The 56th meeting of the GST Council on September 3, 2025 will be remembered as a defining milestone in India’s tax history. These reforms go far beyond tax rates and structures. They represent a decisive shift towards a simpler, fairer, and growth-oriented system that is aligned with the aspirations of a Viksit Bharat 2047. A … Read more
The Delhi High Court’s decision to deny bail, once again, to former university scholar Umar Khalid and others in the “larger conspiracy” case relating to the 2020 Delhi riots is a grim affirmation of how special security laws, combined with a deferential judiciary, can transform pre-trial detention into extended punishment. The court’s reasoning, which held … Read more
The health sector in India stands at a critical juncture due to the unitary approach adopted by the Union government. The Constitution of India envisages a federal and decentralised administration in healthcare. On the contrary, in the post-globalisation era, the Union government devised health policies that systematically eroded State autonomy in healthcare and medical education. … Read more
Amish Tripathi with his new book The Chola Tigers: Avengers of Somnath | Photo Credit: Thamodharan B “I never thought I would live a life like this,” says author Amish Tripathi, who was recently in Chennai for the launch of The Chola Tigers: The Avengers of Somnath, the second in his Indic Chronicle series. In a career spanning … Read more
On June 18, 2025, the Calcutta High Court ordered the resumption of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in West Bengal from August 1, in a case filed by Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity (PBKMS). The order offered hope. However, according to reports in regional media, the Union government has since appealed … Read more
Kerala indeed has a story to tell — a story that reflects the character, camaraderie, and spirit of fellowship that permeates its social structure from time immemorial: the iconic festival of Onam. A celebration of the true Kerala story, Onam is an enduring tale of togetherness, interwoven with the nostalgia of a social order where … Read more
The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025, introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 20 by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, proposes amendments to Articles 75, 164, and 239AA of the Constitution, making it a significant Constitution amendment. The Bill seeks to disqualify elected leaders, including the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers, from … Read more
The heavy rains and flooding across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana this season underline how extreme weather interacts with governance. In 2024, Andhra Pradesh recorded 27% of its annual rainfall in two days; this August, Vizianagaram logged a 46% excess, with some parts reporting up to 90%. Consecutive years of extreme precipitation signal a shift in … Read more
‘Emotions’ and politics It is time that politicians stop playing with the emotions of people for their own gains. The “emotion card” is now being used as a “masterstroke” to divert attention from the real issues facing the common man, which include poverty, unemployment, inflation, income inequality and corruption. Raising irrelevant issues before an election … Read more
The passage of the Indian Ports Bill, 2025 in the Rajya Sabha, on August 18, marks a pivotal moment in India’s maritime legislative history. Intended to repeal and replace the Act of 1908, it comes alongside the newly enacted Coastal Shipping Act, 2025, the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025, and the Merchant Shipping … Read more