On 28 November, the Supreme Court delivered a judgment that shook the country to its core. The court cancelled the bail of a man accused of poisoning his wife to death barely four months after marriage, and in doing so, it issued a moral and legal reprimand of rare sharpness. A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and R Mahadevan stressed that ignoring the statutory presumption under Section 113B of the Evidence Act in dowry-death cases is an “unjust and distorted approach.” The judges made it unmistakably clear that dowry killing is not a personal family tragedy; it is a public crime, a blow to the collective conscience, and a direct assault on the very idea of humanity.

Under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) 2.0, cities across India are taking concrete steps to make sanitation accessible and inclusive, particularly in high-traffic public spaces such as tourist hubs, busy markets, and transportation hubs.

India currently boasts a staggering 2,827 registered political parties. Among them are six national parties, 58 state-level outfits, and an astonishing 2,763 unrecognised ones, according to the Election Commission’s report from March 2024. Aside from the elevation of Jana Sena to state-party status in January 2025, little has changed in this crowded landscape.

How many of India’s 140 crore people can afford big cars or fancy motorbikes? Even if they buy them on EMIs, who gets free petrol? The reality is that the majority of the population—whether in cities or villages—still walks or relies on bicycles. Yet, no one ever speaks up for the interests of this vast group.

In a country dreaming of becoming a global superpower, a quiet and deadly betrayal unfolds every single day, right on our plates, in our medicine cabinets, and even within the degrees we proudly display. From adulterated milk to fake medicines, from poisonous liquor to bogus diplomas, India is battling an invisible epidemic: the rot of adulteration.

After the success of ‘Operation Langda’ in Uttar Pradesh, many states have begun efforts to make the police system tougher and more stringent. But without basic reforms, will giving the police more freedom be in line with democratic values?