Judicial Crisis, Screen Time, Tulips

Welcome to 1947—your clear, unbiased source for news that helps you cut through the noise and form your own conclusions.

It’s March 28. Today: fading faith in the judiciary, screen time crisis, and tulip season in Kashmir. Plus, job openings at ZS Associates, Citi, The Whole Truth, and more in Who’s Hiring.

Policy, Governance & Regulation

> Lok Sabha Passes Tougher Immigration Law
The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 has been passed in Lok Sabha, introducing stricter penalties for violations. Using forged passports or visas to enter, stay, or exit India now carries a jail term of up to seven years and a fine of up to ₹10 lakh. The bill also mandates hotels, universities, hospitals, and nursing homes to report foreign nationals, aiming to curb overstays. (The Hindu)

> Justice Varma Case Highlights India’s Judicial Crisis
The Justice Yashwant Varma cash scandal has intensified concerns about India’s judicial system, with former Bombay High Court judge Gautam Patel noting that public faith in institutions has collapsed. Beyond individual scandals, India’s judiciary faces a crippling backlog of over 45 million cases, with more cases filed than resolved each month. Justice Patel argues that the root issue isn’t just resources but outdated judicial processes—from case filing to enforcement—plagued by inconsistent and archaic procedures that vary across courts, worsening delays. (Bloomberg)

Health & Environment

> The Silent Amputation Crisis
India leads the world in traumatic amputations, with two million cases in 2019, according to the only global study. While it’s possible to blame the high number of road accidents in the country, many amputees never suffered a crash. Diabetes-related complications, particularly foot ulcers caused by poor circulation, are a growing concern—even among the poor. Experts blame gaps in the healthcare system, citing a lack of trauma centers and vascular surgeons, leaving many without life-saving limb restoration procedures. (Scroll)

Business

> Government to Launch ‘Sahkar Taxi’
The Indian government is set to launch Sahkar Taxi, a cooperative-based ride-hailing service, to compete with private platforms like Ola and Uber. The service will include two-wheeler taxis, rickshaws, and four-wheelers, with a model that ensures all profits go directly to drivers. India’s taxi market, currently valued at $23.4 billion, is projected to grow to $44.2 billion by 2030. (Economic Times)

> Saudi Aramco Eyes Investment in Indian Refineries
Saudi Aramco is in talks to invest in two planned refineries in India, seeking a stable market for its crude, sources say. India, the third-largest oil consumer and importer, aims to become a global refining hub as Western firms scale back crude processing. Sources indicate that Aramco plans to supply oil equal to three times its stake in each project and intends to sell its share of refined products either within India or through exports. (Reuters)

> Private Investment in India Hits a Decade-Low
Private sector investment in India has dropped to just 33% of overall economic investment, the lowest in a decade. Indian businesses are hoarding cash, holding 11% of their total assets in cash, instead of making fresh investments. Reasons include weak urban consumption, muted exports, and an influx of cheap Chinese imports, alongside global uncertainty and overcapacity. (BBC)

Tech, Media & Telecom

> Quick Commerce Now Dominates India’s Online Grocery Market
Platforms like Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart accounted for over two-thirds of all online grocery orders and one-tenth of total e-retail spending in 2024, according to a Flipkart-Bain report. The sector’s gross merchandise value surged to $7 billion in 2024, up from just $1.6 billion in 2022, and is expected to grow 40% annually until 2030. While initially focused on groceries, 15-20% of quick commerce revenue now comes from general merchandise, mobile phones, electronics, and apparel. (Moneycontrol, Bain)

> Online Gambling Boom Raises Concerns
India has over 140 million regular users of online gambling and betting platforms, a figure that swells to 370 million during major events like the IPL. Fantasy gaming has also surged, with 180 million users across 300 platforms, generating most of its revenue from cricket (85%) and football (6%). Experts warn that gambling disorder is becoming an epidemic in the country, with players increasingly addicted as they chase larger rewards triggered by dopamine highs. (DW)

> Smartphone Addiction Surges
Indians spent a staggering 1.1 trillion hours on their smartphones in 2024, averaging five hours per day, according to EY. Nearly 70% of this screen time went to social media, gaming, and video streaming. Cheap internet has fueled this surge, making platforms like Instagram and Netflix more accessible in the world’s most populous nation. (Bloomberg, EY)

Sports

> Indian Track and Field Athletes Make Their Mark in NCAA
The number of Indian track and field athletes in the USA has grown significantly, with 17 athletes now competing in Division 1 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Historically, Indian athletes have ventured into the NCAA mostly in sports like tennis and squash, but track and field athletes rarely pursued this path. Recent trends show an increasing number of Indian athletes making the leap. (Sportstar)

Quick Hits

> Port authorities denied entry to an aging tanker carrying Russian crude due to inadequate documentation, signaling tighter scrutiny of vessels carrying Russian oil.

> Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit India soon to strengthen bilateral ties, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

> The U.S. Embassy in India canceled around 2,000 visa appointments booked by bots, highlighting its crackdown on agents exploiting the system, with many applicants paying ₹30,000-₹35,000 for timely slots.

> The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India announced that the CA Final exam will now be held three times a year—January, May, and September—starting in 2025.

> The Bureau of Indian Standards seized thousands of substandard products from Amazon and Flipkart warehouses in Delhi, following a search and seizure operation.

> JioHotstar has surpassed 100 million subscribers after the merger of Reliance Industries' Viacom18 and Disney's media assets in India.

> Abound, a remittance app spun off from Times Internet, raised $14 million in its first funding round to expand its services for Indian expats in the U.S. In 2024, India led global remittances with $129.1 billion, making up 14.3% of the market.

> Rapido aims to onboard 200,000 women bike captains over the next three years as part of its 'Pink Mobility' initiative to create job opportunities for women.

> Asia's largest tulip garden, with 17 lakh blooms, opened in Kashmir on March 26, marking the start of the tourism season.

Worth a Look

Influencer Nas Daily's video highlights Adani Green's efforts to drive India's transition to solar, wind, and nuclear energy, providing an informative and exciting perspective.

Who’s Hiring

> ZS Associates, a pharma- and healthcare-focused global consulting firm, is hiring a Legal Counsel.

> Bombay Shaving Company is hiring for its Founder’s Office.

> Citi is hiring a Counsel 2 - Product.

> The Whole Truth, which makes clean protein supplements, is hiring a Product Manager and Performance Marketing Manager.

> Amazon is hiring a Senior Program Manager.

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