WHILE the Modi government is currently focused on promoting its self-proclaimed and highly praised role as a leader in the transition towards non-fossil fuel energy, even highlighting the project roadmap of the G-20 New Delhi declaration, a peculiar inconsistency and contradiction within the administration of the Modi government is becoming increasingly evident.

AS India approaches the 75th anniversary of the constitutional republic (2025), the Hindutva narrative is being aggressively scripted to metamorphose the secular democratic character of the republic into a fascistic Hindutva rashtra. The prerequisite for this is to ensure that the Modi led BJP government wins the 2024 elections, by hook or by crook.

THE 15th Summit of the BRICS held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from August 22-24, 2023, concluded with its expansion. Six new countries have been invited to join the group from January 1, 2024. Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, UAE, Ethiopia and Argentina now join Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa in the BRICS. This is the first time after the formation of BRICS (not counting the expansion of BRIC to BRICS) that the forum has been expanded. According to reports, 40 countries have expressed their interest to join this group, while 22 countries have sent in their formal applications.

IN a historic move, on August 25, 2023, the Kerala government declared its decision to not implement the central government-imposed TOTEX model prepaid smart metering project. This notorious TOTEX model prepaid smart metering initiative, operating under the framework of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), is designed to generate profits for private corporations such as Adani and TATA.

THE Chandrayaan-3 Mission to make a soft landing on the moon is already a success, whatever happens during the remainder of the lunar day, that is, the next 13 earth days starting yesterday, August 23. Both the Vikram Lander and the Pragyaan Rover, both powered by solar energy available during the lunar daytime this fortnight, will go about their science tasks, gathering data and information and relaying them back to Mission Control in Bengaluru.