Japan will support connectivity linking Northeast India to the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. Northeast India is located in a pivotal geopolitical position as a gateway to Southeast Asia, says Horii Iwao.

Japan will support connectivity plans linking Northeast India to the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean region, said Deputy Foreign Minister of Japan Horii Iwao on Friday (February 27, 2026).

Speaking at a foreign policy conclave in Meghalaya’s capital, Shillong, the visiting dignitary said the Northeastern States can serve as a “powerful engine of growth” when harmonised with a grid that includes Southeast Asia, Bangladesh and Nepal.  

“Japan will support connectivity linking Northeast India to the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. Northeast India is located in a pivotal geopolitical position as a gateway to Southeast Asia,” said Horii Iwao, who spoke at the Sixth India-Japan Intellectual Conclave organised by Asian Confluence, a Shillong-based foreign policy think tank. The visiting dignitary further said that Japan remains “firmly committed to the development of Northeast India”.

“When we view this region as part of a broader economic region encompassing Nepal, Bhutan, India, Bangladesh and Southeast Asia, it possesses significant potential to serve as a powerful engine of growth,” he further said.

Apart from enhancing connectivity between northeast India and nearby areas, Horii Iwao said Tokyo under the new government led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is also committed to enhance people-to-people ties between Japan and northeast India as well as ensure private-sector cooperation in the areas of economic security, semiconductors and clean energy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Japan on August 29-30, 2025, and he also met the new and Japan’s first female Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in November on the sidelines of the G20 summit in South Africa. Subsequently, External Affairs Jaishankar hosted his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi at the Hyderabad House on January 16.

Horii Iwao said, as part of its Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) policy, Japan will work on an “Industrial Value Chain” that will connect the Bay of Bengal to the Northeast saying Japan “will connect Northeast India to the sea and promote development of the region as a whole”.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Many academics wondered whether students from the Vedic education system, whose learning is focused on memorising ancient scriptures and texts, would be able to cope with the rigours of engineering courses.

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) wants all its approved colleges to treat students from the Vedic education system on a par with their peers from regular school boards for admission to engineering courses.

Many academics wondered whether students from the Vedic education system, whose learning is focused on memorising ancient scriptures and texts, would be able to cope with the rigours of engineering courses. The academics also feared a dilution in the overall standard of technical education because of what they believed was a tendency among private engineering colleges to
pass as many students as possible.

Technical education regulator AICTE has written to the vice-chancellors of technical universities, state governments and the heads of nearly 9,000 approved institutions.

The AICTE has asked to treat the Veda Bhushan and Veda Vibhushan certificates of the Maharshi Sandipani Rashtriya Veda Sanskrit Shiksha Board (MSRVSSB) as the equivalent of the Class X and Class XII pass certificates, respectively, of conventional boards.

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) wants all its approved colleges to treat students from the Vedic education system on a par with their peers from regular school boards for admission to engineering courses.

Many academics wondered whether students from the Vedic education system, whose learning is focused on memorising ancient scriptures and texts, would be able to cope with the rigours of engineering courses. The academics also feared a dilution in the overall standard of technical education because of what they believed was a tendency among private engineering colleges to
pass as many students as possible.

Technical education regulator AICTE has written to the vice-chancellors of technical universities, state governments and the heads of nearly 9,000 approved institutions.

The AICTE has asked to treat the Veda Bhushan and Veda Vibhushan certificates of the Maharshi Sandipani Rashtriya Veda Sanskrit Shiksha Board (MSRVSSB) as the equivalent of the Class X and Class XII pass certificates, respectively, of conventional boards.

Students of the MSRVSSB, started by the Maharshi Sandipani Rashtriya Ved Vidya Pratisthan, were so far not eligible to study engineering.

The syllabi for Veda Bhushan and Veda Vibhushan are loaded with content from the Vedas while integrating some elements of English, mathematics, science, social science and computer.

The eligibility criteria prescribed by the AICTE for admission to BTech courses include clearing Class XII with science subjects like physics, chemistry and mathematics.

The directive issued by AICTE adviser N.H. Siddalinga Swamy on January 28 says: “Higher Educational Institutions are advised to ensure that students who successfully pass examinations conducted by the MSRVSSB and meet the eligibility criteria are considered at par with students of other recognised boards for the purpose of admission to higher education programmes.”

The letter said the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), empowered by the government till last year to grant equivalence to various boards and varsities, had recognised Grade 10and Grade 12 qualifications under the MSRVSSB as equivalent to those of the regular boards.

“In view of the above, the Ministry of Education, Government of India, recognises the Maharshi Sandipani Rashtriya Veda Sanskrit Shiksha Board (MSRVSSB) as a Regular School Board. Accordingly, the Certificates awarded by the MSRVSSB are equivalent to certificates issued by other Central/ State School Boards of India for the purpose of admission in higher education institutions and employment in Central/ State Government organisations/ bodies,” the letter said.

According to the website of the MSRVSSB, Vedic education is distinctly different from the conventional education system.

“In modern system, the emphasis is on conceptual clarity and understanding and memorisation is viewed negatively; whereas in Vedic education, complete memorisation and knowing the meaning is celebrated with excellence in merit. Vedic education primarily involves memorisation of the entire Samhita of a particular Veda Shakha, its recitation and perfect intonation of each Swara. It’s called Vedic oral tradition, Veda recitation, wherein direct face-to-face learning is emphasised, with hours of continuous practice,” the website says.

Prof. Onkar Singh, former VC of Uttarakhand Technical University, said students with inadequate knowledge of science subjects would find it difficult to cope with engineering studies. “They will face several challenges in conceptual understanding. The medium of instruction will be an issue, too,” he said.

Singh also feared a dilution in standards. “The syllabi of middle and secondary classes in school boards aim to maintain a particular standard. But the Vedic school boards are focused on Vedic education. The AICTE should have examined the syllabus, delivery of course content and the learning outcome of children from the Vedic boards before issuing orders to consider these pupils on a par with the students of other boards for admission to engineering colleges,” he said.

He said colleges would start admitting students from the Vedic stream of education now as many seats remained vacant.

“Nearly 30 to 40 per cent of seats remain vacant in engineering colleges every year. Many engineering colleges will admit these Vedic board students. As the examination system is also compromised in many colleges, these students will complete the courses. Quite likely, a few of them will become facultymembers and institutional leaders. Prima facie, it is a huge compromise with the standard of eligibility for engineering and technical education,” Singh said.

A government official said the AICTE had issued similar instructions to its approved colleges earlier, too, but the response had been cold.

“The letter has been sent again to popularise the Vedic boards,” the official said.

The Telegraph sent an email to AICTE chairman Yogesh Singh asking about the criticism of the decision. His response is awaited.

sourcs/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

In essence, the total number of followers of the next five major global leaders is lower than PM Modi’s individual follower count.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday became the first world leader and politician to cross the historic milestone of 100 million followers on Instagram.

The prime minister joined the Meta-owned platform in 2014, and his account has evolved as one of the most engaging digital spaces among world leaders over the past decade.

PM Modi has twice as many Instagram followers as US President Donald Trump.

In essence, the total number of followers of the next five major global leaders is lower than PM Modi’s individual follower count.

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PM Modi has twice as many Instagram followers as US President Donald Trump.

In essence, the total number of followers of the next five major global leaders is lower than PM Modi’s individual follower count.

The data reflects PM Modi’s global outreach and appeal among youth worldwide.

Within India as well, the gap in the number of followers between the prime minister and other politicians is massive.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath stands in the second spot with 16.1 million followers, miles behind PM Modi’s count. Congress MP and leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi stands at the third spot with around 12.6 million followers.

PM Modi most popular world leader

As of December 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held the highest approval rating among select world leaders. According to Statistsa, PM Modi has an approval rating of 70 per cent, coming on top in the list among other global leaders.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ranked second with a 63 per cent approval rating, and Argentina’s Javier Milei stood at the third spot with 60 per cent.

US President Donald Trump ranked 11th with a 43 per cent approval rating, according to Statista.

According to the latest data released by a US-based business intelligence firm, Morning Consult, PM Modi ranked first with a 67 per cent approval rating.

The intelligence firm’s finding was based on data collected from February 2 to February 8, 2026.

Czech Republic’s Andrej Babis held the second rank with a 59 per cent rating. Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi ranked fifth with 56 per cent, while US President Donald Trump ranked 11th with a 40 per cent approval rating.

According to Morning Consult’s 2025 data, PM Modi had topped the global list of ‘Democratic Leader Approval Ratings’ with a 75 per cent approval score, followed by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at 59 per cent.

Trump, meanwhile, had ranked eighth with an approval rating under 45 per cent.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

INS Anjadip, as part of the Arnala-class, is purpose-built for defensive operations, specifically sub-hunting in coastal areas, enabling high-value platforms to concentrate on broader strategic objectives.

The Indian Navy will commission its latest sub-hunter, INS Anjadip, on Friday, as part of a 16-ship indigenous programme to strengthen coastal anti-submarine warfare.

The warship will be inducted into the Eastern Naval Command at Chennai with Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi presiding over the ceremony.

Sources in the Navy said INS Anjadip’s relevance is heightened in the regional context, particularly vis-à-vis Pakistan, which is expected to rely more heavily on its submarine fleet given its limited surface combatant strength and lack of dedicated anti-submarine warfare platforms.

In this context, the class is expected to secure near-shore waters, allowing larger Indian naval assets to operate with greater flexibility.

“Since there is a possibility of the adversary’s submarines being required to navigate littoral zones with depths as shallow as 50 to 60 metres to achieve effective torpedo firing positions, Anjadip is engineered to detect, track and engage such threats at stand-off ranges, mitigating risks to high-value surface assets operating in proximity,” sources in the Navy said.

While frontline warships such as frigates and destroyers are equipped with anti-submarine capabilities, their primary roles remain offensive, focused on anti-air and anti-surface warfare.

In contrast, INS Anjadip, as part of the Arnala-class, is purpose-built for defensive operations, specifically sub-hunting in coastal areas, enabling high-value platforms to concentrate on broader strategic objectives.

The Navy has termed INS Anjadip a “dolphin hunter” for its role in coastal anti-submarine operations.

“The ship is equipped with an indigenous, cutting-edge anti-submarine warfare weapons and sensor package, including the hull mounted sonar ‘Abhay’ and is armed with lightweight torpedoes and ASW rockets. In addition to its primary ASW role, the agile and highly manoeuvrable warship is capable of undertaking coastal surveillance, low-intensity maritime operations and search and rescue operations,” the Navy said in a statement. 

“The 77-metre-long ship features a high-speed water-jet propulsion system, enabling it to achieve a top speed of 25 knots for rapid response and sustained operations,” it added.

The vessels have been designed and built by Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in partnership with Larsen & Toubro, marking a shift from the earlier practice where the Navy itself provided warship designs.

INS Anjadip follows the commissioning of INS Arnala in June last year and INS Androth in October. The Navy plans to deploy all 16 vessels across key ports to create a layered anti-submarine shield along India’s coastline.

The vessels will replace the ageing Abhay-class corvettes which are modified Soviet-origin Pauk-class platforms that have been long used for coastal anti-submarine operations. The new class marks a significant upgrade in size, survivability and onboard combat systems as the Navy moves towards more specialised and indigenously designed platforms.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

The resolutions moved by the Kerala government sought to alter the name of the state from Kerala to ‘Keralam’ under article 3 of the Constitution of India.

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the proposal for renaming Kerala to ‘Keralam’.

After approval of Union Cabinet, the President of India will refer a Bill, namely the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 to the State Legislative Assembly of Kerala for expressing its views under proviso to article 3 of the Constitution of India. After receipt of the views of the State Legislative Assembly of Kerala, Government of India will take further action and the recommendation of President will be obtained for introduction of the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 for alteration of name of State of ‘Kerala’ as ‘Keralam’ in Parliament.

The name change comes ahead of the assembly polls in the state, the dates of which is yet to be announced by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

In 2023 and 2024, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, had moved the resolution to change the name from “Kerala” to “Keralam” in all languages included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of the country. The resolution was passed twice by the assembly, after the Union Home Ministry, after reviewing the first resolution, suggested some technical changes.

The resolutions moved by the Kerala government sought to alter the name of the state from Kerala to ‘Keralam’ under article 3 of the Constitution of India.

“The name of our State is ‘Keralam’ in Malayalam Language. States were formed on the basis of language on the 1st day of November, 1956. The Kerala Piravi Day is also on the 1st day of November. Since the time of National Independence Struggle, there has been a strong demand for the formation of United Kerala for the people speaking Malayalam language. But in the First Schedule to the Constitution the name of our State is recorded as “Kerala’. This Assembly unanimously appeals to the Central Government to take urgent steps as per Article 3 of the Constitution for modifying the name as ‘Keralam’,” the resolutions read.

In 2016, when Gurgaon was renamed Gurugram, the RSS suggested that the Union government should rename Kerala as ‘Keralam’, Ahmedabad as ‘Amaravati’, Hyderabad as ‘Bhagyanagar’, and Aurangabad as ‘Sambhajinagar’.

Gurgaon was changed to Gurugram as homage to Guru Dronacharya , a teacher in the epic Mahabharata, who was given the land in fee by his disciples.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

Tracing the soul of a city through its homes, this column looks at houses as living archives of the millions of people who make Delhi.

In the 1940s, the diplomatic enclave of Chanakyapuri was a jungle – an extension of the ridge. A young Indian Foreign Service (IFS) family bought a patch of land near Kautilya Marg, sceptical that anything would come up around them, yet they took the plunge. In 1954, architect Karl Malte von Heinz was commissioned to build them an Indian bungalow. Thus came a Heinz treasure in Chanakyapuri.

There is something cinematic about a Heinz house. The most typical feature is the glorious staircase, moulded most often by temple workers. Every time I walk into a Heinz house, I look for the staircase. The thick railing.

The ornate balustrade, floriated or indented with the fauna of South Asia. It is almost impossible not to picture the lady of the house gliding down the generous staircase with its wide, short steps, letting her make a proper entrance. This staircase appears in many houses by the architect. If the staircase was the cherry on the cake, the cake would be the house exterior – patterned or modulated to suit the Indian summer.

The house is organised with wide verandahs wrapping portions of it, columned and well-spaced to let light pour in. Air moves through the structure. Light enters without heat. The plan follows function. Rooms remain cool in the north Indian summer. Terrazzo floors run through the interior. A fireplace anchors the drawing room and the study. In some houses, below, sits a wine cellar – rare for Delhi at the time.

From the outside, the form is cubic. The walls carry subtle surface work – sometimes pinched, sometimes patterned, sometimes textured. A dotted motif marks sections of the facade. Inside, the geometry softens through curves in the stair and ceiling edges. This contrast between exterior restraint and interior modulation defines the house. This Indian bungalow becomes even more interesting when one delves into the history of its architect. Austrian-origin Karl Malte von Heinz was born in 1904. Trained in the climate of German modernism.

He arrived in India after the upheaval in Europe, when the Bauhaus and modernist culture came under attack by the Nazi regime. Modern architecture had stood for internationalism, experimentation, and industrial life. The regime demanded nationalist art, classical form, and tradition. Many architects dispersed. Heinz was among those who moved east.

Accounts of his early years in India differ. One narrative places him in Hyderabad, travelling with a Turkish prince, Abdul Karim, and staying with an Osmania University professor. Another situates him in Indore, working with the Maharaja.

By the time he approached Delhi, he was designing for patrons connected to the emerging Indian state. This house in Chanakyapuri belongs to this phase.

A localised modernism, informed by a global transition – modernism not as a fad but as resistance, as a futuristic decision by thinkers of the 1940s who had seen a world ravaged by ideology. Solutions were sought in cultural shifts on their own, without state sanction, and were adopted worldwide, even if in small measure. Sometimes you hear stories like these and think about how many people and communities India has given refuge to, and how successful a safe space this has been for them.

His method followed the principles of German rationalism. Function before ornament. Planning as structure. Light, air, and circulation treated as architectural elements. In India, he adapted quickly. Heat had to be deflected. Shade had to be built. Verandahs became instruments of climate. Walls carried mass. Openings controlled glare. The modern house was reworked for the subcontinent.

Heinz also designed diplomatic buildings for Pakistan, Thailand, Yugoslavia, and the Vatican. Concrete and planning served diplomacy. Yet his residential work remained closer to what Delhi wanted as a house – homes for civil servants, diplomats, and families who sought modern life without abandoning climate logic. The Chanakyapuri house stands as one such example.

When it was built, the district was still forming. The foreign service family expected the area to grow. During construction, a friend purchased the adjoining plot, then returned it, believing development would not come. The house was larger than the family required. It was later leased to prominent residents, including the Nawab of Rampur. The rent stood at 1,500 rupees in the 1950s.

The house is organised with wide verandahs wrapping portions of it, columned and well-spaced to let light pour in. (HT)

Today, the house remains part of the early layer of Delhi’s modernism. A record of a moment when the city was rebuilding itself after Independence and Partition. Local material met international thought. Architects, planners, government, and citizens together shaped new neighbourhoods and new identities. Through this house, one can trace the journey of an émigré modernist and the making of a modern capital.

Anica Mann works on archaeology and contemporary art in Delhi. The views expressed as personal.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

Award recognition highlights rising global reach of regional storytelling and boosts visibility for independent children’s cinema.

Indian cinema notched a global milestone as Boong won the Bafta for best children’s film, marking a rare win for an Indian production in the category and drawing attention to the growing global footprint of regional storytelling.

The award was announced at the British Academy Children’s and Family Film Awards, where Boong competed against productions from Europe and North America. The jury praised the film for its emotional authenticity, universal appeal and sensitive portrayal of childhood, calling it a “deeply humane story told with simplicity and heart”

Directed by Lakshmipriya Devi and produced by a collective of independent filmmakers, Boong follows the journey of a spirited 10-year-old boy, Tomba, who lives in a small hill town in northeast India. Lonely after his father leaves to work in a distant city, Tomba invents an imaginary friend — Boong, a mischievous forest spirit only he can see. Through playful adventures across rivers, markets and misty hills, Boong helps Tomba navigate school bullies, family struggles and the ache of growing up.

The film had earlier built momentum on the festival circuit, picking up audience awards and critical acclaim for its intimate storytelling and naturalistic performances. The Bafta win is expected to open wider international distribution avenues, including streaming and educational screenings.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

With the formal launch of the Td vaccine, it has now been introduced for supply under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP).

Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda on Saturday (February 21, 2026) launched the indigenously manufactured tetanus and adult diphtheria (Td) vaccine at the Central Research Institute (CRI) in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh.

Describing the indigenous launch of the vaccine as a momentous occasion, he said the launch marks a significant step towards safeguarding national health security and strengthening India’s public health infrastructure.

55 lakh doses by April

With the formal launch of the Td vaccine, it has now been introduced for supply under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP). The Central Research Institute will supply 55 lakh doses through UIP by April this year, with production expected to scale up progressively in subsequent years to further strengthen the programme implemented by the Government of India, said Mr. Nadda while addressing the gathering.

Highlighting India’s global standing, the Minister also stated that the country is widely recognised as the “pharmacy of the world” and is among the leading vaccine manufacturers globally. “Historically, vaccine and drug development timelines were long, tetanus vaccine development took decades globally, tuberculosis medicines took nearly 30 years to evolve and the Japanese Encephalitis vaccine took almost a century of scientific effort,” he said, adding “In contrast, during the COVID-19 pandemic, India developed two indigenous vaccines within nine months and administered over 220 crore doses, including booster doses.”

Done under GMP standards

Mr. Nadda said that CRI is the first government institute to manufacture vaccines under Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards, reflecting the modernisation and revitalisation of public sector vaccine manufacturing units.

He said the Universal Immunization Programme is the world’s largest immunisation programme, which currently provides 11 vaccines protecting against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases, in which CRI has made substantial contributions.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

The Indian-American legal star tells US Supreme Court ‘tariffs are taxes’, scoring dramatic win against presidential overreach.

It’s the biggest judicial defeat that US President Donald Trump has suffered in his second term – a ruling that strikes at the heart of the sweeping tariff regime he has cast as the centrepiece of his economic policy. And the key player who fought Trump to the death is Indian-American lawyer Neal Katyal, who is regarded as the greatest courtroom star of his generation.

Trump is not the first US President whose policies Katyal has fought and won against. Almost 20 years ago, Katyal had argued in the US Supreme Court on behalf of Salim Ahmed Hamdan, a Yemeni man who had been a chauffeur for Osama bin Laden. In that trial, Katyal had challenged and defeated George W. Bush’s policy of military trials at Guantanamo Bay.

Trump’s reaction was fast and furious on hearing the news of his lost court case and the collapse of the great tariff wall that he has erected – a web of import duties he argued would help rebuild US manufacturing and rebalance trade.

He immediately held a combative press conference, calling the ruling “ridiculous”, denouncing the judges who ruled against his tariff actions as a “disgrace” and branding the group of small-business owners who brought the suit before the Supreme Court “sleazebags”.

The US President declared that he had tried not to make comments before the judgment came out. “I wanted to be well-behaved because I didn’t want to do anything that would upset the decision of the court,” he said, adding, “Because I understand the court. I understand how they are very easily swayed. I want to be a good boy.”

But this time the spotlight shifted away from Trump and on to the bespectacled 55-year old Katyal, who fought the case for the business proprietors, many of whom said the tariffs were crippling them with higher costs.

When the ruling was handed down, Katyal posted a one-word triumphant tweet: “Victory.” Later, when facing the cameras, he spoke about the rule of law, and dismissed what he said was the US President’s outrageous behaviour.

“The President can’t do this ridiculous ‘I’m the President [routine]. I can do whatever I want.’ Today, the Supreme Court stood up for the rule of law. Stood up for Americans everywhere. Presidents are powerful, but our Constitution is more powerful still,” Katyal said.

At the core of the ruling was a basic principle of the US Constitution: “Only Congress can impose taxes on the American people and that’s what tariffs are. Tariffs are taxes,” Katyal stressed. One commentator reckoned that the Supreme Court ruling could be summed up in those three words: tariffs are taxes.

Katyal is no stranger to the justices of the Supreme Court. He has argued 54 cases before the court, a remarkable tally given that America’s highest court hears only a limited number of cases each year. Over the course of his career, he has handled cases spanning civil rights, federalism, separation of powers and national security. He has scored major wins before, but this ranks as his most politically significant.

“The Supreme Court hasn’t struck down such an important policy initiative in about 90 years, since 1935 when they struck down FDR’s first New Deal,” Harvard Law School professor Noah Feldman told Bloomberg.

Feldman also noted that this is the first time the Supreme Court has stood up to Trump. Former US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, known as FDR, introduced the New Deal, which was a sweeping programme of economic relief measures to combat the Great Depression.

Katyal’s resume is formidable. As the acting solicitor general during the Obama administration, he successfully defended the Affordable Care Act, the healthcare reform known as Obamacare, and also the Voting Rights‘ Act. It was also during his time that the US Department of Justice offered a full apology to ethnic Japanese and others who had been interned during World War II, a landmark reckoning. Besides that, he also took on cases arguing against the holding of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. Like Hamdan.

From the start, Katyal seemed destined for great things. He studied at Dartmouth College and then Yale Law School. Afterwards, he went on to clerk for US Supreme Court judge Stephen Breyer. Along the way, he also did a project for President Bill Clinton on the need for expansion of pro bono legal work. He returned to teach at Georgetown University Law Center and became a partner in a law firm. He’s currently with a leading law firm Milbank.

Katyal’s parents are both professionals. His father’s an engineer and his mother is a paediatrician, He effusively praises the American way of life, where the son of immigrants has been able to rise to the level that he has been able to.

Speaking to reporters he framed his legal win in personal terms. “I was able to go to court, the son of immigrants, and say on behalf of American small businesses, ‘Hey, this President is acting illegally’.”

It was, he said, proof of something “extraordinary” about the American system, “the idea that we have a system that self-corrects… you might be the most powerful man in the world, but you still can’t break the Constitution.”

His opposition to Trump has been clear for a long time. In 2019, he co-authored with Sam Koppelman a book titled Impeach: The Case Against Donald Trump, laying out a legal precedent for removing the President from office.

What’s next for Katyal? When he became acting solicitor general under Obama, he replaced Elena Kagan, who became a Supreme Court judge. In a future Democratic administration, he would surely be a top candidate on the shortlist for the country’s highest bench.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)