Delhi Police defends force as court orders scrutiny

Delhi Police has rejected allegations that excessive force was used against student protesters at Jantar Mantar, telling the Supreme Court that officers exercised restraint while confronting a crowd that attempted to march towards Parliament on July 20. The court, however, has decided to constitute a high-powered committee to examine competing allegations of violence by police personnel and protesters.

The police defence was presented in a counter-affidavit as the Supreme Court considered a batch of petitions seeking an independent investigation into the handling of demonstrations linked to protests over examination paper leaks. Police said the proposed march towards Parliament had no permission and described the attempt to proceed beyond the designated protest area as unlawful.

Police estimated that more than 30,000 protesters were present around Jantar Mantar and adjoining areas, spread across roughly three kilometres, while about 5,000 police personnel had been deployed to manage the gathering. The affidavit said sections of the crowd breached barricades and the situation deteriorated as demonstrators attempted to advance towards Parliament.

Authorities maintained that force was applied in stages and only after attempts at crowd control failed. They disputed allegations that their response amounted to indiscriminate violence, arguing that photographs and video clips cited by petitioners presented an incomplete account of the confrontation.

The police also alleged that anti-social elements and people with criminal records had entered the demonstration and contributed to violence. More than 240 police and security personnel were injured, the affidavit said, while around 200 protesters and other members of the public suffered injuries. The figures presented to the court are higher than some initial assessments issued immediately after the July 20 confrontation.

Petitioners have offered a sharply different account. They have alleged indiscriminate baton charges, use of tear gas, electronic batons and projectile weapons against demonstrators, many of whom were students. One of the petitions specifically challenges the alleged use of pellet guns for civilian crowd control.

The Supreme Court had already found that the allegations disclosed a prima facie case warranting an independent and impartial examination. Material placed before the court included claims that students sustained pellet and rubber-bullet injuries, that one person suffered serious damage to his eyesight and that journalists and other civilians were assaulted. The court has also taken note of allegations that protesters attacked police personnel with stones and other objects.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana has sought to keep scrutiny focused on both sides of the confrontation. Earlier proceedings produced the court's observation that neither a police officer who used excessive force nor a criminal posing as a student protester should receive protection.

The court had previously directed authorities to preserve CCTV recordings, drone footage, body-camera recordings, police wireless communications and other evidence connected with the demonstrations. It also ordered protection of protesters' personal and digital information and directed that children below 18 without criminal antecedents who had been detained or arrested in connection with the protests be released.

The July 20 confrontation developed after protesters participating in the youth-led movement gathered at Jantar Mantar and attempted to march towards Parliament. The campaign had grown around anger over examination irregularities and demands for greater accountability in the education system. Police used batons and tear gas as demonstrators pushed towards restricted areas, while protesters accused the authorities of attempting to suppress a largely student-driven movement.

The dispute has consequently moved beyond the question of whether police were entitled to stop an unauthorised march. The proceedings now centre on whether the methods employed were proportionate to the threat faced and whether individual officers or protesters crossed legal limits.

Delhi University suspends scholar after professor assault

Delhi University has suspended a Faculty of Law PhD scholar and barred him from its premises after he allegedly assaulted a professor inside a campus building, prompting a police case and an independent university inquiry.

Shubham Singh, 31, was suspended with immediate effect following the incident at Umang Bhawan at about 10.30 am on Monday, August 17. The scholar, admitted to the Faculty of Law during the 2024-25 academic session, has also been prohibited from entering university premises while disciplinary proceedings are under way.

The professor has been identified as Anupam Jha, a Faculty of Law teacher who has served at the university for 23 years. CCTV footage of the episode shows a man waiting near the entrance before approaching the professor. The footage circulating online appears to show the confrontation developing rapidly, with others nearby attempting to intervene.

Delhi Police have registered an FIR at Maurice Nagar police station and begun an investigation. The university has separately constituted a three-member committee to establish the circumstances surrounding the confrontation and recommend further action. The committee is headed by chemistry professor Rajeev Gupta and includes professors Vipul Singh and Sudha Singh.

Jha has said he suffered an injury to his elbow and bruising to his hand during the episode. He said Singh was not his student and that interaction between them had been limited. Jha linked the dispute to an earlier encounter following Singh's PhD admission process, saying the scholar had confronted him in July 2025 over questions asked during an admission interview.

Singh has presented a different account of the background to the confrontation. He described his actions as stemming from accumulated frustration connected with the PhD interview process and questions raised during his admission attempts. Singh completed his LLB in 2020 and LLM in 2024 before enrolling for doctoral research at the Faculty of Law.

The scholar said his proposed research concerned the continuation of colonial-era approaches to relations between the state and religion. He said questions during the admission process about terminology used in the proposal had remained a source of dissatisfaction. The university inquiry is expected to examine these claims alongside CCTV material, accounts from those present and other evidence surrounding the alleged assault.

The disciplinary order was issued by the Office of the Proctor under provisions governing student conduct. University Proctor Manoj Kumar Singh confirmed that an inquiry had been ordered after the institution received CCTV footage relating to the incident. The entry ban was imposed under Ordinance XV-B, which provides the university with disciplinary powers in cases involving student misconduct.

The episode has intensified concern among Delhi University teachers over safety on campus. The Democratic Teachers' Front said suspending the scholar did not by itself adequately address the seriousness of the incident and called for swift disciplinary measures as well as enforceable safeguards to protect teachers from violence, intimidation and abuse.

The teachers' organisation said the assault should not be viewed as an isolated episode. It referred to another case in which Faculty of Law teachers were allegedly subjected to verbal abuse and argued that repeated incidents were undermining confidence among faculty members that threats or attacks would bring sufficiently strong institutional action.

Faculty groups have also pointed to an October 2025 confrontation at Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar College, affiliated with Delhi University, where Delhi University Students' Union joint secretary Deepika Jha was accused of slapping professor Sujit Kumar during a dispute. That incident was recorded on video and triggered protests by teachers as well as a university-level investigation.

Delhi University later imposed disciplinary action against Deepika Jha, while the episode remained a reference point for faculty organisations pressing the administration to adopt a firmer response to physical confrontations involving teachers. The Democratic Teachers' Front has now sought clear preventive measures and faster action whenever faculty members face violence or threats.

Pant becomes first India batter with 100 Test sixes

Rishabh Pant became the first player from India to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket on Tuesday, adding a world pace record to the landmark during the opening Test against Sri Lanka at Galle.

The wicketkeeper-batter reached three figures for career Test sixes when he launched fast bowler Lahiru Kumara over the boundary during India’s second innings on the fourth day. The stroke also completed Pant’s 20th Test half-century and underlined his position as one of the most aggressive batters in the longer format.

Pant reached 100 sixes in his 89th Test innings, comfortably the quickest any batter has attained the milestone. Adam Gilchrist had previously required 130 innings, while Ben Stokes took 151 and Brendon McCullum 170.

The 28-year-old also became only the fourth player to reach 100 Test sixes. Stokes leads the all-time list with 138, followed by former New Zealand captain McCullum with 107. Pant moved alongside former Australia wicketkeeper Gilchrist on 100.

Pant had entered the Galle Test with 97 sixes from 50 matches. He struck one maximum during his first-innings 39, taking him to 98, before clearing the ropes twice in the second innings to become the first player from India to reach the century mark.

Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma had previously set the benchmark among players from India with 91 Test sixes each. Pant has passed them despite playing significantly fewer matches, reflecting the unusually high frequency with which he has attacked the boundary during his Test career.

His milestone six came during an important phase of India’s second innings. Pant walked in with the score at 81 for three after captain Shubman Gill was dismissed, with India seeking to build on a first-innings advantage of 178 runs.

Pant was initially measured, waiting until his 13th delivery for his first boundary. He then accelerated sharply. A powerful six off Kumara sent the ball out of the ground and forced a replacement before Pant targeted the Sri Lanka attack more aggressively as India sought to stretch the lead beyond manageable proportions.

The landmark arrived when Pant again attacked Kumara. His fifty came from 53 balls, with the six taking his career tally to 100. He continued to score quickly and was eventually dismissed for 66 from 69 deliveries, an innings that contained a succession of unconventional attacking strokes.

Pant’s contribution strengthened India’s already commanding position after the tourists had controlled much of the match. India made 462 in their first innings, built around Devdutt Padikkal’s maiden Test century. Padikkal scored 167, while KL Rahul contributed 82 and Dhruv Jurel made 51.

Sri Lanka responded with 284 despite a century from Sonal Dinusha and 80 from Niroshan Dickwella. Left-arm spinners Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja shared seven wickets, giving India a sizeable advantage before their second innings began.

Pant’s achievement adds another distinctive record to a Test career defined by high-risk batting in demanding situations. Since making his debut against England at Nottingham in 2018, he has established himself as a rare wicketkeeper capable of changing the course of Test matches through sustained attacking play.

His six-hitting rate is particularly striking because Test cricket traditionally offers fewer opportunities for sustained power hitting than limited-overs formats. Pant required 4,918 deliveries faced to reach 100 sixes, substantially fewer than the other players to have achieved the landmark.

Gilchrist needed 6,578 deliveries to complete his century of sixes, while Stokes required 9,042 and McCullum 9,756. Pant’s numbers therefore reflect not simply longevity but the frequency with which he has used the aerial route throughout his career.

FIFA loses senior executive after Infantino commercial revolt

FIFA has confirmed the departure of Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour, deepening the fallout from President Gianni Infantino’s abandoned attempt to bring private investors into the governing body’s tournament business. Lamour left on 17 August, little more than two weeks after publicly accusing FIFA’s leadership of keeping staff in the dark over the proposal.

The governing body said its working relationship with Lamour had ended and thanked him for his service, without giving a reason for the separation. FIFA declined further comment. Lamour had been among its most senior executives and oversaw several divisions from the organisation’s headquarters in Zurich.

His departure follows an extraordinary internal dispute over Infantino’s plan to establish a commercial subsidiary encompassing some of FIFA’s most valuable tournament assets, including the men’s and women’s World Cups and Club World Cup competitions. The proposed company carried an implied valuation of $20 billion and was intended to raise as much as $4.2 billion in outside capital.

The structure would have opened up to 20 per cent of the venture to private investors. FIFA argued that the proceeds could significantly expand funding available to its 211 member associations and that any net benefits from the initiative would be reinvested in football. The proposal nevertheless triggered resistance over control of the World Cup’s commercial assets and the extent to which key stakeholders had been consulted.

Lamour broke publicly with Infantino at the end of July, saying employees had been deceived over how the project had developed. He described it as the initiative of one person and argued that FIFA existed to serve football rather than the interests of an individual. He also made clear that he understood his intervention could cost him his position.

His challenge carried added significance because of his long association with Infantino. Lamour previously worked at UEFA, joining the European governing body in 2007 and eventually becoming deputy general secretary. He also belonged to the circle that supported Infantino during his successful campaign for the FIFA presidency in 2016. FIFA appointed him Chief Operating Officer on 1 November 2024.

The confrontation widened when Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Infantino and former president of the US Soccer Federation, resigned while opposing the commercial venture. Cordeiro described the proposed arrangement as damaging to football, adding another prominent internal voice to objections already emerging across the sport.

Opposition also developed among major confederations and club organisations concerned about governance, consultation and control of FIFA competitions. European clubs threatened action over the proposal, while football authorities across Europe, Asia and North and Central America challenged the initiative. Faced with escalating resistance, Infantino abandoned the plan at the beginning of August.

The collapse transformed what began as a debate about financing into a wider test of Infantino’s leadership. Critics have questioned the concentration of decision-making around the president, while his supporters have pointed to FIFA’s increased revenues, expanded tournaments and greater development distributions during his decade in office.

The dispute has particular importance ahead of FIFA’s next presidential election. Infantino announced in April that he intends to seek another term in 2027. The election is scheduled for 18 March at the FIFA Congress in Rabat, Morocco, with the successful candidate due to serve the 2027-2031 term.

Lamour’s exit removes one of the highest-ranking officials to challenge Infantino openly, but it does not erase the governance questions generated by the failed commercial project. FIFA’s tournament portfolio has become increasingly valuable as the organisation expands both the number and scale of its competitions, making decisions over ownership, commercial rights and outside capital especially sensitive.

Iran shifts war posture as US truce lapses

Iran has threatened to move to a fully offensive military posture against the United States after efforts to secure a permanent end to their war stalled, raising the prospect of renewed attacks around the Strait of Hormuz and across the Gulf. Washington has ruled out extending the temporary ceasefire framework that expired on August 17.

A senior Iranian official said Tehran was prepared to conduct precise military strikes aimed at breaking the US naval blockade if diplomacy failed to produce an agreement. The warning marks a significant escalation in Iranian rhetoric after weeks in which intermediaries sought to keep negotiations alive despite deep disagreements over sanctions, maritime access and the terms governing traffic through Hormuz.

The immediate diplomatic crisis centres on a memorandum of understanding signed on June 17 that established a 60-day period for the two countries to negotiate a broader settlement. The framework was intended to terminate military operations and create a pathway towards resolving disputes over Iran's nuclear programme, US sanctions and access to the Strait of Hormuz. The arrangement soon began to unravel as Washington and Tehran offered sharply different interpretations of their obligations.

Iran has maintained that the United States failed to fulfil commitments made under the interim arrangement and has demanded sanctions relief and changes to the naval blockade before accepting a lasting settlement. Washington has rejected Tehran's interpretation and has continued to insist on guarantees covering maritime passage and Iran's nuclear activities.

The breakdown leaves the Strait of Hormuz at the centre of the military and economic confrontation. The narrow waterway between Iran and Oman was a route for about a fifth of internationally traded oil and liquefied natural gas before the conflict disrupted shipping. Any intensified campaign against commercial vessels or US naval forces could sharply increase insurance costs, reduce tanker traffic and place further pressure on global energy markets.

Oil prices have already reflected growing fears that negotiations may fail. Brent crude moved above $90 a barrel on Tuesday as traders assessed the possibility of prolonged disruption to Gulf supplies, adding to concerns about inflation and economic growth. Shipping activity through Hormuz has remained heavily constrained compared with normal levels.

The confrontation is also placing Oman in an increasingly difficult position. Muscat has maintained contacts with Tehran and has been involved in efforts concerning shipping through the strait, while remaining a longstanding security partner of Washington. President Donald Trump sharply criticised Oman's approach on Monday and suggested the United States could take military action if Muscat obstructed Washington's attempts to reopen the waterway.

Those comments add another complication to a diplomatic process already relying heavily on intermediaries. Pakistan and Qatar have participated in indirect contacts, while European governments have explored ways of encouraging dialogue. Austria and Greece have also become involved in diplomatic exchanges as concerns about energy security, maritime trade and the risk of a wider regional confrontation spread beyond the Gulf.

Channels between Washington and powerful elements within Iran nevertheless appear to remain open. The Trump administration has sought indirect communication with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, whose influence over Iran's military and security policy has expanded during the conflict. Contacts involving intermediaries have included efforts to communicate with IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi, indicating that both sides are maintaining options for diplomacy despite their increasingly confrontational public positions.

Iran's internal military structure has also been shifting towards preparations for a prolonged confrontation. Changes within the security establishment have strengthened figures associated with the Revolutionary Guards and placed greater emphasis on deterrence and offensive capability. Tehran's warning that it could abandon a defensive posture therefore comes against a broader effort to prepare its armed forces for an extended conflict rather than a short-lived exchange of strikes.

Washington, meanwhile, continues to link any durable settlement to reopening the Strait of Hormuz and addressing Iran's nuclear programme. Trump had previously suspended planned attacks after signs of diplomatic progress, but the expiration of the 60-day negotiating period has removed one of the few formal constraints separating negotiations from another major round of military operations.

Rocket Lab wins key role in Space Force satellite

Rocket Lab has been selected by Viasat to build the spacecraft bus for a new U. S. Space Force anti-jamming communications satellite, strengthening the company’s position as a supplier of complete spacecraft for national security missions.

The spacecraft will use Rocket Lab’s Lightning-GEO platform and carry a Viasat dual-band X/Ka-band communications payload. It forms part of the Protected Tactical SATCOM-Global programme, or PTS-G, which is designed to provide secure communications to U. S. and allied forces when hostile electronic warfare threatens conventional satellite links.

Viasat is the prime contractor for the satellite and will oversee the overall system, payload, ground infrastructure and operational support. The company was selected by Space Systems Command for one of the first operational spacecraft under the programme’s Swarm 1 phase. The Space Force awarded Viasat and Intelsat contracts totalling $437.7 million for the first two operational PTS-G satellites.

Rocket Lab’s role moves the company further beyond its origins as a small-launch provider. It will supply a geosynchronous version of Lightning incorporating internally produced subsystems including tracking, telemetry and command radios, solar-power equipment, star trackers, reaction wheels and flight and ground software.

The configuration reflects Rocket Lab’s strategy of controlling a growing proportion of spacecraft production rather than supplying isolated components. Vertical integration gives the company greater control over schedules, costs and hardware compatibility, an increasingly important consideration as defence agencies push contractors to shorten satellite development cycles.

The PTS-G spacecraft are intended to be smaller and more manoeuvrable than traditional military satellites operating in geosynchronous orbit. Rather than relying on a limited number of large spacecraft, the Space Force wants a more distributed communications architecture that can respond more rapidly to operational demands and remain effective during attempts to disrupt satellite links.

Anti-jamming has become a central requirement as military forces increasingly depend on satellite communications for command, intelligence and battlefield coordination. PTS-G will use the Protected Tactical Waveform alongside other waveforms to maintain connectivity in contested environments, while its X-band and military Ka-band payloads will support existing users as newer protected terminals and systems are introduced.

Viasat’s spacecraft architecture draws on technology developed for its commercial ViaSat-3 programme, illustrating the Space Force’s wider effort to adapt commercial satellite designs for military missions. The approach is intended to reduce development costs and accelerate deployment compared with traditional programmes built almost entirely around specialised government hardware.

The Swarm 1 order covers spacecraft manufacturing, integration and testing, launch and on-orbit checkout. Viasat’s award also includes five years of operations and sustainment, covering tracking, telemetry and command, network operations and cybersecurity. Initial operating capability for the wider programme is targeted no earlier than 2029, while the first Swarm 1 spacecraft have been expected to begin launching from 2028.

For Rocket Lab, the Viasat selection adds another major defence spacecraft programme to a portfolio that has expanded rapidly from launch services into satellite manufacturing, components and mission systems. Its spacecraft operations now encompass buses, solar systems, reaction wheels, radios, flight software and other technologies that can be combined into integrated platforms.

Lightning is designed for missions requiring comparatively high power and substantial payload capacity. A GEO adaptation expands its potential market beyond lower-orbit constellations and demonstrates Rocket Lab’s intention to compete for spacecraft that traditionally have been supplied by larger aerospace contractors.

The PTS-G programme itself has a contract ceiling of up to $4 billion across participating companies. Five contractors — Viasat, Intelsat, Boeing, Northrop Grumman and Astranis — were initially chosen to develop competing concepts before the programme moved towards operational spacecraft procurement.

Competition is expected to remain central as the Space Force builds the constellation in successive groups rather than relying on a single spacecraft manufacturer. That approach gives the service scope to introduce new technologies more quickly, spread production among suppliers and avoid dependence on one satellite design.

Lala deluge exposes El Niño’s split hurricane season

Hurricane Lala has delivered an extraordinary rainfall assault on Hawaii while an intensifying El Niño suppresses tropical cyclone development across the Atlantic, creating a striking divide between the two ocean basins at the height of the Northern Hemisphere hurricane season.

Laupahoehoe on Hawaii’s Big Island recorded 43.54 inches, or about 1.1 metres, of rain as Lala’s moisture-laden circulation encountered the island’s steep volcanic terrain. The preliminary total far exceeded forecasts that had initially placed maximum rainfall near 25 inches and ranks among the most extreme rainfall amounts associated with a US tropical cyclone.

Lala became a Category 1 hurricane on August 15, reaching maximum sustained winds of 75 mph as it passed close to the southern end of the Big Island. It did not make landfall, subsequently weakening back to tropical-storm strength, but its outer circulation produced hurricane-force conditions in exposed locations. A gust of 140 mph was measured on Mauna Kea, where elevation sharply amplified wind speeds.

Flooding was particularly destructive across Hawaii Island. About 100 homes were swept from their foundations, roads and bridges were damaged or washed out and several communities were temporarily isolated. One storm-related death has been confirmed, involving a 90-year-old woman found in Naalehu. Power failures affected well above 100,000 customers after the storm crossed the island chain, while outages at one stage exceeded 200,000 on Oahu.

The severity of the rain reflects more than Lala’s wind category. Tropical cyclone rainfall depends heavily on atmospheric moisture, storm movement and terrain, meaning a Category 1 hurricane can generate catastrophic flooding even without a direct landfall. Moist easterly airflow rising over the Big Island’s mountains enhanced condensation and repeatedly focused intense precipitation onto windward slopes.

The Pacific conditions surrounding Lala are unfolding alongside a strengthening El Niño, which is producing almost opposite effects across the world’s two principal Northern Hemisphere hurricane basins.

El Niño develops when waters across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific become unusually warm and atmospheric circulation changes in response. Those changes can create conditions more supportive of tropical cyclones across parts of the eastern and central Pacific, while strengthening upper-level winds across the tropical Atlantic.

That Atlantic wind shear can tilt developing storms, separate thunderstorms from their low-level circulation and prevent tropical disturbances from organising into hurricanes. El Niño therefore tends to reduce Atlantic hurricane activity even when ocean temperatures remain sufficiently warm to support storms.

The contrast is unusually visible this week. As of August 18, there are no active tropical cyclones anywhere in the Atlantic, and tropical cyclone formation is not expected there during the next seven days. The season has nevertheless produced three named storms — Arthur, Bertha and Cristobal — meaning the current count of zero describes active systems rather than total seasonal activity.

Atlantic activity is running far below normal as the basin enters the period when hurricane formation traditionally accelerates. Updated seasonal projections put the probability of a below-normal Atlantic season at 75%, with seven to 13 named storms, two to six hurricanes and no more than two major hurricanes expected across the full season. Accumulated Cyclone Energy, a measure combining storm strength and duration, has also remained unusually low.

Confidence that El Niño will become exceptionally strong has increased sharply. Climate forecasters now place the probability of a very strong El Niño during the Northern Hemisphere autumn and winter above 90%, with a 69% chance that its strength during October to December could reach levels rarely observed since systematic records began in 1950.

The Pacific side of the equation does not mean every storm will strengthen or strike populated territory. Individual hurricanes remain governed by local sea temperatures, atmospheric moisture, wind shear and steering currents. Hawaii is also a relatively small target within the central Pacific, making direct hurricane encounters uncommon.

Gold rally faces test as yields climb

Gold’s two-week advance faced resistance on Tuesday as rising US Treasury yields and firmer oil prices challenged a recovery that has carried bullion back towards $4,400 an ounce.

Spot gold slipped about 0.4% to $4,397 an ounce during August 18 trading, after gaining roughly 0.9% on Monday. The metal finished the week ended August 14 near $4,376, up about 0.7%, extending its weekly winning run to two. US gold futures for December delivery were also lower, trading around $4,453 an ounce.

The immediate outlook remains finely balanced. Gold has recovered sharply from levels near $4,000 earlier this month, helped by a weaker dollar, softer US economic data and diminishing expectations that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates again at its September meeting. Those forces remain supportive, but higher bond yields and the renewed rise in crude oil are limiting the scope for an uninterrupted rally.

The 10-year Treasury yield has moved higher as investors reassess inflation risks linked to escalating Middle East tensions and stronger energy prices. Higher yields normally weigh on bullion because gold pays no interest, increasing the relative attraction of government debt. Oil above $90 a barrel has complicated the picture by raising the possibility that persistent energy costs could keep inflation elevated and restrict the Federal Reserve’s ability to adopt a softer policy stance.

Traders are consequently focusing on the Federal Reserve’s July meeting minutes, due on Wednesday, for clues about how policymakers view the balance between slowing economic activity and inflation. The Fed kept its benchmark rate at 3.50%-3.75% at that meeting, although three officials favoured an increase. Weaker July employment figures, subdued consumer inflation and softer retail sales have since reduced expectations of another immediate tightening move. Markets now assign roughly a 65% probability to rates being left unchanged in September.

The dollar has also provided a significant tailwind. It has traded near multi-month lows against several major currencies as expectations for further US rate increases have faded. A cheaper dollar makes bullion less expensive for buyers using other currencies and has helped gold recover about 9% during August.

Technical conditions suggest that the rally could continue, but traders are approaching important resistance. Immediate support is emerging around $4,380, with a break below that zone potentially exposing $4,350 and then the $4,300 region. On the upside, sustained trading above $4,420-$4,450 would strengthen the case for another move towards the closely watched 200-day moving average near $4,504. Gold’s rapid August rebound has, however, pushed some momentum indicators towards levels where profit-taking becomes more likely.

Investment demand has begun to improve after weakening earlier in the year. Gold-backed exchange-traded funds attracted about $3 billion globally during July, adding roughly 23 tonnes and lifting combined holdings to about 4,068 tonnes. European funds accounted for the largest share of the inflows, while Asian investment remained positive and North American demand was comparatively subdued.

Central-bank purchases continue to provide underlying support, although buying slowed substantially during the first half of 2026. Official-sector and sovereign wealth fund acquisitions totalled about 345 tonnes during that period, the lowest first-half level since 2022. The slowdown has weakened one of gold’s strongest structural supports, making investment flows and monetary policy expectations increasingly important for the next leg of the market.

Longer-term forecasts remain broadly constructive despite the volatility. A July survey of 29 analysts and traders produced a median 2026 gold forecast of $4,509 an ounce, while several major banks have trimmed projections because of higher interest rates. Bank of America lowered its 2026 average estimate to $4,360 but maintained that $5,000 could become achievable once the Federal Reserve’s tightening cycle ends. HSBC expects gold to trade between $3,800 and $4,700 during 2026 and finish the year around $4,750.

Domestic prices are also being influenced by currency weakness. The rupee slipped to around 95.68 against the dollar on Tuesday as elevated oil prices increased pressure on import costs. MCX gold futures traded below ₹1.55 lakh per 10 grams during the session, leaving domestic buyers exposed to the competing effects of international bullion movements and a weaker currency.

China PCB makers accelerate high-end capacity push

Chinese printed circuit board manufacturers are accelerating investment in advanced production capacity as artificial intelligence infrastructure, high-performance computing and optical communications drive demand for increasingly complex and higher-value circuit boards.

Shenzhen MTC and Guangdong Ellington Electronics have unveiled fresh financing and manufacturing plans involving more than 2.7 billion yuan, targeting areas ranging from AI servers and high-speed networking equipment to Mini and Micro LED displays. The projects form part of a wider expansion across China’s PCB industry as manufacturers seek a larger share of the high-end electronics supply chain.

Ellington Electronics plans to raise as much as 2 billion yuan through a private placement of A-shares. About 1.85 billion yuan is earmarked for a high-end smart PCB manufacturing project, while 150 million yuan would supplement working capital. The manufacturing project itself involves planned investment of about 2.98 billion yuan at the company’s existing industrial park in Zhongshan.

The new facility will concentrate on high-layer-count boards and high-density interconnect boards, two increasingly important categories as computing systems require greater data throughput, tighter component integration and more demanding electrical performance.

Target applications include servers, high-speed switches, routers, AI accelerator cards, compute-tray motherboards and telecommunications equipment. Capacity will also be reserved for products used in optical modules, reflecting growing overlap between advanced computing and high-speed data transmission infrastructure.

Once fully operational, Ellington’s project is expected to provide annual capacity of 400,000 square metres of high-end PCBs. That would comprise about 340,000 square metres of high-layer-count boards and 60,000 square metres of higher-tier HDI products. The expansion will involve more advanced processes including multilayer lamination, fine-line patterning, mechanical and laser drilling, wet processing and automated inspection.

Ellington is also extending its strategy upstream. The company has agreed to establish a 100 million yuan investment fund focused on the PCB industrial ecosystem, committing 99.9 million yuan itself. Its investment targets include raw materials, production equipment, specialised consumables, HDI technology, high-frequency and high-speed boards, rigid-flex products and integrated-circuit substrates.

Shenzhen MTC, meanwhile, is advancing a 750 million yuan PCB research, development and manufacturing base in Nanchang through its Jiangxi operations. The facility is designed principally for specialised Mini and Micro LED circuit boards and optical-module boards. Planned monthly production capacity is 100,000 square metres for each category, with commercial production scheduled to begin during the second half of 2027.

The investments come as the competitive race extends well beyond these two manufacturers. Victory Giant Technology, one of the major suppliers of PCBs used in AI computing, is developing another high-end manufacturing facility in Huizhou, Guangdong. The project requires investment of at least 3 billion yuan, including no less than 2 billion yuan in fixed assets, and covers a 100,000-square-metre industrial site.

Victory Giant has benefited sharply from the AI infrastructure cycle. The company generated revenue of 19.3 billion yuan in 2025, an increase of 80%, while net profit climbed to 4.3 billion yuan from 1.2 billion yuan. It ranked first globally by sales in the AI and high-performance computing PCB market during the first half of 2025, with a 13.8% share.

The broader market is expanding alongside spending on data centres. Global PCB industry output is projected to rise 12.5% to $95.8 billion in 2026. High-end boards carry considerably greater value than conventional products because AI servers require denser circuitry, more layers and stronger electrical and thermal performance. High-end AI server PCBs can cost several times more per square metre than standard multilayer boards.

China already occupies the largest position in global PCB manufacturing. Companies based in the country accounted for roughly 34.9% of worldwide output in 2024, worth about $27.95 billion, with growth being propelled increasingly by AI servers, data centres, high-end HDI products and multilayer boards.

OpenMatter pushes cryptographic verification at Belgrade event

OpenMatter Network will use Belgrade Blockchain Week 2026 to promote cryptographic verification as a security layer for artificial intelligence, decentralised computing and scientific collaboration, placing its technology strategy before developers and blockchain infrastructure specialists gathering in Serbia this month.

Chris Biele, the company’s Head of Operations and Partnerships, is scheduled to lead sessions examining how computing systems can move beyond assumption-based trust by producing cryptographic proof of how data is processed and how autonomous software behaves. His programme will cover secure scientific collaboration, agentic AI and what OpenMatter describes as “Verification Architecture”.

The appearance comes as developers confront growing security and accountability questions surrounding AI agents that can independently execute instructions, interact with software services and increasingly initiate financial or digital transactions. OpenMatter is positioning cryptographic verification as a mechanism for demonstrating that an automated system followed predefined rules instead of requiring users or organisations simply to trust the software operator.

Biele is also listed as a speaker at ETH Belgrade, the Ethereum-focused conference being held on August 26 and 27 at the Sava Congress Center as part of Belgrade Blockchain Week. His session is expected to examine infrastructure for verifiable private computation, including zero-knowledge proofs, multi-party computation, decentralised computing and post-quantum cryptography.

OpenMatter’s participation reflects a wider shift within blockchain and AI development towards systems capable of providing independently verifiable evidence of computation. Zero-knowledge technology, for example, can allow one party to prove that a computation or condition is valid without revealing all the underlying information. The technique has gained importance as developers seek stronger privacy and verification models for financial services, digital identity and AI applications.

Agentic AI adds another layer to the challenge. Unlike conventional applications that execute narrowly defined user commands, AI agents can be given objectives and allowed to determine intermediate actions independently. This creates questions over authorisation, auditability and responsibility when agents access data, make decisions or interact with other autonomous systems.

OpenMatter argues that cryptographically verifiable execution could provide organisations with an auditable record showing whether an AI agent acted within permitted boundaries. Its approach focuses on verifying how computation occurred rather than relying solely on conventional authentication or statements from infrastructure providers.

The company has also been working around standards for verifiable AI agent execution alongside organisations associated with decentralised AI and distributed-ledger infrastructure. Those efforts are intended to develop common mechanisms through which autonomous software can demonstrate that instructions were executed under specified conditions.

Scientific collaboration represents another potential application. Research projects increasingly involve large datasets, multiple institutions and computing resources distributed across organisations and jurisdictions. Cryptographic verification could allow participating researchers to validate selected calculations or data-handling procedures without exposing confidential information or transferring complete datasets between institutions.

The concept could be particularly useful where laboratories, universities or commercial research organisations need to establish that data has been processed according to agreed rules. However, deploying such systems at scale involves technical trade-offs involving computation costs, implementation complexity and the need for standards that can operate across different platforms.

Belgrade Blockchain Week brings together blockchain companies, infrastructure developers, investors and decentralised application teams through conferences, workshops and community events across the Serbian capital. OpenMatter Network is listed among participating infrastructure organisations, while ETH Belgrade forms one of the central gatherings within the wider programme.

The 2026 ETH Belgrade agenda also reflects increasing convergence between blockchain technology and autonomous AI. Sessions across the event are expected to address AI agents that control digital wallets, privacy infrastructure, tokenisation, decentralised finance and mechanisms for establishing who authorised machine-generated transactions.

That overlap is creating opportunities for technologies originally developed for blockchain verification to be applied more broadly to artificial intelligence. Distributed ledgers established the principle that independently operated computers can verify agreed state changes without depending on a single trusted authority. Developers are now experimenting with related cryptographic techniques to verify off-chain calculations and AI-driven actions.

CEA urges return of lower ethanol petrol

Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran has called for lower-ethanol petrol such as E10 to be restored alongside E20, arguing that motorists should have a choice while compatibility problems affecting parts of the older vehicle fleet are addressed.

Nageswaran’s intervention marks a significant shift in the debate over the nationwide move to E20, petrol containing 20 per cent ethanol. Writing with Department of Economic Affairs consultant Akash Poojari, he said restoring a lower blend at fuel stations could ease much of the public concern surrounding the transition. The authors made clear that the views expressed were personal.

The proposal comes after E20 became the only petrol blend available nationally from April 1, 2026. The transition forms part of the government’s strategy to reduce dependence on imported crude oil, support domestic ethanol production and lower transport emissions. The government had previously said there was no proposal to return to E0 or E10 petrol.

Nageswaran did not endorse claims that E20 is broadly damaging vehicle engines. Available evidence, including testing and service data, has not established widespread engine failures attributable to the fuel. Automakers have also said extensive testing of older vehicles has failed to show systemic engine damage caused by E20.

The more difficult issue involves older vehicles whose fuel-system components were designed for lower ethanol concentrations. Nageswaran and Poojari estimated that the country has about 75 million to 80 million older two-wheelers, some equipped with rubber seals that were not designed for higher ethanol exposure. Replacing such components across the existing fleet would require an extensive retrofit programme that could take years.

Ethanol can interact differently with some older rubber and polymer components used in fuel systems. The government’s original ethanol roadmap acknowledged that vehicles moving to E20 needed both material compatibility and suitable engine calibration. Testing has nevertheless produced a more nuanced picture, with research finding no broad problems among tested two-wheelers while identifying possible risks to some rubber components and particular engine configurations in E10-designed vehicles.

Fuel economy has become another focus of consumer complaints. E20 contains less energy per litre than conventional petrol because ethanol has lower energy density. Automobile industry representatives have acknowledged that fuel efficiency can fall by roughly 3 per cent to 3.5 per cent in some vehicles, although the effect varies according to engine design, driving conditions and calibration.

Authorities have resisted suggestions that ethanol blending alone explains every mileage complaint. Fuel consumption is affected by vehicle condition, traffic, driving behaviour, tyre pressure and other factors. Oil companies have also rejected claims that ethanol blending inherently causes fuel contamination, while inspections have covered about 90,000 filling stations as concerns over petrol quality intensified.

The controversy has exposed a gap between the rapid pace of ethanol policy and the age profile of the vehicle fleet. E20-compatible passenger vehicles became widely available only in the past few years, while millions of cars and two-wheelers still on the road were designed when E5 or E10 was the prevailing specification. Some older vehicle manuals explicitly recommend lower ethanol concentrations.

Carmakers including Maruti Suzuki, Hero MotoCorp and Toyota Kirloskar Motor have defended E20. Maruti Suzuki has said it serviced more than 15 million older cars over two years without finding ethanol-related problems and tested E10-era vehicles using E20 without identifying significant concerns. Industry officials maintain that normal engines can tolerate the fuel, although ageing components may require inspection or replacement.

The government has strong economic reasons for maintaining ethanol blending. Higher domestic ethanol consumption reduces demand for imported petroleum and creates another market for agricultural feedstocks. The programme reached the 20 per cent blending target years ahead of the original timetable, while policy is already moving towards flex-fuel vehicles capable of operating on blends ranging from E20 to E85 or higher.

Russia battles renewed fuel shortages after refinery strikes

Fuel shortages have returned across parts of Russia as fresh drone strikes on oil refineries disrupt production, forcing regional authorities to tighten petrol sales and Moscow to expand emergency imports.

At least 10 regions are facing renewed pressure on filling-station supplies after conditions had improved towards the end of July. Petrol was unavailable at some stations in the Moscow region on Monday, although diesel remained more widely available. Officials have identified difficulties in Orenburg, Lipetsk, Tver, Krasnodar, Zabaykalsky, Primorsky, Krasnoyarsk, Oryol, Tuva and Khakassia.

Wholesale gasoline volumes have also weakened sharply. Sales on the St Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange have fallen by an average of about 20% since the beginning of August compared with the second half of July, indicating that the disruption extends beyond isolated retail shortages.

The renewed squeeze follows another series of Ukrainian drone attacks against refining infrastructure in late July and August. Several plants have either halted operations or suffered damage requiring prolonged repairs, reducing the ability of oil companies to convert Russia's large crude reserves into petrol and other fuels needed domestically.

One of the most significant disruptions occurred at the Orsknefteorgsintez refinery in the Orenburg region after a drone attack on August 11 caused a fire and damaged processing equipment. The facility, capable of processing about 5.76 million tonnes of crude annually, equivalent to roughly 115,000 barrels a day, subsequently halted processing.

The Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat complex in Bashkortostan was also hit as attacks reached energy facilities far from Ukraine. The refinery is one of Russia's larger oil-processing sites and forms part of a network increasingly exposed to long-range drone operations designed to restrict Moscow's capacity to produce and distribute refined fuels.

Russia's fuel difficulties had already intensified from May as refinery outages coincided with higher seasonal consumption. By July, shortages and controls had spread widely enough for the federal government to introduce measures aimed at keeping additional fuel inside the country. These included restrictions on exports, adjustments to fuel-quality requirements and greater use of imports.

Moscow extended its gasoline export ban until the end of 2026 as it sought to protect domestic availability. Diesel exports have also faced restrictions during periods of acute pressure, highlighting the government's willingness to sacrifice overseas sales when filling stations inside Russia run short.

Imports are now becoming an increasingly important part of the response. Russia has brought gasoline in by rail from Belarus and Kazakhstan while turning to seaborne supplies from Asia. An Oman-flagged tanker carrying about 68,000 tonnes of gasoline originally loaded at Vadinar arrived at the Arctic port of Vitino in early August, with the cargo being transferred to rail for domestic distribution. At least two additional gasoline cargoes are expected at Russian ports during the second half of August.

The unusual import flows underline the consequences of losing refining capacity. Russia remains one of the world's largest oil producers and exporters, but crude availability alone cannot prevent petrol shortages when conversion plants are damaged, undergoing repairs or operating below normal levels.

Authorities initially appeared to have contained the crisis by late July. Restrictions were eased or removed in several regions after supplies were redirected and imports increased. That improvement proved fragile as another sequence of refinery strikes tightened the market again.

Regional responses have varied according to the severity of local shortages. Some authorities have restricted the quantity drivers can purchase, while others have tightened controls over retail pricing or prioritised deliveries to essential users. Orenburg introduced particularly strict controls after the disruption at Orsk, reflecting concern that local supplies could deteriorate while refinery operations remain suspended.

The shortages are also exposing weaknesses in Russia's internal fuel logistics. Refined products often need to be moved over vast distances by pipeline, rail and road, meaning production losses at individual refineries can create shortages hundreds or thousands of kilometres away. Redirecting fuel to one vulnerable territory can consequently reduce availability elsewhere.

The government has said oil companies are increasing deliveries to the areas under greatest pressure. The continuing fall in exchange sales, however, suggests the domestic market remains vulnerable to additional refinery shutdowns at a time when summer travel and agricultural activity are maintaining demand.

Bhagwati Products deepens electronics component manufacturing push

Bhagwati Products will invest Rs 1,015 crore in display manufacturing and precision moulding after securing government approval for two projects aimed at expanding domestic production of critical electronics components.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has cleared the projects under the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme, marking a significant expansion by the Micromax-linked electronics manufacturer beyond large-scale device assembly into component production. The investment comprises Rs 450 crore for display manufacturing and Rs 565 crore for precision moulding.

Display manufacturing will be undertaken through TXD India Technology Private Limited, following Bhagwati Products’ acquisition of a 51% stake in the company. Regulatory approval required under Press Note 3 has also been obtained for the transaction.

The company plans to manufacture mobile phone displays at TXD India’s existing facility in Bawal in Haryana’s Rewari district. Initial production capacity is projected at about 1.5 million display units a month, with plans to raise this to between three million and four million units monthly as demand and operations expand. Automotive displays are expected to become a subsequent area of production.

Precision moulding, which accounts for the larger share of the new investment, will be developed at Bhagwati Products’ Greater Noida facility. The Rs 565-crore project is intended to create in-house capabilities for manufacturing precision components used across electronics products, reducing dependence on externally sourced parts and strengthening the company’s position deeper within the supply chain.

Both projects are scheduled to begin production during 2026. Their commissioning is expected to generate additional manufacturing employment and take Bhagwati Products’ total workforce beyond 10,000 employees.

Co-founder Rahul Sharma said the investments reflected a shift in the country’s electronics sector from assembling finished devices towards creating capabilities across the component value chain. He said display manufacturing and precision moulding were areas where domestic production capacity remained limited and would be important to the broader electronics manufacturing strategy.

The expansion comes as policymakers increasingly focus on raising local value addition after rapid growth in smartphone and electronics assembly. The Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme is designed to encourage investment in components, sub-assemblies, materials and capital equipment that form the upstream foundations of electronics production.

A tranche of ECMS approvals announced earlier this year covered 29 proposals involving projected investment of Rs 7,104 crore and anticipated production worth Rs 84,515 crore, with more than 14,000 direct jobs expected. Approved categories included display modules, flexible printed circuit boards, capacitors, connectors, lithium-ion cells, inductors and rare-earth permanent magnets.

Bhagwati Products has been scaling rapidly alongside the expansion of electronics contract manufacturing. The company crossed the Rs 17,000-crore revenue milestone in 2026 after revenues climbed from about Rs 620 crore in FY24 to Rs 6,200 crore in FY25. Smartphones remain its largest business, supported by manufacturing capacity of as many as 40 million units annually and production relationships with brands including Vivo, OPPO and Lenovo.

Its strategy has progressively widened beyond smartphone assembly towards design, engineering, components, memory technology and advanced manufacturing. The company has also strengthened product development and engineering through its partnership with electronics original-design manufacturer Huaqin, giving it access to technology and production expertise needed to compete for larger global manufacturing programmes.

The display investment is particularly significant because displays remain among the higher-value assemblies within smartphones and other connected devices. Establishing larger domestic capacity could allow manufacturers to increase locally sourced content while shortening supply chains for high-volume handset production.

Precision moulding similarly supports components requiring tight manufacturing tolerances and consistent quality across large production runs. Such capabilities can serve smartphones as well as consumer electronics, IT hardware and automotive products, giving Bhagwati Products scope to diversify production as its component operations mature.

BRICS sharpens focus on environmental resilience

BRICS is expanding environmental cooperation as member states seek coordinated responses to climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, pollution and growing pressure on natural resources.

The grouping has placed sustainability at the centre of its 2026 agenda under India’s presidency, linking environmental policy more closely with energy security, resilient infrastructure, technology and development finance. The official theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, reflects an effort to turn broad climate commitments into practical programmes involving governments, research institutions and development lenders.

Work through the BRICS Environment Working Group and the Contact Group on Climate Change and Sustainable Development has increasingly concentrated on areas where members believe collective action can produce measurable benefits. Circular economy policies, extended producer responsibility, waste management, restoration of degraded land, biodiversity protection and climate resilience are among the priorities being developed through the 2026 process. An action plan on circular economy and extended producer responsibility was presented during working-group discussions in April. ][2])

The approach builds on agreements reached during Brazil’s presidency in 2025, when environment ministers identified plastic pollution and waste, desertification, drought, ecosystem restoration and climate leadership as areas for intensified cooperation. BRICS governments also endorsed a Climate Leadership Agenda aimed at strengthening collective action under the Paris Agreement and broader international climate frameworks.

Environmental policy has gained greater strategic importance for BRICS because the grouping brings together several of the world’s largest economies, major energy producers, rapidly industrialising states and countries containing extensive forests, wetlands and other biodiversity-rich ecosystems. That diversity gives the bloc considerable influence over global climate and conservation negotiations but also creates differences over the pace and cost of decarbonisation.

Energy remains one of the most difficult parts of the equation. BRICS countries agreed in June to strengthen cooperation on energy security, sustainability, innovation, resilient infrastructure and capacity building. Discussions have emphasised diversified energy systems, dependable supply chains, cleaner technologies and the need to balance rising electricity demand with national climate commitments.

The grouping’s environmental strategy increasingly extends beyond emissions reduction. Land degradation and drought have emerged as prominent concerns ahead of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification conference being held in Mongolia from August 17 to 28. Experts involved in BRICS environmental discussions have examined financing for land restoration, support for smaller agricultural producers and mechanisms designed to encourage land-degradation neutrality without creating new trade barriers.

Marine and polar research is another expanding field. BRICS countries are working on a roadmap for cooperation in ocean and polar science, including joint research, technological exchanges and stronger scientific networks. Such cooperation is designed to improve understanding of sea-level rise, changing marine ecosystems, polar processes and biodiversity loss, while providing governments with better evidence for adaptation and resource-management policies.

Cities are also becoming part of the climate agenda. Representatives from BRICS cities meeting in Mumbai this month examined protection of coastal urban centres from sea-level rise, erosion and flooding, along with climate-responsive planning, green infrastructure and sustainable cooling. The discussions reflected growing recognition that environmental resilience will depend heavily on investment decisions made by fast-growing metropolitan regions.

Financing remains a persistent obstacle. Developing economies argue that the scale of investment required for adaptation, clean energy, biodiversity protection and resilient infrastructure cannot be met through public budgets alone. BRICS has therefore sought a larger role for development finance, including the New Development Bank, alongside private capital and innovative financing mechanisms.

Differences among members nevertheless complicate attempts to develop a single environmental position. Their economies have sharply different energy mixes, emissions trajectories and development priorities. Several rely heavily on fossil fuels, while others are seeking faster expansion of renewable power and low-carbon manufacturing. The bloc has also resisted pressure for developing economies to assume climate-finance responsibilities comparable with those historically borne by wealthier countries.

The policy direction under the 2026 presidency points towards deeper coordination rather than uniform national targets. BRICS is concentrating on areas where technology sharing, research, financing and policy exchanges can proceed despite differences over energy and emissions. Circular production systems, climate-resilient agriculture, ecosystem restoration, clean-energy technologies and environmental research are becoming increasingly interconnected within that framework.

Nelco deepens satellite push with $20 million Elveo investment

Tata Group company Nelco has invested $20 million in US-based Elveo Mobile, placing a strategic bet on direct-to-device satellite communications as it seeks to expand connectivity services across India and other South Asian markets.

The Mumbai-listed satellite communications provider has subscribed to compulsorily convertible debentures issued by Lunar Holdco Inc, the Delaware-incorporated company operating as Elveo Mobile. The investment is designed to give Nelco exposure to a new generation of satellite services capable of connecting smartphones, Internet of Things devices and machines directly to satellites.

The debentures carry a 7 per cent annual compounded return and will convert into equity under agreed conditions. Nelco's eventual shareholding cannot yet be determined because it will depend on conversion events and terms. The transaction does not give Nelco control over Lunar Holdco.

The partnership will allow Nelco to develop connectivity and computing services using Elveo's planned satellite network for customers in sectors including automotive, maritime, energy, telecommunications, infrastructure and government. Potential applications include vehicle telematics, fleet and asset tracking, infrastructure monitoring, remote operations, disaster response and business-continuity services.

Elveo is developing a global non-geostationary satellite orbit network using S-band spectrum. Its technology is intended to provide connections directly from satellites to conventional mobile devices, IoT equipment and other machines, reducing dependence on specialised satellite terminals in certain applications.

For Nelco, the deal extends a shift towards low-orbit and direct satellite connectivity at a time when satellite and terrestrial telecommunications systems are becoming more closely integrated. Direct-to-device technology is emerging as one of the industry's fastest-developing areas, with satellite operators seeking to fill cellular coverage gaps rather than compete solely in traditional fixed satellite broadband markets.

Nelco Managing Director and Chief Executive P J Nath said direct-to-device services represented the next major growth wave for the global satellite communications market. He said Elveo's network design could open new opportunities across India and South Asia, while its onboard processing capabilities could adapt as customer requirements change.

Elveo Chief Executive Ramu Potarazu said the partnership would extend the company's communications technology into enterprise markets covering automotive, telecoms, infrastructure and other mission-critical sectors. The arrangement also creates potential for Elveo to work with other Tata Group companies internationally.

Elveo emerged from the combination of satellite communications businesses Lynk Global and Omnispace, bringing together technologies aimed at connecting ordinary mobile devices through space-based networks. The business is backed by satellite operator SES, whose chief executive Adel Al-Saleh has described Nelco's entry as an expansion of the Elveo partner ecosystem.

SES separately expanded its strategic investment and collaboration with Elveo, underscoring growing industry interest in satellite-to-mobile connectivity. The broader market includes operators and technology companies racing to link standard handsets to satellites, particularly in areas where terrestrial mobile towers are unavailable or economically difficult to deploy.

Such services are initially expected to be particularly useful for messaging, emergency communications, tracking and low-bandwidth data before expanding towards more capable mobile data services as satellite constellations, spectrum availability and handset technology improve.

India represents a large potential market because extensive rural, maritime and mountainous areas remain difficult to serve continuously through terrestrial networks. Satellite connectivity is also gaining importance for transport, logistics, energy projects and emergency communications, where continuous coverage can be more valuable than high-speed connectivity alone.

Nelco already provides satellite communications across enterprise, government, defence, maritime and aviation-related segments. Tata Power holds a controlling stake in the company, which is listed on both the BSE and NSE.

Investors responded strongly to the announcement. Nelco shares closed at ₹1,081.50 on the NSE on Monday, gaining about 5.6 per cent, after touching ₹1,120 during the session. The stock also moved beyond its previous 52-week high as the market assessed the company's deeper move into emerging satellite connectivity services.

Garg fights to regain control of Better

Vishal Garg has opened a battle to regain control of Better Home & Finance after being removed as chief executive, escalating a boardroom dispute barely two weeks after investor Daniel Lewis joined the mortgage technology company’s board and then took over its top job.

Garg, who founded Better and remains a director and major voting shareholder, says he was misled by Lewis, whom he had welcomed to the board on July 27. Garg has accused Lewis of gaining his confidence by supporting the company’s strategy and discussing ways to cut costs before persuading other directors to replace him. Lewis was appointed interim chief executive on August 3. The company initially described Garg’s departure as a mutually agreed transition.

That account has since been overtaken by an increasingly hostile dispute. Better’s board now says Garg was terminated after directors, excluding Garg himself, unanimously concluded that a series of decisions had raised concerns about his judgment, temperament and credibility. The board has also linked its decision to the company’s financial performance, pointing to more than $1.5 billion in cumulative GAAP net losses since 2022 and a share-price decline exceeding 90 per cent during Garg’s tenure. Garg disputes the board’s broader characterisation of his leadership and argues that the business was approaching a turnaround.

The confrontation has moved beyond the chief executive’s office. Garg says he has obtained signed declarations from shareholders controlling a majority of Better’s voting power and has retained lawyer Alex Spiro for a campaign to reshape the board. His proposal seeks the resignation of five directors and could lead to a special shareholder meeting if the directors do not step aside. Garg has offered to return as chief executive for a salary of $1 until the company becomes profitable and has proposed purchasing $30 million of Better shares, including $10 million during the first five trading days of his return.

Better has rejected the attempted comeback and told shareholders that established corporate procedures govern any changes to the board. Directors have also accused Garg of delaying the company’s quarterly filing by failing to provide representation letters needed for its Form 10-Q. Garg contests that version. He says the final document reached him seven minutes after the filing deadline and that he signed promptly after reviewing changes in the paperwork.

The struggle comes as Better attempts to convert improving mortgage volumes into sustainable profits after years of losses. Second-quarter funded loan volume reached $1.67 billion, up 45 per cent from a year earlier, while revenue rose 28 per cent to $54.7 million. The company nevertheless recorded a $30.6 million net loss and an adjusted EBITDA loss of $14 million. Better has endured 11 consecutive quarters of losses and expects another adjusted EBITDA deficit of between $15 million and $18 million in the third quarter.

Garg argues those figures mask significant operational gains. Quarterly revenue has risen from about $20 million in early 2024 to $54.7 million, while funded loan volume has increased from roughly $600 million to $1.67 billion over the same period. He has also pointed to a sharp decline in loan-production costs, from around $12,000 per mortgage to below $3,000, as evidence that Better’s Tinman artificial-intelligence platform is improving efficiency.

Lewis has taken a different strategic view, placing greater emphasis on a partner-led model in which outside companies handle customer acquisition while Better concentrates on mortgage manufacturing, technology, underwriting and infrastructure. The company has increased its annualised cost-reduction target to more than $45 million by year-end and is continuing efforts to sell Birmingham Bank, its UK banking subsidiary.

The conflict marks another dramatic turn for Garg, whose management style drew worldwide attention in December 2021 when he dismissed about 900 employees during a short Zoom call. He later apologised for the manner in which the layoffs were communicated and temporarily stepped away from day-to-day leadership.

Better subsequently faced a severe reversal as the pandemic refinancing boom ended and mortgage rates climbed. The company, once valued at about $8 billion in private markets, eventually listed publicly through a merger with Aurora Acquisition Corp in 2023. Its shares then lost more than 90 per cent of their value as high borrowing costs weakened demand and the company struggled to stem losses.

Lewis had entered the board as founder and managing partner of Orange Capital and a significant Better shareholder, bringing more than three decades of investment, operating and governance experience. Only days before the leadership upheaval, Garg publicly praised Lewis’s experience in capital allocation, operational execution and regulated industries, saying it would help Better pursue its next stage of growth.

Gold extends decline as investors lock in gains

Gold prices fell for a second consecutive session in New Delhi, losing ₹800 to ₹1,56,200 per 10 grams as investors booked profits after a strong run and international bullion markets struggled to sustain higher levels.

Gold of 99.9 per cent purity had settled at ₹1,57,000 per 10 grams in the previous session. Silver, by contrast, held steady at ₹2,40,000 per kilogram, including taxes, highlighting a divergence between the two precious metals in the domestic physical market.

The decline came as traders reduced positions following a sharp advance that had pushed gold towards levels where buyers became increasingly cautious. International bullion also retreated from a two-month peak after an early-August rally, encouraging investors who had accumulated positions at lower prices to take profits.

Spot gold traded around $4,350 an ounce during part of Friday's session after dropping more than 1 per cent on Thursday. Prices had earlier climbed as high as about $4,449, their strongest level since early June, before selling pressure emerged. Global gold subsequently recovered some ground as the US dollar weakened, underscoring the volatility surrounding the market.

Domestic bullion prices reflect movements in international gold, the rupee's exchange rate against the dollar, import costs and local demand. Changes in any of these factors can cause prices quoted by jewellers and bullion dealers to diverge from global moves during the same trading day.

The latest pullback follows a particularly volatile year for gold. The metal surged to record territory at the start of 2026, driven by geopolitical risks, central-bank demand and concerns over inflation and financial-market stability. It later underwent a substantial correction before recovering through August.

US monetary policy remains one of the strongest influences on bullion. Gold pays no interest, making it comparatively more attractive when investors expect borrowing costs to fall or remain stable. Higher interest rates and bond yields can have the opposite effect by increasing the opportunity cost of holding the metal.

Inflation data released in the United States provided some support to expectations that the Federal Reserve could keep interest rates unchanged at its September meeting. Consumer-price figures were broadly in line with expectations, while producer-price data suggested that underlying inflation pressures were not accelerating as sharply as some investors had feared.

Those signals initially helped gold because a less aggressive monetary-policy outlook tends to weigh on bond yields and the dollar. The strength of the preceding bullion rally, however, prompted traders to lock in gains rather than immediately build larger positions.

The dollar weakened during Friday's international trading, eventually helping spot gold regain ground. A softer dollar generally makes bullion cheaper for buyers using other currencies and can increase demand. US gold futures also ended higher after recovering from earlier weakness.

Geopolitical developments are adding another layer of uncertainty. Tensions involving Iran and attempts to restore normal movement through the Strait of Hormuz have kept energy markets volatile. Disruption to oil supplies could push crude prices higher and revive inflation concerns, complicating expectations for monetary policy.

That creates competing forces for gold. Heightened geopolitical risk usually strengthens demand for safe-haven assets, while an oil-driven rise in inflation could encourage central banks to maintain tighter monetary policy, potentially restraining bullion.

Silver showed greater resilience in New Delhi, remaining unchanged at ₹2,40,000 per kilogram even as gold weakened. International silver traded around $64.7 an ounce during Friday's session, maintaining much of the recovery recorded over the preceding weeks.

Gold's longer-term investment case continues to be supported by central-bank purchases and demand for assets viewed as protection against currency, sovereign-debt and geopolitical risks. The World Gold Council has highlighted the unusually wide swings in bullion during 2026, when prices moved from record territory above $5,000 an ounce early in the year to below $4,000 before rebounding.

Supreme Court ends Raina cases in Latent controversy

The Supreme Court on Friday quashed criminal cases against comedian Samay Raina and four other content creators over allegedly insensitive remarks about persons with disabilities, after recording their compliance with directions intended to make amends for the controversial material.

A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana granted the relief to Raina, Vipul Goyal, Balraj Paramjeet Singh Ghai, Sonali Thakkar and Nishant Jagdish Tanwar. The proceedings had arisen from objections to jokes and comments that were alleged to ridicule people with disabilities and rare genetic disorders.

The ruling brings to an end the criminal proceedings covered by the disability-related case after months of scrutiny of the comedians' conduct. The court had earlier demanded public apologies and meaningful measures to increase awareness about disabilities, rather than treating an apology alone as sufficient redress.

The proceedings were initiated following a petition by Cure SMA Foundation of India, which objected to remarks concerning people affected by spinal muscular atrophy, or SMA. The petition particularly questioned comments about the extraordinarily high cost of treatment for the genetic condition and other material alleged to have mocked people living with disabilities.

The court had directed Raina and the other comedians to use their platforms to highlight the achievements of people with disabilities and help generate funds for treatment. They were expected to hold programmes involving people with disabilities and support awareness and fundraising efforts, particularly for patients requiring costly SMA therapies.

Friday's order followed an acrimonious phase in the litigation. The Supreme Court last month imposed costs of Rs 3 lakh each on Raina and the four other comedians after finding that they had failed to comply adequately with undertakings given to the court. Raina was criticised particularly sharply, with the bench saying his conduct amounted to a brazen violation of assurances made during the proceedings.

The bench subsequently required compliance affidavits and warned that substantially higher costs could follow if its directions continued to be disregarded. The court's decision on Friday came after it was satisfied that the required steps had been taken.

The disability proceedings formed part of a wider legal controversy surrounding Raina's YouTube programme India's Got Latent, which came under intense scrutiny in February 2025. Podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia, popularly associated with the BeerBiceps brand, triggered a separate storm after making an obscene remark involving parents and sex while appearing as a guest on the programme.

That episode led to FIRs and complaints in several states against Allahbadia and other participants. Allahbadia approached the Supreme Court seeking quashing or consolidation of the cases. The court initially protected him from arrest and barred registration of further FIRs arising from the same episode and allegations, while requiring him to cooperate with investigations.

The Supreme Court later allowed Allahbadia to resume The Ranveer Show, while stressing that freedom of expression had to be balanced against standards of decency and responsibility. The controversy also prompted a wider judicial examination of how online content should be regulated without imposing disproportionate restrictions on constitutionally protected speech.

Raina had separately drawn the court's displeasure after referring to the proceedings during a performance in Canada in 2025. The bench warned him against treating judicial proceedings lightly after he joked before an audience about the controversy and his legal expenses.

The litigation has consequently developed beyond individual jokes into questions about the obligations of high-profile digital creators. The court has repeatedly stressed that people commanding large online audiences cannot disregard the effects their remarks may have on vulnerable groups.

The proceedings have also placed disability rights at the centre of the debate. The Supreme Court previously asked the government to examine stronger legal protection against humiliation and abuse directed at people with disabilities, while stressing dignity and inclusion alongside freedom of expression. It also encouraged the use of popular digital platforms to improve awareness and support expensive treatment for conditions such as SMA.

Delhi High Court bomb threat triggers security sweep

A bomb threat targeting the Delhi High Court triggered a major security operation across the national capital on Friday, a day before Independence Day, after an email warned of an explosion at the court and referred to the Red Fort as another possible target.

The threatening email was received at around 11.43 am on August 14 and prompted authorities to activate standard security procedures. Bomb disposal personnel, dog squads, police teams and other emergency agencies were deployed to the High Court complex as the premises were thoroughly searched.

No explosive device or suspicious material was found during the checks, and officials later indicated that the threat appeared to be a hoax. Security remained heightened, however, because the message contained references to August 15 and the Red Fort, where the main Independence Day ceremony is scheduled to be held on Saturday.

The email reportedly carried the subject line “Blast Delhi High Court @ 2:11 pm” and included the phrase “Lal Qila ta nishana hove ga”, indicating that the Red Fort would be targeted. It also referred to attackers wearing khaki clothing, adding to the urgency with which security agencies treated the communication.

The Delhi High Court was not the only location placed under scrutiny. Bomb threats were also reported at Terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport, Jamnagar House, a government building in Jhandewalan, the District Magistrate’s office in Saket and the Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s office in Delhi Cantonment.

Search teams were dispatched to the affected locations while police intensified checks at sensitive government buildings and transport facilities. No suspicious object was detected during the searches conducted through the afternoon.

The High Court administration remained in contact with Delhi Police while the operation was under way. Court officials said the situation was under control as bomb squads and sniffer dogs examined the premises. Security personnel maintained restrictions around sections of the complex while the inspection continued.

The threat came at a particularly sensitive time for Delhi, with extensive security arrangements already in place for Independence Day. Police have increased deployment around the Red Fort and adjoining areas, where the Prime Minister is due to address the nation after unfurling the national flag on August 15.

Traffic restrictions, road closures and diversions have also been imposed around the venue. Delhi Metro services are scheduled to begin at 4 am on Saturday to facilitate the movement of guests and members of the public attending Independence Day events.

Security agencies have been especially cautious about threats involving the Red Fort following the vehicle-borne explosion near the monument in November 2025. That attack led to an extensive investigation into the network behind the bombing and reinforced the monument’s position among the most heavily guarded locations in the capital.

The Red Fort has also figured in several bomb threats this year. An email sent to the Delhi Mayor’s office earlier this month threatened explosions at the monument on August 15, prompting security teams to comb the area. No explosives were found.

Another threat involving the Red Fort and government institutions was investigated in February. Emails carrying separatist slogans specified purported times for explosions at several sites, including the fort, Delhi Assembly and schools. Searches found nothing suspicious.

Delhi Police have faced a prolonged series of bomb threats directed at schools, courts, government offices, airports and other public institutions. Many have proved to be hoaxes, but each message requires a coordinated response involving police, bomb disposal units, dog squads and fire services because authorities cannot rule out a genuine threat without conducting physical checks.

The volume of such warnings has also placed pressure on specialised security resources. Police have been strengthening bomb detection and disposal capacity and expanding dog-squad resources as threat emails continue to disrupt institutions across the capital.

Hormuz shipping stays subdued as rival claims deepen

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained severely constrained on Thursday despite a modest rise in commodity vessel movements, underscoring the continuing risks facing one of the world’s most important energy corridors.

Nine commodity vessels were tracked transiting the strait during the day, up from five on Wednesday but still below the August daily average of about 12. Most of the vessels used waters closer to Iran, highlighting the limited use of the southern passage despite US assertions that commercial shipping can navigate the waterway safely.

Traffic remains a fraction of levels before the war began on February 28. About 130 to 140 vessels typically crossed Hormuz each day before the conflict disrupted operations. Shipowners, insurers and charterers continue to exercise caution because of military activity, attacks on commercial ships and uncertainty over which routes can be used without interruption.

The subdued flows have become part of a wider dispute between Washington and Tehran over control of the strait. US President Donald Trump has declared that the United States has “total control” of Hormuz. Tehran rejects that position and says vessels cannot pass without Iranian authorisation.

Hossein Taeb, the newly appointed head of Iran’s Basij paramilitary organisation, has said the waterway is under Iran’s control. Iran’s joint military command has also challenged US descriptions of normal navigation, maintaining that Tehran retains the ability to determine passage through the strait.

The competing claims are playing out alongside the US naval blockade of Iranian ports. Washington says its forces are restricting vessels travelling to and from Iran while keeping routes available for ships not connected to Iranian trade.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has said the Navy can maintain the blockade indefinitely by rotating vessels and personnel through the region. The operation has involved interceptions, diversions and boardings of commercial vessels suspected of attempting to reach Iranian ports.

The confrontation has complicated attempts to secure a lasting agreement following the collapse of an interim ceasefire. Iran has linked a full reopening of Hormuz to demands that include an end to US military pressure, sanctions relief and changes to the blockade. Washington has sought guarantees for commercial passage while maintaining pressure on Iran’s maritime trade.

Security concerns increased further after the UAE accused Iran of attacking two vessels operated by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company while they were passing through Hormuz. No injuries were reported in the two incidents. Tehran has faced repeated accusations of targeting commercial shipping during the conflict, adding to the reluctance of operators to resume normal sailings.

Hormuz remains crucial to global energy supplies. Before the conflict, oil and petroleum liquids moving through the strait exceeded 20 million barrels a day, representing about one-fifth of global consumption. Around a fifth of global liquefied natural gas trade also passed through the waterway, with Qatar accounting for most of those shipments.

The disruption has sharply reduced those volumes. Oil and petroleum liquids moving through Hormuz averaged about 4.9 million barrels a day during the second quarter, down from 21.6 million barrels a day in the final quarter of 2025. Production shut-ins across the region averaged about 5.5 million barrels a day in July as exporters struggled with constrained shipping capacity.

Energy buyers in Asia are responding by widening their supply options. Refiners in South Korea, Japan and Taiwan have increased purchases of US crude, while other Asian buyers are seeking cargoes from outside the Gulf. US crude exports to Asia reached about 2.35 million barrels a day in July as the disruption accelerated diversification.

The changing trade pattern has also increased use of alternative export infrastructure. Saudi Arabia has redirected additional crude through its East-West pipeline to Yanbu on the Red Sea, while producers and traders are examining routes designed to reduce dependence on Hormuz.

CJI rebukes Bar Council over NALSAR action

The Supreme Court on Friday sharply criticised the Bar Council of India for threatening action against NALSAR University of Law students who opposed Chief Justice of India Surya Kant’s participation in their convocation, with the CJI calling the regulator’s intervention “totally uncalled for”.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana made clear that students had a right to protest peacefully and that professional regulators should not penalise them for expressing their views. The court also directed that no punitive action be taken against NALSAR students or faculty members over the episode.

The matter was brought before the bench by senior advocate K Parameshwar. The court issued notice to the Bar Council and gave it two weeks to file a response, despite being informed that the council had already withdrawn the controversial directions. Its interim protection extended to students and faculty of national law universities and other law universities against punitive action arising from such intervention.

Chief Justice Surya Kant questioned why the Bar Council had entered what he described as a dialogue between students and himself. He said peaceful expression by students must be permitted even when their views might be considered mistaken. The CJI also referred to his own participation in student activities during his university days while stressing the importance of allowing young people to raise their voices lawfully.

The judicial intervention followed a fast-moving controversy after Bar Council of India chairman Manan Kumar Mishra on Thursday directed State Bar Councils not to enrol graduates of NALSAR’s 2026 batch as advocates until further orders. The direction was linked to a campaign by students opposing the proposed participation of the CJI at the university’s convocation.

The council had also asked NALSAR to submit an authenticated report identifying people involved in initiating, organising or mobilising the campaign. It sought copies of representations submitted to the university and details concerning the possible involvement of students, faculty members, alumni and outsiders. A final decision had initially been contemplated for August 19.

The blanket enrolment restriction triggered immediate criticism within the legal fraternity. Bar Council member Manoj Kumar opposed the measure, describing the threat to deny enrolment to an entire graduating batch as arbitrary. Within hours, the council reversed the restriction and allowed all 2026 graduates to seek enrolment with State Bar Councils of their choice.

The council initially retained its proposed inquiry after lifting the enrolment bar, saying most students had not participated in the campaign. Mishra later announced that the proceedings themselves would be closed and that no further action was required. He said the decision followed representations and reactions from senior advocates, Bar members, law students and others.

NALSAR Vice-Chancellor Professor Srikrishna Deva Rao had meanwhile indicated that the university would examine whether the Bar Council possessed the statutory authority to demand such an inquiry under the university’s governance framework before responding to it.

The dispute originated in objections by NALSAR students to having Chief Justice Surya Kant associated with the convocation following remarks made during proceedings concerning allegations of police action against student protesters at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Around 70 students from the outgoing 2026 batch submitted the initial representation, while roughly 380 students from subsequent batches later expressed support.

Their campaign questioned the CJI’s handling of an attempt on July 22 to secure an urgent hearing over alleged police excesses during student protests. The students subsequently asked the university authorities to reconsider the choice of chief guest, turning what began as a campus representation into a wider debate about dissent, institutional autonomy and the limits of regulatory authority over law students.

The CJI sought to remove any professional consequences arising from the dispute, telling the students to proceed with enrolment and encouraging them to join the Supreme Court Bar. He also suggested that they could be empanelled for legal-aid work, signalling that disagreement with a judge should not become an impediment to entering the profession.

JNU vice-chancellor faces widening calls to quit

Pressure intensified on Jawaharlal Nehru University Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit after parliamentarians, teachers, academics and students demanded her removal over alleged irregularities in faculty recruitment and wider questions about university governance.

The demand was raised at a press conference organised by the JNU Teachers' Association and JNU Students' Union at the Press Club of India in New Delhi on Thursday. Speakers called for an independent, time-bound investigation into appointments made during Pandit's tenure, which began in February 2022.

Rajya Sabha members Sanjay Singh, John Brittas and V Sivadasan were among those present. Other participants included former Federation of Central Universities Teachers' Associations president Nandita Narain, former Delhi University professor Laxman Yadav, JNUSU president Aditi Mishra, AISA national president Neha and academics and student representatives. A charter of demands was handed to parliamentarians with a request that the allegations be raised in Parliament.

The dispute centres on allegations that candidates who initially failed to satisfy mandatory University Grants Commission eligibility requirements were subsequently returned to faculty shortlists and appointed. An investigation based on applications, committee observations, meeting records and dissent notes identified at least seven appointments — five associate professors and two professors — that were alleged to have breached UGC regulations.

The allegations focus particularly on the role of JNU's Internal Quality Assurance Cell. Subject-expert screening committees had rejected some applicants, but the candidates were later restored to consideration after their credentials were reassessed. Shortlists were allegedly expanded in at least seven cases. JNUTA argues that the IQAC does not possess statutory authority to overturn screening decisions independently.

UGC regulations governing recruitment of associate professors require, among other conditions, a relevant PhD, at least eight years of qualifying teaching or research experience and prescribed academic publications. The UGC had also told JNU in a 2022 recruitment case that the minimum qualification provisions were mandatory and could not be disregarded.

JNUTA said it had questioned the university's registrar and IQAC director P R Kumaraswamy in May about recruitment procedures and Career Advancement Scheme cases but had not received responses it said were promised. The association demanded an audit of faculty appointments undertaken since February 2022 and preservation of physical and electronic records connected with recruitment and promotions.

The organisations also sought the removal of Kumaraswamy from recruitment-related responsibilities while any inquiry proceeds. They want screening committee proceedings, shortlists and appointment documents disclosed publicly and have asked for action against officials found responsible for violations.

Allegations raised at the conference extended beyond teaching posts. Participants referred to non-teaching recruitment and contractual arrangements, including claims involving security workers. Nearly 370 guards had previously complained that they were asked to pay Rs 40,000 each following a change of contractor, an allegation now being cited as part of the demand for scrutiny of university administration.

The university administration rejected the accusations, describing them as part of a politically motivated campaign based on selective interpretations of UGC regulations and university procedures. It maintained that recruitment was conducted through a fair process involving multi-member selection committees, domain experts, the Visitor's nominee, deans and the vice-chancellor.

The administration also disputed claims that the IQAC controlled final appointments. It said the body verifies qualifications and publication claims but does not decide who is selected at interview. JNU said more than 400 interviews had been conducted and more than 200 positions filled since February 2022, adding that no candidate had complained about the interview process.

The confrontation adds to an extended dispute between Pandit's administration and sections of JNU's teachers and students. JNUTA has written four times to the university's Visitor, President Droupadi Murmu, between September 2025 and April 2026 seeking intervention and Pandit's removal. Its April communication alleged abuse of power, recruitment problems and erosion of institutional decision-making.

The teachers' association has separately criticised the handling of reserved faculty vacancies and decision-making by the Executive Council. It has argued that excessive concentration of authority in the vice-chancellor's office has weakened deliberation over appointments, promotions and academic policy. The administration has consistently rejected accusations that recruitment decisions were improperly controlled.