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It is time for India to punch its weight and enhance its global presence at a time when global geopolitics is being reset. But, as of now, it is not moving India’s way. Operation Sindoor was a reality check when many of India’s strategic partners were not willing to call out Pakistan for harbouring United … Read more
After months of considerable forbearance, the statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), on Monday (August 4, 2025), pushing back against the U.S. and the European Union (EU) for “targeting” India is significant. The statement came two hours after Mr. Trump had announced penalty tariffs against India, “substantially” above the current 25% rate set … Read more
In a world increasingly defined by stealth drones, hypersonic glide vehicles, and algorithmic warfare, India cannot afford to rely on ageing jets, delayed imports, and peacetime assumptions. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said peace is nothing but an illusion, and India must be prepared for any uncertainty. Unfortunately, the only certainty in the current geopolitical … Read more
A tariff deluge It is disturbing to read about the tensions between the United States and India on the issue of Russian oil and trade. The U.S. should understand one point — America’s enemy is not India’s enemy. Despite this, if the U.S. still forces India to forego the use of Russian oil, India can … Read more
With a billion Aadhaar enrollments, 1,206 schemes integrated into the Direct Benefit Transfer system, and 36 grievance portals across States/Union Territories, India’s welfare orientation is transitioning into a technocratic calculus. The promise to deliver social welfare at scale, bypassing leaky pipelines and eliminating ghost beneficiaries, might have led to a ‘re-casting’ that delivers ‘efficiency’ and … Read more
President Donald Trump’s announcement that he has ordered “two nuclear submarines to be positioned in appropriate regions”, in response to the “provocative statements” by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, marks a dangerous turn in the U.S.-Russia relationship which the Republican leader had pledged to repair in the run-up to his election late last year. Mr. … Read more
Family members perform the last rites of a COVID-19 victim at a temporary crematorium on the outskirts of Bengaluru in May 2021. | Photo Credit: The Hindu The Civil Registration System (CRS) data has brought into sharp relief the magnitude of excess mortality that India witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic years. Excess mortality refers to … Read more
Two nuns from Kerala, who were arrested on the charges of human trafficking and forced religious conversion, being welcomed after they were released from Durg Central Jail in Durg, Chhattisgarh. | Photo Credit: PTI On July 25, when the Chhattisgarh police arrested two nuns from Kerala on charges of forced conversion and trafficking, political parties … Read more
India’s long cricketing tour of England concluded in a gripping stalemate. A 2-2 verdict, following Shubman Gill’s men snatching a six-run triumph against the host at the Oval on Monday (August 4, 2025), was an apt reflection of a well-contested Test series that featured five matches. Australia has been conquered a few times in its … Read more
Bangladesh today is abysmally different from the trajectory promised to the people by Professor Muhammad Yunus when he was sworn in (August 8, 2024) as Chief Adviser of the Interim Government. Many myths have been shattered. The first myth that has unravelled is that Sheikh Hasina’s ouster was the result of a “spontaneous students’ uprising”. … Read more