Trump and tariffs The U.S.’s move to single out China by slapping an unprecedented 125% tariff on it while pausing tariffs for most other countries shows that the escalations begun by the U.S. are fuelled by political motives. It seems to be part of a broader American strategy to contain China on the global stage. … Read more
‘Relying on a piecemeal approach can fail to account for the precarious nature of all informal work’ | Photo Credit: Getty Images India’s efforts to establish social security for online (app-based) gig workers are gaining momentum, with the central scheme awaiting Cabinet approval. Benefits announced include health coverage under Ayushman Bharat, registration on the eShram … Read more
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s Monetary Policy Committee’s unanimous decision to cut the repo rate by 25 basis points, to 6%, is a timely reprieve for India’s business community. For weeks now, exporting sectors have been imploring the government to hasten bilateral trade negotiations with the U.S. to attempt to shield themselves from President … Read more
Delimitation, enshrined in Articles 82 and 170 of the Constitution of India, has stirred unprecedented passions that have taken shape in both serious and ludicrous ways. The serious ones stem from what the Constitution provides and its possible implications if implemented as provided. The ludicrous ones include calls by some who are asking people to … Read more
Seventeen years after the Mumbai 26/11 terror attacks, India is preparing for the trial of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, who was extradited by the United States this week. The extradition of a co-conspirator in the planning of the attacks that left 166 people dead is proof of the success of India’s counter-terror diplomacy with the U.S., … Read more
Parkinson’s disease, often viewed as an ailment of the elderly, is manifesting with alarming frequency among younger individuals in India. This shift not only challenges existing clinical perceptions of the disease but also poses significant socio-economic and public healthcare implications for the nation. The tremors, stiffness, and slow movement commonly associated with the disease in … Read more
Rohingya refugees hold placards while attending a Ramadan Solidarity Iftar to have an Iftar meal with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh Interim Government, at the Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh on March 14, 2025. | Photo Credit: Reuters During his four-day visit to Bangladesh in March, … Read more
The accused in the elephant poaching case in Dharmapuri. Photo: Special Arrangement During the 1990s and early 2000s, the forest brigand, K. Veerappan, who held sway over the forests of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, was notorious for poaching elephants for ivory. While that is now a distant memory for most people, the recent poaching of … Read more
The Supreme Court’s judgment on the conduct of Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi is set to have a far-reaching impact on Centre-State relations, underscoring as it does India’s federal principles in what are undoubtedly fraught times. The verdict enhances the administrative autonomy of States, and regulates the functioning of constitutional offices, with implications for the … Read more
Governor’s judgment day The Supreme Court of India’s censoring of the Governor of Tamil Nadu for his unconstitutional conduct and gross dereliction of duty has left his position untenable. He should either resign on his own volition or the Union Government should recall him immediately. This is the only way to appreciate this judgment. During … Read more