The X account of the satirical Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) was withheld in India on Thursday, hours after the movement crossed 10 million Instagram followers and overtook the Bharatiya Janata Party’s 8.7 million followers on the platform. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, a former Aam Aadmi Party social media campaign worker, confirmed the restriction by sharing a screenshot on X. The meme-driven movement began after remarks attributed to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant comparing some unemployed youth to “cockroaches” triggered backlash online. The group has gained rapid support among young users over unemployment, exam leaks and political accountability issues. (PC: India Today)

The West Bengal government has made singing Vande Mataram compulsory in all state-run schools and recognised madrassas. The song must be sung during morning assemblies before classes begin. The order was issued by the school education department last week. Officials said the move follows a Union home ministry directive marking 150 years of the national song. Some school heads are confused about whether the state song, “Banglar Mati Banglar Jal”, will continue alongside Vande Mataram and the National Anthem. They said singing three songs daily may take more time and delay classes in schools across the state.

Thousands of Indian tech workers in the US are facing uncertainty after layoffs at companies like Meta, Amazon and LinkedIn. Many of them work on H-1B visas linked to their jobs. Under US immigration rules, laid-off workers usually get only 60 days to find a new employer or leave the country. The situation has created stress for many families. Some workers are trying to switch to visitor visas for more time, while others are considering moving back to India or searching for jobs in other countries.

India’s satirical online movement, the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), has crossed 11.7 million Instagram followers, overtaking the Bharatiya Janata Party’s 8.7 million followers on the platform. The meme-driven movement was launched by social media creator Abhijeet Dipke after remarks attributed to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant comparing some unemployed youth to “cockroaches” sparked online backlash. The group describes itself as the “Voice of the Lazy & Unemployed” and uses humour to highlight unemployment, political privilege and youth frustration. Despite the social media milestone, the BJP remains India’s dominant political force electorally and organisationally across the country. (PC: Instagram)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a crucial Council of Ministers meeting at Seva Teerth in Delhi at 4 pm on Thursday, shortly after returning from his foreign visit. All Union ministers, including Cabinet ministers, ministers of state with independent charge and ministers of state, have been directed to remain in the national capital ahead of the high-level discussions. The meeting comes amid intensified political and economic deliberations within the government and is expected to focus on governance priorities, the evolving West Asia crisis and potential political developments. The gathering is being viewed as strategically significant as the Centre assesses domestic challenges alongside fast-changing global geopolitical and economic conditions affecting India’s policy and security landscape. (PC: India Today)  

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit India in September for the BRICS summit in New Delhi, marking his first trip to the country since 2019 and the first after the 2020 eastern Ladakh military standoff. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also likely to attend the SCO summit in Kyrgyzstan before the BRICS meeting, alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and Xi. The anticipated visit reflects gradual stabilisation in India-China ties following disengagement efforts at the Line of Actual Control. Recent confidence-building measures include resumed visas, direct flights, eased restrictions on Chinese firms, renewed border trade and the restart of the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage. (PC: PTI)

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced an Assam-style crackdown on illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, saying the state would begin identifying, detaining and handing over undocumented migrants to the BSF for deportation. Referring to a May 2025 directive from the Union government, Adhikari said Bengal would implement a “detect, delete and deport” policy targeting immigrants not covered under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019. Officials indicated “delete” likely refers to removing ineligible names from electoral rolls. The government also announced land transfers for new border fencing and BSF infrastructure along the Bangladesh border. Critics warned that sudden action targeting Muslim immigrants could heighten social tensions and polarise Bengal’s political climate further.

Thousands of Indian tech professionals in the US are facing mounting uncertainty after fresh layoffs at companies like Meta, Amazon and LinkedIn intensified pressure on H-1B visa holders. Under US immigration rules, laid-off workers typically get only 60 days to secure another sponsoring employer or leave the country, turning job losses into immigration crises. Many are attempting to switch temporarily to B-2 visitor visas, though immigration lawyers report stricter scrutiny and rising rejection rates. Massive AI-driven restructuring across Silicon Valley has deepened fears that hiring slowdowns may become permanent. With decades-long green card backlogs, home loans and families settled in America, many Indians are now reconsidering long-term plans and exploring opportunities in Canada, Europe or India. (PC: NDTV)

Britain has admitted it “handled clumsily” a controversial sanctions licence that allowed Russian oil products refined in countries like India and Turkey to continue entering the UK market, reigniting debate over Western criticism of India’s energy trade with Moscow. UK Trade Minister Chris Bryant apologised in Parliament for confusion surrounding the temporary waiver, which permitted imports of jet fuel and diesel refined from Russian crude to avoid supply disruptions during global energy instability linked to Middle East tensions. The development strengthens India’s long-standing argument that Western nations indirectly benefited from Russian energy while criticising others publicly. Reports estimate billions of pounds worth of refined Russian-origin oil products entered Britain through third countries after sanctions were imposed in 2022. (PC: Times Now)

India strongly criticised Pakistan at the United Nations Security Council after Islamabad raised Jammu and Kashmir during a debate on civilian protection in armed conflict. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Harish Parvathaneni, accused Pakistan of hypocrisy, saying a country with a “long-tainted record of genocidal acts” had no standing to comment on India’s internal matters. He cited Pakistan’s alleged airstrike on Kabul’s Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital during Ramadan, referencing UNAMA figures claiming hundreds of civilian casualties and mass displacement. Parvathaneni also referred to allegations linked to Operation Searchlight in 1971, accusing Pakistan of systematic atrocities. India rejected Pakistan’s Kashmir remarks and called them an attempt to internationalise domestic issues.