Whispers Forum

Skyscanner's 2025 Travel Trend Report reveals some exciting insights into Indian travelers' behavior and preferences.
1- Increased Spending on Flights : 86% of Indian travelers plan to maintain or increase their spending on flights in 2025, indicating a strong appetite for global travel.
2- Unique Experiences Over Cost: While cost remains a consideration, with 65% monitoring hotel prices and 62% checking flight fares, there's a growing inclination towards unique experiences.
3- Top Destinations: Shillong, India, and Baku, Azerbaijan, have emerged as favorites, with Shillong's Cherry Blossom Festival being a major draw. Shillong has been ranked as India's most-searched travel destination in 2025, surpassing popular spots like Goa and Manali.
4- Travel Preferences: The report highlights the appeal of Shillong's scenic charm, cultural landmarks, and outdoor activities like trekking and exploring the Laitlum Canyons and Umiam Lake.
5- Travel Trends: Skyscanner's report also notes that travelers are seeking relaxation getaways and international trips to bucket-list destinations, with city breaks gaining popularity as people regain confidence in visiting urban areas.
Overall, the report suggests that Indian travelers are looking for memorable experiences and are willing to spend on flights to achieve that.
Deepa Jain

Nepal is undergoing a major political crisis. True that the current situation is a result of highhandedness of and exploitation done by few people in power. The politicians are definitely to be blamed but my question is that was there no other way to handle this? Were these killings a necessity? Was it right on the part of Gen Z to ravage the Parliament House and homes of political personalities?
Was display of such power-this manner necessary? The Gen Z boasts to be technologically advanced, internet revolution babies and more. Then is this the way they are going to take care of the country and handle crisis-like situations?
--Tyaga Roy

The tsunami of Gen-Z protests,demonstrations,arson led by school/college students,is raging in Nepal.Social media ban is just not the cause.The angst is against rampant corruption,unemployment,under-employment, growing inflation and Nepotism.The countrywide protests seem unstoppable. Total governance failure. Neither the police nor the army could now control the situation- spinning out-of-hands.At least,so it seems.
Nepal’s agitation by Gen-Z activists was preceded by similar protests in Sri-Lanka, Bangladesh crisis and could be followed by Pakistan.Can India remain immune to the foreign conspiracy?
Were India’s intelligence agencies and MEA,privy to the impending danger in Nepal?Why are their lips sealed?
India needs to guard against foreign interference especially as Sheikh Haseena has been given refuge in India after her removal allegedly at the behest of a foreign agency.
A K Saxena (Former civil servant)

Protests erupted in Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, after the government banned 26 major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and YouTube. The ban was imposed due to the platforms' failure to register with the government, sparking widespread outrage among the youth.
Key Developments:
- Protest Details: Thousands of young people, including students, marched through Kathmandu, demanding the government lift the social media ban and tackle corruption. The protests turned violent, with police using tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets to disperse the crowds.
- Casualties and Injuries: At least 19 people were killed, and over 300 injured in the clashes between protesters and police.
- Government Response: The government initially defended the ban, citing the need to regulate online content and prevent the spread of misinformation. However, amid mounting pressure, the ban was eventually lifted.
- Prime Minister's Statement: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli expressed sorrow over the deaths and ordered a probe into the violence. He also assured that the government would ensure an environment for the use of social media.
- International Reaction: The UN Human Rights office expressed concern over the killings and urged a prompt investigation.
Stuti Garg

Bihar’s political landscape is heating up as elections draw closer. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit the state on May 29 to inaugurate multiple projects, a clear bid to consolidate support. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi has launched Congress’ ‘Nyay Samvad’, positioning himself as a listener to public grievances. Regional heavyweights Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav are sharpening their strategies, while Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party adds a fresh twist to the contest. With uncertainty over alliances, seat-sharing deals, and the chief ministerial face, Bihar’s political game is entering a decisive, high-stakes phase where every move counts. Now let us wait for the final results.

Yemen's Houthi rebels are reportedly targeting Israeli ships passing through the Red sea. Recently, Houthi allegedly targeted a ship in the Red Sea. The attack off the coast of Hodeida follows an Israeli strike last week that killed the rebels' prime minister along with several officials. The Houthis have been using cluster munitions in the missile attacks on Israel — which open up with smaller explosives that can be harder to intercept, raising the chances of strikes as Israel prepares for a new ground offensive in its war on Hamas that's decimated the Gaza Strip.
Santosh

The Indian government has introduced a Goods and Services Tax (GST) slab structure, effective from September 22, 2025. The new structure features two primary slabs: 5% and 18%, with a special 40% slab for luxury and sin goods.
New GST Slabs is as following :
- 5% Slab: Essential goods and services, including:
- Food items like milk, paneer, and Indian bread
- Healthcare and wellness services
- Educational services
- Household essentials like hair oil, soap, and shampoo
- 18% Slab: Most other goods and services, including:
- Consumer durables like air conditioners, dishwashers, and televisions
- Small cars and two-wheelers with engine capacity under 350cc
- Construction materials like cement
- 40% Slab: Luxury and sin goods, including:
- High-end cars and SUVs
- Tobacco products and cigarettes
- Aerated drinks and beverages with added sugar
These changes aim to simplify the tax structure, reduce tax burden on common people, and boost economic growth. The GST Council has also introduced administrative reforms, such as faster registration and refund processes, to ease compliance and facilitate business growth
Pooja Garg

Who is Navarro? Is he the POTUS? Is he the Emperor of America? Is he simply an employee of Donald Trump? If he is an employee of Donald Trump he is not an elected Head of the US Government. Then, he should know how to address another Head of Government, especially the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi. Narendra Modi heads the government of the biggest democracy in the world. India is more than 500 times older than America. India was known for trade for millennia, but this uncouth, rude and uncivil Navarro has the audacity to talk to India like an idiot of an autocrat. He provides the evidence why poor Donald Trump has failed to Make America Great Again. Sidekicks like Navarro surrounding Trump have made America ordinary only!
M L Gupta

Nothing transformative is expected. The reason is that Bihar society is deeply divided on caste and religion. The so called minorities will vote strategically to try to defeat the BJP. There will be efforts to widen the caste divide between the so called backward castes and the so called forward castes. That the politicians who benefit by this divide and rule politics are corrupt to the core and have built empires out of the black money looted does not move the electorate which is willing to forgive all crimes committed by their caste. The educated are seen as weak in Bihari society. Criminals are looked up to and feared. Law and order has been conspicuous by its absence for more than thirty five years. Fears of jungle raj coming back keep the vulnerable awake at night.
V R Kumar

WTO is silent on protecting farmers’ interests in the developing countries in compliance with its mandate. The Govt of India must take up the matter appropriately with the WTO and other international bodies against the backdrop of Trump’s bullying. Besides this, India should also strengthen its strategic and cooperative partnership with Russia and China., It should support Russia’s proposal of forming the Russia-India-China troika (RIC troika) as a trilateral grouping to counter western dominance
A K Saxena (Former civil servant)

Many things are happening in the National Health Mission Madhya Pradesh these days, apart from the routine. MD Dr. Saloni Sidana is known for fulfilling her resolve with patience. Her style of working has been different. Many reformist steps have been taken in NHM under the leadership of honest, focused and determined IAS. Efforts to ensure that citizens get primary services within a maximum distance of half an hour are being seen on the ground. Determined efforts are being seen towards expanding health services and improving them further.The appointment of more than 400 community health officers is the result of this. Interestingly, these appointments have been made in aspiring and high priority districts.
Dr. Deepak Rai