Government colleges in crisis: Underfunded, outdated, and falling behind in the digital age

In a country praised for its technological ability, a vital arm is silently under crisis: government-funded colleges. Once the cornerstone of India’s intellectual scene, these institutions — burdened by antiquated infrastructure, antiquated curricula, and a chronic shortage of resources — are failing to keep pace with the demands of the digital age. Experts and stakeholders … Read more

Science communication as a catalyst for change

‘By leveraging diverse communication channels and tailoring messages to different audiences, science communicators can ensure that scientific knowledge reaches every corner of the nation’ | Photo Credit: Getty Images Many of us have heard the story of Sir Isaac Newton discovering the laws of gravity and motion, which are almost a part of global folklore. … Read more

From the fringes to the mainstream

Microsoft’s Majorana 1 quantum computing chip is pictured on February 19, 2025. Photo: Microsoft via Reuters On February 19, 2025, Microsoft unveiled a new quantum computing chip that it said had topological qubits. The announcement spurred news organisations worldwide, which used words such as “superconductor” and “fermion” in their ledes. My colleagues had many questions … Read more

​Art of the deal: On Trump and a Ukraine mineral deal

President Donald Trump has invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Washington to sign a deal that would give Washington access to Ukraine’s rare earth mineral deposits, in exchange for the White House’s support in ending the three-year war there since the Russia invasion. While Mr. Trump has — to his domestic constituents — positioned the … Read more

Letters to The Editor — February 28, 2025

Delimitation and the South Instead of indulging in what looks to be verbal/statistical jugglery and dismissing the genuine concerns flagged leaders in the southern States — about the possibility of their losing out to the northern States in the delimitation exercise — the Centre needs to do more. It would do well to give an … Read more

Column | Gulkand ice cream and ambition

I had just finished my first year at medical school, and was visiting Phuphee for the summer holidays. The days were hot but a constant breeze made the heat tolerable, even pleasurable at times. One such hot, breezy afternoon, an elderly gentleman and his wife arrived. When it was hot, Phuphee usually made ice cream. … Read more