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A view of houseboats on Vembanad Lake in Alappuzha. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Vembanad, the longest lake in India and the largest in Kerala, is gasping for breath. The 96.5 km-long water body spans the districts of Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Ernakulam and forms part of the Vembanad-Kol wetland system, a Ramsar site. Six major … Read more
On May 1, as the world commemorates International Labour Day to honour the dignity of work and workers’ rights, the stories of millions in India trapped in bonded labour cast a dark shadow. In a quiet corner of Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, Mukesh Adivasi, 35, lies on a weathered charpoy, his once-robust frame now frail, his … Read more
; A recent report analysing public funded research and development institutions in India had some pointers that should raise an alarm. In several of the 244 institutions studied, there was a decrease in the number of permanent, scientific staff in 2022-23 compared to the previous year. There were also fewer organisations in 2022-23 compared to … Read more
Even prior to the Trump interlude in the United States, there were enough signs that the world was witnessing uncertainty across many sectors. This was a heralding of problematic conditions in many areas of the globe, and policymakers, strategists and business leaders had begun to prepare for more difficult times ahead. Some did, however, hew … Read more
; State surveillance must be subject to systemic checks and supervision and not mirror the nefarious activities of the dark underworld. As a Supreme Court of India Bench pointed out, the question is not whether the state can use spyware, but who could be its legitimate targets. The Bench, during a hearing on the alleged … Read more
At Startup Mahakumbh 2025, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal questioned the focus of Indian start-ups on consumer-centric models, including food delivery apps and luxury services, contrasting them with China’s emphasis on deep-tech sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and electric vehicles. He urged the ecosystem to set higher ambitions and contribute to India’s technological self-reliance. … Read more
General Asim Munir made an inflammatory speech raking up anti-India sentiment recently. | Photo Credit: AP Whenever Army chiefs in Pakistan with a strident anti-India posture have precipitated conflict with India, the fallout has been severe on the Pakistani people, not to mention the steep downward spiral in bilateral relations. At every juncture in the … Read more
The Indus issue It is amusing to hear the line by some in the media that revoking the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) would mean that Pakistan will not get a single drop of water. Practically speaking, implementing such a move would take several years. From April to September, the Indus has abundant water, making any … Read more
Quality teachers are essential for India’s education system, but proposed NCTE regulations may hinder recruitment and deployment. Teachers are the cornerstone of any robust education system. They are critical to delivering quality education and fulfilling the promise of the Right to Education for every child in India. Almost all of us can recall that one … Read more
P. Krishnaveni, an 81-year old retired school teacher, remembers how her village in Theni district in Tamil Nadu was stratified 70 years ago. Each caste had its own street. Scheduled Castes (SCs) lived away from the village and each street in an SC neighbourhood was named after a particular SC sub-caste, she says. Similarly, Sarojini … Read more