Lalit Modi, Heat Wave, Ilaiyaraaja

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It’s March 11. Today, we’re covering Lalit Modi’s bid to avoid extradition, growing heat wave concerns, and Ilaiyaraaja’s latest musical masterpiece. Plus, job openings at Google, Revolut, Saregama, and more in Who’s Hiring at the end.

Policy & Governance

> No Country for Lalit Modi
Vanuatu, a country east of Australia, has ordered the cancellation of Lalit Modi’s passport, stating that the former IPL founder sought citizenship to avoid extradition. Modi, who fled India in 2010 amid corruption allegations, had acquired a Vanuatu passport through its investment-based citizenship program. (Hindustan Times)

> India Opts Out of Global Student Assessment Test
India has again declined to participate in the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) conducted by the OECD citing cultural disconnects and language barriers even though the test includes accommodations. India last took the test in 2009, ranking 73rd out of 74. The government withdrew from PISA 2021 citing learning setbacks caused by the pandemic and has withdrawn once again. (The Wire)

> Anti-Dumping Duty on Water Treatment Chemical
India has imposed an anti-dumping duty of up to $986 per tonne on trichloro isocyanuric acid—a chemical used in water treatment—from China and Japan for five years to protect the domestic industry. The move follows recommendations from the Directorate General of Trade Remedies, citing material injury from cheap imports. (Indian Express)

> Delhi Government Approves Monthly Allowance for Women
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta announced the approval of the Mahila Samridhi Yojana, providing eligible women ₹2,500 per month. The government has allocated ₹5,100 crore for the scheme. Aadhaar-based e-KYC will be used for verification of recipients. Eligibility criteria are still being finalized. (Indian Express)

Business

> Sun Pharma to Acquire Checkpoint Therapeutics
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries will acquire U.S.-based Checkpoint Therapeutics for $355 million, strengthening its oncology and immunotherapy portfolio. The deal includes an upfront cash payment of $4.10 per share, a 66% premium on Checkpoint’s last close. The acquisition is expected to close by Q2 2025. (Reuters)

> IndiGo Plane Suffers Tail Strike in Chennai
An IndiGo Airbus A321 suffered a tail strike while landing in Chennai on March 8, marking at least the sixth such incident for the airline in two years. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is investigating crew technique, wind conditions, and flap settings. DGCA previously fined IndiGo ₹30 lakh for systemic deficiencies and advised against its flap 3 landing policy which is linked to fuel-saving measures. (The Hindu)

> Fee Hikes Likely at Delhi University
Delhi University (DU) expects to generate over ₹246 crore in student fee revenue for 2025-26, signaling further fee hikes due to rising costs. The projected revenue surpasses earlier estimates, raising concerns among students and faculty about affordability in a public institution. DU cited the fee hikes as necessary for infrastructure and inflation management. (Hindustan Times)

Tech, Media & Telecom

> Code of Ethics for Real-Money Gaming
Industry bodies representing India’s online real-money gaming sector have introduced a "code of ethics" to promote responsible gaming and user safety. The guidelines, adopted by member companies, include mandatory KYC verification, spending limits, and other safeguards to protect players. Major platforms like Dream11, My11Circle, Khelo Fantasy Live, SG11 Fantasy, WinZO, Games24X7, and Junglee Games are among the signatories. (The Hindu)

> Rising Cyber Fraud Costs India Over ₹100 Crore in FY25
India has lost ₹107.21 crore to cyber fraud in the first three quarters of FY25, with 13,384 reported cases. Fraud involving ₹1 lakh and above has been on the rise, with losses peaking at ₹177.05 crore in FY24. The finance ministry has flagged an increasing number of scams linked to non-KYC-compliant accounts, money mule networks, and phishing attacks. (CNBC TV18)

Society

> Blue Plaque Initiative to Mark Heritage Buildings
Delhi has joined Ahmedabad and Kolkata in installing blue plaques on heritage buildings to raise awareness and promote preservation. Ahmedabad has marked nearly 2,700 structures, while Kolkata has installed 500. The initiative aims to raise awareness, but experts argue that without financial incentives or preservation policies, it may not ensure conservation. (Hindustan Times)

> IPL Urged to Ban Tobacco, Alcohol Ads
The health ministry has asked the IPL and BCCI to ban all forms of tobacco and alcohol advertising, including surrogate ads, at stadiums, events, and during broadcasts. In a letter to IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal, the ministry also urged banning sales of these products at sports venues and discouraging cricketers from endorsing them. The move aims to curb non-communicable diseases, which account for 70% of deaths in India. (Economic Times)

> Rajasthan’s Tribal Custom Stalls Housing Scheme
Nata Pratha, a tribal custom in Rajasthan, allows married women to leave their spouses and live with another man by declaring it before the village panchayat. However, since these marriages and divorces are not legally registered, official records often list ex-spouses as beneficiaries under government schemes. This has stalled 5%-10% of the 1.58 lakh houses sanctioned under PM Awas Yojana in tribal areas, complicating beneficiary identification efforts. (Indian Express)

Environment

> Record Heat Threatens Agriculture and Economy
India just saw its hottest February in 125 years, with temperatures 1-3°C above normal. The heat is disrupting farming and industry, putting wheat production at risk. If extreme weather persists, India may have to extend its 2022 wheat export ban and rely on costly imports.

Reservoir levels in northern India have fallen to 28% capacity (down from 37% last year), adding to agricultural strain. Rising temperatures could also reduce daily working hours by 5.8% by 2030 due to heat stress. (BBC)

> Cool Roofs Initiative in Gujarat Slums 
Hundreds of homes in Ahmedabad’s informal settlements have been coated with reflective white paint to combat extreme heat. The initiative, covering 400 households, is part of a global scientific study examining how indoor heat affects health and economic outcomes in developing countries—and whether "cool roofs" can provide relief. Residents in the Vanzara Vas slum say the temperature difference is already noticeable. (Reuters)

Quick Hits

> Hundreds of foreign tourists have left Hampi, a UNESCO heritage site in Karnataka, after an Israeli tourist and an Indian homestay owner were gang-raped, and a man was murdered in a violent attack.

> Amit Shah announced plans to build 10 stadiums at Sardar Patel Sports Complex for the 2036 Olympics.

> Ilaiyaraaja debuted his Valiant Symphony No. 1 at London’s Eventim Apollo, becoming the first Asian film composer to present a Western classical symphony there.

> Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation has secured ₹21,500 crore ($2.5 billion) in funding for Mumbai’s ring road project, with construction set to begin next financial year.

> Popular designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee says extravagant bridal outfits are losing appeal, with modern brides opting for simpler designs as big weddings fall out of style.

Worth a Look

A two-minute snippet from Ilaiyaraaja’s Valiant Symphony No. 1 is making the rounds, and it’s a masterclass in composition. If you needed proof of why he’s one of the greatest musicians of all time, this is it.

Who’s Hiring

> Google is hiring government affairs and public policy managers for competition, privacy and security, AI, payments, and Google Cloud (mid- to advanced-PQE).

> Rippling is hiring for roles in engineering, customer support, and product management (choose India as location on the website).

> Razorpay is hiring product managers, a legal associate manager, and a marketing associate manager.

> Saregama is hiring senior legal executive (non-litigation).

> Revolut is hiring a product strategy manager, a perfect role for someone interested in product and fintech (remote).

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