business 
The pharmacy of the global South is facing a crisis of reputation. After cough syrups made by pharmaceutical companies based in India, which had unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and/or ethylene glycol, killed 66 children in the Gambia, 65 children in Uzbekistan in 2022, and 12 children in Cameroon in 2023, and India-made eye drops … Read more
DOGE charge, USAID ‘grant’ The 47th President of the United States has been making a series of remarks ever since he assumed power at the White House. The controversy surrounding USAID ‘funding’ for voter turnout in India seems to have been blown out of proportion (February 24). Perhaps the ruling dispensation in India ought to … Read more
RSS volunteers at a rally in Chennai. | Photo Credit: Praveen P.K. Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar led the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) from 1940 until his death in 1973. With Golwalkar at the helm, the RSS spread its wings across the country. His book, ‘We or Our Nationhood Defined’, remained at the core of RSS ideology, … Read more
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin visits Iruttu Kadai, a sweet shop, in Tirunelveli. Photo: Special Arrangement Tamil Nadu still has about 15 months to go before it faces Assembly elections, but major political parties have already begun re-jigging their respective organisations to get them ready for the big battle. Earlier this month, the ruling … Read more
A few months ago, this writer and his colleagues interviewed migrant industrial workers in Ludhiana, Punjab, for a research project. The respondents worked in factories (producing garments, auto components, and other products) for 11 hours to 12 hours a day. When orders were high, they worked for days on end without a break. Away from … Read more
The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) recent decision to inject an additional $10 billion into the financial system through a dollar/rupee swap auction is a timely measure aimed at addressing long-term liquidity concerns among domestic lenders. These concerns stem from a flight of foreign capital from Indian stock markets, as investors seek better returns in … Read more
Political ping pong The political furore over U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim on USAID funds seems to be growing. It is an old American trait to be poking its nose in another country’s affairs. Mr. Trump needs to get to the bottom of the issue and expose who the beneficiaries of the ‘$21 million fund’ … Read more
‘The demand for skilled workers will exceed supply’ | Photo Credit: Getty Images The global labour market does not seem to be future-ready. No one has the crystal ball to tell the future exactly, but it can be safely said that the skills needed in 2030 will be quite different from what we have today. … Read more
The controversy over USAID’s presence in India reflects an increasingly unhinged public discourse, undermining the nation’s confidence and global standing. The BJP and the Congress have been engaged in a political tug-of-war, attempting to corner each other over USAID-funded projects and foreign connections. However, much of this cacophony that passes for debate is fuelled by … Read more
