Five must-read stories—January 18

How the NDA diluted tribal rights to ‘save’ mining firms

The Narendra Modi government changed regulations meant for protection of tribal rights, forests and environment in order to ensure that more than 130 mines do not face fresh auctions and are instead retained by existing miners, reports The Wire.

Police suspect ISI hand in two rail accidents in Uttar Pradesh

Two major train accidents near Kanpur which resulted in deaths of 151 passengers and injuries to 200 others, were carried out on the instructions of Pakistan's external spy agency ISI, according to the Bihar police. A Times of India report.

Centre compulsorily retires two IPS officers after poor performance review

The government has compulsorily retired two IPS officers on the basis of a performance review required to be held at the end of 15 and 25 years of service under the All-India service rules, reports The Times of India.

Smriti Irani’s board exam records not personal data, allow inspection: CIC tells CBSE

The Central Information Commission on Tuesday asked the Central Board of Secondary Examination to allow Union minister Smriti Irani’s Class 10 and 12 board exam records to be examined, dismissing CBSE’s opposition that “personal information” cannot be disclosed. A PTI report in Scroll.in.

Chelsea Manning to be released early as Obama commutes sentence

President Obama on Tuesday commuted all but four months of the remaining prison sentence of Chelsea Manning, the army intelligence analyst convicted of a 2010 leak that revealed American military and diplomatic activities across the world, disrupted his administration and brought global prominence to WikiLeaks, the recipient of those disclosures. A New York Times report.