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In a world where the idea of state control of all economic activities is passé, and in a country where class differences have been overtaken by caste segmentations as entrenched identity markers, it is not a surprise that a party like the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has faced erosion in its support base and … Read more
Nearly three weeks before five Dalits entered a Shiva temple at Purba Bardhaman district under police protection, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made a statement about her caste in the State Assembly that largely went unnoticed. On February 18, while participating in a debate in the Assembly, she emphasised that she was not only … Read more
Photo: reports.weforum.org The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 and QS’s World Future Skills Index contain critical insights into the state of India’s workforce and its preparedness for the future. They offer a roadmap for the government and universities to address the pressing challenges and opportunities in shaping a future-ready workforce. Their findings … Read more
In its March 20, 2025 issue, The Economist lamented how “India is obsessed with giving its people unique IDs”. It mocked how various arms of the Indian state announce new unique IDs nearly ‘every month for everyone from doctors, teachers, athletes, judges, gig workers to even cows and buffaloes’. The Economist got it half wrong. … Read more
With President Droupadi Murmu withholding assent for the Tamil Nadu Admission to Undergraduate Medical Degree Courses Bill 2021, the State is bracing for another battle against National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET)-based admissions. State Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has convened a meeting of legislature party leaders on April 9 to strategise the next move. With … Read more
A ‘reconnect’ The election of M.A. Baby as the new General Secretary of the CPI(M) party marks a new chapter in the annals of the party’s history. The challenges before the general secretary, who has inherited a crown of thorns, are manifold. The biggest failure of the Left movement in India has been its inability … Read more
‘India should look to jurisdictions such as Singapore and the United Kingdom, which have built strong and specialised arbitration systems catering to the aviation sector’ | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto In 1934, India’s skies were not its own. Under British colonial rule, the Aircraft Act of 1934 governed aviation in India, a law that was … Read more
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka, (April 4-6), his first after 2019, demonstrated, beyond optics, the close ties between the two countries. Colombo, under the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) regime, is serious about improving relations with New Delhi. This was evident from the conferment of its highest honour for … Read more
A typical day in most households could look like this. The non-stick pan is made ready in the kitchen to make a delicious morning dosai or paratha. Snacks for the day come out of plastic wrappings. The dishes in the kitchen sink are washed with dish soap. After a nice meal, the family members settle … Read more
U.S. President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs”, that go into effect this week, could have a “devastating impact” on global trade, and even lead to the collapse of some national economies, warns Asia Society president and CEO Kyung-wha Kang. In this interview with The Hindu during a recent visit to India, Ms. Kang — who was … Read more