Top news of the day: June 20, 2025

Sun TV share dispute: Company says all acts done as per legal obligations

Sun TV Network Limited, on Friday (June 20, 2025), responding to news reports on DMK MP and former Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran issuing a legal notice to his elder brother Kalanithi Maran who is the Chairman of Sun TV Network and to others, said the allegations are incorrect, misleading, speculating, defamatory and not supported by facts or law. 

Congress, RJD responsible for Bihar’s issues, says PM Modi in Siwan

In poll-bound Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Siwan on Friday (June 20, 2025), and slammed Opposition parties Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal for taking Bihar into the mire, all the while listing work done by the NDA government in the last one decade to take Bihar forward.

BJP accounts for nearly 45% of total election spending in 2024 Lok Sabha polls: ADR

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spent nearly ₹1,494 crore, accounting for 44.56% of the total election expenditure, during the 2024 Lok Sabha election, poll rights body the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said on Friday (June 20, 2025). The Congress followed next with ₹620 crore or 18.5% of the total expenses among the 32 national and regional parties whose records were analysed, the ADR said.

Eight days after Air India Crash, Gujarat Govt says 220 victims identified via DNA

Eight days after the London-bound Air India plane crashed in Gujarat, the State government announced on Friday (June 20, 2025) that 220 victims have been identified through DNA profiling, with the remains of 202 already handed over to their families. 

Centre sets up panel to examine reliance of students on coaching, fairness of entrance exams

The Ministry of Education has set up a nine-member panel to examine issues relating to coaching and the emergence of ‘dummy schools’ besides the effectiveness and fairness of entrance examinations, according to officials. The panel headed by Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi will suggest measures to reduce the dependency of students on coaching centres for transition to higher education.

Bombay High Court raises alarm over commuter deaths on Mumbai local network, calls for preventive steps

The Bombay High Court on Friday (June 20, 2025) expressed concern over deaths of commuters on Mumbai local trains, describing the situation as “alarming”, an observation coming days after five people lost their lives post-falling off a packed suburban service.

Bharat Mata row: Kerala govt vs Raj Bhavan stand-off hits the streets

The Raj Bhavan-Kerala government row over the contentious use of a saffron-flag-bearing image of Bharat Mata sitting astride a lion, arguably emblematic of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) notion of a Hindu nation, at State events spilt onto the streets on Friday (June 20, 2025). 

Calcutta High Court restrains West Bengal Government from giving monetary support to ‘jobless’ Group C, D school employees

The Calcutta High Court on Friday (June 20, 2025) restrained the West Bengal Government from implementing a scheme till September 26 to provide monetary support to non-teaching staff who lost their jobs following a Supreme Court judgment that held the selection process tainted.

T.N. Pollution Control Board forms expert panel to assess mercury contamination in Neyveli, Parangipettai

The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has constituted a four-member technical expert committee to carry out detailed inspection and analyse water and soil samples to identify source of mercury contamination in ground water samples in Neyveli and Parangipettai in Cuddalore district.

Israel, Iran launch strikes a week into their war as new diplomatic effort takes shape

Israel and Iran exchanged strikes a week into their war on Friday (June 20, 2025) as President Donald Trump weighed U.S. military involvement and new diplomatic efforts appeared to be underway. Mr. Trump has been weighing whether to attack Iran by striking its well-defended Fordo uranium enrichment facility, which is buried under a mountain and widely considered to be out of reach of all but America’s “bunker-buster” bombs.