A political controversy arose in Odisha following the death of a college student who attempted self-immolation due to alleged sexual harassment by a faculty member. Opposition parties, including Congress and Biju Janata Dal (BJD), criticized the ruling BJP for creating a system that failed to protect the victim. Rahul Gandhi labeled the incident an "organized murder," while BJD leader Naveen Patnaik condemned the systemic failures. Union minister Pradhan defended the BJP, accusing Gandhi of politicizing the tragedy. The student had protested for justice before her tragic act.

The Supreme Court of India has issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government regarding petitions that challenge a directive requiring eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display QR codes with ownership information. Petitioners argue this requirement constitutes digital religious profiling, violating a previous court order that prohibited similar mandates. The court had previously stayed such directives, allowing only the disclosure of food types served. The current petitions claim the QR code measure is a "wilful disobedience" of the court's ruling and poses risks to minority vendors, urging immediate restraint on the government's actions.

India and the US are in talks to finalize a trade deal, which has led to delays in customs clearance for American dry fruits in India. Importers are postponing the clearance of walnuts and almonds due to uncertainty over potential reductions in import duties, which currently stand at 100% for walnuts and specific duties for almonds. This cautious approach aims to avoid financial losses if duties decrease after goods are cleared. Additionally, the dry fruit market is facing supply constraints due to the suspension of Afghan imports.