Cockroach Janta Party: India's 10 iconic public movements – from total revolution to farmers' protest

Launching India's candidature at the UN headquarters, Jaishankar said the move comes at a time when the world is facing growing conflict and instability, making the role of the United Nations and the Security Council more critical than everIndia launches campaign for UNSC non-permanent seat; Jaishankar highlights peacekeeping recordIndia has officially launched its campaign for election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2028-29 term, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar outlining the country's priorities, peacekeeping record and commitment to multilateralism.Launching India's candidature at the UN headquarters, Jaishankar said the move comes at a time when the world is facing growing conflict and instability, making the role of the United Nations and the Security Council more critical than ever."It's a pleasure to join you today afternoon to launch India's candidature to serve as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the term 2028-29. We do so at a time when the world is facing a profound paradox... At the same time, we are witnessing levels of conflict, violence and instability that threaten even those who may be very far away," Jaishankar said.Jaishankar said member states would naturally assess both India's vision for addressing global challenges and its track record of contributing to international peace and security."As a candidate, it is natural that member states would like to understand what India brings to the table. One part of that is our vision of the priorities that the world and the United Nations must address. The other is a track record which enables the international community to make its own judgment," he said.Jaishankar unveils India's SHANTI visionPresenting India's approach to global governance, Jaishankar unveiled the SHANTI vision - Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity - describing it as the guiding principle of India's efforts for a secure, peaceful and equitable world."Recent developments have only demonstrated that peace, progress and prosperity cannot be sustained in a fragmented manner... The world must therefore focus on holistic advancement... That journey can only be undertaken effectively when global order is valued and rules are respected. This puts a premium on norms, on trust and integrity. That is the approach that India offers: 'Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity'. That is SHANTI as an acronym," he said.UN peacekeeping roleHighlighting India's contribution to UN peacekeeping, Jaishankar said India has deployed nearly 300,000 personnel across about 50 UN peacekeeping missions since the organisation's inception."Peacekeeping has been a crucial element of maintenance of international peace and security since the very inception of the United Nations. India has always been in the forefront of discharging that responsibility. Our cumulative contribution is nearly 300,000 deployments in about 50 missions worldwide. Currently, we have 4,300 personnel across 10 of the 11 active missions," he said.He said India would continue to advocate for better-equipped, technologically enabled and realistically mandated peacekeeping operations while championing the Women, Peace and Security agenda.Jaishankar also underlined India's role as a development partner, noting that Indian-funded projects are currently being implemented in 79 countries. He said India has consistently promoted dialogue and diplomacy amid global conflicts and has sought to amplify the concerns of the Global South.World with too many conflicts and tensions"In a world with too many conflicts and tensions, India has consistently espoused dialogue and diplomacy. We have sought to bridge differences and find common ground. Our focus has been on mitigating the impact of these developments for the Global South," he said.Jaishankar said India's presence in the Security Council would strengthen the body's decisi

Weight-loss drugs have emerged as one of the biggest healthcare trends worldwide, but India appears to be charting a different course. Despite obesity rates climbing and generic versions of GLP-1 medications becoming significantly more affordable, Indian consumers are not adopting these treatments as quickly as many expected.Zerodha co-founder Nithin Kamath recently highlighted the trend, saying he was surprised that sales of generic GLP-1 drugs had not taken off after patent expiries made them more accessible. His remarks came in response to a report by The Economic Times, which said that “homegrown drugmakers, which entered the generic semaglutide market with ambitious first-year revenue goals, are quietly paring sales targets.”Nithin Kamath Questions Slow Uptake Of GLP-1 Drugs In IndiaSharing his views on X, Mr Kamath said he had expected demand for generic GLP-1 medicines to surge once prices fell. According to him, these medicines now cost around ₹1,000 to ₹2,500 a month, making them less expensive than many gym memberships. However, reports suggest drugmakers have reduced their sales projections by 25 to 30 per cent, signalling weaker-than-anticipated demand.The tweet read, "India is a weird market. With obesity rates shooting up, I'd have bet on the sales of generic GLP-1s exploding once their patents expired. They now cost about ₹1,000–2,500 a month, and there's growing evidence pointing to benefits well beyond weight loss, including cardiovascular, metabolic, and liver health.Yet, generic drugmakers are quietly cutting their sales targets by 25–30%. At ₹1,000–2,500 a month, it's cheaper than a gym membership. The real problem seems to be retention. GLP-1s are injectables, and you have to keep taking them. If you stop, you gain back the lost weight. It seems like asking someone to stay on a weekly injection indefinitely is a much harder sell.A few other friction points:For a variety of reasons, Indians haven't taken to GLP-1s with the same enthusiasm as Western populations. Could it be because Indian physicians are conservative when it comes to prescribing newer drugs?Self-injecting is a pain for most people, and that friction and inertia might be stopping them from starting in the first place.Given that there are now GLP-1 pills, I'm wondering if the adoption curve will change."'Cheaper Than A Gym Membership,' Yet Sales Targets Are FallingAccording to Mr Kamath, pricing may not be the biggest obstacle. Instead, he believes the challenge lies in keeping patients on treatment over the long term.GLP-1 medicines, which are commonly prescribed for diabetes and weight management, generally require regular injections. Patients often need to continue taking the medication to sustain weight-loss benefits, as stopping treatment can result in regaining lost weight."It seems like asking someone to stay on a weekly injection indefinitely is a much harder sell," Mr Kamath observed.Conservative Prescribing And Weekly Injections May Be Holding Back AdoptionThe Zerodha co-founder also pointed to what he believes are other factors contributing to the slower adoption of GLP-1 drugs in India.One possibility, he suggested, is that doctors in India may be more cautious about prescribing newer medications than their counterparts in Western countries, limiting the number of patients starting these therapies.Mr Kamath also highlighted the inconvenience of self-administering injections as another potential barrier."Self-injecting is a pain for most people, and that friction and inertia might be stopping them from starting in the first place," he wrote.Could Weight-Loss Pills Change The Trend?Mr Kamath also wondered whether oral GLP-1 medications could encourage more people to opt for treatment. With pill-based alternatives becoming available, patients who are hesitant about weekly injections may find them more convenient.His comments come at a time when obesity rates continue to rise globally and studies are increasingly pointing to benefi