Politics

OPINION | India’s child data protection needs infrastructure, not platform bans

Why India’s privacy law has sparked a deeper debate between banning risks and building infrastructure for digital safety 

OPINION | Supreme Court’s 9-judge constitutional bench will demarcate the boundary for labour rights

On March 17, a constitutional bench will begin hearing a reference related to the scope and correctness of a 1978 judgement. At its core is this question: what is the statutory meaning of “industry”? The answer will influence labour relations 

OPINION | Political stakes rise as five regions prepare for polls

Assembly elections in four states and Puducherry trigger intense political contests, with regional issues, opposition strategies and leadership battles shaping campaigns as parties vie for voter support 

OPINION | In week 3 of US-Israel-Iran war, there’s a risk of water infrastructure being targeted

US bombing Kharg Island is potentially an inflection point. If both sides don’t exercise a modicum of restraint, parts of the region can become unhabitable for a while

OPINION | War and uncertainty will undermine global economic growth drivers and lower oil price

One major limitation of an inflation target is that it precludes preemptive easing in response to a sudden weakening of the economy, a danger at present.  Even as shipments of crude remain low due to Iran’s blockade and steep insurance rates, a sharp drop in global demand, as took place due to Covid, may put an offsetting downward pressure on crude oil prices

OPINION | Gas shortage after Hormuz squeeze shows energy sourcing autonomy was always conditional

With crude oil, multiple supply sources are available even if Washington’s whims impose constraints. The buffer provided by diverse sourcing of oil is largely absent in gas, leaving sourcing vulnerable to factors beyond India’s control

OPINION | RSS marks centenary with grassroots Hindu Sammelan outreach

RSSFACTS: To mark its centenary, the RSS is organising thousands of small Hindu Sammelans across India to expand social outreach and engage people outside its traditional network 

OPINION | Hormuz shutdown shows ethanol blend mandate for petrol added to energy security

The 20% blend provides a cushion of more than two months of petrol consumption and insulates nearly 3.5% of crude oil consumptions from geopolitical volatility

OPINION | A spate of ‘son rises’ bend the rays of political parties

Nitish Kumar joined the long list of political parents who eventually could not look beyond their children to carry forward their political legacy. It’s stunted the capacity to adapt of political parties and only served to undermine the legacy that was sought to be preserved through nepotism

OPINION | Uniform Civil Code: Constitutional vision, Supreme Court observations, and the current debate

On several occasions, the Court has drawn attention to the constitutional vision embodied in Article 44 and the importance of moving towards a common civil framework for all citizens 

OPINION | Reforming the WTO for a more complex world

Rather than merely reacting to proposals put forward by others, India could help shape a reform agenda that balances development priorities with the need for a modern and effective trading system 

OPINION | Can nations outsource security without losing their sovereignty?

Alliances may offer protection, but they can also import conflicts, rivalries and strategic compulsions that are not a nation’s own. The real test of sovereignty lies in whether a country can secure itself without becoming dependent on another power’s protection 

OPINION | The Creative Economy: Where imagination powers growth

From Jaipur to Davos, from Amritsar to the IPL — reflections on how culture, sport, and creativity are shaping India’s next economic frontier

OPINION | The great social media reckoning

With the Karnataka government announcement, India joins the global push to protect young minds

OPINION | Iran conflict showcases the brutal economic logic of drones, reshaping air defence planning globally

'Kamikaze' or one-way attack drones offer a compelling cost-to-effect ratio. The US has embraced this logic in its ongoing operations

OPINION | Chokepoint Hormuz is not just about oil; it’s also the vulnerable undersea digital corridor

The ongoing projectile war along the shores of the Persian Gulf has already sent crude oil price past the $100/barrel mark. But the invisible risk of this war is the network of undersea cable running through the strait that undergirds financial system 

OPINION | In the second week of the US-Israel-Iran war, the region confronts four known unknowns

US and Israel don’t appear to have the same political aims; Gulf Arabs aren’t getting air defence replenishments fast enough and Iran’s regime faces a succession dilemma that can undermine cohesion

OPINION | Opening Markets, Guarding Farmers: Balancing trade deals and agriculture

War in Iran could raise crude and fertiliser costs and disrupt exports to MENA. This could test India’s new FTAs as rising costs and disruptions threaten agricultural exports and farm trade surplus 

OPINION | Iran, US and AI: Why 2026 will test Indian foreign policy establishment

From regional projectile wars and global geopolitical churn to technological contestations, the Indian foreign policy establishment will have to redefine itself to deal with a world in disarray 

OPINION | RSS annual ABPS meeting to review plans during centenary year

RSSFACTS: RSS leaders will meet at Samalkha from 13 to 15 March to review organisational work discuss future plans and deliberate on initiatives during its centenary year

OPINION | Why attempting regime change in Iran through leadership decapitation is a fool’s errand

Leadership structure is diffused, providing the regime with a shock absorber when individuals are targeted. Moreover, strong ideological commitment makes it tough to engineer enough defections

How the Iran conflict has affected India’s maritime strategy

India may have no option but to rapidly scale its own merchant shipping fleet

OPINION | From AI pilots to enterprise platform transformation

Many companies remain stuck in AI pilots but real value will come when organisations redesign processes build platforms and scale AI across the enterprise

OPINION | CPM’s risky Bengal gambit of mainstreaming fringe parties tapping into Muslim disillusionment  

These parties have increased their tempo recently and TMC will be the loser if they succeed. Given the ideological influence Bangladesh’s Jamaat has on them, CPM risks a credibility crisis with this strategy 

OPINION | West Asia’s geopolitical tremors reinforce India’s swadeshi doctrine

Sanghnomics: Amid global instability, India is advancing disciplined Swadeshi. It is moving beyond import substitution. The focus is on building critical capacities. The aim is to protect economic sovereignty and engage global markets from a position of strength