Morning Brief: SC Considers Interim Stay On Parts Of Waqf Act; India’s Longest Transport Tunnel Nears Completion; India Concerned Over Dhaka’s Trade Posture But Holds Fire

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SC Considers Staying Parts Of Waqf Act

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (16 April) indicated it may stay certain parts of the controversial Waqf Act, 2025, including the concept of ‘waqf-by-user’, the representation of non-Muslims on waqf boards, and the powers of the Collector to alter the status of disputed waqf land. Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna expressed concern about the potential consequences of de-notifying waqf-by-user, which is land used for Muslim religious or charitable purposes for long periods.

The law removes this concept, creating ambiguity about the status of such properties, as registration has been mandatory since the first Waqf Act of 1923, critics argue. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that the government’s position is that waqf-by-user should be registered to remain valid, while petitioners claimed the new provision could render millions of waqfs non-existent.

India’s Longest Transport Tunnel Nears Completion

India has achieved a major milestone with the breakthrough of Tunnel No 8 in the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Railway Project, now set to be the country’s longest transport tunnel at 14.58 km. The tunnel will significantly improve connectivity across Uttarakhand’s hill districts, linking towns like Devprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Gauchar, and Karnaprayag.

Built in the challenging Himalayan terrain, the project includes over 213 km of tunnels, of which 195 km are already completed. This is also the first time Indian Railways has used a Tunnel Boring Machine in the Himalayas, which drilled 10.4 km, while the rest was built using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method.

India Concerned Over Dhaka’s Trade Posture But Holds Fire

India is steering clear of a trade war with Bangladesh despite a series of unfriendly trade actions and rhetoric from Dhaka. Bangladesh has blocked yarn imports from India via land borders and shut three land ports, while India’s recent withdrawal of the trans-shipment facility was aimed at easing port congestion, not disrupting trade.

Indian officials say the move does not affect Bangladesh’s exports to Nepal and Bhutan, and PM Modi has urged Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus to avoid inflammatory rhetoric. Meanwhile, Bangladesh has resumed direct trade with Pakistan, agreeing to import 50,000 tonnes of rice, a move that has raised concerns in India amid reports of rising radicalisation.

High-level engagements between Bangladesh and Pakistan have also resumed, with visits by Pakistan's foreign secretary and foreign minister scheduled this week.

Other Developments

India Seeks To Capitalise On Russia’s Arms Export Decline

India is aiming to expand its defence exports and plans to target countries historically reliant on Russian military hardware. The government is increasing the capacity of the state-owned Export-Import Bank to offer long-term, low-cost loans to international clients, including those with higher political or credit risks. India plans to increase the number of defense attachés in its foreign missions and directly negotiate arms deals to boost its defense exports.

This move comes amid the geopolitical uncertainty surrounding Russia’s ability to fulfill arms contracts, creating an opportunity for India to capitalise on the gap. India’s defense export portfolio is diversifying, with plans to export missiles, helicopters, patrol vessels, and possibly warships and artillery systems.

US VP JD Vance To Visit India, Meet PM Modi

The visit will include cultural engagements and offers both countries a chance to review progress on bilateral ties and the negotiations over the trade deal currently in the works Vance's trip comes amid global concern over the impact of President Trump's tariffs.

US Student Visa Appointments Dry Up

Thousands of students planning to study in the US this summer are facing uncertainty as visa interview appointments have suddenly become unavailable since mid-March. While students for the January intake faced no issues, those aiming for the Fall 2025 intake are struggling to secure interview slots despite having university admissions and I-20 forms in hand.

Visa consultants say the problem stems from a recent system upgrade by the US embassy to prevent misuse of appointment slots. The appointment portal has shown no availability since 10 March, causing significant stress among students who risk missing their academic timelines. With no official update and rising concerns over changing US immigration policies, anxiety among student applicants continues to grow.

From The States

Karnataka: Muslim Quota Bill Sent For President's Nod

The Karnataka Governor has reserved for presidential assent the state's Bill to introduce a 4 per cent quota for Muslims in public contracts to avoid constitutional complications. The Bill was tabled earlier this year, aiming to reserve 4 per cent of contracts for Muslims in civil works and goods/services contracts below specified monetary thresholds.

The legislation also seeks to carve out a 4 per cent reservation for a specific backward caste minority within the existing OBC quota.

Hindi Now Compulsory In Maharashtra’s Class 1-5 Curriculum

Studying Hindi as a third language will be mandatory for students in classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English-medium schools across Maharashtra, as part of the new curriculum under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The state school education department announced a phase-wise implementation of this curriculum, which includes the introduction of the three-language formula in these schools.

The Government Resolution clarifies that other medium schools in the state already follow the three-language formula, while English and Marathi medium schools had previously only taught two languages. The new curriculum will also implement the 5+3+3+4 structure, starting with Class 1 in the 2025-26 academic year.

Congress’s Battle With BJP-RSS Starts In Gujarat, Says Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said that the path to defeating the BJP and RSS goes through Gujarat, highlighting the state's historical significance for the Congress party. Speaking to party workers, he emphasised that Gujarat was the birthplace of Congress' ideology and home to key leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Acknowledging the demoralisation within the Gujarat Congress, Rahul assured that achieving victory in the state was not as difficult as it seemed. He reaffirmed that the battle against the BJP and RSS was not only political but ideological, with Congress being the only party capable of taking them on.

You’re all caught up—until next time.