Good morning! Here’s your quick catch-up on the biggest stories making headlines today.
President Droupadi Murmu’s Independence Day address put national security, development and shared responsibility in focus, including her defence of the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.
In Uttar Pradesh, CM Yogi Adityanath’s attack on the Samajwadi Party over Azam Khan has revived a sharp political row over Partition and riots.
Also in today’s Bhaskar Smart Brief, our coverage of Census 2027 looks at India’s first digital Census and its expanded questions on caste, Aadhaar, employment and migration.
A Pew survey, meanwhile, reveals how deeply India-Pakistan distrust persists despite public support for better ties.
Along with these, we’ve rounded up the other top stories you need to start your day.
Today’s Top Headlines
‘Indus Waters Treaty suspension will benefit farmers’: Prez Murmu
India’s road to a developed nation by 2047 will depend not just on ambition, but on vigilance, unity and shared responsibility.
On the eve of Independence Day, President Droupadi Murmu linked that national journey to a decisive step on the Indus Waters Treaty, saying its suspension would benefit farmers.
She also stressed the need to protect students’ futures, remember Partition’s horrors and keep citizens at the heart of India’s democracy.
She also pointed to India’s rapid growth over the past decade and its 2047 vision. From students and farmers to scientists and workers, Murmu said every citizen has a role in building the country. READ MORE
Yogi calls Congress-SP responsible for 1947 killings
The politics of Partition continue to shape Uttar Pradesh’s political rhetoric, with leaders drawing on its legacy to attack rivals and frame today’s battles.
That fault line surfaced again as CM Yogi Adityanath accused the Samajwadi Party of planning to make Azam Khan home minister and of risking a return to riots if it regains power.
His remarks, made without naming Khan, came after Shivpal Yadav’s comments and widened into an attack on Congress over Partition.
With both parties facing his allegations, the political row is unlikely to end here. READ MORE
Census 2027 includes caste data; 40 questions unveiled
India’s next Census is set to ask questions that could reshape how the country understands its population.
For the first time since Independence, caste details of all communities will be recorded, alongside information ranging from education and employment to migration and digital literacy.
The 2027 exercise will also mark India’s first digital Census, with Aadhaar, voter ID, bank and mobile details included.
With self-enumeration and strict confidentiality rules, the scale of data collection makes this Census especially significant. READ MORE
CJI backs students’ right to protest, criticises BCI
A student protest over a convocation invitation has now raised a larger question about dissent, professional rights and institutional authority.
The controversy escalated after the Bar Council of India moved to block the entire 2026 NALSAR batch from enrolling as advocates, only to withdraw the order later.
Chief Justice Surya Kant questioned the decision in the Supreme Court, stressing students’ right to protest.
The BCI has since closed proceedings against the batch, but the episode has left important questions about accountability and student dissent. READ MORE
‘90% Pakistanis see India as biggest threat’
India and Pakistan may want better ties, but public trust across the border remains deeply fractured.
A new Pew Research Centre survey shows both countries see each other as their biggest threat, even as majorities say they want relations to improve.
The divide extends to global alliances, with Indians leaning towards Russia and Pakistanis towards China.
After the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor, the survey captures how sharply regional perceptions have hardened. READ MORE
The Day Ahead
1. India marks 80th I-Day: PM Modi hoists Tricolour at Red Fort; Gen Z, ‘Vande Mataram’ to take centre stage
2. CJP to launch ‘School Thik Karo’ initiative today; move calls for 3-step audit to fix broken government schools in rural India.
3. For the first time, ‘Vande Mataram’ to be sung from Red Fort as national song marks 150 years
4. Maharashtra announces new rule for cab and auto drivers from Aug 15; functional knowledge of Marathi made mandatory
5. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat to interact with Gen Z in Nagpur; initiative aims to engage youth on democracy, constitutional values and India’s future
6. IND vs SL 1st Test at Galle: Toss at 9:30 AM, Match Starts at 10 AM IST; India to Play Test in Sri Lanka after 9 Years
Visual Of The Day
One Nation, One March: Tiranga spirit soars as Dhenkanal rallies on the eve of Independence Day (Photo: PTI)
Today In History
Statement Of The Day
News With a Twist
News With A Twist
Man fined ₹4.5 lakh for waking up a Bear: Man needs help opening eyes for KYC in Nagaland | Top 5 interesting stories
News in Headlines
1. ‘India won’t become a developed nation by 2047’: Wangchuk READ MORE
2. SC quashes FIRs against Samay Raina, Allahabadia READ MORE
3. New rogue auto QR scam puts UPI users at risk READ MORE
4. ‘Befitting reply’ if Indus waters blocked, Pak PM READ MORE
5. Pannu offers $1,000 to stop PM Modi hoisting Tricolour READ MORE
6. SC quashes Rahul’s defamation case over Savarkar remarks READ MORE
