The abuse of the elderly by their own kin is largely a taboo in India and rarely engages the attention of policy makers, though the problem is acquiring disturbing proportions. The emergence of nuclear families, particularly in urban areas, has led to the collapse of support systems for the aged while lack of financial independence further exacerba

The political circles are often intrigued by the moves of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, an astute politician with several surprises up his sleeves. His latest decision to support Ram Nath Kovind, NDA’s nominee for President’s post, has stumped an already fragile opposition camp. Though seen in some quarters as a potential challenger to Pri

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to leave for Washington for his maiden meeting with United States President Donald Trump on Monday, there is an air of uncertainty and anxiety surrounding the Indo-US relationship. The maverick Republican President’s isolationist policies and his unpredictable style of functioning have contributed to a sen

For long, the choice of Presidential nominee has come to symbolise the political message from those in power and a rallying point for the opposition camp. Seen from this perspective, the BJP has sent out a strong message by picking a Dalit leader, Ram Nath Kovind, for the top constitutional post, a move that is expected to find traction among the m

Billed as the mother of all clashes, the Indian cricket team fell flat against a determined Pakistan in the Champions Trophy final on Sunday. The total capitulation shocked millions of cricket fans in the country. The expectations were high, particularly after a good run to the final, although the Virat Kohli-led team had stumbled against Sri Lanka

Women have stormed one more male citadel with the Indian Army deciding to open up combat roles for them. This is a defining moment in the fight for equality and inclusiveness. The announcement by Army chief Bipin Rawat that women would be considered for combatant roles in the armed force must be welcomed as it helps remove one more barrier erected

Though the non-performing assets (NPAs) have been the bane of the banking industry for several decades, ad-hocism and ‘band-aid’ approach constituted the traditional response instead of going for permanent resolution of the problem. The bad loans must be cleaned up through a transparent mechanism to revive the economy. Reserve Bank of India’s

Darjeeling hills are once again reverberating with violent protests and shutdowns. The decades-long demand for a separate Gorkhaland State has been renewed with much more vigour. The deteriorating law and order situation, following an indefinite agitation spearheaded by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), poses a major challenge to West Bengal Chief

Surrendering one’s economic sovereignty to a hegemonic neighbour for the sake of a few development projects comes with a great cost. This bitter realisation must have hit Pakistan very hard when its Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was openly snubbed by Chinese President Xi Jinping during the recent summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in

Even by its own standards of bizarre loyalties and melodrama, the Tamil Nadu politics is now throwing up new surprises by the day. The latest twist in the ongoing drama is the decision of the rebel AIADMK faction, led by former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, to scrap the seven-member panel set up in April to hold merger talks with the ruling facti

Long after they are gone, legends continue to live in the hearts of people. Dr Cingireddy Narayana Reddy, the wordsmith par excellence and a proud son of Telangana, was one such legend who strode the Telugu literary scene like a colossus. The uniqueness of Cinare, as he was fondly known, is that his widerange of works, cutting across genres, connec

Britain has plunged into political uncertainty after Prime Minister Theresa May’s snap poll gambit backfired, throwing up a hung Parliament. The electoral setback for her Conservative Party has not only brought her leadership under cloud but also cast a shadow over Britain’s exit negotiations with the European Union, due to start later this mon

Barely six months into his office, US President Donald Trump is grappling with the toughest battle of his life: to save his presidency. Sacked FBI director James Comey’s explosive testimony against him has sent shock waves across America, raising the prospect of his impeachment on grounds of obstruction of justice. The issue of alleged links betw

Farmers are on the warpath in Madhya Pradesh. The violent protest that led to the death of five farmers in police firing should serve as a wake-up call for Central and State governments to urgently address their grievances. They have been agitating for remunerative prices for their produce and debt relief. The situation has slipped out of control i

The successful launch of the heaviest Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, GSLV Mark-III, is a testimony to India’s prowess in space technologies and marks a defining moment for the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) in establishing its capabilities to put higher payloads into the space. The achievement could eventually pave the way fo

A massive political storm has hit the Gulf following diplomatic isolation of Qatar. In a stunning decision, several Arab nations have snapped ties with Qatar accusing it of nurturing terror outfits in the region. The dramatic announcement by Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt, Libya and Yemen is expected to have far-reaching geopoli

London is bleeding from yet another horrific terrorist attack targeting civilians. In what has now become a familiar pattern, the terrorists rammed a van into the crowd on the iconic London Bridge and then went on a stabbing spree, killing seven people and injuring 50 others. The third strike in as many months has exposed the vulnerability of the B

President Donald Trump’s announcement of America’s exit from the Paris climate accord is by far the weirdest decision of the post-truth era that the maverick Republican leader has come to represent. With one stroke, Trump has not only repudiated the science and logic behind the landmark 2015 climate change agreement but also abandoned his count

Ayodhya issue, the political baggage of a turbulent past, has returned to the national limelight at an inopportune time for the country. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s visit to the makeshift Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya was loaded with a political message from a resurgent BJP. This was the first visit to the Ram Lall