Punjab has enacted a new law imposing stricter penalties for sacrilege, targeting acts of desecration against religious texts and objects held sacred across faiths. The state government has argued that existing provisions under the Indian Penal Code are insufficient to deter offenders or deliver punishment proportionate to the social harm caused by such acts, which have historically triggered communal unrest in the region. Punjab has a recorded pattern of sacrilege incidents, particularly involving the Guru Granth Sahib, that have produced street protests, law-and-order breakdowns, and political pressure on successive governments to act. The new law escalates the penal framework beyond what central legislation currently provides, with the state invoking its authority under concurrent list provisions to legislate on criminal matters. The immediate watch points are whether the law survives constitutional scrutiny, given potential conflicts with central statutes, and how enforcement agencies apply the enhanced provisions in practice, particularly in cases where religious sentiment and evidentiary standards intersect.
India's Expenditure Finance Committee has cleared a Rs 1.25 lakh crore outlay for India Semiconductor Mission 2.0, up 64 percent from ISM 1.0's Rs 76,000 crore. The proposal now goes to the Cabinet, as two chip plants begin commercial output and a third, CG Semi, is set to open July 4, 2026.
The Supreme Court blocked Trump from firing Federal Reserve board member Lisa Cook, preserving the Fed's independence from presidential removal power. A separate ruling the same day gave Trump broader authority to dismiss leaders of other independent federal agencies.
The US Supreme Court has blocked President Trump's attempt to fire Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, who faced unproven mortgage fraud allegations. The ruling preserves Fed independence for now and keeps a politically charged removal case alive in the courts.
The US Supreme Court, splitting along ideological lines, has allowed the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status for Haitian and Syrian immigrants.
