Opinion
Sachin Kalbag's column: Focus on 2 things: Increasing exports and inviting investors
India's policy response during the fall in the value of the rupee has been focused on managing the flow of capital rather than addressing the problems in the economy. But schemes like Foreign Currency Non-Resident Deposits (FCNR) can only provide temporary relief. They may create some cash flow for some time, but the price will have to be paid by the RBI. The solution is to attract foreign direct investment and increase exports. Countries like Vietnam and Mexico have attracted billions of dollars of FDI in 2026. If India also wants to retain foreign investment, then clear rules at the level of
Meghna Pant's column: What will happen to our bright future if cruelty starts to fill even children?
There are some videos that, after watching, one wishes they had not been seen. Not because they contain gruesome scenes, but because they reveal a disturbing truth. To what extent we have come to accept cruelty as normal. The attack on a poor, innocent, six-year-old girl – who was also specially-abled – by an eight-year-old boy is one such horrific incident. It shook the entire country. This has raised many questions. What was the surveillance system like in the school in Panchkula, where the girl was attacked so fearlessly? Where were the teachers? How did the child get into such an unsaf
Jean Drez's column: "The proportion of 'missing voters' varies from state to state.
The number of people aged 18 years or above in India is around 100 crore. How many of these people will have their names in the electoral roll after the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)? A rough answer to this question can be given. The final electoral rolls of the SIRs of 13 large states have been released. According to the estimates of the National Commission on Population (NPC), the total number of people aged 18 years or above in these 13 states on March 1, 2026, was around 72 crore. On the other hand, the final voter list of the SIR of these states has the names of a tot
India’s steel market heads for a supply squeeze
India’s steel sector is poised for a tightening supply-demand balance, with inventories expected to decline and prices to find support. Aditya Birla Money estimates steel consumption will rise to 229.2 million tonnes by FY30, outpacing production of 218.6 million tonnes. The resulting deficit could draw down inventories despite expanding capacity. Historically, domestic HRC prices have moved in tandem with inventory cycles, and recent stock depletion alongside price recovery points to firmer market conditions. Meanwhile, trade barriers across the US, Europe and UK are curbing import while In
Neeraj Kaushal's column: Western culture is not to blame for our waist girth.
The problem of obesity has increased rapidly in India. Almost one in every three women in the age group of 15 to 49 years and more than one in every four men are overweight or they are obese. In line with our tendency to blame the West for all their problems, many people blame globalization, fast food and western lifestyle. While there are already enough ingredients in the Indian diet to increase our waist circumference; We do not need globalization for this. Chole-bhature has more calories than an Angus burger. We also like to eat jalebis after chole-bhatura. But despite being crispy and deli
N. Raghuraman's column: Electricity; a service or a license to know?
Even before Diwali lamps illuminate our homes and streets, the decorative lights on shops, markets and buildings have started to shine across the country. Colorful lights announce the arrival of this 'Festival of Light' even before the festival. The credit for this magic goes to electricity. But did we become so accustomed to this wonderful service that we even forgot how dangerous it can be if used carelessly? Two recent incidents forced me to ask this question. Two foreign nationals died and two others were injured after a suspected electric current in the swimming pool of a five-star hotel
N. Raghuraman's column: Great ideas need an open mind, not millions of dollars of labs.
In 2017, when the world was struggling with the problem of single-use plastic and restaurants were looking for alternatives to its absurdity, Professor Saji Varghese was taking a walk as usual in the lush green campus of Christ University, Bengaluru. His eyes fell on a dry coconut leaf lying on the grass. In India, these leaves are found everywhere and are usually burnt thinking they are agricultural waste. Picking up a leaf and moving it between his fingers, he felt something strange. Its surface was smooth and shiny. Despite breaking from the tree, it was neither rotten nor damp. He pondered
DEMOCRACY UNDER SIEGE? ‘HAMMER TO KILL A FLY’ WARNING AS DELHI POLICE DETAIN CJP PROTESTERS DEMANDING CEC GYANESH KUMAR’S RESIGNATION
Massive security deployment raises questions over citizens’ right to protest, taxpayers’ money and electoral transparency; Vadodara’s striking voting pattern demands scrutiny—not speculation The CJP-led movement demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, raising questions about electoral transparency and the functioning of the Election Commission of India. The protest was met with extensive security arrangements, barricades, restrictions on public movement and the detention of demonstrators and movement organisers. The controversy intensified following t
Independence Day 2026: Crores Spent on Spectacle While a Nation Still Waits for “Achhe Din”
15 August 2026: As the last echoes of the national anthem faded and the sky over the Red Fort lit up with fireworks and laser displays, the Government of India and various state governments had once again spent staggering sums to commemorate the 79th anniversary of India’s Independence. Official estimates put the combined expenditure by the Centre and states on parades, cultural programmes, lighting, security, advertisements, and associated events at well over ₹450 crore. In Delhi alone, the grand show is believed to have cost more than ₹180 crore. Yet behind the choreographed grand
The Cockroach Janta Party Protest: A New Political Movement or the Same Old Playbook?
When Every Anti-Corruption Crusade Becomes the Very System, It Swore to Dismantle, India Must Ask Harder Questions About Power, Money, and Accountability In a familiar tableau that has played out repeatedly across India's democratic landscape, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has launched a high-profile public protest, complete with demands directed at the ruling dispensation, media-friendly optics, and the unmistakable ambition of political relevance. The party has put forward three demands and entered into public discussions with the ruling party — moves that, on the surface, suggest
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