The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea challenging the Centre’s Ethanol Blending Programme that mandates E20 petrol. The petitioner argued older vehicles cannot run efficiently on E20 and sought an option for ethanol-free petrol. Senior advocate Shadan Farasat said E20 cuts fuel efficiency by six per cent. Attorney General R Venkataramani opposed the plea, saying, “Will people outside the country dictate what kind of fuel India should use?” He added the policy helps farmers and saves foreign exchange. Road minister Nitin Gadkari also denied claims of mileage loss, blaming misinformation spread by petroleum lobbies. (PC: Pixabay/Representative Image)

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea challenging the rollout of E20 petrol, which has 20% ethanol mixed with petrol. A bench led by Chief Justice BR Gavai heard the petition that sought an option of ethanol-free petrol for older vehicles. The petitioner argued that E20 lowers fuel efficiency and damages cars made before 2023. However, Attorney General R Venkataramani defended the policy, saying it helps farmers and saves foreign exchange. He asked, “Will people outside the country dictate what kind of fuel India should use?” The court dismissed the case. (PC: HT)

The West Bengal Urdu Academy has cancelled its four-day literary festival after protests from Islamist groups against poet-lyricist Javed Akhtar. Akhtar, invited as chief guest for a mushaira in Kolkata, was accused of “speaking against religion and God” by Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind and Wahyahin Foundation. Both groups threatened protests if the invitation was not withdrawn. Officials cited “unavoidable circumstances” for cancellation, but sources said the government feared unrest before the 2026 Assembly elections. Activists called the decision a blow to free speech. Akhtar, who identifies as an atheist and cultural Muslim, was to headline discussions on Urdu in Indian cinema. (PC: India Today)

Mobile Premier League (MPL) will cut around 300 of its 500 India staff after the government banned paid online games. The layoffs will affect teams in marketing, finance, operations, engineering, and legal. CEO Sai Srinivas told employees, “With a heavy heart we have decided that we will be downsizing our India team significantly.” He said the company will support those impacted. MPL earned about $100 million from India last year but will now focus on free-to-play games and growth in the US. Rivals like Dream11 have also stopped fantasy cricket after the ban. (PC: HT)

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has expressed "grave concern" over inadequate women's representation in India's higher judiciary. The association highlighted that no woman judge has been appointed to the Supreme Court since 2021, leaving only one woman currently serving on the Bench. SCBA noted with "strong disappointment" that recent Supreme Court appointments excluded women from both the Bar and Bench. This development underscores ongoing gender disparity challenges in India's judicial system, where women remain significantly underrepresented at the highest levels despite constitutional commitments to equality. The Bar association's public statement reflects growing pressure on the judicial appointment system to address systemic gender imbalances and ensure diverse representation in the country's apex court. (PC: Wikipedia)

Despite a statewide ban on riverbed mining, illegal extraction continues unabated in Himachal Pradesh’s Chakki and Mand regions. Heavy machinery like JCBs is being used at night in Nurpur, Indora, and Fatehpur subdivisions, particularly around the Chakki, Beas, and Chhonchh rivers. Local MLAs, including Bhiwani Pathania and Malinder Rajan, raised the issue in the state assembly, warning of severe environmental degradation and riverbank damage. They demanded strict FIRs against violators, the declaration of Mand as a no-mining zone, and a 3.5 km no-mining stretch downstream of the Beas, urging stronger enforcement measures.  

Supreme Court Judge Justice Vikram Nath, who led the bench that recently revised India’s controversial stray dog order, humorously said he is “thankful to the stray dogs for making me known across the country and globally.” Speaking at a human–wildlife conflict conference in Thiruvananthapuram, he revealed he even received “blessings” from dog lovers. On August 22, his bench overturned an earlier directive mandating permanent sheltering of stray dogs. Instead, it ruled that sterilized and vaccinated dogs should return to their localities, with separate feeding zones, balancing public safety and animal rights. (PC: X)

Former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who represented Kishangarh as a Congress MLA from 1993–1998, has applied to reinstate his Rajasthan Assembly pension. His pension was halted in 2019 when he became Governor of West Bengal, and later Vice President of India. Following his July 21, 2025 resignation from the vice presidency, Dhankhar has formally sought the benefits again. The Assembly Secretariat has begun processing his request. Under rules, he is entitled to a ₹35,000 monthly pension, plus a 20% age-related hike. At 74, Dhankhar will receive approximately ₹42,000 per month once the pension resumes. (PC: PTI)

In Kochi, Kerala, Canara Bank employees staged a symbolic “beef festival” outside their branch after the regional manager allegedly banned beef in the office canteen. The protest, led by the Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI), was initially against mental harassment and insulting behavior by the manager. Upon learning of the beef ban, the protest shifted focus to food freedom. Employees served beef and parotta, asserting that food choice is a constitutional right. Local MLA KT Jaleel backed the protest, warning against Sangh Parivar ideologies. The event reignited debates on cultural autonomy, workplace rights, and resistance to ideological imposition.

India's economy delivered unexpected strength in Q1 FY2026, expanding 7.8% year-on-year in the April-June quarter, accelerating from 7.4% growth in the previous quarter. This upside surprise reinforces India's position as the world's fastest-growing major economy amid global economic uncertainties. The acceleration contradicts analyst expectations and demonstrates economic resilience despite challenges including inflation concerns and geopolitical tensions. The robust growth likely stems from strong domestic consumption, investment momentum, and favorable base effects. This performance provides the Reserve Bank of India with policy flexibility and strengthens the government's fiscal position. The data supports projections that India will soon become the world's third-largest economy, overtaking Japan and Germany in coming years. (PC: The Week & News Bytes)