Chandrayaan 5, Ayodhya Taxes, Rare Caracal

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It’s March 18. Today: India’s Chandrayaan 5 mission gets the green light, Ayodhya’s tax revenue numbers surprise, and a rare caracal sighting makes headlines. Plus, job openings at BCG, Airbnb, Uber, and more in Who’s Hiring at the end.

Policy & Governance

> CEC Pushes for Linking Aadhaar with Voter ID
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar will meet top officials on March 18 to discuss linking voter IDs with Aadhaar, addressing a 25-year-old issue. The Election Commission (EC) is also engaging parties to resolve duplicate voter cards and improve electoral roll accuracy. The government says linking Aadhaar is optional and won’t affect voter eligibility. (The Hindu)

> Fresh Plea in Kolkata Doctor’s Murder Case
The Supreme Court has allowed the parents of a doctor raped and murdered at Kolkata’s R. G. Kar Medical College And Hospital to seek a fresh probe in the Calcutta High Court, though it denied a CBI investigation. Junior doctors welcomed the decision, questioning if full justice had been served. Convicted ex-civic volunteer Sanjay Roy is serving life imprisonment for the crime. (The Week)

> SC Orders Probe Into Fake Caste Certificate Racket in Tamil Nadu
The Supreme Court has ordered a thorough probe into a suspected racket issuing fraudulent caste certificates in Tamil Nadu, particularly to those claiming to be from the Hindu Konda Reddis Scheduled Tribe community. The court aims to verify the authenticity of thousands of such certificates and investigate how they were obtained. (Indian Express)

> Student Arrested for Offering Namaz in Public
Police arrested a student, Khalid Pradhan, in Meerut after a video showing a group offering namaz at a private university surfaced during Holi. Following protests by local Hindu groups, the university suspended Pradhan and three security personnel. He faces charges under BNS Section 299 and the IT Act for allegedly disrupting communal harmony by uploading the video. (The Times of India)

> SC: Elephants in Festivals Part of Indian Culture
The Supreme Court upheld the cultural significance of elephants in religious festivals while hearing a petition against a Kerala High Court ruling on captive elephant treatment. The petitioner NGO argued that temple traditions should be protected, alleging that foreign-funded groups are trying to disrupt Hindu rituals. The High Court, however, maintained that elephant processions must follow spacing regulations for safety. (The Hindu)

Environment

> Rare Caracal Photographed in Rajasthan
Rajasthan’s Forest Minister Sanjay Sharma shared the first photographic record of a caracal in Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve, crediting staff for their conservation efforts. With fewer than 50 left in India, caracals were declared endangered in 2021. The nocturnal feline, known for its distinct black ears, historically inhabited 13 Indian states and was once prized for hunting birds. (Outlook Traveller)

> SC Overturns Green Tribunal on Auroville Project
The Supreme Court set aside the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) 2022 order restricting Auroville Foundation’s township project in Puducherry without environmental clearance. The court ruled that no environmental violations occurred and emphasized balancing development with environmental protection. The NGT had mandated a committee review before further construction, but the SC deemed its directions legally untenable. (Law Trend)

> Rains Ease Kashmir’s Water Deficit
After an unusually dry winter left Jammu and Kashmir with an 80% rainfall deficit by mid-February, recent rain and snow have improved conditions. Officials report near-normal precipitation levels, though Kashmir remains 40% deficit and Jammu 28% as of March 13. While water bodies have revived, experts warn that inadequate summer rainfall could still pose risks, especially to horticulture. (Indian Express)

Business

> Ayodhya Trust Pays Crores in Taxes
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has paid ₹400 crore in taxes over five years, including ₹270 crore in GST. Ayodhya has seen a tenfold rise in visitors, with 16 crore tourists in the past year, including 5 crore at the Ram temple. The trust’s finances are regularly audited by the CAG. (Economic Times)

> CCI Approves HUL Acquisition of Minimalist
The Competition Commission of India has approved Hindustan Unilever’s (HUL) acquisition of 90.5% of Uprising Science, the parent company of beauty brand Minimalist, for ₹2,670 crore. The deal includes a primary infusion of ₹45 crore, with HUL set to acquire the remaining 9.5% stake in two years. Uprising Science manufactures beauty, baby care, and hair care products. (Business Standard)

> Mumbai Airport T1 Demolition Essential
The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) has recommended demolishing Terminal 1 at Mumbai Airport due to severe structural issues, including corrosion, cracks, and seepage, as identified in an IIT Bombay audit. The move follows last year’s Delhi Airport canopy collapse. Mumbai Airport plans to time the reconstruction between 2025-2028, aligning with Navi Mumbai Airport’s expected operational launch. (Business Standard)

Tech, Media & Telecom

> Chandrayaan-5 Moon Mission Approved
The Centre has approved ISRO’s Chandrayaan-5 mission, which will carry a 250 kg rover, ten times heavier than Chandrayaan-3’s. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan confirmed the mission will be conducted with Japan. Chandrayaan-4, set for 2027, aims to bring lunar samples to Earth. Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed on the Moon’s south pole in August 2023. (Indian Express)

> Uber in Talks to Acquire BluSmart
Uber is in early discussions to acquire BluSmart Mobility, the Gurugram-based all-electric cab service, sources said. The deal would give Uber access to BluSmart’s 5,000+ EV fleet across Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, strengthening its presence in the electric mobility space. The talks come as Gensol Engineering, backed by BluSmart’s cofounder, faces liquidity challenges. (Economic Times)

> Apple’s Blue-Bubble iMessage May Come to Android Phones
Apple is in talks with Google to bring its Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging to Indian mobile users, according to sources. This move could extend Apple’s signature blue-bubble messaging—currently exclusive to iPhones—to Android devices, enhancing cross-platform messaging capabilities. (Economic Times)

Quick Hits

> Six sites, including Telangana’s Mudumal Megalithic Menhirs and the Bundela palace-fortresses in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, have been added to India’s tentative UNESCO World Heritage list.

> 45% of India’s 4,092 MLAs have declared criminal cases, with 29% facing serious charges like murder, attempted murder, and crimes against women.

> Reliance Jio will start charging users to stream IPL matches on the newly merged JioHotstar platform, ending two years of free access.

> Allianz SE will sell its 26% stake in joint ventures Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Co. and Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Co. to Bajaj Group for €2.6 billion ($2.8 billion).

> Poland’s deputy foreign minister claimed that PM Modi convinced President Putin not to use tactical nuclear weapons in the Russia-Ukraine war.

> Amazon is considering spinning off its India unit and listing it locally, with early discussions underway with investment banks.

Worth a Look

The cost of Indian weddings is skyrocketing. This thread breaks down why—and what it means for families and businesses

Who’s Hiring

> BCG is hiring a senior legal counsel with experience in labor and employment laws.

> Aon is hiring an M&A lawyer to advise on transactional risk and insurance solutions.

> Uber is hiring a senior strategy and operation manager focusing on driver-partner growth.

> Soul AI, founded by IIT Bombay and IIM Ahmedabad alumni, is hiring a freelance legal counsel.

> Zetwerk, the largest global network for custom manufacturing, is hiring an associate business analyst.

A Request

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