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'Historic': Shutdown of Sangli WTE plant 'exposes' systemic regulatory failure, ecological harm

In what has been interpreted as a landmark victory for grassroots environmental justice, the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) of the Miraj Sub-Division in Sangli district has ordered the temporary shutdown of the 10 MW Bhumi Green Energy Waste-to-Energy (WTE) incineration plant in Tung village . The administrative action is said to have followed sustained community protests and a damning joint fact-finding report by the Paryavaran Rakshan Samiti Sangli , the National Alliance for Climate and Ecological Justice (NACEJ), and the Centre for Financial Accountability (CFA). 
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Beyond the stigma: The untapped cardiovascular benefits of touch for India’s aging couples

  A new  longitudinal study  by three UK-based psychology and biosocial research scholars has revealed that frequent, non-sexual physical touch from a romantic partner significantly improves long-term metabolic and cardiovascular health in older adults. While the science appears clear, experts warn that for elderly Indian couples, reaping these profound biological benefits requires navigating deep-seated cultural and religious taboos surrounding physical affection and "touch therapy" in later life. 
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'Invalidate defector votes that topple govts': BJP harvests 7 MPs, 22 MLAs through party switching

A recent analysis by the Association for Democratic Reforms reveals that the Bharatiya Janata Party has positioned itself as the primary national destination for post-election political defections, absorbing a total of 29 sitting legislators between 2022 and 2026. Broken down by legislative house, the BJP gained 7 Rajya Sabha Members of Parliament and 22 Members of Legislative Assemblies, accounting for 26 percent of all 111 nationwide party switches. 
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From caste to race: Reading 'Black & Buddhist' through an Indian lens

A few days ago, while visiting a local library in a relatively small town on the eastern coast of the United States, the person who took me there asked if I wished to borrow a book. I looked around. While I couldn't find much that immediately connected with me, one book seemed of particular interest: Black & Buddhist .
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Digital divide to digital trap: How India’s cyber redressal system fails its most vulnerable citizens

  A new comprehensive report , "The Status of Policing in India Report (SPIR) 2026: Cybercrime – Victim Perspectives and Systemic Responses", published jointly by Common Cause and Lokniti–CSDS, has highlighted deep vulnerabilities among women and historically marginalised groups in India’s expanding cyber domain. The study reveals that two-thirds of women (67%) perceive themselves as likely targets of online crimes due to their gender, with 29% considering themselves "very likely" targets compared to 19% of men. 
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What an American bug museum taught me about education in U.S. -- and India

  It was the second time I visited a temporary museum in Raleigh, a major city in North Carolina , south of Washington, D.C. The visit was primarily meant to be an educational experience for an eight-year-old girl I happen to know intimately. She displayed an unusual curiosity, but what interested me even more was the manner in which both young and elderly people, high school children and experts, seemed extraordinarily keen to tell children about the insects on display .
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From ram pyala to 125-kg soap: Martin Macwan 'unmutes' creative wars against untouchability

  In a deeply reflective conversation on Episode 13 of the Unmute podcast, veteran Dalit rights activist, lawyer, and founder of Navsarjan , Martin Macwan , dissected the anatomy of social resistance, the pervasive nature of caste , and the future of human rights movements in India. 
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