Collaboration in technology and innovation: Modi-Musk hold telephonic conversation

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is set to resume on May 17, with the final scheduled for June 3, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Monday. The league, which was suspended last Friday due to escalating hostilities between India and Pakistan, will now continue at six selected venues, with the locations for the playoffs yet to be finalized.

Following the ceasefire announcement between India and Pakistan, the BCCI held urgent consultations with the government to restart the tournament. As a result, the revised schedule was confirmed, beginning with Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders on May 17 in Bengaluru. The following day will feature a double-header: Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings in Jaipur (afternoon) and Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans in Delhi (evening).

In addition to Bengaluru, Delhi, and Jaipur, the remaining league matches will be hosted in Lucknow, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai. The abandoned Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals match from May 8 will now be played on May 24 in Jaipur.

The BCCI had considered relocating the remainder of the tournament to southern venues like Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, away from the Line of Control. However, Chennai and Hyderabad will not host any further league matches. Kolkata was also ruled out due to unfavorable weather forecasts, according to BCCI sources.

Venue Adjustments and Team Impacts

Among teams vying for a playoff spot, Punjab Kings are the only side to lose home advantage. They were originally scheduled to host two matches in Dharamsala, including the previously abandoned game. Both of those fixtures will now be played at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.

Initially, the IPL was planned to conclude by May 31, but the final has now been pushed to June 3. The BCCI opted to minimize player workload in peak summer by limiting double-headers to just two Sundays (May 18 and May 25).

Other minor scheduling changes include Royal Challengers Bengaluru concluding their league campaign at Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, instead of at home.

The venues for the playoffs and final—originally assigned to Hyderabad and Kolkata—are still under consideration. If these are ruled out, Ahmedabad is a strong contender, possibly sharing hosting duties with another venue.

Background and Player Concerns

The league was abruptly suspended last Thursday after tensions escalated near Pathankot, just 80 km from Dharamsala, which led to a mid-match abandonment. A drone strike in the region and a subsequent blackout prompted the BCCI to act swiftly. The following day, the league was officially paused for a week.

With the ceasefire in place by Saturday, franchises were asked to reassemble their squads by Tuesday. Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians have already resumed training, with others expected to follow by Wednesday.

However, a major concern looms over the availability of overseas players, many of whom have returned to their home countries. Notably, Australian pacers Josh Hazlewood (RCB) and Mitchell Starc (Delhi Capitals) are unlikely to return due to minor injuries. Both are also expected to feature in the World Test Championship Final against South Africa, starting June 11.

IPL 2025 Revised Schedule

May 17 – 7:30 PM IST – Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Bengaluru

May 18 – 3:30 PM IST – Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings, Jaipur

May 18 – 7:30 PM IST – Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans, Delhi

May 19 – 7:30 PM IST – Lucknow Super Giants vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Lucknow

May 20 – 7:30 PM IST – Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals, Delhi

May 21 – 7:30 PM IST – Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals, Mumbai

May 22 – 7:30 PM IST – Gujarat Titans vs Lucknow Super Giants, Ahmedabad

May 23 – 7:30 PM IST – Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Bengaluru

May 24 – 7:30 PM IST – Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals, Jaipur

May 25 – 3:30 PM IST – Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings, Ahmedabad

May 25 – 7:30 PM IST – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi

May 26 – 7:30 PM IST – Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians, Jaipur

May 27 – 7:30 PM IST – Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Lucknow

Playoffs Schedule

May 29 – 7:30 PM IST – Qualifier 1

May 30 – 7:30 PM IST – Eliminator

June 1 – 7:30 PM IST – Qualifier 2

June 3 – 7:30 PM IST – Final

New Delhi: India’s defense budget is set to receive an unprecedented mid-year boost of ₹50,000 crore in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, according to senior government officials cited by multiple media outlets. The increase, expected to be formalized through a supplementary budget during the Winter Session of Parliament, will push the overall military allocation for 2025–26 beyond ₹7 lakh crore — a record in the nation's history.

This boost comes on top of the ₹6.81 lakh crore already earmarked for defense in the Union Budget presented on February 1, which itself marked a sharp 9.2% rise from the previous year’s ₹6.22 lakh crore. At nearly 13% of the total Union Budget, defense continues to be the single-largest expenditure of the central government.

Sources quoted in reports by The Hindu, India Today, and Business Standard say that the additional allocation will primarily fund weapons procurement, strategic research and development, and expansion of indigenous defense systems.

Taxpayer Money & Military Spending
The ballooning defense allocation raises important questions about fiscal priorities, as the central government continues to invest heavily in its military apparatus. While national security is undoubtedly critical, some experts warn that such massive spending — funded by taxpayer money — should be subject to greater public debate and transparency.

The trend began in 2014, the first year of the Modi administration, when the defense allocation stood at ₹2.29 lakh crore. Since then, the budget has more than tripled in a decade, signaling a clear policy shift toward military modernization and assertive defense posturing.

The dramatic budget escalation follows Operation Sindoor, India's military response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. In that incident, 26 civilians were killed in an assault attributed to the Pakistan-backed terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba.

India retaliated with precision air strikes on nine alleged terror hubs located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. In a display of military preparedness, Indian forces showcased sophisticated coordination between their air and ground defense systems — notably the domestically developed Akash missile system and the Russian-origin S-400.

Strategic Signals

In his post-operation speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a stern warning to terror networks and their state sponsors. He stated that India’s approach to cross-border terrorism had irreversibly changed, and no talks would be entertained unless they pertain to dismantling terror infrastructure and restoring Indian sovereignty over Pak-occupied Kashmir.

Following the military engagement, Pakistan launched retaliatory drone and missile attacks, targeting both military and civilian locations. Most were intercepted or neutralized by India’s air defense systems, reinforcing confidence in the nation's growing technological capabilities.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has reiterated the government's commitment to indigenous production, stating in a recent press briefing that relying on foreign suppliers for national defense is “not a viable long-term solution.”

As India steers into an increasingly volatile regional climate, the government's substantial financial commitment to defense has invited both praise and concern. While some see it as a necessary step in safeguarding the nation, others caution that such steep investments, ultimately borne by taxpayers, demand more rigorous public scrutiny.

Despite a detailed rebuttal from the Narendra Modi government, U.S. President Donald Trump has, for the fourth consecutive day, claimed credit for brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan—an achievement he says prevented a conflict that “could have killed millions.”

Speaking at an investment forum in Riyadh, Trump remarked that the leaders of India and Pakistan could now even “go for a nice dinner” together, as tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors had de-escalated.

“Just days ago, my administration successfully brokered a historic ceasefire to stop the escalating violence between India and Pakistan,” Trump said. “And I used trade to a large extent to do it. I told the leaders, ‘Fellows, come on. Let’s make a deal. Let’s do some trading.’”

His comments came even as New Delhi firmly rejected the notion that the United States had any role in mediating the ceasefire, which brought an end to nearly four days of cross-border hostilities. India also dismissed Trump’s claim that he used the threat of halting U.S. trade with both countries to pressure them into backing down.

“Let’s not trade nuclear missiles. Let’s trade the things you make so beautifully,” Trump said. “They both have very powerful, strong, smart leaders. And it all stopped. Hopefully, it’ll stay that way—but it stopped.”

Trump went on to praise Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio, crediting him and others in his administration for their efforts.

“Marco, stand up. What a great job you did on that. Thank you,” Trump said. “Vice President JD Vance, Marco—the whole group worked hard. And I think [India and Pakistan] are actually getting along. Maybe we can even get them together a little bit, Marco, where they go out and have a nice dinner together. Wouldn’t that be nice?”

Trump continued, “We’ve come a long way. Millions of people could have died in that conflict. It started small and was getting bigger by the day.”

This marks the fourth day in a row—Saturday through Tuesday—that Trump has publicly asserted his administration’s role in defusing tensions between the two South Asian rivals, despite consistent denials from the Indian government.