The Union government set up a high-level committee on demographic change to study changes in population patterns allegedly “arising from illegal immigration and other abnormal reasons”. Union Home Minister Amit Shah claimed that “unnatural demographic change” caused by alleged “infiltration” and other reasons constitutes a big challenge for the country.The committee will be headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar. The other members will be the Census commissioner, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra, former Bureau of Police Research and Development chief Balaji Srivastava and economist Shamika Ravi.The panel will analyse the “patterns of abnormal population changes at the level of religious and social communities” and will present solutions to address the problem, Shah said. Read on.India and the United States announced a framework to cooperate in ensuring a steady supply of critical minerals amid concerns about China’s export controls on rare earth elements. The framework was signed on Tuesday by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Delhi.It aims to deepen bilateral cooperation in supply chains of critical minerals and rare earths, including mining, processing, recycling and related investments. The minerals are essential for manufacturing advanced technology products and defence equipment.On Tuesday, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue also announced initiatives to improve collaboration on critical minerals and emerging technology, and strengthen maritime security. The Quad grouping comprises India, the US, Japan and Australia. Read on.The Manipur Police arrested four persons suspected of being involved in the abduction of six Naga men in the Kangpokpi district on May 13. They are suspected of being “active cadres of armed village volunteer groups” in Kangpokpi, the police said.On May 13, more than 38 persons from the Kuki and Naga communities had been taken hostage by armed groups in Kangpokpi and Senapati districts. All but six have been released. Read on.Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh walked out of jail once again after getting a 30-day parole. This is the 16th time that Singh has been released from prison since he was convicted in a rape case in August 2017.During his parole, he will stay at the headquarters of his organisation in Sirsa district. This is the fifth time since his conviction that Singh has been allowed to visit the place. Singh was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment in 2017 for raping two of his women disciples at the Dera’s Sirsa headquarters.In 2021, he and four others were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in the murder case of a former manager of his sect. However, the Punjab and Haryana High Court acquitted him in the murder case in May 2024. Read on.The Congress asked the Centre why fuel prices have increased when global crude oil is cheaper than what it was when the Narendra Modi government came to power 12 years ago.Citing data from the Press Information Bureau, party chief Mallikarjun Kharge said on social media that the price of crude oil on May 26, 2014, the day Modi became the prime minister, was $108 per barrel. The price of petrol at the time was Rs 71.5 per litre and diesel Rs 56.7 per litre, he said.“Today, the price of crude oil is less than $99 per barrel, but the prices of petrol and diesel have risen to Rs 102.12 and Rs 95.20 per litre, respectively,” Kharge added.“Every economist knows that inflation in petrol and diesel affects every sector,” he said. “From transportation to food items, the burden of inflation on the common man increases. Despite this, the government’s profiteering continues.” Read on.If you haven’t already, sign up for our Daily Brief newsletter.