Editorials

The proposed visit to India by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the first high-level engagement since the Galwan Valley clash, has the potential to break the ice and reset the frosty bilateral relations. While de-escalation and complete disengagement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Ladakh region remains a top priority, the two […]

Despite the growing threat perception on two fronts—Pakistan and China—the spending on defence research has remained stagnant in India for several years, accounting for less than one per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP). This is a matter of serious concern that needs to engage the attention of the policy makers. India is far […]

With several parts of the world witnessing a renewed surge in Covid infections, it is time for India to be vigilant without pushing the panic button. There is a need for greater disease surveillance and genomic sequencing to identify the new variants of the coronavirus and ramping up health infrastructure to handle exigencies. Testing, tracking, […]

A ray of hope finally appears on the horizon amid the dark clouds in the war-ravaged Ukraine. While there could still be many hurdles along the way, there is a certain sense of optimism surrounding a tentative, 15-point draft peace deal reportedly worked out by Russia and Ukraine. The plan involves a ceasefire and an […]

Manufacturing and tourism sectors have borne the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic over the past two years. In the tourism sector alone, about 2.15 crore people have lost their jobs due to the three waves of the pandemic that crippled the economy. Considering an average household size of five members, these job losses have adversely […]

In a world where nuclear weapons are a reality, it just takes one misstep or an accident to trigger a catastrophe. The recent incident of a technical malfunction that led to the accidental firing of an unarmed Indian missile highlights the dangers in handling the missile assets. Fortunately, the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, which had […]

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent call for radical changes in the police administration has brought the key issue of police reforms back into the spotlight. It is rather baffling that the successive governments have ignored the need for structural changes in the criminal justice system to make it more efficient and responsive to the needs […]

Band-aid doesn’t help when the problem requires surgery. This prescription applies to the Congress as well. What the grand old party needs now is neither the token gestures, fake resignation dramas nor an empty pep talk from its beleaguered leadership but a radical overhaul of the organisation to stem the rot. The drubbing in the […]

The decision to resume international flights will bring cheer to the sector but is not enough to bail out the struggling industry

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 […]

‘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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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) […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]