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The credibility of an electoral system, or democracy in general, is dependent solely on it being seen as fair by all, particularly so by the loser. This is comparable to a judicial dispute or a sporting event on this count. If the losers think they lost only because the process was rigged against them, a … Read more
Voter ID card issue The Leader of the Opposition in Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav, ought to have verified his previous records as far as his voter ID is concerned. There seems to have been a ‘mixup of sorts’. Therefore, he would have to cooperate with the Election Commission of India (ECI). As far as the revision … Read more
‘Without fair EPR floor pricing, India faces severe environmental degradation from improper battery recycling or dumping’ | Photo Credit: Getty Images India, with its focus on decarbonisation, has witnessed rapid electrification, particularly in the realm of electric vehicle (EV) adoption. There are projections that India’s EV lithium battery demand may skyrocket to nearly 139 gigawatt-hours … Read more
In May 2025, the Indian government took a significant step toward promoting sustainable electronics. It accepted a report proposing a Repairability Index for mobile phones and appliances, ranking products based on ease of repair, spare part access, and software support. New e-waste policies now include minimum payments to incentivise formal recycling. These are timely moves. … Read more
The completion of the the Udhampur, Srinagar, Baramulla rail link project, or the Jammu–Baramulla line, nearly four decades in the making, marks not only a historic engineering achievement in one of the most formidable terrains on the planet, but also the quiet fulfilment of a long-standing promise between the Indian state and the people of … Read more
The India-United Kingdom Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) raises several questions regarding India’s commitments in the CETA’s intellectual property chapter (Chapter 13). A problematic article in this chapter is Article 13.6, “Understandings Regarding TRIPS and Public Health Measures”, in particular its first paragraph: “The Parties recognise the preferable and optimal route to promote and … Read more
Support, not therapy A report, “GenAI cannot qualify as therapy for mental health, says expert” (Chennai, July 21, 2025), highlights a crucial point — while Artificial Intelligence tools such as ChatGPT may feel supportive in moments of anxiety, they cannot replace professional therapy. These tools often mirror what we wish to hear, creating comfort but … Read more
The 2008 Malegaon blast, killing six and injuring 95 others, during Ramzan, was an extreme act of terror. The initial investigation by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) posited a chilling conspiracy by Hindutva extremists to exact revenge through a “blast for a blast”, emulating the polarising methods of Islamist terror groups. This narrative seemed solidified … Read more
Image for representation. | Photo Credit: Reuters While the Karnataka Platform Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Ordinance, 2025, is a step forward towards basic social security cover, there are serious lacunae related to calculation of the welfare cess. The welfare ordinance specifies ‘payout’ as the basis parameter for calculation of the welfare cess. … Read more
In an article, “World’s highest bird death rates at Thar Desert wind farms” (‘Science’ page, August 3, 2025), avian death rates due to wind energy are among the highest worldwide, and not the highest. Published – August 04, 2025 12:32 am IST