Telangana-Andhra Water War Escalates Over Godavari & Krishna River Dispute

A major political row has erupted over the appointment of retired Air Marshal Jitendra Mishra as the first Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Ram Temple Trust. The Congress party questioned the decision, arguing that the CEO post should belong to saints, while Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Congress ally Indian Union Muslim League also criticised the move over donation allegations. In response, the Bharatiya Janata Party defended the appointment, asserting that the new administrator will manage operations professionally. Speaking to India Today, retired Air Marshal Jitendra Mishra stated that he felt gratitude for the opportunity and expressed confidence that managerial principles and support from the trust and his team would help him fulfill his duties. Mishra, who served in the Indian Air Force for nearly four decades and led operations including Operation Safed Sagar and Operation Sindoor, noted that he looks forward to guidance from the trust to plan and execute future strategies.

Former Indian Air Force Group Captain and Vir Chakra awardee Abhinandan Varthaman has taken premature retirement to join regional carrier Fly91 as a commercial pilot. Sources state that the Balakot aerial combat hero, who shot down a Pakistani fighter aircraft in 2019 and was held captive before returning to India, joined the Goa-based airline in August. The carrier, which commenced operations in March 2024 with a fleet of ATR aircraft, maintains bases in Goa and Hyderabad. When contacted regarding the development, a spokesperson for the airline stated that personal information concerning employees remains private and declined to offer further comment.

A political confrontation has erupted over India's 7.8 per cent GDP growth figures. The Opposition and critics, including former finance secretary Subhash Chandra Garg, have questioned the downward revision of the previous year's first-quarter GDP and alleged data fudging, arguing that nominal growth stands at only 2.6 per cent without the revision. The central government and the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation have rejected these allegations, asserting that the calculations are based on the updated base year series and improved methodology. Union ministers stated that critics are comparing different GDP series and misleading the public. The government maintained that the 7.8 per cent expansion reflects India's position as the fastest-growing major economy, driven by granular data sourced through institutional mechanisms such as GST and the Public Financial Management System, with deliberations held across stakeholder groups.

A controversy has erupted in Kerala following remarks by Sunni scholar Kanthapuram AP Abu Bakar Musliar, who stated that women must remain confined to their homes for safety and questioned their presence on public platforms. Samastha president Jifry Muthukoya Thangal backed the cleric, stating that religious scholars should not be belittled for speaking on religious matters and that those who disagree can choose not to accept the views. The remarks drew criticism from Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan, who stated that confining women to homes has no place in a progressive Kerala and cited Islamic history to counter the assertions.