Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday criticised the government over its decision to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, questioning the motive behind dropping Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the scheme. She said Gandhi remains one of the most respected leaders not only in India but across the world, and removing his name raises serious concerns about the government’s intent.

The criticism comes as the government prepares to introduce a new bill in the Lok Sabha to repeal MGNREGA and replace it with the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin Bill 2025. The proposed legislation aims to establish a new rural employment framework while formally withdrawing the 2005 Act.

Reacting to the move, Priyanka Gandhi pointed out that changing the name of a major scheme involves significant administrative costs, including updates to offices and official materials. She questioned the practical benefit of such a change and asked why public money should be spent on renaming instead of addressing real public concerns. She added that the focus of parliamentary discussions has shifted away from people’s issues, leading to a waste of both time and resources.

The new bill seeks to align rural development efforts with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 by guaranteeing 125 days of wage employment each financial year to rural households willing to undertake unskilled manual work. It has been listed in the supplementary business agenda of the Lok Sabha.

Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated that MGNREGA has supported rural families through guaranteed employment for the past two decades. However, he said further reforms are needed due to major socio economic changes in rural areas and the expanded reach of social security and government welfare schemes.
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Congress MP Manish Tewari said on Tuesday that the Election Commission has no legal authority to conduct the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and urged that it be stopped. He argued that many Opposition leaders and citizens now feel compelled to question the neutrality of the poll body.

Speaking during a Lok Sabha debate on Election Reforms, Tewari said the first major reform should be amending the 2023 law governing the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other election commissioners. As per the existing law, the selection panel consists of the prime minister, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, and a cabinet minister. Tewari proposed adding two more members—the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and the Chief Justice of India—saying that such a committee would strengthen trust in the Election Commission.

He noted that B.R. Ambedkar ensured the EC would function as a permanent, impartial institution, but many now feel its neutrality is in doubt. Tewari pointed out that Article 327 gives Parliament the power to frame laws for electoral rolls and delimitation, and claimed that the ongoing SIR being conducted in several states lacks legal backing.

According to him, the Constitution and existing laws contain no provision permitting SIR. The EC can only correct errors in the electoral roll of a specific constituency when clear written reasons are recorded and made public. It cannot undertake statewide SIR exercises like those in Bihar or Kerala. If the Commission must conduct SIR, he said, it should only be done in constituencies with documented issues. He questioned the government on the absence of such written reasons and called for the immediate halt of the SIR process, adding that past instances of SIR do not justify continuing an unlawful practice.

Tewari further said Indian democracy has two key stakeholders—voters and political parties. The Constitution’s framers ensured universal adult suffrage at a time when many nations restricted voting rights. He added that one of the most significant election reforms was introduced by then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1988–89, lowering the voting age from 21 to 18.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday strongly criticized the Congress party, particularly Rahul Gandhi, for allegedly showing disregard toward the national song Vande Mataram. Speaking in the Lok Sabha during the sixth day of the Winter Session, he pointed out that the Leader of the Opposition was absent during important discussions, saying, “First Nehru, now Rahul Gandhi, has shown disregard to Vande Mataram.” PM Modi accused the Congress of insulting the national song and “surrendering before the Muslim League,” recalling that Jawaharlal Nehru had expressed concerns about the song inciting Muslims in a letter to Subhas Chandra Bose. He described this as a historical betrayal of Vande Mataram.

Highlighting the song’s significance in India’s freedom struggle, the Prime Minister called it a unifying force and a symbol of courage, sacrifice, and national pride. He emphasized that Vande Mataram was not merely a political slogan for independence but represented the enduring cultural legacy of India, inspiring generations during the British era.

PM Modi reflected on historical events such as the 1905 Bengal partition, noting that despite British attempts to divide the country, Vande Mataram “stood like a rock.” He described the song as a powerful mantra that energized and guided the freedom movement, asserting that the government aims to restore its glory for future generations.

Marking 150 years of Vande Mataram, the Prime Minister said the occasion is an opportunity to reaffirm national pride. He linked it to other historic milestones being celebrated this year, including 75 years of the Constitution, 150th birth anniversaries of Sardar Patel and Birsa Munda, and the 350th martyrdom day of Guru Tegh Bahadur.

PM Modi urged the nation to unite across regions and communities, emphasizing that remembering and honoring Vande Mataram is a shared duty. He called on all citizens to draw inspiration from the song to fulfill the dreams of freedom fighters and work toward a self-reliant, developed India by 2047. The debate on Vande Mataram in Parliament will continue in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, with three hours allocated for the government and a total of ten hours earmarked for the discussion. The Winter Session of Parliament, which began on December 1, will conclude on December 19.
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Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday launched a sharp attack on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh, alleging a "conspiracy" to remove voters from the Pichhda, Dalit, and Alpsankhyak (PDA) communities. In a post on X, he demanded an immediate halt and review of the SIR process, insisting that any attempts to delete eligible voters be thoroughly investigated. Yadav also called on the Election Commission of India (ECI) to publish data on the progress of SIR in UP, relieve Booth Level Officers of excessive pressure, ensure additional authorized staff are assigned, and prevent any influence by ruling party members or their associates.

He further urged a detailed investigation into the number of PDA community members allegedly being targeted for removal from voter lists in each assembly constituency and demanded that such efforts be stopped under all circumstances. Yadav accused ECI staff of being pressured to complete the SIR process rapidly, questioning the urgency and highlighting similar complaints from West Bengal.

Citing the death of a Fatehpur supervisor, who allegedly took his life due to extreme pressure while conducting the SIR, Yadav questioned who would support Election Commission employees facing such risks. During a press conference, he said that the supervisor’s family confirmed he was under immense government pressure to finish the process quickly, which led to his suicide. He added that people in West Bengal are also raising concerns, claiming that the hands of the Election Commission are "smeared with blood," and called on the ECI to step forward and support its officers.

The ECI is scheduled to conduct the second phase of the SIR across 12 states and Union Territories, with the final voter list to be published on February 7, 2026. The first phase was completed in Bihar in September ahead of the Assembly elections, and the process covers regions including Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
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A new law in Texas now permits residents to sue abortion pill providers in other states. Supporters argue it helps enforce Texas’ abortion restrictions, while critics are concerned about how plaintiffs might gather evidence. In this special episode, Carter Sherman, the Guardian US reporter on reproductive health and justice, talks with individuals who provide, use, or protect abortion pills, as well as those opposing them in Texas.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from The Guardian.

Erika Kirk, widow of the late right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, has expressed openness to backing JD Vance if he runs for president in 2028. Meanwhile, Katie Miller, wife of White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, hosts senior Republicans on her podcast to engage with conservative women. The Trump administration is also crafting policies aimed at baby boomers to attract female voters ahead of the midterms. Jonathan Freedland discusses this Republican effort to appeal to women with Guardian columnist Arwa Mahdawi.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from The Guardian.

In a surprising reversal, Donald Trump this week signed a bill instructing the Justice Department to release additional files from the investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The move comes amid a major clash with his former staunch ally, Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has been pushing for the documents’ release. Could this signal a MAGA unraveling? And how will the escalating conflict between the two unfold? Jonathan Freedland talks with Rolling Stone reporter Nikki McCann Ramirez about the fallout between the former allies and what the next steps might be regarding the Epstein files.

Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from The Guardian

John Harris talks with Heather Stewart, the Guardian’s economics editor, about the difficult position Rachel Reeves faces. What consequences might she face if she increases the basic income tax rate for the first time in fifty years? At the same time, Sunder Katwala, director of the think tank British Future, joins John to explore whether language and policies once limited to the far-right have now moved into mainstream politics, and whether racist rhetoric can be pushed back to the fringes.

Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from The Guardian.