Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome, where he humorously gifted her a packet of 'Melody' chocolate-caramel toffees made by Parle Products. Following Meloni’s sharing of the gift video on social media, the clip quickly went viral, sparking a wave of online memes combining their names as 'Melody'.

Within minutes of the video’s circulation, investors on Dalal Street began searching for 'Parle' on the Bombay Stock Exchange and rushed to buy its shares. However, they mistakenly purchased shares of Parle Industries, a company unrelated to Parle Products, which actually manufactures Melody toffees but is not publicly listed. Parle Industries operates in infrastructure, housing, paper, and recycling sectors.

Despite a broader market downturn due to global concerns over the Iran war, Parle Industries’ share price rose by 5 percent within an hour of the video’s release, climbing from 4.95 to 5.25 rupees. The company’s stock, which had fallen 68 percent over the past year, briefly rebounded thanks to the viral diplomatic moment.

A satirical Indian group called the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has gained widespread attention after surpassing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Instagram followers. Within hours of this surge, the Modi government shut down the CJP’s Instagram account and banned its X account in India, according to the group. Founder Abhijit Deepak shared a screenshot of the blocked account and urged his more than 10 million followers to protest the move, saying the group had only demanded accountability from the education minister following a student’s suicide.

The CJP has been calling for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan since the cancellation of India’s national pre-medical entrance exam over alleged question paper leaks. The exam is scheduled to be retaken in June, but the cancellation has triggered frustration among students nationwide, with Indian media reporting at least two student suicides linked to the incident.

India’s legal framework allows the government to order social media platforms to remove content or block accounts on national security or public order grounds, though such directives are rarely made public.

The Indian rupee has depreciated by about 10 percent against the Bangladeshi taka over the past year, according to data cited on May 21, 2026. The currency also fell 11.86 percent against the Pakistani rupee during the same period, while its exchange rate against the US dollar dropped to 96.96. Analysts attribute the rupee’s broad decline to global economic uncertainty, high crude oil prices, and reduced foreign investment inflows.

Experts note that India’s heavy reliance on imported energy has made its currency vulnerable to rising oil prices, which increase import costs. The situation has been compounded by stalled US-Iran peace talks and higher international bond yields, prompting investors to withdraw funds from emerging markets like India. This has further tightened foreign exchange liquidity and pressured the rupee.

Economists warn that the rupee’s depreciation could raise living costs by making overseas education, travel, and imported goods more expensive. If import expenses continue to outpace export earnings and capital inflows, India’s current account deficit may deepen. Analysts expect short-term volatility to persist if oil prices remain high and global investors continue seeking safer assets.

The West Bengal government has made the singing of 'Vande Mataram' compulsory in all madrasas across the state. According to an order issued by the state's Madrasa Education Directorate, every recognized, government-aided, and unaided madrasa under the Minority Affairs and Madrasa Education Department must include the song in their morning assembly. This directive follows a similar order issued last week requiring all primary and secondary schools in the state to sing the same song before classes begin.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced online that the state government has made the singing of India's national song 'Vande Mataram' mandatory in all schools under the School Education Department. The move aligns with the central government's February decision granting 'Vande Mataram' equal status with the national anthem 'Jana Gana Mana'.

The NDTV report noted that 'Vande Mataram' was a key slogan during India's independence movement and has recently re-emerged in political discussions ahead of the state assembly elections. Similar debates have also surfaced in Tamil Nadu and Kerala over the song's use in official ceremonies.

The United States is increasing its energy exports to India as the South Asian nation seeks to diversify its energy supply sources. U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said in an interview with Bloomberg News that India has shown a positive attitude toward diversification, which translates into greater purchases of American energy. He added that Washington is pleased with India’s growing interest in buying from the United States.

The ambassador’s remarks come just days before U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s scheduled visit to India. The trip is expected to focus on strengthening cooperation in energy, regional security, and trade relations between the two countries.

The timing of the statement suggests that energy collaboration will be a key agenda item during Rubio’s visit, potentially deepening bilateral economic and strategic ties.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced the implementation of India’s 2019 Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the state. The declaration came after a meeting with Border Security Force (BSF) officials at Nabanna on Wednesday. According to the announcement, anyone entering India after December 31, 2024, will be considered an illegal immigrant. Such individuals will first be detained by West Bengal Police, handed over to the BSF, and then transferred to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).

Adhikari stated that the move follows central government directives that the previous state administration had not enforced. He explained that the CAA provides citizenship benefits to certain religious groups but excludes those entering after the specified cutoff date. The Chief Minister also said that identified illegal entrants would be arrested and handed to the BSF.

Additionally, the West Bengal government has initiated the process of transferring land over a 27-kilometer area to strengthen border security, according to Adhikari.

West Bengal’s newly elected Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that 27 kilometers of land will be handed over to the Border Security Force (BSF) to advance fencing work along the India-Bangladesh border. He said the initiative aims to strengthen border security and curb illegal infiltration, with land transfer to begin within two weeks.

Adhikari stated that out of the state’s 2,200-kilometer border, fencing currently exists along about 1,600 kilometers, leaving 600 kilometers incomplete. He alleged that the previous state government withheld 555 kilometers of land for political reasons. The chief minister assigned the land and revenue secretary and the chief secretary to complete the handover process within 45 days.

Referring to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Adhikari said those not covered under the law would be treated as illegal infiltrators, to be arrested by state police and handed over to the BSF. His remarks have sparked new political debate in West Bengal, bringing border security, infiltration, and citizenship issues back to the center of state politics.

Maulana Mohammad Shafiq Qasemi, the imam of Kolkata’s historic Nakhoda Mosque, has urged Muslims in West Bengal to refrain from sacrificing cows during Eid al-Adha and to stop eating beef altogether. In an interview with news agency PTI, he advised Muslims to choose goats as an alternative for sacrifice, emphasizing that avoiding cow slaughter would prevent harm to Hindu families involved in the dairy trade.

Qasemi explained that many Hindu families invest their savings in raising cows and sell them during Eid. If Muslims stop buying cows for sacrifice, those families could face financial losses. His appeal comes amid heightened sensitivity around cow slaughter in the state.

Last week, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in West Bengal issued a directive prohibiting the slaughter of cows and buffaloes without prior permission, effectively tightening control over beef sales. The issue of cow sacrifice and beef consumption has recently intensified religious, social, and political debates in the state.

A new online political movement called the ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ has gone viral across India’s social media platforms. Emerging mainly among Gen Z users, the movement adopted a cockroach as its symbol and gained rapid traction after its launch on May 15. By Tuesday night, its Instagram following reached one million and surpassed three million within hours, making it one of the most discussed online topics in India.

The movement began after India’s Chief Justice compared some unemployed youths to “parasites” and “cockroaches” during a court hearing on fake degrees and joblessness. In response, founder Abhijit Deepak posted online asking what would happen if all “cockroaches” united, triggering a viral wave of memes, posts, and satirical content. Some opposition politicians and former officials have also expressed interest in joining the online group.

Deepak clarified that the movement has no anti-government or regime-change agenda. He emphasized that India’s youth are aware, mature, and politically conscious, and will express their views peacefully and democratically. The group has unveiled a cockroach as its election symbol and plans to hold its first virtual conference soon.

A commentary published on 20 May 2026 in the Bangladeshi daily ‘Amar Desh’ draws parallels between Zionism and Hindutva, arguing that both movements emerged from religious nationalism and rely on force and propaganda to sustain themselves. The article traces the origins of Zionism under Theodor Herzl and its culmination in the 1948 establishment of Israel, describing the state’s expansion into Palestinian territories and its control over the West Bank and Gaza. It alleges systematic oppression of Palestinians, including mass detentions and violence.

The piece then compares Israel’s treatment of Palestinians with India’s political trajectory under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). It claims that since 2014, Hindu nationalist politics have intensified anti-Muslim sentiment, drawing inspiration from Zionist strategies. The article cites BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s campaign remarks in West Bengal, where he labeled Muslims as outsiders and invoked Israel’s Gaza actions as a model.

Following BJP’s electoral win in West Bengal, the article reports incidents of violence against Muslims and calls to identify Muslim homes. It concludes that such developments mirror pre-genocide propaganda seen in other regions and pose grave risks for India’s Muslim population.

The article discusses escalating actions by Hindu nationalist groups in India seeking to convert historic mosques into temples, despite existing laws and court rulings protecting religious sites. It recounts the 1992 demolition of the Babri Mosque and the subsequent 2019 Supreme Court verdict that awarded the disputed land for a Ram temple while affirming the 1991 law preserving the status of all other places of worship as of August 15, 1947. However, recent court decisions, such as the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s declaration of the Kamal Maula Mosque as a temple, have reignited concerns about judicial bias and disregard for legal protections.

The report lists eleven mosques currently under legal dispute, including the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi and the Shahi Eidgah Mosque in Mathura. It also notes that several Hindu groups have filed ownership claims over the Taj Mahal, alleging it was built over a temple site. The author argues that while the Taj Mahal is unlikely to be demolished due to its global significance and tourism value, the ongoing communal campaigns expose India’s deepening religious polarization.

The piece concludes that India’s secular image has eroded, and the international community may soon recognize the country’s growing sectarian and hegemonic tendencies.

Over the past 12 months, the Indian rupee has experienced an unprecedented depreciation of about 11.86 percent against the Pakistani rupee. The exchange rate dropped from 3.2913 Pakistani rupees per Indian rupee in May 2025 to 2.9010 by May 2026. This decline began after the 2015 'Operation Sindur' ceasefire mediated by then U.S. President Donald Trump and has continued despite the end of military tensions.

The report suggests that the rupee’s weakness reflects deeper structural issues in India’s economy under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, rather than solely global factors such as the strong U.S. dollar or Middle East conflicts. The Indian rupee also lost nearly 10 percent against the Bangladeshi taka during the same period. Analysts and international observers, including a Financial Times report, have linked the rupee’s fall to declining confidence in Modi’s administration.

A Japanese bank, MUFG, noted that the rupee’s depreciation is likely to persist through the year regardless of developments in West Asia, indicating that India’s internal economic vulnerabilities remain a key concern.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi faced visible discomfort during a joint press briefing in Oslo, Norway, after a Norwegian journalist directly questioned him about the state of media freedom and democracy in India. The incident occurred following a bilateral meeting, and Modi left the venue without responding to the question. The exchange quickly drew global attention and sparked renewed debate over political accountability in India.

Following the event, the journalist expressed frustration on social media, noting that Norway ranks first in the global press freedom index while India stands at 157. She emphasized that journalists have the right to question governments with which their countries maintain relations. The report also highlighted that since taking office in 2014, Modi has avoided full, unscripted press conferences, preferring selective interviews and controlled events. Opposition parties argue that the Modi government has weakened media accountability in India’s democracy.

Later that night, Indian Foreign Ministry Secretary C.B. George addressed journalists in Norway, defending India’s record on minority and media rights. He stated that allegations against India stem from reports by voluntary organizations and insisted that the Indian constitution guarantees equal rights and legal protection for all citizens.

The central government of India has taken control of several highways in the strategically vital Siliguri Corridor, also known as the ‘Chicken’s Neck’, in West Bengal. According to a notification issued by the state’s chief secretary, the new Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government transferred seven roads to the National Highways Authority of India and the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited. These roads were previously managed by the state’s Public Works Department, and five of them pass directly through the corridor.

Experts believe this transfer will accelerate road expansion and repair work in the area. Military observers note that improved road infrastructure will enhance the speed and ease of troop movement in the region. The corridor, only 22 kilometers long, connects mainland India with its northeastern states and lies close to the borders of Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan.

Analysts view the move as a significant step for national security, following years of central-level discussions on infrastructure expansion in the area since the 2017 Doklam standoff involving India, Bhutan, and China.

Newly elected West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said that his appointment has caused greater discomfort among Jamaat supporters in Bangladesh than among Indian opposition parties. He made the remarks on Monday evening at a thanksgiving event in Kolkata’s Bhabanipur and Camac Street, where he also issued stern warnings regarding border security and law and order.

Adhikari pledged to secure the border, expel non-Indians, and send back infiltrators to Bangladesh through the same routes they entered. He described himself as a common man’s brother who would not bow to pressure and promised to fulfill the commitments made by the Bharatiya Janata Party. He stated that protecting the nation is his government’s top priority, noting that names of infiltrators have already been removed from voter lists and that their deportation process will follow. He also reiterated his earlier decision to provide land for border fencing within 45 days.

Addressing recent violence in Kolkata’s Park Circus, Adhikari warned that attacks on police, vandalism, and extortion will face zero tolerance. He added that those responsible for damaging a police outpost in Asansol will be arrested and made to pay full compensation.