On May 7, 2025, India launched Operation Sindoor in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 security personnel. The operation saw Indian forces strike deep into Pakistan and PoK, eliminating over 100 terrorists, including Jaish-e-Mohammed leader Abdul Rauf Azhar. Advanced military assets like Rafale jets and BrahMos missiles were used. Prime Minister Modi declared this a new counterterrorism doctrine, rejecting nuclear threats and asserting India's right to defend. The mission disrupted key terror infrastructure and has been widely praised, raising hopes for long-term regional stability, reduced threats, and an unhindered path for India’s development and growth. (PC: PTI)

On May 13, 2025, the Coimbatore District Mahila Court sentenced all nine accused in the 2019 Pollachi sexual assault case to life imprisonment until death. The gang had lured women via social media, sexually assaulted them, and used explicit videos for blackmail between 2016 and 2018. The court also directed payment of ₹85 lakh as compensation to eight survivors. Initially plagued by investigative lapses, the case was handed over to the CBI, leading to a detailed probe. The in-camera trial ensured witness protection. The verdict has sparked political debate between the ruling DMK and opposition AIADMK. (PC: The Hindu)  

On May 14, 2025, the Ministry of Home Affairs upgraded the security of External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar by including a bulletproof vehicle in his convoy and increasing protection around his residence. These measures come amid heightened threat perception following the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s military response through Operation Sindoor. Dr. Jaishankar has been under Z-category security since October 2023, which includes a 33-member CRPF team. The enhanced protocol reflects rising Indo-Pak tensions and the need for stronger safeguards around key national leaders amid ongoing cross-border hostility and geopolitical friction. (PC: India Today)

Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai was sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India on May 14, 2025. Hailing from a Dalit background, he becomes only the second Dalit to assume the nation’s highest judicial post. Born in Amravati, Maharashtra, his legal journey reflects deep commitment to constitutional values and social equity. Influenced by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Justice Gavai has championed marginalized voices, including his pivotal 2024 ruling supporting sub-categorization within Scheduled Castes. His tenure is expected to reinforce inclusive justice and safeguard democratic ideals within India's judicial system. (PC: Hindustan Times)  

On May 13, 2025, India expelled a Pakistani High Commission official in New Delhi, accusing him of espionage tied to a spy ring busted in Amritsar. Declaring him persona non grata, India gave the diplomat 24 hours to leave. The Ministry of External Affairs summoned Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires to lodge a protest. In retaliation, Pakistan expelled an Indian diplomat. The tit-for-tat moves reflect worsening India-Pakistan relations, marked by cross-border tensions and allegations of terrorism support, underscoring deep mistrust and deteriorating diplomatic ties between the nuclear-armed neighbors. (PC: NDTV)  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at Adampur Airbase, praised the Indian Armed Forces for their precision strikes during Operation Sindoor, declaring that the Pakistan Army was "crushed on its own soil." He warned that India would no longer tolerate any form of "nuclear blackmail" and vowed to retaliate firmly against terrorism. Highlighting the destruction of nine terror camps and the killing of over 100 terrorists, PM Modi said India’s airstrikes left Pakistan in shock. He affirmed that terrorists and their state sponsors would be treated alike, declaring: “Hum ghar mein ghus ke maarenge”—we will strike within their homes. (PC: X/Narendra Modi)

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah criticized the national response to civilian deaths caused by Pakistan’s cross-border shelling, calling it “lip service.” In an exclusive interview with India Today TV, Abdullah acknowledged the nationwide grief over the Pahalgam terror attack but questioned the silence around casualties in Rajouri, Poonch, Uri, and Baramulla. He cited examples, including the deaths of 12-year-old twins in Poonch and a district official in Ramban, lamenting the lack of attention. While supporting PM Modi’s stance on strong retaliation, Abdullah emphasized the need for equal outrage for all victims, regardless of geography or religion. (PC: India Today)

While speaking in Riyadh, U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his claim of brokering the recent India-Pakistan ceasefire, saying, “I said, if it’s real, let’s trade goods, not nuclear missiles.” Trump praised Secretary of State Marco Rubio for his role in what he described as a historic intervention. However, India firmly denied any U.S. involvement, maintaining the ceasefire resulted from direct talks between the countries' military officials. The Ministry of External Affairs emphasized that all matters concerning Jammu and Kashmir are internal and will only be resolved bilaterally with Pakistan, not through third-party mediation. (PC: Reuters)

Kashish Chaudhary, a 25-year-old from Noshki, Balochistan, has become the province’s first Hindu woman Assistant Commissioner after clearing the Balochistan Public Service Commission exam. Accompanied by her father Girdhari Lal, she met Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti and pledged to work for women and minority empowerment. CM Bugti praised her achievement as a symbol of national pride. Kashish joins a growing list of Hindu women in Pakistan breaking barriers in civil services and law enforcement, including SP Manesh Ropeta and civil judge Suman Bodani. Her success highlights the rising participation of minority women in public life across Pakistan. (PC: X/@dpr_gob)

Lt Gen D S Rana, Director General of the Defence Intelligence Agency, briefed defence attaches from 70 nations on the successful execution of Operation Sindoor at the Manekshaw Centre. The operation, targeting confirmed terror-linked sites, demonstrated India's integrated and precise military strategy across space, cyber, and electronic warfare domains. The briefing showcased indigenous kinetic force multipliers and emphasized India’s technological and strategic superiority. It also addressed misinformation campaigns by adversaries and India's whole-of-nation approach to counter them. Attending nations included Sweden, Nepal, the Philippines, and Egypt, highlighting international interest in India's evolving security operations. (PC: The Times of India)