Ensuring reliable power in the times of heat stress

Power distribution companies must strengthen their infrastructure for reliable supply of energy. | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto Though parts of India may have seen a wetter April and May this year, rising heat remains a concern. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recently warned of heatwave conditions in parts of Rajasthan and Haryana, and above-normal maximum … Read more

Letters to The Editor — May 22, 2025

Letters to The Editor — May 22, 2025 letters to the editor Diplomatic outreach While India has strongly opposed any mediation in its engagement with Pakistan, the diplomatic outreach by India, which began on May 21 (Page 1, May 21), appears to contradict India stance on its bilateral ties with Pakistan as we are trying … Read more

Need for National Student Work Policy: Safeguarding students working off and on campus

As India’s higher education sector grows alongside its largely unaccounted informal economy, formalizing student employment both within and beyond campuses to safeguard student workers’ rights has become a national imperative. A policy that emphasizes on the key aspects of student employment is a requirement. Here’s an outline of the policy that starts with key rights … Read more

Progress should not just be fast but future-proof

As climate change accelerates, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe. Representational file image. | Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN India’s climate future is not written in the stars — it is written in the rising temperatures, erratic monsoons, and intensifying disasters. The question is: what are we doing about it? The World Bank … Read more

The churning within the BRS

Instead of stepping up its tirade against the ruling Congress government for what it terms its “failures”, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in Telangana is grappling with internal conflicts. The Congress is facing a financial crunch which is affecting its ability to implement various welfare schemes, particularly the ones it promised before the Assembly elections. … Read more

Letters to The Editor — May 21, 2025

NEET-UG and conduct I write this letter as a former Director of Entrance Exams and Admission, Anna University, Chennai. The NEET-UG 2025 has had fewer “irregularities” this time when compared to its earlier editions, especially last year. Question paper leaks, impersonation and outsourcing of the key from outside an exam hall are some of the … Read more

Scheme-based workers, the struggle for an identity

A protest by Accredited social Health Activist workers, in Bengaluru, in January 2025, for fixed wages | Photo Credit: THE HINDU/K. MURALI KUMAR The central government employs millions of regular and contract workers who are recognised as government employees and are in the pay spectrum of the government. The government also employs several types of … Read more

​Trade diplomacy: on India-Bangladesh trade-related tensions

In an escalation of bilateral trade-related tensions, India recently announced restrictions on readymade garments and other specified commodities from Bangladesh. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade’s announcement targeting Bangladesh’s vital apparel sector sent an unmistakable signal that deteriorating political relations have now spilled over into economic ties. By specifically denying Bangladeshi goods access to India’s … Read more