As the Amar Jawan Jyoti is merged with the National War Memorial flame, Shekhar Gupta explains how the BJP government is making an ideological point. Episode 924 of #CutTheClutter looks at how the Indian armed forces see their regimental history as a 'continuum' and not embarrassed by colonial past, cited as reason for such a move. And understanding 'merit' as described in SC judgement upholding validity of OBC quota in NEET.

Researchers operating the German research vessel Polarstern have documented the largest ever fish colony in the world on the Antarctic floor. Images of 60 million icefish nests were captured, making up he largest observation of a previously undocumented ecosystem. ThePrint’s Sandhya Ramesh explains. Brought to you by  @Kia India  ----more----Supplementary reading:

A vast icefish breeding colony discovered in the Antarctic https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(21)01698-5#%20

As today marks the 77th birthday of NSA Ajit Doval & death anniversary of R.N. Kao, founder of RAW, Shekhar Gupta traces India's intelligence evolution and its unsung spymasters. Who were B. N. Mullik, R. N. Kao, Girish 'Gary' Saxena and the many unsung ones in episode 923 of #CutTheClutter

Read Shekhar Gupta's 2016 column on Ajit Doval here: https://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/shekhar-gupta-the-doval-detail-116010801340_1.html

Read AK Verma's opinion here: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/comment-article-on-indiapakistan-bilateral-ties-when-hamid-gul-offered-india-peace/article7587371.ece

Watch Cut The Clutter episode 562 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4rztbAtOPI&t=1086s

In episode 923 of #CutTheClutter, on Ajit Doval’s 77th birthday and R.N Kap’s death anniversary @ShekharGupta looks at some of the most formidable and unsung former spymasters & NSAs.  

Until 1970s, Indian armed forces allowed units to spare military training for some men to help them focus only on sports. Then came the outcry to ban sports competitions.

----more----

https://theprint.in/opinion/armed-forces-sports-for-wellness-rule-cost-india-time-to-bring-back-gladiator-sportsmen/808153/

‘First to report’ — TV channels love self-praise. But when it comes to UP elections, they are doing something actually praise-worthy.

----more----

https://theprint.in/opinion/telescope/tv-news-is-90-politicians-5-experts-5-anchors-up-coverage-is-finally-changing-that/808087/

Issue surfaced when 13-yr-old girl's parents complained to police they were threatened by parents of teen boy who got her pregnant. ‘Illegal’ abortion was done at Kadam Hospital.

----more----

https://theprint.in/india/wardha-hospital-was-being-probed-for-illegal-abortion-then-cops-found-12-skulls-54-bones/807358/