‘There is an urgent need that we have cogent, reliable data about waste generation and its composition in the country’ | Photo Credit: THE HINDU/DEEPAK K.R. India is the biggest plastic polluter in the world, according to a new study published in Nature, releasing 9.3 million tonnes (Mt) annually. This is equivalent to around a … Read more
Rajasthan Royals player Vaibhav Suryavanshi during the IPL T20 match against Gujarat Titans at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium in Jaipur on Monday , April 28 2025. | Photo Credit: R.V. MOORTHY For half a century, Samastipur in Bihar was best known for the bomb blast that killed India’s then Railway minister. Now a 14-year-old, … Read more
At 4%, India’s fiscal 2025 average of Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is at its lowest in the past four years, marking a slowdown in industrial activity. This could be attributed to uncertainties in the global economic outlook leading to tepid goods exports growth, lower than expected consumption demand growth, and a dip in private … Read more
Continue immunisation The warning sounded by the World Health Organization, UNICEF and Gavi (the Vaccine Alliance), in the context of World Immunization Week, April 24-30, of ‘increases in vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks threatening years of progress’, is one that should not be ignored under any circumstances. Neglecting this could be catastrophic for the world. All children … Read more
‘The law still remains, with some cosmetic amendments’ | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto In the many cycles of violence in Sri Lanka’s troubled history, “terror” has been a running theme. While the state — that has repeatedly demonstrated a majoritarian tendency — has never held a mirror to itself to acknowledge the violence that it … Read more
When Justin Trudeau resigned as the Prime Minister of Canada in January, it seemed that his party, the Liberals, who were trailing the Conservatives by 25 points in opinion polls, was headed for an electoral debacle. Mr. Trudeau, in power for nearly a decade, had become highly unpopular amid economic woes. Pierre Poilievre, the Conservative … Read more
As summer intensifies, Indian cities are struggling with water shortages and rising electricity demand and temperatures. Reports from Bengaluru and Hyderabad show a spike in water tanker bookings while power cuts loom due to increased air-conditioner usage. These annual struggles raise a pressing question — are our cities, where more than 30% of Indians live, … Read more
The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, has ignited controversy across India, particularly among Muslim leaders. It has triggered resignations from some Janata Dal (United) leaders, causing unrest within the ruling coalition of the JD(U) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bihar and at the Centre. With Bihar set to go to polls later this year, … Read more
The Office of the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha is not merely a ceremonial seat but also a constitutional imperative. Mandated under Article 93 of the Constitution of India, this role is not just supplementary to the Speaker’s. It is vital for the uninterrupted functioning of the lower House of Parliament. However, in recent … Read more
The UN Security Council’s statement on Friday, condemning “in the strongest terms” the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, was necessary, but inadequate. According to the statement, which expressed condolences to India, and to Nepal which lost one citizen, the members of the Security Council, that include Pakistan as an elected, non-permanent member this year, “reaffirmed that … Read more