Maria Casadei

With the passing of the Women Farmers’ Empowerment Bill, Maharashtra has introduced legislation guaranteeing equal access to financial support and public services for millions of women workers. Until now, they had been excluded because they did not own the land and were considered labourers.

The government granted an additional week following protests, but confirmed assistance is still limited to three months. Families forced to leave “illegal” settlements in April complain that the resettlement plan is unbalanced. Human rights groups are also critical of the government.

Despite the Indian National Congress party’s gains in southern India following the latest local elections, the dispute over the Mekedatu dam project remains unresolved. Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are at loggerheads over the management of the Kaveri’s waters, a dispute that has lasted for over a century and flares up particularly during periods of drought.

With a fertility rate of 1.5 children per woman, the southern state has introduced new incentives for a third and fourth child. Experts warn that childcare and women's employment need improvement. Although a declining birthrate affects all of India, the southern states fear losing political influence as well.

The first semi-high-speed train, designed entirely locally, has been unveiled as a symbol of the Modi government’s “Make in India” strategy. But along the railway corridor between Gujarat and Maharashtra, protests by farmers and tribal communities continue, with claims of forced land acquisition and inadequate compensation.

The water management project for the Himalayan river is back at the centre of discussions between Bangladesh, China and India. The Bangladeshi government, currently led by Tarique Rahman, is seeking support from Beijing, reigniting tensions with New Delhi over water resources and Chinese influence in the region. At stake are 1.5 million tonnes of rice a year that Dhaka loses due to poor irrigation.

The temporary halt by the Patan High Court has reignited the debate over the portrayal of the Badi community, historically marginalised and associated with the sex trade. While some activists slam it for its offensive and discriminatory stereotypes, others argue that the film depicts a reality still present amid poverty, social exclusion, and caste discrimination.

The government has given the green light to a railway corridor linking the bauxite deposits at Sijimali and Kutrumali. The decision comes after violent clashes with local communities, who denounce land expropriation, environmental damage and violations of their rights, which are also enshrined in law. The government defends the project in the name of development, but protests against mining expansion have been ongoing for three years.

The measure, adopted a few days before the anniversary of the Pahalgam massacre, targets institutions run by the Islamist organisation banned in 2019. The move is part of a broader security strategy launched by Delhi following the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomy, but has drawn criticism for its potential repercussions on the education system and for violations of minority rights.

68.7% of voters rejected the constitutional reform sought by the president to unify electoral processes, but the ruling party – which came to power in 2023 on an anti-India campaign – failed to win a single city in the local elections. Civil society played a decisive role in the ‘no’ campaign. The result highlights urban discontent and raises questions about the political stability of the executive halfway through its term.

About 174 million voters will cast their ballot in the coming weeks in Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Pondicherry. The results will be announced together on 4 May. These elections are crucial for the national balance of power, as these areas tend to be less favourable to Modi’s ruling party. In Kerala Mamata Banerjee is seeking a fourth term, reaching out to secure the Christian vote.

The ruling overturns a provision that previously limited this right to cases where the child was under three months old. However, legal disparities remain: biological mothers, for example, are entitled to 26 weeks’ leave, whilst fathers are entitled to just 15 days, and only if they work in the public sector.