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Why is #TwitterBanInIndia trending in India?

In the first week of June, the Centre issued one last notice to Twitter over appointing India-based officers as per the country’s new rules for social media companies, failing which, the government said, it will face consequences as per the IT Act and other penal laws.

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Twitter

#TwitterBanInIndia is trending in India, or at least was when this article began, as it refused to comply with the new Information Technology rules, and has lost its legal protection from being prosecuted over users’ posts. Without the legal protection mentioned above, Twitter could be sued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology for any fake news leading it into excessive and spiraling legal hassles.

However, Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) has clarified that the news of Twitter losing its protective shield or intermediary status emerged from an incorrect reading of the law.

What happened with Twitter?

On Tuesday night, the first case against Twitter was filed in Uttar Pradesh over tweets on an assault on an elderly man in Loni. The Ghaziabad police said Twitter was attempting to incite communal trouble. The elderly man who was assaulted, identified as Sufi Abdul Samad, alleged that he was forced to chant “Vande Mataram” and “Jai Shri Ram” by a group that assaulted him and cut his beard. The Ghaziabad police said Samad is lying, and that it was not a communal incident as implied in the tweets by several users but the man was attacked by six men who were upset over amulets he had sold them.

Who have been accused?

The FIR filed against Twitter, along with journalists, fact-checkers and Congress leaders, alleged the tweets by the people accused had been broadcast on a large scale. The FIR is against the website The Wire, journalists Rana Ayyub, Mohammad Zubair, Saba Naqvi, Congress workers Dr. Shama Mohammed, Maskoor Usmani, Salman Nizami because they had shared the video. They have been accused of trying to create animosity between Hindus and Muslims and thereby attempting to destroy communal harmony. The social media platform has been accused of not removing the misleading content, a grainy, badly shot video clip where Samad is thrashed and his beard cut off by two young men, linked to the incident.

What new IT rules?

The Central government laid down new IT rules in February which came into effect from May 26. Under the new rules, they directed all major social media platforms operating in the country to appoint compliance officers in India, set up grievance response mechanisms, and take down content within 36 hours of a legal order. 

According to the Centre, the new rules are designed to prevent abuse and misuse of platforms and offer users a robust forum for grievance redressal. The social media platforms, if they fail to comply with rules, would result in losing the intermediary status that provides them immunity from liabilities over any third-party data hosted by them.

In the first week of June, the Centre issued one last notice to Twitter over appointing India-based officers as per the country’s new rules for social media companies, failing which, the government said, it will face consequences as per the IT Act and other penal laws.

Read Also: BCCI announce 15-member squad for WTC final

Strangely, the same trend was doing the rounds with Twitter users putting up their last messages in case Twitter ceased operations when the deadline approached in late May.

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Security tightened across Delhi metro stations after bomb threat emails

Delhi is on high alert after bomb threat emails targeted metro stations, the Red Fort and the Assembly. Authorities confirmed the threats were hoaxes but tightened security as a precaution.

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Delhi Metro

Security has been intensified across all metro stations and major installations in the national capital after a series of bomb threat emails were received on Monday. Authorities later confirmed that the threats were hoaxes following detailed inspections by security agencies.

According to officials, several key institutions — including the Delhi Secretariat, Delhi Assembly, the Red Fort and two schools — received threatening emails earlier in the day. Extensive searches were carried out at all the locations mentioned in the messages, but nothing suspicious was found.

A senior police officer said cyber teams are working to trace the origin of the emails. Preliminary findings suggest that the senders may have used Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in an attempt to conceal their identities and mislead investigators. Officials expressed confidence that those responsible would be identified.

Metro stations under heightened surveillance

Following specific references to metro services in the emails, security arrangements were strengthened across the entire network of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. Additional personnel have been deployed at stations, and anti-sabotage checks are being conducted.

Police said random frisking of passengers and intensified CCTV surveillance are being carried out as part of precautionary measures. Bomb disposal squads and dog squads were stationed at sensitive sites, including the Red Fort, Delhi Secretariat and the Assembly complex.

The threatening emails reportedly included the slogan “Delhi banega Khalistan” and warned of explosions at an Army school, the Assembly and the Red Fort at specific times during the day. Officials stated that all mentioned locations were thoroughly checked and declared safe.

Authorities also coordinated with counterparts in neighbouring states to enhance security at metro stations falling under their jurisdictions.

While no explosives were found, officials said the tightened security arrangements will remain in place as a precaution. Cyber teams continue efforts to trace the IP addresses and identify those behind the threat emails.

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JNU protest turns violent as Left and Right student groups trade charges

A late-night protest at JNU turned violent as Left and ABVP student groups accused each other of stone-throwing and attacks near the East Gate.

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JNU Protest

Tension gripped the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University in the early hours of Monday after a protest march allegedly spiralled into violence, with rival student groups accusing each other of triggering the unrest.

Students claimed that the incident occurred around 1.30 am when a confrontation broke out during a march called by the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union. The protest, named “Samta Juloos”, was headed towards the East Gate and was organised to demand the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit and the withdrawal of a rustication order.

According to protesters, several students were injured after alleged stone-throwing during the clash. They alleged that the university administration did not intervene during the march and instead permitted members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad to confront demonstrators.

However, the ABVP denied the allegations and countered that Left-affiliated organisations instigated the confrontation and were spreading misinformation about the events.

Left-backed groups, including the All India Students’ Association, claimed that ABVP activists targeted the JNUSU encampment and hurled stones at “unarmed students”, leading to multiple injuries.

Videos shared by students on social media reportedly showed chaotic scenes near the protest site, with members of rival groups engaged in heated exchanges and physical scuffles.

University authorities did not immediately respond to queries regarding the incident. Students said the situation on campus remained tense following the overnight clashes.

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World praised India’s AI potential at AI Impact Summit, says PM Modi

PM Modi said the world praised India’s AI potential at the AI Impact Summit 2026, where 89 countries endorsed the New Delhi Declaration on artificial intelligence.

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pm modi speech

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the world wholeheartedly praised India’s potential during the recently concluded AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, highlighting the growing global confidence in the country’s young technology talent.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister said the summit demonstrated how the mindset of India’s youth in the field of technology would serve humanity at large. He described the event as historic and underlined the positive global response to India’s AI capabilities.

The AI Impact Summit 2026, organised in New Delhi last week, concluded with the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact. The declaration has been endorsed by 89 countries and international organisations, signalling broad global agreement on promoting artificial intelligence for economic growth and social welfare.

Broad global participation

The summit saw the participation of several prominent world leaders and top technology executives. Among those present were UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and Swiss President Guy Parmelin.

Other leaders attending the summit included Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Croatia Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, Serbia President Aleksandar Vucic, Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay, Estonia President Alar Karis, and Finland Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.

Chief executives and senior leaders from major global technology firms were also part of the gathering.

Focus on inclusive AI growth

Held under the theme ‘Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay’ (welfare for all, happiness of all), the summit aimed to position India as a global leader in artificial intelligence while ensuring that AI development remains inclusive and sustainable.

The event brought together more than 500 international AI leaders. This included around 100 CEOs and founders, 150 academicians and researchers, and 400 CTOs, vice presidents and philanthropists. Additionally, over 100 government representatives and nearly 60 ministers and vice ministers participated in discussions.

The New Delhi Declaration seeks to strengthen international cooperation and ensure that AI technologies contribute to economic progress, social good and environmental protection.

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