Laws, regulations, government decisions, public policy
India's Modi government introduced bills Thursday to expand parliament's size and bring forward a one-third women's seat reservation, both tied to a forthcoming delimitation process. The opposition accused the ruling BJP of using the restructuring to engineer electoral advantage. The bills' passage through both chamber
Medicare is considering ending its breakthrough device payment pathway, which currently fast-tracks reimbursement for FDA-designated novel medical devices. Removal would push manufacturers into standard, slower coverage reviews, undermining the commercial case for early-stage medtech innovation. No timeline for a final
Haryana and Uttar Pradesh will revise minimum wages for unskilled, semi-skilled, and skilled workers starting April 1, 2026. The change raises mandatory wage floors across both states, directly affecting payroll costs for manufacturers, contractors, and logistics operators. Employers must update compensation structures
RTI data shows resident doctors at AIIMS Delhi, JIPMER, and AFMC are working up to 135 hours per week. Between 2020 and 2024, 119 UG and PG medicos died by suicide and 1,113 quit their PG courses. The UDF and a Parliamentary Standing Committee are now demanding enforcement of a Clinical Duty Hours Regulation policy.
CFTC Chair Michael Selig told Congress the agency will keep issuing regulations even though he is currently its only sitting commissioner on the five-member body. A solo-commissioner CFTC raises questions about the legal durability of any rules issued and signals potential procedural risk for derivatives market partici
A Parliamentary Standing Committee has recommended NEET PG reservation, additional marks, and competitive pay for MBBS doctors who serve in rural and remote areas. The proposal aims to correct the chronic urban concentration of medical professionals by attaching postgraduate admission advantages to rural service. Imple
Truck convoys are blocking roads and key infrastructure across the Republic of Ireland in fuel price protests, with demonstrations potentially moving into Northern Ireland. The actions threaten supply chain disruption and are pressing governments in Dublin and Belfast toward a policy response on fuel costs.
Paul Edison Tan received a jail term and caning for molesting a 10-year-old girl at a Singapore cinema. His prior record, which includes organising travel and distributing information to promote commercial sex with minors abroad, was treated as an aggravating factor. The sentence reflects Singapore's deterrent approach
India's demographic divide is converting fertility differences between northern and southern states into compounding fiscal and political pressures. Aging southern states face rising dependency costs and a potential loss of parliamentary seats under post-2026 delimitation, penalizing states that met national fertility
Tamil Nadu's 234 Assembly seats were fixed by the Delimitation Commission using a constitutional rule requiring Assembly totals to be an integral multiple of the state's 39 Lok Sabha seats. The formula, rooted in Article 170 and the Delimitation Commission Act, 1962, constrains any future redistricting exercise to mult
A Sebi working group convened its first meeting to strengthen India's stock lending and borrowing scheme, focusing on custodian-led institutional participation and process digitization. Expanding custodian involvement could unlock idle institutional inventory and improve SLB liquidity, benefiting hedging and short-sell
US authorities are investigating suspicious oil trades placed ahead of Trump administration policy shifts on Iran, a source says. The probe suggests traders may have acted on advance knowledge of sanctions or diplomatic moves, which can cause sharp crude price swings. No charges or named subjects have been disclosed.
The US Senate rejected a fourth war powers resolution that would have limited President Trump's military authority over Iran. The vote, the first since Trump threatened to destroy Iranian civilisation, failed to build sufficient cross-party support, leaving executive war-making latitude intact. No near-term legislative
A Department of Homeland Security official has confirmed the US government shutdown is slowing security planning for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The disruption affects multi-agency coordination across federal law enforcement bodies responsible for threat assessment and venue security across multiple host cities. The durat
A Manhattan jury ruled Live Nation-Ticketmaster an illegal monopolist on three counts, including ticketing, amphitheaters, and unlawful tying of promotions to venues. The verdict opens the company to a potential forced breakup, a remedy the Biden DOJ originally sought but the Trump DOJ's separate settlement did not pur
The Gujarat High Court issued notices to Meta, X, and Google over a PIL seeking restrictions on AI misuse, citing government-reported non-compliance with lawful notices. The case adds judicial pressure on major tech platforms operating in India at a moment when the country lacks comprehensive AI-specific regulation. Fo
Sen. Elizabeth Warren is seeking unanimous consent Wednesday to pass the Direct File Act and restore the IRS free tax filing service shut down by the Trump administration. The bill's fate hinges on whether a single senator objects, either fast-tracking it to the House or stalling it in committee. IRS Direct File had re
A government-appointed panel will probe the assets of politicians and officials dating back to 2006. Political parties have backed an evidence-based process but cautioned against using the inquiry to selectively target opponents. The panel's terms of reference and enforcement powers have not yet been disclosed.
India's DCGI has reduced drug approval timelines by over 50%, with marketing authorizations now granted in under 150 days and clinical trial approvals in 120, 135 days. The regulator has also removed mandatory prior approval at the pre-clinical stage, lowering barriers for early drug development. Both changes are in eff
SEBI and India's Department of Telecommunications have signed an MoU to share real-time intelligence on securities market fraud via DoT's Digital Intelligence Platform. The agreement targets telecom-enabled investor scams by creating a formal cross-agency coordination mechanism. Enforcement effectiveness will depend on