The celebration of the World Radio Day 2026

Report By

Mishti Jain

BAJMC Sem 2

Event poster by Mishti Jain

The ASCO Team of both faculty members and students at the event

Prof. Dr. Akash Deep Muni, Dean ASCO 

The audience at Big Studio

On February 13, 2026, students of Amity School of Communication celebrated the World Radio Day with great enthusiasm held at Big Studio from 10am onwards. The event was organised by the B.A students of Journalism and Mass Communication Sem 2 under mentorship of Prof. Moumita De Das.

The event was significant because it was the first time that the Semester 2 students had organized an event and turned out to be a great success. The theme for World Radio Day was "Retro vs. Modern," and the event was skilfully executed through decorations which recreated the spirit of both old and new in the world of radio. An eye-catching combination of vintage props and accessories, vintage style decor, and soft lighting created an ambience which engaged the attendees and left a lasting impression. As a result of the success of the event (as seen by the high attendance of students and faculty members) the event was even more memorable due to the presence of our respected Dean, Prof. Dr. Akash Deep Muni.

There were plenty of engaging and fun activities at the event to keep the audience engaged! There was a great energy during the jamming session, where students performed music, and the atmosphere was filled with good vibes. The one mic event was another highlight of the event, where attendees expressed themselves through poetry and singing and through expressive performance that connected beautifully with the audience. Games created fun moments, which allowed everyone in the event to join in on the fun! The celebration also provided the opportunity for participants to showcase various creative projects, such as audio storytelling, reels on vox-pop etc..

The Convenor of the event Prof. Moumita De Das

The faculty members and the students of ASCO

One of the best highlights of the event was the screening of the horror short film “F.M. Bela”, which was produced by the event hosts! The film was charged with fantastic visuals, sound effects, and an amazing storyline that had the audience mesmerized from start to finish. The audience responded with loud cheers and applause for the film.

The day was filled with excitement, including awards for exceptional performance in many forms. One mic winners, Kunal, Om and Sohini received applause for their confidence and ability to leave an impact. At the end there was a brief ramp show on the best dressed attire, winners were Dr. Anisha Ray, ASCO faculty member and Jhilam Roy of BAJMC Sem 6. A group photo at the end capped off the evening, where all had the chance to come together to make happy memories.

The World Radio Day Celebration at Amity University Kolkata was a great success and resulted in many great memories by all involved. It honoured radio as a communication tool and celebrated the dedication and team spirit at ASCO, Amity University. Everyone left with smiling faces and a feeling of accomplishment; the event lived up to its theme of “From Static to Magic Celebrate Radio Day Classic.”

Pic Credit: Brahma Nand Samanta

Mighty Eagle lurking in the sand: Iran-USA Relations!

Article on Iran-US Relations

Aaryan Kumar

BAJMC Sem 6

 

Pexels

If you have been following the news lately, you have probably heard whispers or maybe shoutout about tensions between Iran and the United States. But why does this matter to us, and why are we talking about it now?

The simple answer is, what happens between these two countries will affect us. This article discusses about the potential military conflict in the Middle East region that supplies much of the world's oil, nuclear weapons development that could reshape global security, and a humanitarian crisis that can claim thousands of innocent lives. In December 2025, Iran's currency collapsed, sparking massive peaceful public protests. In January, The Guardian reported about the brutal crackdown of by the Iranian Government that resulted in bodies disappearing and more than 30,000 dead. Meanwhile, the U.S. has moved its mighty USS Abraham Lincoln and the military fleet into the region and is threatening military strikes. 

Read on to know more...

 Historical Setting

The Iran-USA conflict today started with the Islamic Revolution in 1979. This revolution changed everything between Iran and the United States of America. Before the revolution Tehran and Washington were allies but later became enemies. The Iran-Iraq War from 1980 to 1988 is a part of this conflict. The United States of America backed Iraq in this war. We also have to think about what happened in 1953. That is when the CIA helped removed Prime Minister, Mohammad Mosaddegh of Iran. This made a lot of people in Iran angry with the United States.

For a time, the United States has been putting sanctions on Iran. Then in 2015 Iran and the United States were part of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). This is also called the Iran nuclear deal. It helped to reduce tensions, between Iran and the United States for a while. Then the United States decided to leave the deal in 2018. The Iran-USA conflict is still an issue today because of all these things.

 

Present Geopolitical Context and Multiple Dimensions:

Nuclear Program Negotiations

Iran has suggested that it could lower its uranium enrichment from 60 percent to 20 percent. This move would depend on the United States agreeing to lift the economic sanctions currently placed on the country.

Iran had actually agreed to back in 2015. Now Iranian officials do not want to talk about Iran’s missiles or what Iran is doing in other parts of the region.

 Regional Military Threats

Iran’s ballistic missile programs and the proxy networks, which include Hezbollah and the Houthis, are a problem for the United States forces and its biggest ally Israel in that region. The proxies, like Hezbollah and the Houthis have attacked the United States forces in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. This makes it very risky to lift sanctions, on Iran if they do not agree to limit the missile programs and the activities of these proxy networks, including Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis rebels.

Internal Instability

Iran is going through a tough time the worst it has seen since 1979. There are protests over the country, the economy is in big trouble and people are very unhappy with the government.

The people in charge are brutal on those who want to make changes. They are using aggressive consequences for people who are protesting on streets and gagging the usage of social media and internet. 

US Policy Options

The Trump administration putting its brain towards it, and focusing on ideas: that they could try to communicate to the other side, about nuclear weapons but just a little bit.

They could send in the military to help keep protesters safe. The Trump administration could also put tariffs on the country to hurt their economy. Another thing the Trump administration might try is to use their go to dish; to change the government of the country or to have the military coup.

 Why It Matters Today?

Global energy and trade: Iran sits on major oil and gas reserves; U.S. sanctions influence global prices.

Regional security: Tensions spill into Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, affecting global peace efforts.

Nuclear proliferation: The issue tests global non-proliferation norms.

Human rights and diplomacy: Dialogue on Iran’s internal politics connects to broader democratic debates.

The Iran-USA issue needs to be looked at because it is about the risks of nuclear weapons the possibility of more fighting in the Middle East region and the welfare of Iranian civilians. To solve this problem we have to find a balance between keeping people safe and being practical, through communication. This is a challenge right now because the Iran-USA issue is quite tricky and Tehran & Washington do not trust each other at any cost and they possess their different opinions. The Iran-USA issue is very sensitive as well as globally challenged. The world needs to brainstorm about the Iran-USA issue, as diplomacy & dialogue is the only solution for this noble world. 

Latest News

The rapid buildup of US military forces in the Middle East has reached a point where President Donald Trump could approve strikes against Iran soon. In fact, the strikes could come as early as this weekend, according to administration and Pentagon officials, reported The New York Times.

 Read on to know more: 

https://indianexpress.com/article/world/iran-us-conflict-trump-military-strike-date-10540041/

 

References:

·   Al Jazeera. (2025, June 23). History of US–Iran relations: From the 1953 regime change to Trump strikes. Al Jazeera English

·   Al Jazeera. (2026, January 29). US-Iran tensions soar: What do both sides want? Al Jazeera English

·   Council on Foreign Relations. (n.d.). Iran’s conflict with Israel and the United States. Global Conflict Tracker. Retrieved February 11, 2026

·   Anadolu Agency. (n.d.). Timeline – US-Iran tensions: From 12-day war to current standoff. Retrieved February 11, 2026

Opinion Piece on SIR

by

Aishwarya Siingh

BAJMC Sem 2

Source: BJP Goa (FB Page)

Sir (Special Intensive Revision), in my opinion, has been done with a greater intention to strike out all the fake voters from the upcoming voter list, particularly the illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya immigrants. However, what the government has failed to realize is that during the whole process, it has been observed that at many instances, illegal immigrants tend to had more credential and valid documents as compared to many genuine voters and Indian citizens, casting doubts on achieving the desired outputs from the process. Many credible citizens were observed opting out of the process due to their many reasons, including non-willingness to participate, trust issues regarding the whole electoral process in particular, and the system in general , skipping the whole process in fear of being included in any future list that may, as they feared, stripping them of their rights and titles, or even citizenship, and even worse, being deported to other country. The speed at which this process was announced and conducted added more to the worries of the common man, while the surprise element, with which the government expected to detain the illegal migrants unguarded, didn’t seemed to had any major impact on ground at large.

 

Source: BJP Goa (FB Page)

On the other hand, a number of Booth Level Officer (BLOs) committing suicide, out of pressure, was one of the major political issues raised by political parties. However, what raised doubts on the nature of these deaths, is that most of these were reported in West Bengal, a state poll bound for April-May 2026, with many analysts raising concerns and pointing out to a larger conspiracy, considering the fact that all these BLOs had faced pressure in the past, including the assembly and Lok Sabha election, and other government related activities and processes. Another Bengal related SIR issue was noncompletion of CAA on time, alarming the members of Matua community and other Hindus about their future in the country, who fled Bangladesh to avoid religious persecution. Both Centre and State governments tried to assure the community, but fear seemed to have inflated already.

It’s not that SIR didn’t had an impact, many Bangladeshi intruders were seen crossing various border outputs on Indo-Bangla border to back to home country citing possible crackdown by the authorities. Apart from that, all the states saw the deletion of many voters, most of them being either dead, or had been listed in voter list of multiple cities or states, reducing the number of fake voters across the country .In my view, certain trust building exercises and campaigns should have been conducted by both ECI (Election Commission of India) and the government, before implementing it. Also, SIR should not be held after two decades but rather be conducted regularly at every 5 or 10 years, making it a rather routine process, not attracting unnecessary controversy and political traction, and steps must be taken to make it more transparent, credible and effective.

The lack of time given to complete the process created a chaos amongst the government officials as well as the general public. Although later on the deadline was exceeded. The government officials confirm that the technology was not used in it's full capacity and the BLOs were not well trained for the job. The government failed to create awareness about SIR in general public. While conducting an interview on ground in Uttar Pradesh, I observed highly educated people like teachers , engineers and doctors also denied  to even put a comma in the SIR form as they feared smallest of mistake will lead to cancellation of their citizenship and some said "Yogi ji(CM of Uttar Pradesh) Pakistan bhejwa denge".

(Author’s personal opinion)

 

 

 

 

Union Budget 2026-27 – A brief Report

                            by

Sri Vani Harinmayi Somayajula

                  BAJMC Sem 2

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

The economists termed this year budget by the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as ‘producer centric’. The Union Budget of India is the annual financial statement of the Union Government, presented under Article 112 of the Constitution. In the backdrop of global economic uncertainty, rising geopolitical tensions, and inflationary pressures, the Union Budget places strong emphasis on sustaining India’s growth momentum. India remains one of the fastest-growing major economies, with GDP growth projected at around 6.5–7 per cent. The budget seeks to consolidate this growth through public investment, structural reforms, and fiscal discipline.

A central pillar of the budget is the sharp rise in capital expenditure, which has been increased to over ₹11 lakh crore, amounting to roughly 3.4 per cent of GDP. This marks a significant jump compared to pre-pandemic levels and reflects the government’s infrastructure-led growth strategy. Major allocations have been directed towards roads, railways, metro projects, ports, airports, and logistics corridors. Railways alone have received an allocation exceeding ₹2.5 lakh crore, aimed at modernisation, safety, and expansion.

Fiscal consolidation remains a key concern. The fiscal deficit has been targeted at around 5.1 per cent of GDP, continuing the gradual reduction from pandemic-era highs. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to bringing the fiscal deficit below 4.5 per cent in the coming years, balancing developmental expenditure with macroeconomic stability.

On the taxation front, the budget continues to promote the new income tax regime by simplifying slabs and reducing compliance burdens. Increased tax buoyancy, driven by better GST collections and digital enforcement, has strengthened revenues without imposing new tax burdens on citizens. Gross tax revenue growth has helped reduce dependence on borrowing.

Social sector spending remains robust. Education and healthcare together receive allocations exceeding ₹2.5 lakh crore, reinforcing human capital development. Agriculture, which supports nearly half of India’s workforce, has received targeted support through investments in agri-infrastructure, crop insurance, irrigation, and farmer credit schemes. Welfare programmes related to food security, rural employment, housing, and women empowerment continue to receive priority funding.

The budget also reflects a forward-looking vision through strong emphasis on green growth. Allocations for renewable energy, green hydrogen, electric mobility, and climate-resilient infrastructure align with India’s net-zero commitments and long-term sustainability goals. Support for start-ups, innovation, artificial intelligence, and skill development highlights the shift toward a knowledge-driven economy.

Highlights of the Union Budget

Record Capital Expenditure: Capital expenditure has been increased to over ₹11 lakh crore, accounting for about 3.4% of GDP, aimed at boosting infrastructure-led growth and employment generation.

Surge on Defence Budget: Allocated ₹7.85 lakh crore to the defence sector in the Union Budget 2026, higher than the ₹6.81 lakh crore provided in FY26, signalling a continued focus on military readiness, modernisation, and personnel welfare. 

Infrastructure Push: Major investments in roads, railways, metro projects, ports, airports, and logistics corridors, with the Railways allocation exceeding ₹2.5 lakh crore for modernisation and safety.

Fiscal Deficit Control: Fiscal deficit targeted at around 5.1% of GDP, continuing the government’s commitment to bring it below 4.5% in the medium term.

Tax Reforms: Continued emphasis on the new income tax regime with simplified slabs and reduced compliance burden; no major increase in tax rates.

Strong Revenue Growth: Improved GST collections and digital compliance leading to higher tax buoyancy and reduced reliance on borrowing.

Education & Healthcare: Combined allocation of over ₹2.5 lakh crore to strengthen human capital through improved schooling, higher education, and healthcare infrastructure.

Agriculture & Rural Development: Targeted support for farmers through agri-infrastructure funding, irrigation projects, crop insurance, and expanded credit facilities.

Social Welfare Schemes: Continued funding for food security, rural employment, housing, and women-centric welfare programmes.

Green Growth Focus: Increased spending on renewable energy, green hydrogen, electric mobility, and climate-resilient infrastructure in line with sustainability goals.

Innovation & Start-ups: Support for start-ups, digital public infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and skill development to promote a knowledge-driven economy.

In conclusion, the Union Budget represents a calibrated balance between growth, welfare, and fiscal responsibility. By prioritising capital investment, maintaining social protection, and advancing sustainability and innovation, the budget aims to strengthen India’s economic resilience while laying the foundation for long-term inclusive development. Its true success, however, will depend on effective implementation and timely execution of proposed measures.

Source: cleartax

Read on to know more:

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2221458&reg=3&lang=2

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