pride is essential in a diverse democracy. However, India's unity and integrity are undermined when regional pride is used as a weapon to marginalise national symbols. The Constitution's preamble pledges to protect the unity and integrity of the nation.

UGC’s equity regulations risk turning campuses into DEI laboratories that India can’t afford

What the UGC has proposed is not a modest reform but a sweeping bureaucratic architecture that closely resembles Western DEI frameworks, models that promised inclusion but instead delivered polarisation, litigation, and institutional paralysis. India is at risk of importing a failed ideological export at precisely the wrong moment.

Sabarimala gold theft case: ED raids 21 locations including properties of Devaswom Board’s former chief and CPIM leader. Thanthri Sabha seeks CBI probe

Meanwhile, the SIT is set to visit the Sabarimala shrine today for conducting on-site evidence collection.

UPSC educator Vijender Chauhan claims ChatGPT favours Upper-Caste: How UPSC coaching faculties are injecting caste discrimination in education

Vijender Chauhan asserted that ChatGPT is inherently biased and exhibits caste bias following the backlash on social media.

Times of India’s Wikipedia interview avoids tough questions: Ideological sourcing, silenced dissent, India-specific bias, and enforced ‘consensus’ through ‘reliable sources’

While the Times of India interview amplifies Wikipedia’s neutrality claims, documented editing practices reveal how approved sources, enforced consensus, and editorial privilege restrict debate, marginalise dissenting voices, and shape coverage of India-related and Hindu-focused issues.

Bareilly Namaz row: How it is not just about ‘offering prayers’ but a precursor to encroachment, land grab, and forced conversions

What begins as a seemingly harmless practice of religious rituals soon evolves into de facto religious structures, and religious sentiments are weaponised to hold on to the illegally encroached properties as well as conversion activities in the name of the right to practice one’s religion.

Is Kerala really a Communist state? The myth of the ‘Kerala Model’ and Left govt’s misleading claims of eradicating extreme poverty

Most importantly, Kerala operates within India's capitalist constitutional framework. It depends heavily on central government tax transfers, national financial institutions, private-sector employment, and foreign remittances in capitalist economies. But none of this comes under the actual communist economic system.

No, Bareilly Police did not arrest Muslim men for offering Namaz in their own homes, as claimed by Islamists online. Here’s the truth

Contrary to the claims made by the usual suspects on social media, the Bareilly Police only detained, not arrested, 12 Muslims, not for simply offering Namaz in their own homes, but for doing so inside a vacant private house without administrative permission.

Love jihad dismissed, conversions ignored, Hindu expression labelled hate: How CSOH’s hate speech report distorts data to push an anti-Hindu narrative

The Washington-based CSOH's study claims to track hate speech but relies on activist networks, ignores police records and court proceedings, and applies scrutiny only to Hindu groups while excluding Islamist and missionary activities from comparable examination.

How BJP elect its National President? Read about the election process, constitutional rules, the electoral college, and the past presidents

As the "Sangathan Parva" concludes, the BJP prepares for the formal election of Nitin Nabin as its national president. Nominations are scheduled for January 19, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to lead the proposers. At 45, Nabin represents a strategic generational shift, taking the helm as the party focuses on expanding its footprint in southern and eastern India.

Muslim mobs run rampage in Murshidabad over ‘migrant issues’, attack journalists, carry out arson and stone pelting: Read how West Bengal has emerged as...

The Muslim mob thrashed several reporters and photojournalists and even molested some of them. One case in point is that of Soma Maiti, a female journalist who works for Zee 24 Ghanta News. She was punched, kicked and sexually assaulted in the middle of the road.

Maharashtra civic poll results show Muslim vote bank is moving out of Congress shadow: A trailer for the full show in Assam and West...

Maharashtra municipal elections mark a Muslim voter shift, with AIMIM winning 114-125 seats peaking at 33 in Sambhajinagar and Malegaon's Islam Party securing 35. Frustrated with Congress, voters back local voices on civic issues, eyeing similar changes in Bengal, Assam.

VGRC, maritime jobs and multi-crore investments: How the Gujarat govt is linking the state’s vast coastline with the Blue Economy

Gujarat is charting its next growth phase through the blue economy, as advanced coastal mapping and massive VGRC-linked investments unlock the state’s vast maritime potential for jobs, infrastructure, and sea-led development.

Resort politics returns to Mumbai: Eknath Shinde moves Sena corporators to a hotel amid fears of poaching and battle for BMC’s mayoral post

Resort politics has resurfaced in Mumbai as Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena shifted corporators to a luxury hotel amid poaching fears and a high-stakes battle for control of the BMC mayor’s post.

PM Modi to perform Bhumi Pujan for Kaziranga Elevated Corridor in Assam: All you need to know about India’s most wildlife-friendly highway project

During this visit, the Prime Minister is to lay the foundation stone of the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor, which is one of the most environmentally sensitive road projects in India to date.

A R Rahman plays Muslim victimhood card by saying he lost work in Bollywood, claims ‘it might be a communal thing’: Read how his...

Beyond the insinuation that there he may have been a target of industry politics due to his South Indian or Tamil background or for other reasons, A R Rahman cited Chinese whispers, to suggst that him not getting more work in Bollywood could be a “communal thing”.