Animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi has strongly opposed the Supreme Court’s order to remove stray dogs from Delhi-NCR. Calling the plan “impractical, costly, and ecologically dangerous,” she said, “If you remove dogs, you will have rats. This happened in Paris in the 1880s.” Gandhi estimated the relocation would cost Rs 15,000 crore for shelters and Rs 5 crore weekly for food. She warned it could also increase the monkey population. Questioning the order’s legality, she cited an earlier “balanced judgment” on strays. Delhi’s government called stray dogs a “gigantic problem” and pledged to follow the directive with a phased approach. (PC: X)

On August 15 at 9 PM IST, Kaun Banega Crorepati Season 17 airs an Independence Day special where host Amitabh Bachchan interviews three female officers from the Indian Armed Forces — Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, and Commander Prerna Deosthalee. The officers share compelling, untold stories from Operation Sindoor, the swift military action triggered by the Pahalgam terror attack, highlighting bravery, teamwork, and precision—like how the mission unfolded in just 25 minutes. Their presence aims to inspire, but the promo sparked online controversy: critics accuse the government of leveraging the military for political PR through an entertainment show.   

Chief Justice of India BR Gavai on Wednesday said he would “look into” the stray dog issue after a petition seeking regular sterilisation and vaccination was mentioned before his court. The remarks come amid widespread protests over the Supreme Court’s recent directive ordering civic bodies in Delhi-NCR to round up all stray dogs within eight weeks and send them to shelters. Animal welfare groups argue the order violates Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, which mandate sterilised and vaccinated dogs be returned to their original locations. Protests erupted in Delhi, with dozens detained, as activists condemned the ruling as “inhumane.” (PC: India Today)

The Indian Army on Wednesday foiled a major infiltration attempt along the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector, Baramulla district, Jammu and Kashmir, suspected to involve Pakistan’s Border Action Team (BAT). The attack, near Tikka Post in the area of 16 Sikh LI, led to the death of an Indian soldier during an exchange of fire. Operations were ongoing as of Wednesday morning. This comes a day after Sepoy Banoth Anil Kumar died on operational duty in Baramulla, and follows recent casualties in South Kashmir’s Kulgam during anti-terror operations. Officials said further details of the Uri encounter are awaited. (PC: HT)

Chief Justice of India BR Gavai said he “will look into” the Supreme Court’s recent order to remove all stray dogs from Delhi-NCR within 8 weeks and house them in newly created shelters. The directive, criticised by animal rights groups, clashes with a 2024 SC ruling that banned indiscriminate killings and mandated adherence to the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023. Delhi currently has only 20 temporary animal birth control centres, accommodating up to 5,000 dogs, far fewer than needed. The court also called the ABC Rules’ requirement to return sterilised dogs “unreasonable and absurd,” urging safer, stray-free public spaces. (PC: HT)

The Supreme Court’s August 11 directive to relocate all stray dogs from Delhi-NCR to shelters within eight weeks has drawn strong criticism from Bollywood. Janhvi Kapoor and Varun Dhawan shared a powerful petition on Instagram, calling the move a “death sentence” and urging humane solutions like mass sterilisation, vaccination, community feeding, and adoption—not confinement . Raveena Tandon labeled the judgment “ridiculous” and “inhumane,” blaming local bodies for failing to implement ABC (Animal Birth Control) programs . Meanwhile, John Abraham wrote to the Chief Justice, calling the order illegal, impractical and contrary to ABC Rules, and stressed that community dogs are integral to Delhi’s social fabric. (PC: Instagram)

India’s Supreme Court has ordered the swift removal of all stray dogs from Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, and Ghaziabad, calling the situation “extremely grim” amid mounting rabies cases and attacks—especially involving children and the elderly . The court mandated establishment of shelters with sterilisation, immunisation, CCTV monitoring, and a rapid-response helpline, all within an eight-week deadline. Authorities must ensure no dogs are returned to the streets. However, animal welfare groups warn of chronic shelter shortages—Delhi’s municipal bodies currently operate only 20 shelters housing fewer than 5,000 dogs, while the estimated stray population nears one million—raising serious doubts about implementation. (PC: NDTV)

Delhi Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh has welcomed the Supreme Court’s order to remove all stray dogs from Delhi-NCR within eight weeks. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi will implement the plan in phases, starting with rabies-infected and aggressive dogs. Singh said 20 operational shelters will house the animals, with NGO assistance and a new helpline for public reporting. The initiative also includes scaling up sterilisation and creating dog-free areas. The SC has barred releasing captured dogs back onto streets and warned of action against those obstructing the process. Several animal rights activists protesting at India Gate were detained by police. (PC: HT)

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas defended 20% Ethanol Blended Petrol (E20), rejecting concerns over reduced mileage and vehicle damage. It said E20 offers better acceleration, improved ride quality, and 30% lower carbon emissions compared to E10, while boosting farmers’ income and reducing suicides. Research by NITI Aayog, IOCL, ARAI, and SIAM found minimal efficiency drops in compatible vehicles. The ministry highlighted Brazil’s long-term ethanol use and noted only minor, inexpensive replacements may be needed in older vehicles. E20 supports India’s climate goals, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 65%, and contributes to energy security, environmental sustainability, and rural prosperity. (PC: News18)

Bollywood celebrities, including Janhvi Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, Siddharth Anand, and John Abraham, have expressed their disappointment the Supreme Court’s directive to remove all stray dogs from Delhi-NCR streets and confine them in shelters. Calling it “inhumane” and a “death sentence,” stars argued the order ignores humane solutions like sterilization, vaccination, and adoption. Siddharth Anand termed it “genocide,” while Vir Das urged residents to adopt strays. John Abraham wrote to the Chief Justice, calling the directive inconsistent with Animal Birth Control Rules. The court cited rising rabies cases, directing shelters for 5,000 dogs in 6–8 weeks, warning strict action against obstruction. (PC: Deccan herald)