Good morning, on June 27, 1839, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the founder and first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, known as the “Lion of Punjab,” passed away in Lahore (now in Pakistan). His death marked the end of a transformative era, and the eventual decline of the Sikh Empire, which was annexed by the British in 1849 after the Anglo-Sikh Wars. India Today presents a news menu anchored in a similar event, the Emergency, and a fierce debate on its legacy.Constitutional Churn: RSS Demands Preamble DebateRSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale has called for a debate on removing “socialist” and “secular” from the Constitution鈥檚 Preamble, citing their addition during the Emergency (1975-1977) as a deviation from B.R. Ambedkar鈥檚 original draft. Speaking at an event marking 50 years since the Emergency, Hosabale demanded an apology from Congress for imposing the 鈥渄arkest chapter鈥 in India鈥檚 democratic history, highlighting curbs on judiciary and media, mass incarcerations, and forced sterilisations. The BJP鈥檚 observance of June 25 as Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas has intensified the clash, with Congress accusing the RSS-BJP of anti-constitutional motives.Quick Take: Congress vows to resist any move to alter the Preamble, labelling it a BJP-RSS 鈥渃onspiracy鈥 to undermine Ambedkar鈥檚 legacy. The debate reflects deep ideological divides, with potential to reshape India鈥檚 constitutional discourse.Bengal鈥檚 Ballot Battle: Mamata vs. ECIWest Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has escalated her attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI), calling it a 鈥淏JP stooge鈥 over new voter ID guidelines. Banerjee alleges the ECI鈥檚 document verification rules, based on the Citizenship Act, 1955, are a backdoor attempt to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Bengal ahead of 2026 polls. She claims the rules target migrant workers and Bengalis, accusing the ECI of unilateral bias without consulting political parties.Quick Take: The ECI鈥檚 guidelines, issued on June 24, have sparked fears of voter suppression. Mamata鈥檚 accusations signal a brewing TMC-BJP showdown as Bengal gears up for elections.One Nation, One Election: JPC Gears UpThe Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on One Nation, One Election will meet in the second week of July to discuss the proposal with former Chief Justices of India and ex-Law Ministers. The panel aims to evaluate the feasibility of synchronising national and state elections, a key BJP agenda.Cosmic Leap: Shubhanshu Shukla at ISSGroup Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has become the second Indian to travel to space and the first to reach the International Space Station (ISS) via the Axiom-4 mission. Launched on June 25, the four-member crew docked after a 28-hour journey. Shukla, designated Astronaut No. 634, will conduct experiments over 14 days. PM Narendra Modi congratulated the crew, hailing Shukla as a symbol of India鈥檚 1.4 billion aspirations.Geopolitical Raita: Iran鈥檚 Nuclear Moves & Israel鈥檚 ThreatUS Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed claims that Iran relocated its near-weapons-grade uranium, stating no intelligence supports reports of movement before a US strike. A senior Iranian source claimed 60% enriched uranium was moved to an undisclosed location. Meanwhile, Israel鈥檚 Defense Minister Israel Katz revealed in an interview that Israel planned to eliminate Iran鈥檚 Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei but lacked an operational opportunity.Divine Journey: Jagannath Rath YatraThe Jagannath Rath Yatra begins today in Puri, Odisha, with millions of devotees expected under tight security. The 3-km chariot procession starts with Mangal Aarti at 6:00 AM, followed by rituals like Surya Puja and Chhera Panhara by 3:30 PM. In Bengal鈥檚 Digha, CM Mamata Banerjee will inaugurate a Puri-like Rath Yatra, pulling the chariot鈥檚 rope to mark the event. Ahmedabad鈥檚 148th Rath Yatra will see Union Home Minister Amit Shah perform darshan, following the traditional route.Monsoon Mayhem: Weather Woes Himachal Pradesh: A cloudburst has killed five and left three missing in the Manuni incident, with raging rivers causing widespread devastation. Gujarat: Heavy rain warnings for the next five days prompt deployment of 13 NDRF and 20 SDRF teams to manage flooding and rescues. Delhi: The IMD clarifies the late monsoon onset, predicting arrival near the normal date of June 30 due to shifting meteorological conditions. Multiple States: The IMD forecasts heavy to very heavy rainfall in West Bengal, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan as monsoon activity intensifies.Political Potpourri Bihar: JDU minister Ashok Choudhary sparks controversy by becoming a 鈥減rofessor,鈥 drawing flak from RJD鈥檚 Tejashwi Yadav over his selection process. Maharashtra: Uddhav Thackeray鈥檚 Shiv Sena (UBT) joins protests against the three-language formula in the NEP, accusing BJP of imposing a 鈥渓anguage emergency.鈥 Uttar Pradesh: A caste conflict in Etawah escalates as Yadavs protest over a Kathavachak鈥檚 humiliation, with OP Rajbhar and Akhilesh Yadav weighing in. J&K: Congress intensifies its push for statehood, with AICC鈥檚 Nasir urging party leaders to prepare for upcoming Panchayat and ULB elections. Bangladesh: Outrage grows after the demolition of a Durga temple in Dhaka, with the Hindu community planning protests.Parting BiteAfter Maharaja Ranjit Singh鈥檚 death, several of his wives and concubines became sati, dying on his funeral pyre. But one of them refused to kill herself, saying she wants to live for her young son. The decision of the young queen to live triggered a chain of events that led to the creation of the Dogra kingdom in Jammu and Kashmir. – EndsPublished By: Sayan GangulyPublished On: Jun 27, 2025