Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten expressed concern about the state of press freedom and minority rights in India ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Netherlands. According to Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant, Jetten said the Dutch government and wider Europe were worried about developments in India, particularly regarding the situation of Muslims and other small communities. He added that these concerns were regularly raised with the Indian government and that the EU-India free trade agreement could provide a platform to discuss broader issues such as human rights and democracy.

In response, India’s Ministry of External Affairs dismissed the remarks, saying they reflected a lack of awareness about India. Ministry official C.B. George described India as a vibrant democracy with deep cultural and religious diversity, noting that minority populations had grown from 11% at independence to over 20% today. He emphasized that all communities in India continue to prosper.

Meanwhile, human rights organizations have criticized India for declining press freedom. Reporters Without Borders ranked India 157th out of 180 countries in 2026, down from 151st in 2025, placing it below several South Asian neighbors.

India, the world’s most populous country with about 1.42 billion people, is witnessing a new campaign by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s political allies and Hindu nationalist organizations encouraging citizens to have more children. They argue that declining birth rates could lead to demographic imbalance and future economic strain. According to UN projections, India’s population may continue to grow for nearly four decades, reaching around 1.7 billion.

India’s total fertility rate fell to 2.0 during 2019–21 from 3.4 in 1992–93, largely due to women’s education and wider use of contraception. The government considers a rate of 2.1 necessary for population stability. In this context, the Andhra Pradesh government, run by a coalition including Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, announced incentives of 30,000 rupees for a third child and 40,000 rupees for a fourth, though implementation details remain unclear. Sikkim has also introduced benefits such as extended parental leave and IVF support.

RSS, the ideological parent of the BJP, has voiced concern over falling fertility, warning of demographic imbalance. Meanwhile, official data show youth unemployment at 9.9 percent in 2025, highlighting economic challenges amid calls for larger families.

The new West Bengal government, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, has decided to discontinue all religion-based allowances in the state. The decision was taken during the second cabinet meeting held on Monday at Nabanna. Minister Agnimitra Paul announced that allowances and aid programs under the Information and Culture Department and the Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education Department, which were based on religious identity, will be stopped. Beneficiaries will receive payments for the current month, but the scheme will cease from next month.

The government clarified that scholarships and educational grants for students will continue unaffected. Only financial assistance provided on the basis of religious identity is being withdrawn. Paul added that a detailed government notification on the matter will be issued soon.

The cabinet also approved several other measures, including the formation of a Seventh Pay Commission to review government employees’ pay structure, the launch of the Annapurna Yojana, and free travel for women on all state-run buses starting June 1.

In West Bengal, newly appointed Minority Affairs and Madrasa Education Minister Khudiram Tudu warned that any illegally operating madrasas in the state could be demolished with bulldozers if they defy government orders. His remarks came amid a broader campaign of evictions and demolitions following the change of government, which critics allege is targeting Muslim communities. Although Tudu later clarified that his comments were misinterpreted and referred only to investigations into illegal institutions, his statement triggered widespread fear and anger.

Muslim scholars, religious leaders, and community figures strongly condemned the minister’s remarks, asserting that India’s constitution guarantees minorities the right to manage their own educational institutions. They argued that many independent madrasas operate lawfully without government funding. Meanwhile, the minister promised reforms, including new managing committees and teacher recruitment through the School Service Commission, to improve madrasa education.

On Sunday, around 500 residents of Kolkata’s Park Circus area, mostly women, protested against the bulldozer threat and alleged religious targeting. Police and paramilitary forces intervened, leading to clashes and reports of police assault on demonstrators.

In West Bengal, India, new cattle slaughter restrictions imposed by the recently formed BJP-led state government have triggered widespread unrest ahead of Eid al-Adha. The directive enforces strict certification requirements under the 1950 West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act and a 2018 High Court order, allowing slaughter only for animals over 14 years old or permanently unfit for work or breeding. Public slaughter is banned, and violations carry fines or jail terms. As a result, cattle markets have emptied, with traders and buyers avoiding legal risks.

The crisis has hit Hindu cattle farmers hardest, many of whom raise cattle year-round on loans expecting Eid sales. With markets frozen, they face mounting debt and losses, some publicly threatening suicide and demanding the government or Prime Minister Narendra Modi buy their unsold cattle. Opposition figures and local legislators have criticized the age-verification rule as impractical, questioning how authorities can determine a cow’s age without birth records.

Critics also highlight a policy contradiction: while small farmers face restrictions, India remains one of the world’s top beef exporters, earning billions annually from corporate meat exports, raising questions about fairness in livestock policy.

A fire broke out early Sunday morning in an air-conditioned coach of the Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express while it was passing near Vikramgarh Alot station in Kota district, Rajasthan. According to Indian media NDTV, the incident occurred around 5:45 a.m. in the B-1 coach of the train. No casualties were reported. All 68 passengers in the affected coach were safely evacuated and moved to other compartments. The damaged coach was detached from the train, and its power supply was disconnected.

A video circulating on social media showed thick black smoke rising from the burning coach, with nearby trees catching fire due to the heat and sparks. Railway officials said the rescued passengers would be taken to Kota in other coaches, where a replacement coach would be attached to resume the journey.

The 12431 Rajdhani Express had departed from Thiruvananthapuram on Friday and was scheduled to reach Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station in Delhi at 12:30 p.m. The fire occurred after the train had covered about 2,600 kilometers and was still around 450 kilometers from Delhi.

Former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief A.S. Dulat has said that India is gradually becoming diplomatically and politically isolated on the international stage. In an interview with a British media outlet, cited by Pakistan’s Geo News, Dulat stated that India’s long-held belief that Pakistan would collapse due to internal crises has proven wrong. He added that India’s efforts to diplomatically isolate Pakistan have not succeeded, and instead, India now faces growing pressure in regional affairs.

Dulat highlighted that Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, is gaining increasing global recognition, noting that former U.S. President Donald Trump had publicly praised him. He further said Pakistan’s active mediation between the United States and Iran has strengthened its diplomatic standing, allowing it to present itself as a responsible and balanced state internationally.

Discussing Kashmir, Dulat attributed ongoing unrest to local frustration and deprivation. He also mentioned that India-Pakistan diplomatic ties have nearly stalled, with border tensions and military clashes worsening the situation. He referred to an 87-hour conflict in May 2025 that ended with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, after which Pakistan’s regional role became more visible.

Indian media reported a tragic incident in Gujarat’s Morbi district where a man allegedly handed over his wife and underage daughter to their landlord for sexual exploitation after failing to pay rent. The man reportedly agreed to this act in exchange for 2,000 rupees. Police have arrested both the man and the landlord following the complaint.

According to authorities, the family had moved from Surendranagar to Morbi about six months earlier in search of livelihood and rented a house for 2,000 rupees per month. Due to severe financial hardship, they had been unable to pay rent for four months. The man then reached a deal with the landlord to settle the dues through the exploitation of his wife and daughter.

Police said the victim’s grandmother filed a complaint at Morbi police station, leading to charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and other relevant laws. A third suspect is being sought in connection with the crime.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has repeatedly accused the United States of pressuring countries to stop buying Russian oil, calling such actions unfair. He argued that more nations should import energy from Russia. Meanwhile, Ajay Srivastava, former Indian trade official and head of the Global Trade Research Initiative, voiced concern over India’s energy security, noting that the country imports about 90 percent of its oil, much of it from the Gulf region, which faces uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz.

Srivastava said roughly 30 percent of India’s oil imports from Russia last year faced complications due to US pressure, describing the situation as an emergency. He added that while the US is increasing its own oil exports and India has imported more from America, the US still lacks sufficient capacity to meet global demand. He urged India to secure a long-term deal with Russia and not yield to Washington’s pressure.

Journalist and diplomatic analyst Smita Sharma offered a different view, saying India cannot openly oppose the US given trade and investment pressures. She noted that India may continue importing Russian oil quietly while leaning closer to the US and Israel within global alliances.

Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi issued a strong warning to Pakistan, saying the country must decide whether it will remain on the world map or disappear into history if it continues to shelter terrorists and engage in hostile acts against India. He made the remarks on Saturday, May 16, at an event held at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi.

Speaking during an interactive session titled 'Sena Samvad', organized under the platform 'Uniform Unveiled', General Dwivedi reiterated India’s long-standing firm stance against terrorism. His brief but sharp statement has reportedly heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. The comments came just days after India’s government and armed forces celebrated the first anniversary of 'Operation Sindhur' with great ceremony.

When asked how the Indian Army would respond if a situation similar to 'Operation Sindhur' arose again, the Army Chief recalled his earlier remarks, emphasizing that Pakistan’s actions would determine its own fate.

On April 11, 2026, eight teachers and 163 children from Bihar traveling by Patna–Pune Express to a madrasa in Maharashtra were forcibly deboarded at Katni railway station in Madhya Pradesh. The Government Railway Police and Railway Protection Force acted on a written complaint from a Child Welfare Committee member alleging the children were being taken for labor. The minors were questioned and later returned home after verification with their families.

Families and madrasa authorities maintained the children were traveling for religious and general education, carrying all necessary documents. Local activists and lawyers argued that the incident reflected bias against Muslim communities and misuse of trafficking laws. Officials said the action was based on precautionary grounds to ensure child safety. Similar detentions of 59 minors bound for a madrasa in Odisha were also reported.

The case highlighted poverty and lack of residential madrasa facilities in Bihar’s border districts, prompting parents to send children to other states for free education and lodging. The incident has sparked debate over child protection procedures and the treatment of minority students during interstate travel.

The two-day meeting of BRICS foreign ministers in New Delhi concluded without a joint statement after disagreements emerged over the ongoing Iran war. Host nation India issued only a chair’s statement, noting that member states held differing views on the Middle East conflict. Tehran had urged the group to condemn what it described as a U.S.-Israel war against Iran and accused the United Arab Emirates of direct involvement in military operations against it.

According to India’s statement, BRICS members expressed varied positions on ending the war and emphasized respect for state sovereignty, regional integrity, adherence to international law, and the protection of civilian lives. The statement also reaffirmed that Gaza is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territories and underscored the importance of unifying the West Bank and Gaza under the Palestinian Authority. Support for Palestinian self-determination and the creation of an independent state was reiterated, though one member country reportedly objected to the Gaza reference.

As the 2026 BRICS chair, India’s statement concluded by calling for unity among developing nations in addressing global crises.

A new directive issued by the West Bengal government ahead of Eid al-Adha has triggered widespread fear and controversy across the state. The Home Department’s order imposes strict conditions on animal sacrifice, requiring a joint fitness certificate from local authorities and a government veterinarian before slaughtering cows, buffaloes, or bulls. Only animals over 14 years old or those permanently unfit for work may be slaughtered, with violations punishable by six months’ imprisonment and fines. The directive has reportedly intensified the activities of self-proclaimed cow protection groups, especially in Muslim-majority areas, creating a tense atmosphere.

Many Muslims view the order as a deliberate attempt to restrict their religious practices and marginalize their community socially and economically. Analysts argue that Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari’s BJP-led government is using the directive to deepen communal polarization. Economists warn that the restrictions could severely disrupt the livestock and meat trade, affecting thousands of livelihoods and damaging the rural economy and leather exports.

Experts caution that such policies, driven by sectarian motives, could inflict lasting harm on West Bengal’s economy and social harmony.

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir has strongly condemned what it described as systematic state oppression and post-election violence against minority Muslims in India, as well as recent restrictions by the newly formed West Bengal government that effectively ban cow slaughter. In a joint statement issued on Friday, the organization’s central president Nurul Islam and secretary general Sibgatullah denounced these actions as discriminatory and harmful to the religious and economic rights of Muslims, particularly ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha festival.

The statement alleged that following the West Bengal assembly election results, more than 34 incidents of planned violence targeted Muslims in several districts, including Cooch Behar, North and South 24 Parganas, and Kolkata. It cited an APCR report claiming widespread destruction of Muslim homes, businesses, and mosques. The leaders also referred to a broader pattern of persecution, mentioning the NRC and CAA laws in Assam, the revocation of Article 370 in Kashmir, and the demolition of the Babri Mosque.

Chhatra Shibir urged immediate cessation of violence in West Bengal, withdrawal of the discriminatory slaughter ban, and called on the UN, OIC, Arab League, and global human rights bodies to take effective action against the ongoing oppression of Muslims in India.

After a long period of price stability, the Indian government has increased fuel prices nationwide. On Friday, authorities announced a hike of three rupees per liter for petrol and diesel, and two rupees per kilogram for CNG. The decision follows growing pressure on foreign exchange reserves, rising global crude oil prices, and a weakening rupee. In Delhi, petrol now costs 97.77 rupees per liter and diesel 90.67 rupees, while prices in Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai have also risen accordingly.

India had avoided fuel price hikes since April 2022, even cutting prices by two rupees per liter before the March 2024 general elections. However, surging crude oil import costs—rising from about 69 dollars per barrel in February to over 113 dollars in recent months—have strained the economy. As the world’s third-largest oil importer, India spent about 174 billion dollars on crude oil imports in the 2025–26 fiscal year.

Economists warn that India’s current foreign exchange reserve of around 690 billion dollars may be insufficient to handle global uncertainty. Former RBI Deputy Governor Michael Debabrata Patra suggested reserves should reach at least one trillion dollars to ensure economic stability.