Yamuna Clean-Up, Delhi Stampede, JioHotstar

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Today is February 17. We’re covering the Yamuna cleaning up plan, stampede at New Delhi Railway Station, JioCinema-Hotstar merger, and more.

Policy & Governance

Stampede at New Delhi Railway Station Kills 18

At least 18 people, including 14 women, lost their lives in a deadly stampede at New Delhi railway station late Saturday. The victims, mostly Hindu pilgrims, were en route to the Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj when overcrowding at the station turned chaotic. Authorities report that the stampede began when some passengers slipped while descending a footbridge, triggering a domino effect.

Eyewitness accounts highlight mismanagement and severe overcrowding at the station. The tragedy is the latest in a series of deadly stampedes in India, particularly at religious gatherings, with at least 10 similar incidents recorded in the past two decades.

Extradition of 26/11 Accused Tahawwur Rana Likely Delayed

The extradition of Tahawwur Rana, accused in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, is expected to be delayed despite the US Supreme Court rejecting his review petition. Rana has now filed a final appeal on humanitarian grounds, which could push back his transfer to India by a few weeks.

Rana, a Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman, is linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist David Headley, a key conspirator in the 2008 attacks that killed 166 people. His extradition was announced by US President Donald Trump during PM Modi’s recent visit to the country.

US Cancels $21 Million Grant Linked to Indian Elections

The US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has canceled a $21 million grant that was initially allocated under the Biden administration to influence voter turnout in India. How this money was used remains unclear. The funding was part of a broader $486 million budget for the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening.

DOGE stated that the cancellation aligns with efforts to eliminate questionable overseas political spending and improve government efficiency. BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya criticized the grant, calling it "external interference in India's electoral process."

Bengaluru Metro Fare Hike Sparks Protests, Officials Justify Hike

Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) recently announced a fare hike, sparking protests due to maximum increases of up to 100%, which were later reduced to 71.43% after recalibration. Officials justified the hike, citing rising loan repayments, which will grow from ₹770.60 crore in 2024-25 to ₹2776.58 crore in 2029-30, along with increasing inflation, energy costs, and operational expenses.

BMRCL struggles to generate non-fare revenue, relying heavily on ticket prices. Similar challenges exist across other metro systems in India. Experts suggest that fare hikes are inevitable unless governments step in with subsidies.

Environment

Yamuna Clean-Up Begins

Following a directive from Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena, authorities have deployed trash skimmers, weed harvesters, and dredge utility vehicles to clean the heavily polluted Yamuna River. The cleanup will follow a four-pronged strategy: removing waste and silt, cleaning key drains, monitoring sewage treatment plants (STPs), and building new STPs.

The initiative comes amid growing concerns over toxic foam and severe contamination, which have plagued the river for years. Officials have set a three-year timeline to restore the Yamuna, aligning with the BJP’s past election promises to clean Delhi’s water bodies.

Tech, Media & Telecom 

JioCinema and Hotstar Merge to Form JioHotstar

Reliance is solidifying its lead in India’s streaming market with the merger of JioCinema and Disney’s Hotstar into a single platform—JioHotstar. The platform will offer hundreds of thousands of hours of local content, over 100 TV channels, and premium shows and movies from Disney, Warner Bros., HBO, NBCUniversal, and Paramount.

JioHotstar is aiming to reach over 500 million users, with mobile plans starting at Rs 149 for three months. The Reliance-Disney joint venture controls nearly 85% of India’s streaming market and half of television viewership.

BSNL Reports First Profit Since 2007

State-run telecom company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has posted a net profit of ₹262 crore in Q3 FY25, marking its first profitable quarter in 17 years. The turnaround comes after network expansion, cost optimization, and strong growth across business segments. BSNL had reported a ₹1,569 crore loss in the same quarter last year. Over the past four years, the company has doubled its EBITDA from ₹1,100 crore to ₹2,100 crore. (BSNL Press Brief)

Meta’s 50,000 km Subsea Cable to Boost India’s Digital Growth

Meta has confirmed Project Waterworth, a 50,000-km subsea cable network connecting India, the US, and other regions to support global digital infrastructure. The project aims to enhance digital connectivity, accelerate India’s digital economy, and strengthen AI-driven services worldwide.

Meta highlighted India's strategic role in the project, stating that the expanded network will boost economic cooperation and digital inclusion while supporting India's AI ambitions and data infrastructure.

Reddit Expands into India with Bengaluru Office

Social media platform Reddit is setting up an office in Bengaluru as part of its push into the Indian market. The company has been actively hiring across growth, community management, operations, strategy, policy, and finance, aiming to build a team that can create culturally relevant local experiences for Indian users. India, with its massive internet population, is a key growth market for Reddit.

BharatNet Struggles to Deliver on Rural Broadband Promise

Despite the government’s recent pledge to provide internet connectivity to all secondary schools and public health centers, India’s flagship BharatNet program remains far from achieving its rural broadband goals. As of January 2025, only 1.99 lakh villages out of 6.5 lakh (30.4%) have been connected, with BharatNet missing four previous deadlines—in 2014, 2015, 2019, and 2023—and now expected to miss its 2025 target as well. Experts cite funding inefficiencies, implementation delays, and regional disparities as major roadblocks.

Business 

Delhi HC Overturns $1.55 Billion Arbitration Ruling in Reliance-ONGC Gas Dispute

In a setback for Reliance Industries (RIL), the Delhi High Court has overturned a 2018 arbitration award that had ruled in favor of the company and its foreign partners in a dispute over gas migration in the Krishna Godavari (KG) basin. The court sided with the Indian government and ONGC, disagreeing with the tribunal’s decision to dismiss India's $1.55 billion claim. The dispute centers on allegations that natural gas from ONGC’s block had migrated into Reliance's adjacent field, with ONGC arguing that RIL “unjustly enriched.”

Worth a Look

This LinkedIn post by a Stanford professor examines the impact of Indian university graduates on the US startup ecosystem. IIT-Delhi alumni have founded 16 unicorn startups in the US, IIT-Bombay 14, and IIT-Kanpur 12.

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