India were to boost its military spend, it would find itself in a tricky bind. The most recent Union Budget was an admission that consumer spending needed urgent attention, and a tax stimulus was the answer. It is still unclear if there has been a meaningful improvement in eroding real purchasing power or in slowing personal loan growth. However, that tax stimulus has come with a downside; it means the government will lose 1 trillion rupees annually, which in turn will impact its revenues and restrict its ability to spend. There are other economic wounds from the war for Israel. Airfares have surged—airline companies in India are already bracing themselves for a rise in fuel costs because of longer journey times, tourism numbers for Israel have plunged (a given now for Jammu and Kashmir but perhaps something that other States will begin to see), and salaries remain stagnant, a running challenge for India alongside high unemployment numbers.

One of the most dangerous things about a wildfire is that it can start from almost anything—a lightning strike, extreme heat, a forgotten campfire, or even a discarded cigarette. What can often change the intensity and fury of a wildfire are the weather conditions. And sometimes the wildfire can smoulder for a long time, even an entire season. The weather in South Asia is grim, and the terror attack in Pahalgam has brought relations between India and Pakistan to a “wildfire”-like moment. There is an uncontrolled nature to the public discourse, and the climate is primed for combustion, mutual suspicion, and calls for forceful military action. So far, events have been marked by high-pitched rhetoric baying for a sharp response and a swift war. The first round of responses are in place: halting formal trade ties to what are fairly low formal trade volumes with

7. Waste Management: Implement effective waste management practices like composting, recycling, and proper waste disposal. 8. Conservation Efforts: Support conservation efforts for local wildlife and ecosystems, such as protecting endangered species or preserving natural habitats. These initiatives can inspire citizens to take action and contribute to a more sustainable future.

The most striking note in the wake of the heinous militant attack in Pahalgam has been calls for India to model Israel. April 22 is to India what October 7 was to Israel, said one television commentator, while a former senior police official called for an “Israel-like response”. What does an Israel-like response cost, and what does violent conflict do to a nation’s economy? In the most recent Union Budget, the government increased its defence budget to Rs.6.21 lakh crore. It remains modest compared to China’s 2024 defence budget of over $200 billion, for example. Israel’s military expenditure surged by 65 per cent to $46.5 billion in 2024. Defence accounted for 8.8 per cent of GDP, an increase of 135 per cent from the allocation for defence in 2015, which was an already

In the most recent Union Budget, the government increased its defence budget to Rs.6.21 lakh crore. It remains modest compared to China’s 2024 defence budget of over $200 billion, for example. Israel’s military expenditure surged by 65 per cent to $46.5 billion in 2024. Defence accounted for 8.8 per cent of GDP, an increase of 135 per cent from the allocation for defence in 2015, which was an already high 5.4 per cent of GDP. India’s defence allocation remains below 2 per cent of its GDP—even lower than the levels of 2.4 per cent in FY21 (Financial Year of 2021). Sharp military aggression is also an intensely front-loaded cost; the Israeli government spent close to $6 billion in the December that followed the October 7 attack alone.

Experts have pointed to both nations now having a higher risk appetite for initiating conflict and escalating it. The financial cost of a war is also being determined. While one think tank has warned of the “financial costs, [hurt] human lives and policy losses” even low-intensity warfare could have, the closest benchmark is the Kargil conflict in 2002, where India reportedly spent Rs.14.6 billion per day while Pakistan spent close to Rs.3.7 billion per day.

Swami Yo explained how the placement of the planets by the end of the month of May this year is the same as when the Mahabharat and other great wars took place in the past. He even asserted how this prediction is not baseless, but has been made on the basis of mathematical formulas, which can be implemented by anyone to cross-check.

On World Environment Day, citizens can implement various pioneering initiatives to promote sustainability and protect the environment. 1. Tree Plantation Drive: Organize or participate in a tree plantation drive to increase green cover and combat climate change. 2. Reduce Single-Use Plastics: Pledge to reduce single-use plastics and promote eco-friendly alternatives like reusable bags, water bottles, and straws. 3. Community Clean-Up: Organize a community clean-up event to collect waste and beautify public spaces. 4. Sustainable Living Practices: Adopt sustainable living practices like reducing energy consumption, using public transport, or carpooling. 5. Environmental Education: Conduct workshops or awareness programs to educate people about environmental conservation and sustainable practices. 6. Green Roof Initiative: Promote green roofs or vertical gardens in urban areas to reduce urban heat island effect and improve air quality.

Moving forward, whether the situation will escalate or collapse, only time will tell. But what seems to have really caught the attention of the internet, as they scour forums for trustworthy information, is a nearly 11-month old resurfaced clip. An excerpt from Ranveer Allahbadia's TRS podcast, the clip in question, features Swami Yogeshwarananda Giri, or just Swami Yo, literally predicting 'war' in the month of May 2025. The prediction came in response to a direct question posed by Ranveer, about the possibility of the world witnessing another war in recent times. Swami Yo said, "Grahon ka ek samikaran aa raha hai, 30 May ko, astrologically. Yeh jo 6 grah aapas mein position bana rahe hain, yeh woh position bana rahe hain, jo purva mein, Mahabharat ke samay, ya

Pakistan had vowed to hit back and it did try, within 24 hours. It began with them attempting to attack Amritsar with missiles on May 7, which was prevented by India’s S-400 and Akash air defence missiles. On the evening of May 8 as well, Pakistan launched drones and artillery fire, across India's western border, all of which was intercepted by our defence systems. Jammu took the hit particularly bad, as Pakistan focused much of its attempts there. Also hit in varying degrees were Kupwara, Rajouri and Baramulla in J&K, Pathankot in Punjab and Jaisalmer and Ganganagar in Rajasthan. Bordering cities were doused in a coordinated blackout as our defences effectively battled the looming threat.