India news: Parliament ends turbulent monsoon session

India's Parliament concluded its turbulent monsoon session on Thursday, August 13, as tensions and disputes continue to linger. Tata Trusts, the philanthropic arm of the $180 billion Tata Group, announced they would establish a selection panel to recommend the next chairman of Tata Sons, following Chairman N Chandrasekaran's decision to step down in February due to support issues.

Air India implemented mandatory drug testing for all its pilots, expanding beyond regulatory requirements after a pilot involved in a serious mid-air incident tested positive for marijuana. The airline's internal email cited the need for additional security measures. Meanwhile, India is positioning itself as a data center hub, but the increase in data centers requires substantial water resources in already water-stressed regions.

Nine Tamil Nadu fishermen were arrested by Sri Lanka's Navy for illegally fishing in Sri Lankan waters, with the dispute over the Cauvery river watersharing issue also causing unrest in Karnataka. The southern state called for a shutdown over a directive to release 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu, while security measures were tightened across the state.

The monsoon session saw a youth-led march demanding the resignation of former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, leading to clashes with law enforcement. Parliamentarian Rahul Gandhi rejected the opposition's offer for a discussion on the protests, instead demanding answers about the use of force.