On April 24, addressing a public gathering in Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “India will identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the earth….” Known to speak in Hindi to domestic audiences, it was noteworthy that the Prime Minister switched to English to say … Read more
Last week, the Supreme Court of India finally struck down as “illegal” two notifications by the Union Environment Ministry that allowed industrial units to set up, expand operations or change their manufacturing practices without following the due process of taking government permission beforehand. Taking ‘prior’ approval is a sacrosanct principle at the heart of the … Read more
With conservative State governments in the United States enacting policies that opponents claim jeopardize academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and intellectual diversity, American colleges have recently turned into arenas for ideological conflict. Although freedom of thought and inquiry have long been defended by the U.S. as essential components of its higher education system, that basic foundation … Read more
Sunny Joseph, the newly appointed president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, being welcomed in Kozhikode. | Photo Credit: K. Ragesh After deliberating for more than six months, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) on May 8 effected a leadership change in the party’s Kerala unit by appointing Sunny Joseph as president of the Kerala … Read more
India has, for a while, been facing a nutrition paradox where under nutrition and obesity coexist. Image by jcomp on Freepik There is an increased focus in public discourse on growing obesity among adolescents. The seventh edition of Poshan Pakhwada, held last month, focused on childhood and adolescent obesity alongside the first 1,000 days of … Read more
In an unconscionable act, a professor of political science at Ashoka University, Ali Khan Mahmudabad, was arrested on Sunday by the Haryana Police after two separate first information reports (FIR) were registered against him in Sonipat. These FIRs were over his social media posts in connection with Operation Sindoor. The first message analysed the strategic … Read more
Diplomacy and action I write with reference to the Editorial and the Editorial page article (both May 19).” Nearly a month after the tragic Pahalgam attack, the perpetrators remain at large. I have full faith in our security agencies and armed forces. But, at the same time, as we dispatch all-party delegations abroad to counter … Read more
‘Generally, portals are designed to meet the requirements of the heads of departments and secretaries, which needs to change’ | Photo Credit: Getty Images Critics point to the delay in conducting Census operations and releasing Census data to researchers. They also highlight the other surveys carried out by the government and/or the change in methodology, … Read more
Mixing history, tradition and commerce, the old city neighbourhoods of India’s metropolises have a unique vibrancy, colour and feel. Some of the hardiest entrepreneurs, talented craftsmen and canny businesspeople have set shop there, along with the working classes, that help turn the wheels of the economy. These neighbourhoods are home to narrow lanes, crumbling commercial … Read more
The terrorist attack in Pahalgam, on April 22, 2025 has once again shaken our collective conscience, reminding us of the fragility of peace in a region long burdened by the weight of history. As India grieves the loss of innocent lives and strengthens its resolve against terror, we must also recognise the critical importance of … Read more