5 stories you must read today, September 20: From Allahabad HC’s caste ban to Mohanlal’s Dadasaheb Phalke Award and more

The Allahabad High Court has directed the state’s Home Department and DGP to frame standard operating procedures prohibiting the mention of caste in all police documents, including FIRs and investigation records, except in cases under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Taking serious note of the DGP’s justification, the court said it was detached from “the complex realities of Indian society and the demands of professional policing” and also recommended stricter regulations under the IT Act to curb caste-based hate content on social media. Read More

A 27-year-old research scholar, Harsh Kumar Pandey, allegedly died by suicide in his hostel room at IIT Kharagpur on Saturday. Hailing from Ranchi, Jharkhand, Pandey was pursuing a PhD in Mechanical Engineering after completing his MTech from Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Prayagraj. His father alerted IIT authorities when he could not reach his son, leading to the discovery of Pandey’s body in a room locked from the inside at BR Ambedkar Hall; doctors at BC Roy Hospital declared him dead. This marks the fifth suspected student suicide at IIT Kharagpur in 2025. Read More

Malayalam superstar Mohanlal will be honoured with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023 for his remarkable contribution to Indian cinema, the Government of India announced on Saturday. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said the legendary actor, director, and producer’s “unmatched talent, versatility, and relentless hard work have set a golden standard in Indian film history.” Mohanlal debuted in the 1978 Malayalam film Thiranottam and has since starred in over 400 films, earning accolades including the Padma Shri (2001), Padma Bhushan (2019), five National Film Awards, and nine Kerala State Film Awards. Read More

US President Donald Trump has reportedly paused $400 million (£297m) in weapons aid to Taiwan, including orders for lethal munitions and autonomous drones, raising concerns that American support may be leveraged in broader negotiations with China. The decision comes ahead of Trump’s phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, in which they discussed trade, fentanyl, and TikTok, and planned meetings in Korea this October and China next year. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te emphasized the need for preparedness, saying, “To avoid war and defend peace we must build defence capabilities and societal resilience through continued preparedness.” Read More

For the second consecutive game, Pakistan cancelled its pre-match press conference hours before the Super Four clash against India, repeating a similar move before the UAE game on Wednesday, following tensions over the no-handshake incident with match referee Andy Pycroft. While it is unclear if Pycroft’s presence triggered the cancellation, Pakistan had previously demanded his removal and threatened to pull out of the UAE game before last-minute negotiations allowed it to proceed. The ICC had also reprimanded the PCB for allegedly breaching the Player and Managers’ Area protocol when media manager Naeem Gillani reportedly recorded the meeting attended by Pycroft, Pakistan captain Salman Agha, coach Mike Hesson, manager Naveed Akram Cheema, and ICC officials. Read More