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India is known all over the world for its centuries-old syncretic culture and ethos of assimilation. They define the essence of the idea of India. However, the recent string of incendiary outbursts by Hindutva proponents, targeting minorities, comes as an affront to these core values. The case that has triggered nationwide outrage pertains to the […]
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Diplomatic maturity lies in tactfully harmonising divergences with the convergence of mutual interests and seeing that, at the end of the day, the latter prevails over the former. In the midst of ever changing global geopolitics and shifting power dynamics, the challenge for a democratic country like India is to balance the national interests in […]
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The newly-elected Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif followed a familiar script, reeking of duplicity and deception, while expressing a desire for better ties with India. By adding a rider that peace was not possible with India until the resolution of ‘Kashmir dispute according to the UN resolutions’, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief has demonstrated […]
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Linguistic diversity forms a key component of India’s identity. It is the celebration of this pluralism that strengthens the country’s unity. Any attempt to tinker with diversity will amount to undermining the civilisational idea of India. union Home Minister Amit Shah has once again stirred a hornet’s nest by claiming that Hindi should be accepted […]
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The natural instinct of any batsman on strike would be to remain at the crease and protect the wicket at any cost, through a combination of defensive and aggressive strategies. Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan sought to employ similar tactics on the political crease but with a difference: he defied the rules of the game and even […]
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India is forced to do some tightrope walking on the raging war in Ukraine, seeking to strike a balance between the imperatives of its long and time-tested bilateral ties with Russia and the need to side with the growing chorus of outrage over Moscow’s unjustified invasion of a sovereign country. For the first time since […]
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The choice is between existence and extinction. It’s a ‘now or never’ situation as humanity faces the unprecedented impact of climate change. Climate action can no longer be put off nor can the world afford to continue bickering over funding and technology transfers. The latest report of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change […]
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A series of terrorist attacks, targeting migrant workers, Kashmiri Pandits and paramilitary forces, comes as a grim reminder of the audacity with which the Pakistan-sponsored militant outfits have been carrying out their macabre agenda in Jammu & Kashmir. The killing spree exposes the myth about normalcy returning to the Valley following the NDA government’s decision […]
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The merger of mortgage firm HDFC Ltd with its progeny HDFC Bank, the biggest merger in India’s corporate history, signals consolidation in the private banking and NBFC space and also demonstrates the success of regulatory changes over the past few years. It is a win-win situation as the combined and bigger balance sheet also means […]
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It’s a tumultuous moment in the history of Sri Lanka whose fall from grace — from a reasonably stable economy, despite decades of ethnic war, to being caught in the worst financial crisis since independence — has shocked the world. The en masse resignation of all the 26 federal ministers amidst the raging public protests […]
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Authoritarianism is anathema to democracy. For a pluralistic and open society like ours, democracy is the best suited model. Any institution that tends to deviate from the core values of respecting individual freedom, dignity and cultural and social diversity faces the risk of losing public faith. Chief Justice of India NV Ramana’s recent observations on […]
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The Centre’s decision to reduce the number of areas under the much-despised Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Nagaland, Assam and Manipur is a welcome development as reflects a pragmatic approach to special laws and a willingness to revoke them when the ground situation shows improvement. The improvement in the security situation and the […]
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Without reliable data, no welfare programme can be effective, however lofty its objectives may be. While the aim of any affirmative action programme is to reduce the socio-economic inequalities and lift the disadvantaged sections out of poverty and deprivation, the key ingredient in this task is the data that is accurate, reliable and reflective of […]
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While modern technology is an effective tool in criminal investigation, one must not lose sight of the dangers of violating the personal space of individuals and undermining their fundamental rights while using these tools in solving crimes. The Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022, introduced in the Lok Sabha recently, breaches the thin line between inviolable […]
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The spirit of federalism that guides the country can be strengthened only if the States are strong and given the flexibility and freedom to take policy decisions in the interests of the people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s much-hyped invocation of the ‘Team India’ spirit to describe the nature of governance will be meaningful only when […]
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After what had happened in the Galwan Valley, the onus of de-escalation of border tensions and normalisation of bilateral ties now lies with China. This unequivocal message was conveyed to Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi during his recently concluded visit to India. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar did some tough talking and conveyed New Delhi’s […]
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The resumption of regular international flights, after a pandemic-induced hiatus of over two years, is a matter of big relief for both the passengers and the crisis-ridden aviation sector. The last two years of the Covid-19 pandemic have been very tough on the aviation industry which suffered unprecedented losses. The international flights, suspended since March […]
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The institution of marriage, built on the premise of equality, should not be allowed to be used as a cover for sexual violations. It should not give any special male privilege or a licence for unleashing a brutal beast. The Karnataka High Court’s path-breaking order, refusing to quash rape charges filed by a wife against […]
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By now, there is a familiar air to the global reports on the state of air pollution. Year after year, ominous signals emanate from these surveys, bracketing Indian cities among the most polluted in the world, but it is again back to business as usual for the policymakers. The latest report is quite alarming because […]
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Grappling with the worst economic crisis since its independence, Sri Lanka gets a lifeline with India pitching in with a big help and extending a $1bn credit line to buy urgently needed food and medicines. Gestures such as this will generate goodwill for India and help in resetting the bilateral ties that suffered a strain […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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, […]
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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 […]
