FP Explainers
Does the new IPC Bill criminalise ‘love jihad’?
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Bill, 2023, has a specific provision where marrying a woman after ‘suppressing identity’ or indulging in sex under the false pretence of marriage could attract imprisonment as well as a fine. This proposed legislation seeks to replace the IPC of 1860
How Mahatma Gandhi used khadi to fight the British
In India, khadi is not just a fabric. During the fight for freedom, Mahatma Gandhi adopted it as a tool to fight the British and make India self-reliant. It is this vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat that PM Narendra Modi is now chasing
Can children have dementia? What’s the Type 2 Battens disease diagnosed in US children?
Type 2 Battens Disease, also known as childhood dementia, is a genetic disorder that affects around 2 to 4 in every 100,000 children. Bryden and Kristian Tucker, the parents of Michael (6) and Oliver (2), say they are devasted but trying to make the best possible life for their children
Kim Kardashian promotes $2,500 full-body scan: Why are health experts warning against it?
Kim Kardashian is facing flak for promoting a costly full-body scan on her Instagram, with her followers calling her ‘tone-deaf’. Health experts say there is no evidence to prove these scans benefit asymptomatic people
First Adhir Ranjan, now Raghav Chadha: When are MPs suspended from Parliament?
MPs can be suspended from Parliament for unruly behaviour including causing a ruckus, obstructing business and gross misconduct. In case they are suspended for breach of privilege, committees in the Houses examine the matter by calling witnesses, procuring documents and then issue reccomendations
Capital punishment, lynching, sedition: How criminal laws could change
Home minister Amit Shah introduced three Bills in Lok Sabha today (11 August), with an aim to reform India’s criminal justice system. From capital punishment for mob lynching to repealing sedition law, here are the big modifications proposed by the Centre
Why RBI kept its repo rate unchanged and what it means for inflation
The six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India in a unanimous decision kept the repo rate unchanged at 6.50 per cent – the third consecutive time that the committee has done so. Experts have praised the central bank’s balanced approach in the face of the difficult task o
Hawaii wildfires kill 53: How did the flames scorching Maui start?
The death toll from deadly wildfires ravaging Maui has risen to 53 and is expected to surge further. While the exact cause remains to be determined, experts say the blazes were fuelled by dry conditions, strong winds and low humidity affecting the wet, tropical island of Hawaii
Air India’s massive makeover: What’s the new logo, what happens to the Maharaja?
Big changes are coming to Air India. The Tata-owned airline is replacing the old logo with a new one called ‘The Vista’, which reimagines the iconic Indian window shape. The new colour palette is deep red, aubergine and gold, and the Maharaja has a different role
Chandrayaan-3 vs Russia’s Luna-25: Why Moon’s south pole is so fascinating
The race to the Moon is heating up. Russia’s Luna-25 is now competing with ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 to be the first to land on the lunar surface’s south pole. The unexplored region, having a tough terrain and very low temperatures, hides many secrets and has always held the fascination of space experts
How Indian students face uncertainty after Canadian college revokes admission letters
Some Indian students received a jolt when they received an email from Northern College in Ontario informing them that their admission offers for this coming school year had been revoked
At 2 hours and 13 minutes, how PM Modi delivered his longest speech yet
PM Modi was at his eloquent best on Thursday while delivering his reply to the no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha. From assuring peace in Manipur to taking on the Opposition bloc, INDIA, the PM said it all. This speech is the PM’s longest ever address – he had earlier spoken for 91 minutes in 2018
Why Malaysia wants to jail LGBT Swatch watch owners
Owners or sellers of rainbow-coloured timepieces made by Swiss watchmaker Swatch will face three years in prison in Malaysia. The move comes as the Muslim-majority country rails against LGBTQ symbols, saying it could ‘harm morals’
How India’s freedom struggle influenced political movements across the world
From the civil rights fight in America to the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and struggles in Ghana, Zambia, Tanzania and Nigeria, a look at how India's quest for freedom rippled across the world
Jayalalithaa's saree was pulled, says Sitharaman: What happened in TN Assembly in 1989?
AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa was reportedly assaulted and humiliated inside the Tamil Nadu Assembly on 25 March 1989. Invoking this incident in her speech during the no-confidence debate, Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman took potshots at DMK as Kanimozhi remarked on women's safety
‘Ghost flights’: Why is Qatar Airways flying almost-empty planes in Australia?
Qatar Airways has reportedly been operating near-empty passenger jets between Melbourne and Adelaide since last November. This comes as the airline is allowed to run only 28 flights a week into Australia’s four major airports
Hawaii wildfire: Why the wildfires in Maui are so devastating
Thirty-six people have died and the Maui town of Lahaina has been scorched after wildfires ripped across the area. Experts say a dangerous mix of high winds, low humidity and dry vegetation, coupled with climate change fuelled the catastrophe
Another Manipur gang rape: How a 37-year-old was pinned down and sexually assaulted
A 37-year-old woman has now come forward in Manipur’s Churachandpur, alleging that she was caught by a group of Kuki men, forcefully pinned down and then gang-raped on 3 May. Her complaint is another instance of how rape and assault is being weaponised against women in the northeastern state
What's the new bill that wants to keep chief justice out of selection process of poll officers?
The Centre on Thursday listed in the Rajya Sabha a bill that seeks to replace the Chief Justice of India on a panel advising the president on the appointment of top poll officers with a Union cabinet minister. The Opposition has slammed the move as an attempt to stymie the independence of the Electi
No-trust motion: Is Sansad TV giving less screen time to Opposition leaders?
After ticker row, Sansad TV is now in the eye of the storm for allegedly giving less screen time to the Opposition INDIA bloc leaders. Congress has claimed the public broadcaster focused on the Lok Sabha Speaker ‘71 per cent of the time’ during Rahul Gandhi’s speech on Manipur violence on Wednesday