The Central government on Wednesday unveiled the SARTHAK-PDS scheme with an allocation of ₹25,530 crore to modernise the Public Distribution System (PDS), strengthen logistics and deploy artificial intelligence-based solutions for beneficiary management and grievance handling. The announcement was made by Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw during a Cabinet briefing.

The scheme will be implemented over five years, from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2031. It includes financial support for state agencies involved in the intra-state transportation of food grains, assistance for fair price shops and broader PDS modernisation initiatives. As part of the next phase of SMART PDS, the government introduced three AI-powered platforms — NIRMAL, ASHA and SAKSHAM. NIRMAL will serve as a real-time AI-based beneficiary registry, enabling live integration between ministries and convergence with other welfare schemes.

The ASHA module will operate as a multilingual AI-powered grievance redressal and citizen engagement system through calls, WhatsApp, IVRS and chatbots, with the capacity to manage up to three lakh interactions daily. SAKSHAM will function as an AI-driven supply chain management platform featuring vehicle tracking, QR-code traceability, demand forecasting and route optimisation tools.

According to the government, the technology-enabled framework is expected to improve the identification of eligible beneficiaries and enhance citizen satisfaction. The ASHA AI assistant is also expected to speed up grievance resolution in users’ preferred languages. The Centre further stated that the scheme could reduce food grain transportation distances by 15 to 50 per cent, helping minimise wastage and promote local procurement. Improved logistics are projected to save around ₹280 crore annually and cut carbon emissions by 35 per cent.

The programme will introduce QR-coded tags on food grain bags and vehicle tracking systems to improve transparency and monitoring across the supply chain. The government said the initiative aims to make the Public Distribution System more efficient, transparent, technology-driven and citizen-friendly while reducing operational leakages and strengthening delivery mechanisms.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday strongly criticised the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government, accusing it of building a “criminal system” through alleged fake encounters and misusing police personnel for political gain. Speaking at a press conference, the Samajwadi Party chief claimed that the government distances itself from police officers once encounter cases become controversial. Referring to the Gorakhpur fake encounter case, he alleged that several policemen ended up in jail while the government withdrew support from them.

Yadav said fake encounters had created a dangerous system where police officers were exploited for political purposes. He claimed some lawyers promote fabricated narratives around encounter cases and warned that policemen involved in such incidents could face lifelong consequences, including social stigma within their own families.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister further alleged that fake encounters violate democratic values and are used to create fear and psychological pressure among the public. He claimed that such practices discourage investment and accused some officials of misusing the fear surrounding encounters to commit crimes against women.

Yadav also alleged that encounters in the state were being carried out on the basis of caste and religion, targeting backward classes, Dalits, and minorities. According to him, the government was using such actions to assert dominance and suppress the rights of PDA communities — Pichde, Dalit, and Alpsankhyak (Backward Classes, Dalits, and Minorities). He maintained that any encounter carried out with hidden motives should be considered fake and accused the government of misusing its authority to spread fear and exert control.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from X/@samajwadiparty.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant told a lawyer “don’t take it so sentimentally” during a hearing in which a Public Interest Litigation raised concerns about an alleged distorted and malicious narrative being used to malign the judiciary, despite earlier clarification from the CJI regarding his “cockroach” remark.

A bench comprising the CJI along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and VM Pancholi declined to grant an urgent hearing of the petitions, stating that there was no immediate urgency and that the matters would be considered in due course. Two advocates mentioned their petitions before the court. One sought directions to prevent courtroom exchanges from being used for commercial purposes and also demanded a CBI investigation into alleged fake law degrees. Another PIL requested a CBI probe into activities linked to a satirical online campaign referred to as the “Cockroach Janata Party,” which emerged following the CJI’s controversial remark.

During the mention, advocate NK Goswami argued that the campaign was damaging the image of the judiciary. In response, the CJI remarked, “don’t take it so sentimentally.” The petitions also included allegations about individuals practicing law with fraudulent qualifications and sought action against the alleged monetisation and circulation of courtroom remarks made during recent Supreme Court proceedings.

The online satirical movement reportedly arose after the CJI, during a hearing, expressed concern about people entering the legal profession with fake degrees and made a comparison involving unemployed youth and “cockroaches,” suggesting that some individuals unable to find employment turn to activism through media, social platforms, and RTI applications to challenge institutions.

He had also said that there were "thousands of fraudulent people wearing black robes" with questionable qualifications. The CJI later clarified that his comments were misrepresented and were aimed at individuals with fake or bogus degrees, not unemployed youth in general. CJI Surya Kant also expressed concern that his oral remarks during court proceedings were being misquoted and misused publicly.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

Although the Centre maintains a uniform excise duty structure across India, fuel prices continue to differ significantly between states due to varying VAT rates and additional local taxes imposed by state governments. Non-BJP and INDIA-bloc governed states generally levy higher VAT, road cesses, and other charges, resulting in steeper petrol and diesel prices for consumers.

While the Union government’s excise duty remains the same nationwide, the final retail fuel price largely depends on state taxation policies. BJP-ruled states typically maintain lower fuel prices because of relatively moderate VAT rates and fewer additional levies. In contrast, several opposition-ruled states impose heavier taxes, increasing the burden on consumers.

After recent revisions by oil marketing companies (OMCs), states such as Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala continue to record some of the highest fuel prices in the country. Petrol prices in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are close to ₹116 per litre due to elevated state taxes. Andhra Pradesh imposes a 31% VAT along with an extra ₹4 per litre charge and a road development cess, taking the effective tax burden to nearly 35%.

Similarly, petrol prices in Kerala have crossed ₹113 per litre in many cities because of high base VAT and an added social security cess introduced by the state government. On the other hand, BJP-governed states like Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana report some of the lowest petrol prices, generally ranging between ₹95 and ₹98 per litre. Delhi, Goa, and Assam also maintain relatively lower fuel costs due to lighter state taxes and minimal local cesses.

The major reason behind these regional price differences is state-level VAT policy rather than the Centre’s uniform excise duty system. The issue has gained attention following recent fuel price hikes by OMCs, triggered by rising global crude oil prices amid geopolitical tensions in West Asia. As a result, petrol prices increased by ₹4.74 per litre and diesel by ₹4.82 per litre.

To reduce the impact on consumers, the Union government lowered excise duties and reduced its own tax share. One of the largest interventions saw petrol excise duty reduced to ₹3 per litre and diesel excise duty brought down to zero. Another major reduction came on March 27, 2026, when excise duty on both petrol and diesel was cut by ₹10 per litre during the global energy crisis. However, several opposition-ruled states did not reduce their VAT rates following these central tax cuts. Since VAT is calculated as a percentage of the base fuel price, consumers in these states continue to face higher retail fuel prices, making the overall cost heavily dependent on the taxation decisions of individual state governments.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

Following the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Donald Trump and the White House administration responded strongly, accusing the media and the Democratic Party of contributing to rising political violence. Reged Ahmad and Jonathan Yerushalmy explore the origins of the deep political divide between Democrats and Republicans in the United States. At the same time, Usha Vance has started a new podcast, raising questions about her motives, while King Charles’s upcoming visit to the White House is expected to shed light on Donald Trump’s relationship with the British monarchy.

Disclaimer: This video is taken from The Guardian.

In “Made in SG,” Melanie Oliveiro interviews author K. C. Vijayan about his biography The Benjamin Sheares Story: From Pioneering Gynaecologist to Singapore President. The book offers a vivid and humanising account of Benjamin Sheares, Singapore’s second President and a prominent figure in the Eurasian community, tracing his journey from working in busy maternity wards during the baby boom era to serving as President of Singapore from 1971 to 1981 at the Istana.

Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

A new AI system developed by NTU can forecast the rate at which food spoils, enabling supermarkets to reduce waste, enhance safety, and manage inventory more efficiently. The technology works by predicting bacterial growth in food. Could this signal the future of food retail? Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman discuss with Natalie Ong, CNA journalist, and Professor William Chen, Executive Director of FRESH@NTU, to explore the possibilities.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

This week, as the repercussions of the US-Israel conflict with Iran continue, Australians are feeling the pinch from a worsening fuel crisis. At the same time, the Liberal Party faces a critical moment as voters increasingly shift toward One Nation. In this edition of the Guardian’s Australian Politics podcast, political editor Tom McIlroy talks with Andrew Hastie, shadow minister for industry and sovereign capability, about Australia’s approach to the global fuel shock, the need for reindustrialisation, and his perspective on how the Liberal Party should respond to the rise of One Nation.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.