Stories from New Delhi · India

The Indian ministry of communication announced the launch of the Sedge Savings Account to advance financial inclusion for women-led households in rural India. The account is designed as a simple, accessible, and zero-cost banking solution.

The Indian Supreme Court has approximately 95,000 cases awaiting decisions. Nationally, there are nearly 56 million pending cases, with 48 million located in lower courts. The Indian Justice Minister attributed the backlog partly to a shortage of judges, noting that thousands of positions remain vacant. A new program called "Samadhan" has been introduced to address these issues. The program will run for four months and conclude with special Lok Adalat sessions scheduled for August 21-23. These sessions aim to resolve cases quickly through mutual agreement to partially relieve the judicial system. The initiative follows reports of thousands of vacant judicial positions contributing to the backlog. The Supreme Court of India has announced a large-scale initiative to address a backlog of cases within the national judicial system.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh stated in New Delhi that India will not tolerate terrorist activities under any circumstances. Speaking at a national security summit, Singh said India has moved beyond merely issuing statements of concern following terrorist incidents.

Indian shrimp exports have increased this year despite pressure on the sector last year. The industry has successfully diversified into several new markets beyond its previous heavy reliance on the US market. This expansion occurred during a period of price volatility.

The Delhi High Court has directed that students in Delhi government schools receive their textbooks before the upcoming summer break.

India has decriminalized 717 offenses as part of one of the country's largest legislative reviews. The Jan Westfarths or Amendment of Provisions Act aims to shift away from excessive fines and jail time for these specific violations.

Listed companies in India reported a 14.7 percent increase in net profit for the third quarter of fiscal year 2026. This represents the fastest growth rate observed in the last two years.

IPL 2026 player Riyan Parag has been fined 25% of his match fee following a vaping incident. The BCCI is currently exploring further stringent disciplinary actions.

Patent protection for semaglutide has ended in India, allowing for the rollout of generic versions of somaglutide. These generic versions are expected to cut treatment costs by up to 70% in some cases.

The Indian government is advising against the installation of pre-paid smart electricity meters across various state-run entities. This directive applies to government offices, public sector undertakings (PSUs), and other state-run institutions.