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Sparrows have become rare in urban areas. | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto Of the many birds, the tiny house sparrows had caught my imagination in my school-going years. A flock of sparrows have turned my tiled house into their abode unauthorisedly and refused to vacate. They felt as if they too have a minor share … Read more
Seniors should allow the younger generation space to lead their own lives. | Photo Credit: Getty Images Do you want to capture the nuances of the evolving relationship of seniors with adult children? When the children are young, these relationships are often warm and supportive. However, as the children grow more independent, usually around age … Read more
This year, the OED has borrowed from Malaysia, Norway, Japan, and the Philippines. | Photo Credit: Getty Images At a dinner once, I sat next to a person who turned to me with, “Can I have some more juice please?” when he meant gravy. Ignoring for the moment the kind of circles I move in, … Read more
As I landed in Da Nang, central Vietnam from Hanoi, greeted by the soft, salty air of the coast, my pickup driver struck up a conversation. He seemed exhausted yet content. “The last few months of winters have been hectic,” he said with a weary smile. “More than twenty international flights arrive daily now. At … Read more
Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked world leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for their “noble mission” to end the fighting between Ukraine and Russia. This has brought cheer to Indians. But there is a question to be asked — Why has India refrained from playing a more active political role in regional … Read more
The separatist politics that dominated Kashmir for decades appears to be losing ground in the face of the assertive approach by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government. The Narendra Modi government has succeeded in altering the ground realities in Kashmir, advancing a new narrative of an aspirational region that seeks prosperity, peace, and integration. Reflecting … Read more
Role of the communists I write this letter as Polit Bureau Member, CPI(M). There are facts that need to be highlighted in connection with the article, “The less talked-about change of nomenclature — from Madras State to Tamil Nadu in 1961” (‘Tamil Nadu InFocus’ page, March 28). First, it was mainly the Communist Party which … Read more
The Russia-Ukraine war has demonstrated the importance of energy security, where many European countries were caught scrambling and developing new energy partnerships. The devastating impact of the war did not spare Africa too despite the geographical distance. As African leaders are reworking the energy basket of their countries, nuclear energy is emerging as the driver … Read more
The 19th report of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is appropriately scathing in its criticism of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, introduced in July 2017 to simplify, unify and improve indirect tax compliance in India. At the outset, the PAC highlights a nearly 2% drop in indirect tax revenue between FY18 and FY20 … Read more
According to Ministry of Education (MoE), APAAR is an acronym for Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry. It is part of the ‘One Nation, One Student ID’ program launched by the Indian government, aligning with the new National Education Policy (NEP) of 2020. APAAR ID is a unique 12-digit code that is intended to help students … Read more