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Seen as the semi-final battle before the 2024 general elections, the outcome of the Assembly elections in five States, including the most populous Uttar Pradesh, contains crucial political messages. The key among them is that the BJP continues to reap the electoral harvest largely because of the absence of a cohesive alternative political formation. The […]
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‘Neellu, Nidhulu, Niyaamakaalu’ (Water, Funds, Jobs) was the clarion call that defined the essence of the Telangana statehood movement. Having already delivered on the first two promises, the State government has now unveiled a mega initiative to keep the promise on providing employment for the youth. Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao’s announcement in the Assembly […]
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International Women’s Day is not just a symbolic gesture to celebrate the contributions of women in myriad fields but an occasion to reflect on their status in society and the issues that impede their growth and genuine empowerment. In the Indian context, women empowerment — economic, social and cultural — is still a work in […]
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Despite the twin challenges — deliberate discrimination from the Centre and the devastating pandemic — Telangana has put up a stellar performance that sets an example worth emulating by other States. The 2022-23 Budget, presented by Finance Minister T Harish Rao, bears testimony to the resilience of the State in the face of adversities, both […]
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Despite being given a long rope to stop sponsoring terror outfits and check terror financing, Pakistan has failed to convince the international community with credible and verifiable actions. It is therefore not surprising at all that the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the Paris-based global watchdog on terror funding, has decided to retain Pakistan on […]
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The latest global report on the state of air pollution has an ominous warning for India. Nearly 93% of the country’s population is living in areas where PM2.5 (Particulate Matter of 2.5 micrometre diameter) pollution levels are worse than even the lowest bracket of the World Health Organization’s new air quality standards. Contrary to the […]
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The death of an Indian medical student, Naveen Gyanagoudar, in the Russian shelling in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv is a tragic reminder of the challenges involved in the evacuation of the people stranded in the war zone. There has been criticism that the Indian government was not quick enough in reaching out to its […]
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The pace of economic recovery appears to have lost momentum in the third quarter of the current financial year. Added to this are the fresh worries over the possible impact of the Russian war on Ukraine. The latest data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) revealed that the Indian economy grew at 5.4% in […]
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The signs are too ominous to ignore. Despite the ongoing efforts to reduce the risks associated with climate change, half of humanity is living in the danger zone and many ecosystems are at the point of no return. For India, the dangers are far too grave. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) […]
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Pragmatism and national interest form the key pillars of diplomacy. When the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which actually translates into an East-West standoff, presented a major challenge to its diplomatic skills, India did well to navigate the turbulent weather and strike a fine balance. New Delhi’s response reflected pragmatic pursuit of national interest. The Russian equipment, especially […]
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By announcing a liberal financial package to Sri Lanka to help overcome an unprecedented financial crisis, India has consolidated its standing as a reliable friend in times of need and sought to reset its relations with the island nation. Apart from extending a billion-dollar loan credit facility, to be used to avert a food crisis […]
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As Russian missiles rain down relentlessly on Ukraine, the fiercest attack on Europe since the Second World War, the shocks are being felt all over the world. Political polemics apart, the key question that needs to be asked is whether the world can afford a full-blown war and what impact it could have on the […]
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The coronavirus pandemic and its associated containment measures have left a heavy toll on the economy and disrupted livelihoods. A string of lockdowns and other restrictions have had a profound effect on employment and earnings. Several surveys reveal how the livelihoods have been devastated at unprecedented levels. Food insecurity and economic vulnerability have increased to […]
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The East-West face-off over Ukraine has reached dangerous levels following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s provocative move to recognise the independence of the two restive regions — Donetsk and Luhansk — in Eastern Ukraine and a strong response from the western nations in the form of sanctions. This is by far the most intense confrontation since […]
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Despite being endowed with copious resources, talent and ideas, India comes across as a nation that has failed to perform to its full potential; a country where the dreams and aspirations of millions of people remain unfulfilled and the possibilities remain unexplored. There is a growing perception, particularly among the youth, that India needs a […]
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The details emerging from an ongoing probe into the irregularities in the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the role of its former Chief Executive Chitra Ramkrishna and her mysterious mentor — said to be a Himalayan Yogi — are bizarre and disturbing. The Centre owes an explanation to the people about its silence on the issue […]
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As war clouds hover over Ukraine with the Western countries warning of an imminent Russian military invasion, there is still scope for diplomatic interventions to de-escalate the tensions and prevent a catastrophic war. While United States President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson have cited intelligence inputs to claim that Russia is edging […]
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One more round of ban on Chinese mobile apps has just been announced, citing security threats. The trend had started soon after the Galwan Valley clash and continued amid the growing tensions between the two countries. The question is whether the moves have resulted in giving a push to home-grown technology companies. The irony is […]
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The Centre’s response to the plight of stranded Indians in Ukraine, caught in the escalating tensions with Russia, has been tardy and inadequate. With war clouds looming large following a massive Russian military build-up on the borders, thousands of Indians, particularly students enrolled in Ukrainian higher education institutes, are a worried lot. The advisory issued […]
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Billed as the mother of all IPOs, the upcoming public offer of the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) could prove crucial for the government’s efforts to meet the disinvestment targets. However, there seems to be no appetite for such mega issues as it comes amid challenging times with markets being volatile and foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) […]
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The gross underutilisation of the Nirbhaya Fund, meant for schemes aimed at improving the safety and security of women, shows an inexcusable apathy towards the issues concerning women’s safety. A parliamentary panel has pointed out that of the Rs, 9,549-crore allocated under the fund, created by the Central government in the wake of the nationwide […]
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The resignation of Ravi Chopra from the chairmanship of the Supreme Court-mandated Char Dham panel illustrates how the environmentalists are getting increasingly frustrated over the continued apathy of the government in protecting the fragile ecology of the region. In his resignation letter to the apex court, the chairman of the high powered committee has pointed […]
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The Reserve Bank of India’s decision to keep the repo rate unchanged at 4% for the 10th time in a row and to maintain the accommodative stance reflects a more cautious approach in the wake of an erratic economic recovery and the continued impact of the pandemic. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) in its last […]
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There is a growing tendency among the authorities to invoke the national security clause to suppress and silence any form of dissent. The Centre’s ban on the Malayalam news channel — MediaOne — is the latest instance of how critical voices are sought to be muzzled in the name of protecting the interests of national […]