 "This Week in Explainers: Why is India sending defence attachés to African nations, Poland, Philippines?")
It’s seven days to go. India will hold the world’s biggest election. The political bigwigs, from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to Rahul Gandhi are in campaign mode.
The country is also bracing for a hot summer. Temperatures are already rising and heatwave conditions are inevitable. For Bengaluru, already struggling with the water crisis, it’s double trouble.
This is also peak travel time. But you might want to think again if you are taking a flight. Airfares are soaring and the trend is likely to continue.
All this and more in our weekly roundup for explainers.
1. India’s clout on the global stage is only growing. Now for the first time, New Delhi is deploying defence attachés to several new countries, including African nations, Poland, Armenia and the Philippines.
The move aligns with India’s focus on Africa where New Delhi has ratcheted up military engagement and is keen on expanding strategic ties amid China’s increased presence on the continent.
What’s the role of a defence attaché? And what is the significance of this move? We explain .
2. The Kerala Story created a furore when it was released last year. Now the controversial film, which revolves around women from the state converting to Islam and joining the Islamic State, has once again kicked up a political storm.
It all started after the movie was aired by the state-run Doordarshan and screened by the Idukki diocese. Now the ruling CPI(M) and the Opposition Congress are at loggerheads over it. Here’s why .
Impact Shorts
More Shorts3. India is set to go to polls in less than a week. Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, the two biggest states that send the most number of MPs to the Lok Sabha, are key for any political party.
While UP , which has 80 Lok Sabha seats, will vote in all seven phases of the general elections, Maharashtra will be polling in the first five phases. What are the major poll issues in these states? Who are the key candidates and which seats to watch out for? Read our report to find out.
4. “Kanyadan” is one of the most talked-about rituals of Hindu wedding ceremonies where parents “give away” their daughter to her husband. Many have criticised the ceremony over its patriarchal nature and asked if a daughter is a property who can be donated – “dan”.
Now, the Allahabad High Court has said that the ritual of “kanyadan” is not essential for the “solemnisation of a Hindu marriage”. How relevant is the centuries-old ritual today? We explain in this report .
5. Bengaluru is staring at a double whammy. Karnataka’s capital has been reeling from water shortage for over a month. If the water crisis is not enough, the city is also facing record-breaking high temperatures.
Known for its pleasant weather, Bengaluru is witnessing a major shift with unusual heat. It is experiencing warmer nights, which is not common for India’s Silicon Valley. Residents have been forced to change their schedules owing to the unpleasant weather. But, why is this happening? We explain .
6. The safety of Indian students in the United States grabbed the limelight after another student was reported dead this week. The Indian consulate in New York confirmed the demise of Mohammed Abdul Arfath in Cleveland, Ohio. The 25-year-old, who hailed from Telangana, had gone missing last month and the search was on to find him.
This was the 11th tragic incident involving an Indian or Indian-origin student in the US this year. The news of Arfath’s death came just days after the consulate announced the death of another Indian student – Uma Satya Sai Gadde – in Cleveland. Who was Mohammed Abdul Arfath? We explain.
7. Vistara, one of India’s leading domestic airlines, is facing a crisis. After flight cancellations and delays for the past few days, the air carrier announced it is cutting back on the number of flights it operates.
Vistara plans to cancel 25 to 30 flights per day to reduce pressure on pilots. With fewer flights in the peak summer season, there are concerns that airfares could rise. Will passengers be affected as Vistara scales back operations? Read our report to know more.
You are all caught up for the week. If our explainers interest you and would like to read more, you can bookmark this page .
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