News Headlines for CAT, CLAT and IPM aspirants

Source: THE HINDU

PM Modi lays foundation, inaugurates projects worth ₹58,000 crore in Amaravati, dedicates Vizhinjam international seaport to the nation

PM Modi embarked on a landmark visit to Andhra Pradesh on Friday (May 2, 2025), marking a historic moment in the State’s development. He laid the foundation stone of and inaugurated multiple development projects worth over ₹58,000 crore in Amaravati. Earlier in the day, Mr. Modi officially commissioned the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala, which was completed at an estimated cost of ₹8,867 crore.

Pakistan armed forces hold a series of exercises

Amid expectations of potential Indian military action following the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan’s armed forces are conducting several exercises near the Line of Control (LoC) and in the Arabian Sea. Concurrently, Pakistan has closed several air traffic routes between Lahore and Islamabad and issued multiple ‘Nav Area’ warnings along its coastline, as some officials reportedly caution about an “imminent” attack by India.

NEET-UG 2024: 26 MBBS students suspended for malpractice, 42 candidates debarred for three years

In a major crackdown on irregularities in the NEET-UG 2024 examination, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the National Testing Agency (NTA) have uncovered multiple instances of malpractice, including impersonation and the use of leaked question papers. Following the probe, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has directed medical colleges and institutions to immediately suspend 26 MBBS students found complicit in the violations.

Licensed stamp vendors are public servants under anti-corruption law: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Friday (May 2, 2025) held that licensed stamp vendors perform a highly important public duty and come within the definition of ‘public servant’ under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The judgment by a Bench headed by Justice J.B. Pardiwala was based on an appeal filed by a licensed stamp vendor, Aman Bhatia, who was convicted by a trial court under the anti-corruption law for demanding ₹2 extra for a ₹10 stamp paper 22 years ago in the national capital.

Manipur ethnic conflict: Security heightened ahead of second anniversary

Security in Manipur has been heightened amid calls for a shutdown to mark the second anniversary of the ethnic conflict between Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities that broke out on May 3, 2023. Security personnel intensified patrolling in the “buffer zone” – the foothills around the Meitei-majority Imphal Valley – and frisking of vehicles in vulnerable locations in the valley as well as in the adjoining Churachandpur and Kangpokpi hill districts dominated by the Kuki-Zo people.

Prince Harry seeks family reconciliation after losing court case that caused split with his dad

Prince Harry said that he wants to reconcile with his family after losing a court battle on Friday (May 2, 2025) over his publicly funded security that he said led his father, King Charles III, to stop talking to him. “I would love reconciliation with my family. There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore,” Mr. Harry told the BBC. “I don’t know how much longer my father has.” But Harry took aim at Buckingham Palace officials after the court of appeal rejected a bid to restore his police protection detail that was stripped by a government committee when he stepped away from his royal duties and moved to the U.S.

Trump says he will strip Harvard’s tax exempt status

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday (May 2, 2025) said he planned to strip Harvard University of its tax-exempt status, the latest salvo against the Ivy League school amid a larger crackdown on elite U.S. universities. “We are going to be taking away Harvard’s Tax Exempt Status. It’s what they deserve!” Mr. Trump said in a post on his social media platform, without specifying when he might take action.

Pakistan continuing its campaign of ‘state sponsored terror’ in Balochistan: Assam CM

The people of Balochistan are facing a “ruthless campaign” of “state-sponsored terrorism” from the Pakistani authorities, the Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, said on Friday. In a detailed statement posted on ‘X’, Mr. Sarma recollected the suppression of the Baloch nationalist movement and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi “gave voice” to the people of Balochistan by extending support to the Baloch liberation movement in 2016.

Japan’s speaker expresses his country’s full cooperation to India in fighting terrorism

The Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan, Nukaga Fukushiro, conveyed his country’s full cooperation to India in fighting terrorism as he condemned the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 civilians, mostly tourists, dead. On a visit to India, Mr. Fukushiro held bilateral talks with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla as he expressed solidarity with India in eradicating terrorism, according to an official statement.

Trinamool MP Yusuf Pathan seeks Home Minister’s intervention over alleged assault on migrant workers from Bengal in Odisha

Trinamool Congress MP Yusuf Pathan on Friday (May 2, 2025) wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging that migrant workers from West Bengal, particularly from his Baharampur constituency, have been robbed, looted, and forcibly evicted from their accommodations in the neighbouring State of Odisha, and sought Mr. Shah’s intervention.

VHP condemns attacks on Kashmiris, but says they will not stop those speaking against ‘jihad’

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) president Alok Kumar on Friday (May 2, 2025) condemned the recent attacks on Kashmiris, especially students, in various parts of the country, but maintained that such incidents should not be used to “silence” those who speak against the ‘jihad’ and the attempt to destroy ‘Sanatan Dharma’.

Maharashtra Congress chief criticises State government’s 100-day report card, points to internal rift in Mahayuti

Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal on Friday (May 2, 2025) alleged that the State government’s recently released 100-day performance report has once again exposed the underlying tensions between the ruling Mahayuti alliance partners. Mr. Sapkal claimed that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis used the report card to highlight the superior performance of departments under his direct control, while downplaying the efforts of those managed by alliance partners, namely Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

Supreme Court protects family facing deportation to Pakistan, asks authorities to verify documents

The Supreme Court on Friday (May 2, 2025) asked authorities to not take coercive action such as deportation to Pakistan against six members of a family, who allegedly overstayed their visa, till an order on verification of their identity documents.

SEBI accuses Pranav Adani in insider trading case, he seeks to settle

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has alleged Pranav Adani, director of several Adani group companies and the nephew of founder Gautam Adani, shared price-sensitive information and breached regulations aimed at preventing insider trading.

U.S. Vice-President Vance says trade deal soon with India, calls PM Modi ‘tough negotiator’

U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance has called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “tough negotiator” and accused New Delhi of taking advantage of America, while predicting that India could be among the first countries to strike a trade deal to avert reciprocal tariffs.

Punjab parties united on issue of water sharing with Haryana

Amid escalating tensions between Punjab and Haryana over the sharing of water, an all-party meeting called by the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab on Friday (May 2, 2025) saw parties putting up a united stand on the issue.

Supreme Court agrees to hear PIL against amended U.P. law on religious conversion

The Supreme Court on Friday (May 2, 2025) agreed to consider a plea challenging the constitutional validity of the 2024 amended Uttar Pradesh law on “unlawful religious conversion”. A Bench of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and K.V. Viswanathan took note of the submissions of senior lawyer S Muralidhar who said certain provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, as amended in 2024, were “vague and overly broad” and the ambiguity infringed upon free speech and religious propagation.

Deeply saddened: MEA on death of Nepalese student at Odisha’s KIIT

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday (May 2, 2025) said it is “deeply saddened” over the death of a Nepalese student of the KIIT University in Bhubaneswar. The Ministry said it has been in constant touch with the Odisha government since it knew about the “tragic incident”.

Top U.N. court wraps week of hearings on humanitarian aid to Gaza

The top United Nations court on Friday (May 2, 2025) wraps a week of hearings on what Israel must do to ensure desperately needed humanitarian aid reaches Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Last year, the U.N. General Assembly asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to give an advisory opinion on Israel’s legal obligations after the country effectively banned the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, the main provider of aid to Gaza, from operating.

Pakistan to allow stranded citizens in India return via Wagah border after visa revocations

Pakistan announced on Friday (May 2, 2025) that it would continue to allow the use of the Wagah border crossing for its citizens stranded in India, following New Delhi’s decision to revoke visas in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror incident.

Alternative for Germany is listed as a ’right-wing extremist’ party by domestic intelligence agency

The German domestic intelligence service said Friday (May 2, 2025) it has classified the Alternative for Germany party, which placed second in national elections in February, as a “right-wing extremist effort” — making it subject to greater and broader surveillance of its activities.