Underlining that the Lok Sabha election mandate was for a “strong and decisive government” to ensure that the “work of making India a developed nation continues uninterrupted”, President Droupadi Murmu said that the Union Budget next month will see “many historic steps”. We take a deep dive into the President’s joint address to the Parliament.

We draw a comparison with the speeches by President Ram Nath Kovind’s inaugural speech in 2019 and President KR Narayanan’s in 1998, when Atal Behari Vajpayee came at the head of a coalition government, to highlight a few telling messages.

At a time when a row had ensued over the Speaker’s post, former Secretary General of Lok Sabha PDT Achary writes: “The only way a Speaker can run the House smoothly is by being fair to all. In the context of Parliament, it would mean a non-partisan approach informed by objectivity and absolute impartiality.”

The 18th Lok Sabha will have a Deputy Speaker, a source in the government said Thursday. The Congress has been demanding that the Deputy Speaker post go to the Opposition. We take a look at what the discussions have been around the Deputy Speaker’s post.

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Festive offer

The first spectrum auction under the newly formed Central government was the third-lowest mop-up since competitive bidding for spectrum began in 2010 despite coming on the back of the country’s biggest-ever 5G auction process in 2022. Here’s why.

📰 From the Front Page

From naming the three new laws in Hindi; not making rape gender neutral; introducing community service as a punishment without defining it; allowing a police officer 14 days to make a preliminary investigation before registering an FIR — Here’s a round-up of the issues flagged by the Karnataka government on the new criminal code.

The Criminal Investigation Department of the Karnataka police has filed a chargesheet against former Karnataka chief minister and senior BJP leader BS Yediyurappa for the alleged sexual assault of a minor who visited his home. We take a look at the case and what the allegations against the former CM are.

A CBI charge sheet filed on May 30 proves the assumption that there was more to the death of Indian National Lok Dal’s (INLD) Haryana unit president Nafe Singh Rathee who was gunned down inside his SUV in February this year. Kapil Sangwan – one of Delhi’s most wanted gangsters currently suspected to be hiding in the United Kingdom – allegedly tracked the former MLA’s vehicle for days with the help of a portable GPS device attached to his Toyota Fortuner’s stepney.

👉 Must read

With the National Testing Agency becoming the “whipping boy” in the wake of the NEET and UGC-NET fiascos, R Subramanhyam and Sutirtha Bhattacharyya write about the need for resolving such crisis with systemic solutions, starting with a school-centred online exam system that uses latest technology and tests students over the year for concepts.

In a complaint on the alleged gangrape and murder of her 14-year-old daughter in Haridwar, the The victim’s mother has accused the local village head’s husband, a member of BJP’s Uttarakhand OBC Morcha who is also part of the state’s OBC Commission, and his accomplice. The FIR names the accused as Aditya Raj Saini and Amit Saini.

🔴And finally…

Nothing changed during the entire course of the rain-delayed game as India trounced defending champions England by 68 runs. As easy as it appeared, the win was set up by a skilful exhibition from Suryakumar Yadav, and momentum-seizing cameos from Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja. Above all, It was Rohit Sharma who led the way. With his thought and skill.

Delhi Confidential: During the meeting of INDIA bloc floor leaders at Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence on Thursday evening, an attack by a swarm of bees forced Congress workers as well as journalists to run for cover. Meanwhile, Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan seems to be on the path of creating a unique record as part of his pledge to plant a tree every day since assuming office on June 11.

In Today’s edition of the ‘3 things’ podcast, we first talk about Ayodhya’s Ram Temple and the water leak, and water logging that it is facing. Next, we discuss why developing disaster resilient infrastructure is the need of the hour, and in the end, we give you a quick update on the arrests that have been made by the CBI in the NEET UG paper leak case.

until tomorrow

Rounak Bagchi and Vibha B Madhava

Business As Usual by EP Unny Business As Usual by EP Unny