In a powerful address from Ahmedabad, Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to shield small entrepreneurs, farmers, and cattle rearers from economic harm. “No matter how much pressure comes, we will keep increasing our strength to withstand it,” he stated, referring to a new 50% US tariff on Indian goods, including a penalty for India’s discounted purchase of Russian crude oil. He said the world is witnessing ‘politics driven by economic self-interest’ and assured that his government’s priority is protecting these key domestic sectors. He also encouraged a renewed focus on the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India) initiative, urging citizens and businesses to buy and sell indigenous products.
Influencer Content Not ‘Free Speech’: SC in India’s Got Latent controversy case
The Supreme Court of India ruled on August 25, 2025, that commercial content, particularly by social media influencers, is not protected under the same free speech provisions as regular expression. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi made the observation, noting that “when you are commercialising speech, you cannot hurt the sentiments of a community.” The court’s decision came while it was hearing a petition against five influencers(Samay Raina, Ranvir Allahabadia, Rebel Kid and Others) accused of mocking people with disabilities. The court has directed these content creators to issue public apologies on their channels, reinforcing that commercial speech must be held to a higher standard of responsibility. The court has also called on the government to frame comprehensive guidelines for social media content.
SIT Probe on Vantara
The Supreme Court of India, on August 25, 2025, ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a fact-finding inquiry into the affairs of Vantara, the animal rescue and rehabilitation centre in Jamnagar. The decision was prompted by two Public Interest Litigations (PILs) that alleged unlawful animal acquisition, non-compliance with the Wildlife (Protection) Act, and other irregularities. The SIT, headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice J. Chelameswar, has been tasked with investigating the allegations, including the acquisition of animals from India and abroad. The court clarified that the SIT’s work is a fact-finding inquiry and does not express an opinion on the allegations. The SIT is scheduled to submit its report by September 12.
