By Vikas Meshram*  April 16, 2026, is likely to be recorded as a special day in the history of Indian democracy. In a three-day special session of Parliament, the central government is set to introduce a comprehensive package of three historic bills: the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026; the Delimitation Bill, 2026; and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The stated purpose of all three is the same: to implement the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (106th Constitutional Amendment) passed in 2023. However, the political intent concealed behind these measures — and their impact on the federal balance — is far more profound. It is absolutely essential to understand this.

By A Representative   The All India Feminist Alliance (ALIFA–NAPM) has reiterated its solidarity with transgender communities across the country, marking 12 years of the landmark National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India (NALSA) judgment while calling for the repeal of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026.

By A Representative   The civil rights coalition, Campaign Against State Repression (CASR),  has issued a strong statement condemning the reported targeting of labour rights activist Shiv Kumar by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), alleging that the move forms part of a wider pattern of repression linked to what it described as the “Lucknow Conspiracy Case.”

By Harsh Thakor*  Recent statements by government representatives have suggested that Maoism in India has been effectively eliminated, citing the weakening of central leadership and intensified security operations. These claims follow sustained counterinsurgency efforts across key regions, including central and eastern India. However, available information from security agencies and independent observers indicates that while the organizational structure of the CPI (Maoist) has been significantly disrupted, elements of the movement remain active. Reports acknowledge the continued presence of cadres in certain forested regions such as Bastar and parts of Dandakaranya, alongside smaller, decentralized units adapting their operational strategies.

By Harsh Thakor*  Maoist leader Bhagya, known as Rupi, was killed on April 13 in Chote Betiya, Kanker district of Chhattisgarh. Police reported she refused to surrender and was shot during the encounter. Her death marked the end of the last surviving Maoist cadre from the Telugu states, highlighting the decline of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) in Bastar, where nearly 400 cadres surrendered in the first four months of 2026. She was also the widow of Vijay Reddy, a Maoist commander killed in August 2025.

By Ravi Ranjan*  Badri Narayan, a distinguished Hindi poet and social scientist, occupies a unique position in contemporary Indian intellectual life by bridging the worlds of creative literature and critical social inquiry. His poetic journey began significantly with the 1993 collection 'Saca Sune Hue Kaï Dina Hue' (Truth Heard Many Days Ago). As a social historian and cultural anthropologist, Narayan pioneered a methodological shift away from elite archives toward the oral traditions and folk myths of marginalized communities. He eventually legitimized "folk-ethnography" as a rigorous academic discipline during his tenure as Director of the G.B. Pant Social Science Institute.  

By Jag Jivan   A perfect storm of geopolitical crisis and policy paralysis is pushing India’s poorest into a devastating double-bind. The ongoing war in Iran has sent shockwaves through global oil markets, and as LPG prices skyrocket and factory slowdowns ripple across urban centers, a massive exodus of migrant workers is underway. But for millions fleeing the city’s hardships, the safety net of rural employment has all but vanished, leaving them stranded without work or income.

By Sunil Kumar*   Across several states in India, a workers’ movement is gathering momentum. This is not a movement born of luxury or ambition, nor a demand for power-sharing within the state. At its core lies a stark and basic plea: the right to survive with dignity—adequate food, and wages sufficient to afford it.

By A Representative   The Uttar Pradesh government has announced an interim hike in minimum wages of up to 21% effective April 1, 2026, following violent worker protests in Noida and Ghaziabad. However, labour groups argue this remains inadequate compared to Haryana and Delhi, and have formally petitioned the state leadership to comply with Supreme Court directives for a fair and lasting revision.