Project Chintan Newsroom

Burdened by debt, bonded to life of toil

Unable to repay debts, a few members of the Vadde community in Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur district were forced to work as bonded labourers at an illegal stone-cutting unit for more than a year. Haresh P. finds out how th

Morning Digest: Wangchuk breaks 26-day fast, PM reaches out to students; U.S. slaps 10% tariffs on goods imported from India, and more

Here is a select list of stories to start the day

Govt. agreed to our request to hold talks on July 24 at neutral venue, says CJP

“A discussion has been called for, we are very happy that the government has agreed to our request that it be at a neutral venue. The Constitution Club of India has been chosen,” Mr. Das said.

Nuclear fusion startups seek regulatory clarity, more patient capital

One of the key recommendations from fusion startups is to create a separate regulatory framework for fusion reactors, arguing that the current law largely applies rules designed for conventional fission reactors

Telangana farmers caught between a dry spell and despair

Delayed rains, falling groundwater levels and the looming impact of El Niño have left thousands of farmers across Telangana anxiously watching the skies. While the State has rolled out a contingency plan urging a shift t

How AI guardrails are impeding the work of offensive cybersecurity researchers

We spoke with several cybersecurity researchers, who look for unknown vulnerabilities and develop tools to exploit them, about how OpenAI’s and Anthropic’s guardrails affect their work.

Pre-poll promises, post-poll precarity

Launched in 2024 ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly election, the Ladki Bahin scheme initially delivered a vital financial lifeline to farm widows in the mostly rain-starved Marathwada region. But with the political dust

Trump Imposes Fresh 10% US Tariff On India In New Trade Move

The United States has implemented a new 10 percent tariff on imports from India as part of an expansion of current trade policies. This move follows the introduction of fresh tariff slabs under Section 301 targeting several global economies.

Consulting partner pool soars, taps academia, policy and tech too

Consulting and Big Four firms in India have more than doubled their partner ranks over last three to five years amid rising demand for specialized expertise. They are also hiring beyond traditional consulting into tech,

Government Bars Communication Infra Providers From Sharing Data Outside India

The Indian government has issued a notification prohibiting communication infrastructure providers from transferring data outside of the country's borders. This new restriction applies broadly to cloud-based networks, mobile tower operators, and satellite gateway services.

Meet the judges who will crown Australia’s next breakout startup

TechCrunch Startup Battlefield is coming to Australia — and we're partnering with Stripe to find the country's most exciting early-stage startups.

NEET 2024 leak: CBI says no evidence linking key accused Sanjeev Mukhiya to paper’s theft or distribution

‘Not CJP or BJP, it’s about student rights’: Protests rage nationwide; many detained

U.P. oldest MLA Alam Badi Azmi dies, leaders express grief

He represented the Nizamabad constituency five times between 1996 and 2007 and again from 2012 until now. Leaders from across parties expressed grief over the death

Down a fort, now under the ground? Cops of two states search for 3,500-kg cannon

Women separated from partners, ‘raped’ by tribal community leaders in Chhattisgarh

Rajasthan government paves way for political workers to join police’s community intel groups

Coast Guard arrests four arms smugglers off Sundarbans

The operation led to the recovery of a cache of illegal weapons and was executed in close coordination with the Sunderbans Forest Department and intelligence agencies

Activist on hunger strike over Ken-Betwa river link project ends fast after 18 days

Mr. Bhatnagar of Jai Kisan Sangathan had been on a hunger strike for 18 days and was leading the protest, where several people from Chhatarpur and Panna districts had been demonstrating since July 4 against the ₹44,000-c

US Strikes Iran As Tensions Escalate Over Shipping Routes In Hormuz

The United States military has continued its campaign of airstrikes against Iranian targets for nearly two weeks following threats to shipping lanes. Tensions remain high in the Strait of Hormuz as international forces respond to ongoing security concerns in the region.

U.S. House of Representatives again passes resolution seeking to halt military action in Iran as some Republicans defect

The war has had “no clear mission, no strategy, no end goal,” said Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a Democrat who led the resolution on the House floor

Indonesian babies were trafficked to Singapore. What happens to them now?

At least 12 babies have been trafficked from Indonesia to Singapore, but what will happen to them remains unclear.

US Says Won't Block Tate Brothers' Extradition To UK Over Rape Charges

The White House confirmed on Thursday that President Donald Trump will not intervene to block the legal extradition of Andrew and Tristan Tate to the United Kingdom. Both brothers face serious allegations involving sexual offenses and human trafficking in the British legal system.

U.S. slaps 10% tariffs on goods imported from India over issue forced labour

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced the new tariffs on 60 countries under Section 301 of the Trade Act on July 24, a day before the expiration of 10% additional levies on all countries