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On the eve of the 75th anniversary of the Indian Constitution, the Supreme Court of India reaffirmed the foundational character of the Indian Republic by upholding the inclusion of the words “secular” and “socialist” in the Constitution’s Preamble. These words, introduced through the Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act, 1976, by the Indira Gandhi-led government during the … Read more
During the 12-day war between Israel and Iran, the U.S. struck three nuclear facilities in Iran in violation of international laws. This unprovoked strike is the latest in a series of unilateral military interventions by the U.S. across the world, including the illegal occupation of Iraq under the pretext of possible weapons of mass destruction, … Read more
If a reporter’s currency is their byline, their greatest asset is access — whether to leaders in corporate India, to officials within the government, to actors, or to sportspersons. However, access is a complicated thing. It involves building trust and establishing contacts over the years. It is equally shaped by how a reporter and the … Read more
A sentence in an article, “Using tech to empower women and children” (‘Opinion page’, July 2, 2025), should have read: “The Maternal Mortality Rate has declined to 97 per 1,00,000 births (2018-20) from 130 per 1,00,000 births (2014-16).” In both instances, it was not 1,000 births, as published. Published – July 04, 2025 12:32 am … Read more
Bihar’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls by the Election Commission of India (ECI) has drawn criticism from political parties, and rightly so. The enormity of the task, the short duration, and the strict criteria for verification could result in the wrongful exclusion of lakhs of voters. The ECI’s statement that only ordinary … Read more
The market has become a determinant of which degree is desirable and which is not. | Photo Credit: Getty Images While speaking of the idea of a university, one actually speaks of an “ideal”, that is, what a university is expected to be doing to justify its own existence as a university. As John Henry … Read more
A danger to democracy It is deeply shocking that the ‘Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls’ in poll-bound Bihar is set to disenfranchise a significant percentage of voters. This massive planned pruning raises serious doubts about the intent behind the SIR. When such large-scale deletions occur without due diligence or public awareness, democracy stands threatened. … Read more
Nearly 15 years after the Supreme Court of India described custodial torture and deaths as the most heinous crime committed by men in uniform, brutal third-degree treatment of suspects remains a chilling reality. Emboldened policemen, with contempt for procedure, show no hesitation in resorting to violence, not just within but also outside police stations. In … Read more
India’s Constitution is not merely a legal document. It is the embodiment of the ideals and the aspirations of a nation that was forged in the crucible of an anti-colonial struggle. Among its most fundamental principles are socialism and secularism, values that are not confined to the Preamble alone but which are woven throughout its … Read more