Letters to The Editor — May 22, 2025 letters to the editor Diplomatic outreach While India has strongly opposed any mediation in its engagement with Pakistan, the diplomatic outreach by India, which began on May 21 (Page 1, May 21), appears to contradict India stance on its bilateral ties with Pakistan as we are trying … Read more
As India’s higher education sector grows alongside its largely unaccounted informal economy, formalizing student employment both within and beyond campuses to safeguard student workers’ rights has become a national imperative. A policy that emphasizes on the key aspects of student employment is a requirement. Here’s an outline of the policy that starts with key rights … Read more
Archana, a single mother from a village near Prayagraj, knows education is the key to a better future. But when her son started Grade 1 in a government school, he struggled — his teacher said he should have attended preschool first. Now, Archana worries for her three-year-old daughter at the local Anganwadi. Will it prepare … Read more
File picture of India’s Rohit Sharma and Pakistan’s Babar Azam with the Asia Cup trophy | Photo Credit: Reuters Don’t mix sport and politics, says Pakistan cricketer Mohammed Rizwan. It is the kind of statement made by those who understand neither politics nor sport. History has shown that sport is often politics by other means. … Read more
As climate change accelerates, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe. Representational file image. | Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN India’s climate future is not written in the stars — it is written in the rising temperatures, erratic monsoons, and intensifying disasters. The question is: what are we doing about it? The World Bank … Read more
Instead of stepping up its tirade against the ruling Congress government for what it terms its “failures”, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in Telangana is grappling with internal conflicts. The Congress is facing a financial crunch which is affecting its ability to implement various welfare schemes, particularly the ones it promised before the Assembly elections. … Read more
NEET-UG and conduct I write this letter as a former Director of Entrance Exams and Admission, Anna University, Chennai. The NEET-UG 2025 has had fewer “irregularities” this time when compared to its earlier editions, especially last year. Question paper leaks, impersonation and outsourcing of the key from outside an exam hall are some of the … Read more
A protest by Accredited social Health Activist workers, in Bengaluru, in January 2025, for fixed wages | Photo Credit: THE HINDU/K. MURALI KUMAR The central government employs millions of regular and contract workers who are recognised as government employees and are in the pay spectrum of the government. The government also employs several types of … Read more
In an escalation of bilateral trade-related tensions, India recently announced restrictions on readymade garments and other specified commodities from Bangladesh. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade’s announcement targeting Bangladesh’s vital apparel sector sent an unmistakable signal that deteriorating political relations have now spilled over into economic ties. By specifically denying Bangladeshi goods access to India’s … Read more
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