The Congress, through spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi, has criticized the BJP for what it sees as undemocratic actions, including the expunction of remarks by Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge and the suspension of Rajani Patil from the Rajya Sabha. Singhvi argues that the BJP prefers conflict over consensus in Parliament and that the actions taken against Congress members are unjust, lacking in parliamentary language, and a threat to free speech and democracy. He also contends that the suspension of Patil was disproportionate and politically motivated, lacking due process and natural justice.

The Supreme Court of India's Constitution Bench issued two landmark judgments concerning governance in Maharashtra and the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi. In Maharashtra, the court ruled the appointment of Bharat Gogawale as Shiv Sena whip by the then speaker was illegal and criticized Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari's decision to call for a floor test without objective material. Eknath Shinde remains the Chief Minister as the court cannot restore the MVA government led by Udhav Thackeray. In Delhi, the court affirmed that the elected government controls 'services' excluding public order, police, and land, which are under the central government's authority through the Lieutenant Governor. The judgments are seen as significant for the principles of democratic governance and accountability.

The BJP is implementing a credit point system for its youth leaders and social media influencers based on their performance in tasks such as adding new members. This system, part of a strategy led by Anurag Singh Thakur, aims to assess leaders for potential larger roles and prepare for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The 'Mera Yuva Bharat' platform, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is central to this strategy, focusing on youth leadership development. Suggestions from a recent meeting include using social media and physical outreach to connect youths to the platform, with the dual purpose of understanding youth aspirations for future electoral policies.

The Congress party plans to appeal to the Supreme Court after a Surat court upheld the conviction of Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case concerning his 'Modi surname' remark. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi criticized the judgment as legally unsound and expressed confidence that higher courts would correct the errors. The sessions court has scheduled a hearing for Rahul Gandhi's appeal on May 20. Singhvi accused the BJP of political animosity and misrepresenting statements to the OBC community.

The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) has seen a 169% increase in participating universities and a 41% rise in student applicants for the undergraduate courses examinations scheduled for May. The University Grants Commission's decision to extend preparation time has been cited as a reason for the positive response. UGC Chairman Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar highlighted the growth in student registrations from 12.50 lakh in 2022 to 16.85 lakh in 2023, with a notable increase in female and ST category students. The top three states with the highest number of applicants are Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Bihar, with significant increases also seen in Jammu and Kashmir and the north-eastern region. Internationally, students from 74 countries are expected to participate in CUET-UG 2023.

Abhishek Banerjee, the general secretary of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and MP from Diamond Harbour, has taken a central role in selecting candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, marking a shift from his previous advisory role to his aunt, Mamata Banerjee. Despite internal party reservations, he has chosen younger candidates like Debangshu Bhattacharya and Sayoni Ghosh, as well as 'outsiders' like cricketers Yusuf Pathan and Kirti Azad. This move is seen as an attempt to assert his authority and establish his own leadership within the party, sidelining older members. The article also suggests that Abhishek may adopt a more accommodating strategy towards the central government for the state's development.

The journalist, based in New Delhi, has over a decade of experience in hardcore reporting. Throughout their career, they have worked in various locations including Doha, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. The journalist specializes in reporting on issues of corruption, security, and politics. Their current position involves covering national stories from New Delhi.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan will lead the BJP in the upcoming Madhya Pradesh elections despite reports of anti-incumbency and voter fatigue. As the longest-serving BJP CM, Chouhan's leadership is seen as 'tried and tested.' Internal surveys suggest the BJP would currently secure around 70 of 230 Assembly seats. The introduction of the 'Ladli Behan Yojana' is viewed positively, but the lack of a second-generation leadership is seen as a challenge. Efforts to replace Chouhan in 2022 were unsuccessful, with no strong contenders emerging. Union ministers Jyotraditya Scindia and Narendra Singh Tomar were considered but not pursued. Chouhan remains the most popular leader among voters in the state, but his popularity may not guarantee victory in the elections.

P. Sarath Chandra Reddy, director of Aurobindo Pharma, became an approver in the Delhi excise case after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in November 2022. Despite Aurobindo Pharma's political donations to the BJP, allegations of political influence on Reddy's decision to turn approver are unsubstantiated. The CBI and ED investigations, based on a report by Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar, detail potential irregularities and undue favors in the Delhi excise policy, with no initial mention of Reddy. The Delhi government is implicated in several questionable decisions regarding the excise policy, which preceded the political donations and the involvement of the Enforcement Directorate.

The High Court of Antigua and Barbuda has ordered an investigation into Mehul Choksi's allegations of being kidnapped and tortured, complicating India's efforts to extradite him. The court's decision came after Interpol removed Choksi from the Most Wanted List in October 2022, a fact not disclosed by the CBI until media reports surfaced. The police reports suggest evidence of kidnapping with collusion among conspirators. The Interpol has reportedly added the names of three individuals allegedly involved in Choksi's abduction, with one arrest made in Dubai. The opportunity for India to extradite Choksi appears very narrow.

Kiran Bhai Patel, a conman from Gujarat, exploited security lapses in Kashmir, attending meetings and visiting sensitive locations under Z+ security cover provided by top Kashmir police officials. Despite the incident being one of the biggest security lapses in the sensitive zone, the administration of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has not yet identified or taken action against the responsible officials. Patel's activities, including a tour of the Line of Control, were facilitated by state police officials and went undetected by state agencies until Delhi shared intelligence. The cost of Patel's five-star hotel stay was covered by state officials.

China is planning to establish a presence in the Arabian Sea through three naval bases, which could alter the status quo in the Indian Ocean Region. The bases are located at Djibouti in Africa, Gwadar in Pakistan, and a potential location in Mauritius. These bases would enable China to control the Arabian Sea and assert naval dominance in coordination with Pakistan. India's traditional naval deterrent against Pakistan could be compromised, and Western powers, including the U.S., may also be affected. China's efforts include modernizing the Pakistan Navy, with recent deliveries of maritime patrol vessels, frigates, and the planned acquisition of Yuan class submarines. Joint naval exercises between China and Pakistan have also been conducted, focusing on maritime security and strategic sea lanes.

A senior USCIRF official, Stephen Schneck, attended an IAMC event, raising concerns about USCIRF's impartiality. USCIRF, a U.S. government entity, monitors global religious freedom and makes policy recommendations. The IAMC event coincided with a G-20 meet in India, attended by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. USCIRF denied endorsing any external reports but acknowledged Schneck's participation. USCIRF has been criticized for one-sided reporting against India, and its officials have been found coordinating with IAMC, which has hired lobbying firms to act against India. IAMC's leadership and associated organizations have faced various allegations, including misuse of funds and connections with controversial figures. The article suggests that such coordination could damage the U.S.-India relationship, which is crucial for Indo-Pacific security, and could be seen favorably by adversaries like Pakistan and China.

Chinese companies are circumventing Indian restrictions by bidding for tenders as entities registered in other countries, supplying CCTV cameras to strategic Indian assets. Despite the Indian government's ban on engaging with Chinese companies for security reasons post-Galwan clash, PSUs and ministries continue to procure from Chinese manufacturers, indirectly funding China's PLA. A recent tender by IOCL's Karnataka office to Infinova, with Chinese ties, for CCTV installation has raised concerns. Infinova's control by Shenzhen Investment Holding, a Chinese state-owned enterprise, poses potential security risks as CCTV feeds could be accessed by the Chinese military. The Indian Navy has banned cameras from Hikvision due to similar security concerns.