The Trump administration is escalating its conflict with Harvard University through a series of financial and academic restrictions, while India is making strides in its domestic defense capabilities with a massive investment in a "Made in India" fighter jet.

In the United States, the Trump administration is moving to cut off approximately $100 million in federal contracts with Harvard University, alleging civil rights violations, ideological bias, and a failure to adequately address antisemitism on campus. This action follows previous measures, including freezing billions in grants and attempting to block the university's ability to enroll international students. A letter from the General Services Administration (GSA) directs federal agencies to review and potentially terminate contracts with Harvard, citing concerns over racial discrimination in admissions, discriminatory hiring practices, and the handling of incidents involving Jewish students. While contracts deemed critical may be transitioned to other vendors, the directive signals a complete severance of the government's business relationship with the Ivy League institution.

These measures are seen as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to undermine Harvard's financial stability and global standing. The administration has accused Harvard of defying a Supreme Court ruling on race-based admissions and fostering environments of antisemitism and political bias. Trump has also suggested redirecting federal grants to trade schools and has threatened to revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status. Harvard President Alan Garber has criticized the administration's actions as "perplexing" and unlawful, arguing that they harm the country by cutting off funding for high-priority research.

Meanwhile, in India, the government has approved a ₹15,000 crore (approximately $1.8 billion USD) plan to develop a fifth-generation stealth fighter jet under the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program. This initiative aims to bolster India's air power and foster a domestic aerospace industry, aligning with the "Make in India" initiative. The Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the execution model that invites private sector companies to participate in the project, either independently or through joint ventures. The AMCA is envisioned as a medium-weight, deep-penetration fighter jet with advanced stealth capabilities, designed for a wide array of missions, including air superiority, ground strikes, and electronic warfare. The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) will lead the program, with the goal of producing prototypes by 2031 and commencing serial production by 2035. The AMCA will feature advanced technologies, including stealth features, integration of artificial intelligence, and long-range targeting capabilities. The project aims to reduce India's dependence on foreign technologies in aerospace and boost domestic defense manufacturing.