EP GROUND CHECK

India’s health ministry has quietly diluted its proposed warning labels for unhealthy packaged foods and drinks after sustained pressure from food and beverage companies. The original plan introduced front-of-pack labels using a traffic light system or bold red stamps to flag products high in sugar, salt, and fat. The final rules released last week now […]

Manipur’s government has ordered all schools, colleges and other educational institutes to remain closed for three days, responding to intensifying protests over the sequence of two major administrative exercises: the Census and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The shutdown comes as the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) entered its second day of

Between March and July this year, the government sent approximately 1.95 lakh blocking orders to Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, according to data accessed by The Indian Express. That translates to roughly 1,275 orders a day, or one every 68 seconds. Between October 2024 and October 2025, by comparison, a total of 2,312 blocking orders were

Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran has proposed restoring E10 petrol alongside E20 for older vehicles and urged India to examine the food-versus-fuel trade-off before pushing ethanol blending beyond 20%. In a column published in The Indian Express with Department of Economic Affairs consultant Akash Poojari, the authors estimate that 75 to 80 million older

The Supreme Court on Friday said students have a right to protest and that the Bar Council of India has “no business” stopping them. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant was hearing the matter related to the BCI’s circular banning enrollment of NALSAR University of Law’s entire 2026 graduating batch as advocates. “It’s a dialogue

A parliamentary committee has expressed concern over the sharp decline in school enrolment as students progress through India’s education system, noting that nearly 73% of students drop out before completing higher secondary education. The findings are part of the Tenth Report (2026-27) of the Committee on Estimates on affordable and quality education, which was presented

India has officially recognised heatwaves as a notified natural calamity, marking a significant shift in how the country responds to one of its fastest-growing climate risks. The decision, announced on August 4, allows states to access financial support through disaster response and mitigation funds for heat-related interventions. Until now, many states could prepare heat action

The Maharashtra government has approved the diversion of nearly 0.78 hectares of forest land, including reserved forest and mangrove areas, for two infrastructure projects proposed by Adani Group companies in Raigad and Amravati. The approvals were issued through two separate Government Resolutions by the state’s Forest Department, allowing land to be diverted to Adani Cementation

More than 450 graduating students at the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR) University in Hyderabad have opposed the reported decision to invite Chief Justice of India Surya Kant as the chief guest for the institution’s 2026 convocation ceremony. In a representation addressed to the Vice-Chancellor, Registrar and other university authorities, the students

The Bombay High Court has convicted journalist Tarun Tejpal in a 2013 sexual assault case, overturning an acquittal that a lower court had given him two years ago. The Goa bench of the high court found Tejpal guilty on Wednesday and said it would announce his sentence later that afternoon. The case stems from an