EC to remove same voter ID numbers across States

Taking cognizance of reports that certain electors in one State have voter ID numbers matching those issued in another State, the Election Commission on Sunday said irrespective of the number on the elector photo identity card (EPIC), a person could vote only at the designated polling station in the constituency in a State or Union Territory where he or she was enrolled.

Long roots

If institutions are serious about rooting out sexism, they must walk the talk. Instead of merely celebrating the entry of more women in the workforce, they have to provide an enabling atmosphere for those on the rolls. In a judgment last week, the Supreme Court of India showed its intent by declaring that with more and more women joining judicial service, it was time for the judiciary to be more cognisant of their well-being at the workplace.

Centering care in India's economic policy

The Union Budget for 2025 allocated a record ₹4,49,028.68 crore to the Gender Budget (GB), marking a 37.3% increase from FY24 and accounting for 8.86% of the total Budget. This rise is primarily due to the inclusion of the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, which accounts for 24% of the GB, rather than being driven by substantial investments in care infrastructure or new gender-responsive schemes. 

Women in South India, Delhi, Punjab have higher levels of obesity

About a fourth of men and women in India were either 'overweight' or 'obese' in 2019-21, an increase of 4 percentage points from 2015-16, under-scoring the rising health risk posed by obesity in the country. While the problem is prominent among women in most South Indian States, as well as in Delhi and Punjab, the rate of increase in obesity among men was faster. Moreover, less than a fifth of men and women in 2019-21 could be categorised as 'thin', a significant decline from the figures in 2015-16, according to data from the National Family Health Survey

EPFO claims huge liability in disbursing higher pension

The Employees Provident Fund Organisation fears that it may have to spend ₹1,86,920 crore to pay higher pension to just 50% of the applicants.

In a note circulated to its Central Board of Trustees (CBT) at a recent meeting, the EPFO provided an actuarial analysis of the current situation, which was termed incomplete by the workers' representatives. They have asked it to present a detailed picture of the situation. 

In a first, private U.S. spacecraft lands upright on lunar surface

A U.S. company successfully landed its spacecraft on the moon on Sunday, marking only the second private mission to achieve the milestone and the first to do so upright.

Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost Mission 1 touched down shortly after 3.34 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time (0204 IST) near Mons Latreille, a volcanic formation in Mare Crisium on the moon's northeastern near side.