A ban, a split verdict, and a health concern

Women carry fodder for their cattle through a mustard field on the outskirts of Srinagar. File | Photo Credit: Reuters Rapeseed-mustard oil (hereafter ‘mustard oil’) is the third-largest edible oil consumed in India. Two executive and judicial decisions on mustard oil — one from 2021 and another from 2024 — have major public health implications, … Read more

​Act north: on the needs of Ladakh

The measures notified by the Centre on June 3 seek to address the several concerns that have been raised by the people of Ladakh regarding their language, culture and land. These issues came to the fore after the special status of the former State of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), under Article 370, was withdrawn in … Read more

Letters to The Editor — June 4, 2025

The Gaza war Israel’s ruthless attack on the hapless Gazans, in what is a one-sided war in the Gaza strip, deserves to be condemned in the strongest possible terms. Though it was the facinorous Hamas which started the war with killings and abductions, there is no justification for Israel to retaliate in the most brutal … Read more

India-Australia defence ties beyond American shadows

At AUSINDEX, in Visakhapatnam in 2015 | Photo Credit: THE HINDU/K.R. DEEPAK Donald Trump’s return to the White House has sent shockwaves through the global security landscape. With the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) being put on a burden-sharing timeline and Mr. Trump’s cold transactional approach to security commitments worldwide, the Indo-Pacific too faces a … Read more

​War and talks: on Russia and Ukraine

The Russia-Ukraine war has entered a new phase, marked by intensified military attacks and direct negotiations. On Sunday, on the eve of the second round of talks, Ukraine carried out its most daring drone attack deep inside Russia, targeting military airfields. According to Ukrainian intelligence officials, the drones, which were transported by trucks into Russia … Read more

A strategy fuelled by vision, powered by energy

A few days ago, India overtook Japan to become the world’s fourth largest economy. Since 2014, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India’s GDP has more than doubled to $4.3 trillion in 2025. This is the result of a decade-long strategy centred on reforms, resilience and relentless pursuit of self-reliance. India has not only become … Read more

India’s strategic arc must leave Pakistan behind

The Indo-Pacific is the central geopolitical theatre of the Asian century. The global order is fragmenting as the U.S. recalibrates its strategic focus, and it is often said that Asia must assume responsibility for its own future. Robust guardrails for peace, not only among the great powers but also to contain peripheral disrupters, are required. … Read more

Civilisation and its discontents – The Hindu

Archaeological excavations in progress at Keeladi in Tamil Nadu’s Sivaganga district. File | Photo Credit: The Hindu Civilisation and culture are deeply entwined in the identity of any society and attempts to reinterpret or regulate them often invite political consequences. Over the past fortnight, this became clear when political parties in Tamil Nadu put up … Read more