Economy National

RBI Says 98.26% of ₹2000 Notes Returned After Withdrawal

By BPN News Desk June 3, 2025

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has confirmed that 98.26% of ₹2000 denomination banknotes have been returned to the banking system, nearly two years after their withdrawal was announced in May 2023. From a peak circulation of ₹3.56 lakh crore, only ₹6,181 crore worth of ₹2000 notes remained in circulation as of 31 May 2025. […]

National

Almatti Dam Row: Karnataka Defends Height Increase Amid Maharashtra Objection

By BPN News Desk June 3, 2025

Tensions have resurfaced between Karnataka and Maharashtra over the proposed increase in the height of the Almatti Dam from 519 meters to 524 meters. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has confirmed that the state will escalate the issue to the Prime Minister and the Union Jal Shakti Minister, firmly backing the move as a […]

Op-Eds Opinion

Buzzing Into Oblivion: What Russia’s UVB-76 Tells Us About the World’s Sleepwalk Into Nuclear Madness

By BPN News Desk June 3, 2025

There was a time when the faint buzz of a Soviet-era shortwave signal sent chills down the spines of Cold War analysts. That sound — mechanical, monotonous, and ceaseless — belonged to UVB-76, nicknamed “The Buzzer.” It was mysterious, it was ominous, and above all, it was never silent. But now, in 2025, that static […]

Business

Microsoft Lays Off 300 More Employees in Continued Restructuring

By BPN News Desk June 3, 2025

Microsoft has initiated another round of layoffs, terminating over 300 employees just weeks after it let go of approximately 6,000 workers in May. This latest wave of job cuts comes as part of a broader restructuring plan aimed at realigning the company’s workforce with evolving strategic priorities, particularly in artificial intelligence and cloud-based solutions. The

National Politics

Sarma Slams China’s Brahmaputra Blockade Theory as Pakistani Propaganda

By BPN News Desk June 3, 2025

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has categorically dismissed the emerging fear narrative that China could weaponize the Brahmaputra River by cutting off its flow to India. Reacting sharply to claims amplified by Pakistani sources, Sarma called it “an orchestrated scare campaign” and assured that India’s control over the river remains secure and sufficient.

Op-Eds Opinion

Selective Justice Is Injustice: The State vs. Sharmishta Panoli

By BPN News Desk June 3, 2025

A 22-year-old law student from Pune, Sharmishta Panoli, is currently behind bars. Her offense? A now-deleted Instagram reel in which she criticized the silence of Bollywood over Operation Sindoor and used words some deemed communal. She deleted the video. She apologized. But none of that mattered to the West Bengal Police, who travelled across the […]

Business Finance

RBI May Slash Repo Rate by 50 bps to Spur Credit Growth

By BPN News Desk June 3, 2025

The Reserve Bank of India is widely expected to implement a sharp 50 basis point cut in the benchmark repo rate during its upcoming monetary policy review on June 6. The projection, made by the Economic Research Department of the State Bank of India, marks a significant shift toward monetary easing aimed at reviving a […]

Economy National

India’s Net GST Revenue Jumps 20.4% in May on Import Duty Surge

By BPN News Desk June 3, 2025

India recorded a sharp rise in net Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue for May 2025, with collections growing 20.4% year-on-year to reach ₹1.73 trillion. This increase was largely driven by a surge in import tax collections and reduced refund outflows. Import Duties Push Revenue Growth Customs-related GST revenue saw a remarkable 72.9% year-on-year increase, […]

International

Gilgit-Baltistan Protesters Block CPEC Route Amid Rising Discontent

By BPN News Desk June 3, 2025

Thousands of residents across Gilgit-Baltistan have launched a large-scale blockade of the Karakoram Highway, cutting off one of the most strategic arteries of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The protest, entering its third day, is a direct response to the Pakistani federal government’s trade restrictions and customs delays at the Khunjerab Pass, which

Expert Opinions Opinion

The West’s Real Endgame in the Russia-Ukraine Conflict: A Cold Peace, Not a Just One

By BPN News Desk June 3, 2025

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the world expected either a swift collapse or a long grind toward Ukrainian liberation backed by Western power. What has unfolded instead is a different kind of war: one where fighting continues without finality, diplomacy proceeds without trust, and where the Western powers increasingly […]