Politics

Opposition in the political arena and from civil society made the state government withdraw the order to schools to celebrate December 6, a day that evokes diametrically opposite reactions. It’s a sign of the changing nature of the BJP in the post-Vasundhara Raje era 

OPINION | West Bengal Polls 2026: SIR politics and voter purges raise new risks for Mamata Banerjee

The SIR-driven voter purge has intensified political tensions in Bengal, giving the BJP a new narrative while allowing Mamata Banerjee to rally supporters. Yet the exercise risks alienating key communities and may not significantly erode TMC’s core base

OPINION | ‘Fraud-stack’ can’t be defeated by front-door surveillance

India’s rising digital-fraud epidemic is pushing policymakers towards extreme fixes, including a proposal to keep satellite location tracking permanently switched on in every smartphone sold in the country. But combating crime cannot mean converting an entire nation into traceable dots on a map, which might just end societal trust at scalek

OPINION | Balasaheb Deoras: Key architect of RSS’ 100-year legacy

RSSFACTS: Balasaheb Deoras, the third Sarsanghchalak of RSS, shaped the organisation’s growth, championed social equality, introduced key reforms like morning shakhas, and left a lasting impact on RSS’ structure and outreach

OPINION | Putin’s Delhi visit will strengthen bilateral ties

The outbreak of war in Ukraine and Russia’s isolation by the West created an opportunity for enhanced cooperation with India. That was seized and notwithstanding Trump’s threats, bilateral ties are set to deepen

OPINION | An exchange rate modified inflation target is called for

Such a policy can be operationalized by adding a quantitative clause to whatever inflation target measure or formula mandated

OPINION | India’s battle against terror will continue to be a cat-and-mouse game

Security successes in J&K have pushed terrorists to other parts of the country. With Pakistan using terror as a strategic tool, India needs to factor in its relations with neighbours and the US in dealing with this threat

OPINION | E-commerce exports emerge as another engine of growth

India’s goal of $200 billion in e-commerce exports by 2030 is increasingly realistic as digital channels deepen MSME participation in global value chains

OPINION | City of Lakes, City of Loss: Remembering and reclaiming Bhopal

Forty-one years ago, the world’s worst industrial accident occurred this month in Bhopal. It catalysed the creation of a legal framework that made environment quality the focal point. Yet, as a Bhopalite observes, we are still a distance away from confidently saying “never again”

OPINION | EU–India FTA: Why structure must trump tariffs 

In today’s global economy, tariffs are no longer the decisive factor. Tax regimes and governance standards determine whether businesses can operate with predictability and trust 

OPINION | IMF’s C Grade and India’s Economic Resilience: A closer look

The IMF retains a ‘C’ grade for India's GDP data due to some shortcomings, yet praises India’s impressive 8.2% GDP growth, fiscal management, digital infrastructure, and robust job creation under Modi’s leadership

OPINION | RBI Policy: The case for a rate cut

The MPC’s challenge will be to weigh strong real GDP growth prints against relatively weak nominal growth, alongside inflation running below the RBI’s lower bound of the 2–6% target range. A 25 basis points cut in the repo rate appears prudent

OPINION | Congress’ Karnataka leadership crisis leaves the party in a catch-22 situation

Siddaramaiah-Shivakumar rivalry over the office of CM leaves the national leadership in an unenviable situation. Both leaders command a support base that the party cannot afford to lose. Therefore, a decision to settle the issue could damage the party’s prospects

OPINION | Two Constitutional dramas, one deep anxiety

As the Supreme Court refuses to impose timelines on Governors but warns against constitutional paralysis, and as the Telangana Speaker faces possible contempt for declining to decide defections, the Republic confronts an uncomfortable truth. Constitutional silence, once a gesture of restraint, is increasingly becoming a method of power 

OPINION | BMS backs labour codes, marking major reform shift

Sanghnomics: The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh supports the Modi government’s new Labour Codes, which modernise outdated laws, expand wage and social security coverage, and introduce protections for gig and unorganised workers nationwide

OPINION | India’s farmers and their tryst with the golden grain

Contrary to initial forecasts, maize has overtaken sugarcane as the primary source of ethanol. It’s pushed up acreage under the crop but returns to farmers haven’t been commensurate. This situation should catalyse policy makers to revisit their package of incentives

OPINION | Supreme Court to reconsider plea for reviving NJAC system

Reform of the Collegium system should prioritise efficiency, transparency, and accountability, avoiding power struggles and ensuring judicial independence in appointments

OPINION | Broad-based growth puts India in a domestic sweet spot

A stunning growth rate of 8.0% in the first half of the year, despite global headwinds, higher US tariffs on Indian exports, and volatility in capital flows, highlights the underlying strength of robust private consumption and investment

OPINION | Growth surprises on the upside again; chance of rate cut recedes

GDP topped 8% in July-September quarter, the first such occasion in five quarters. The underlying economic momentum will influence RBI’s monetary policy committee

OPINION | Bihar’s pre-election political economy will eventually victimise women

Women proved they can decide who forms the government. The question now is whether anyone can stop governments from mortgaging their future to buy their consent, one bank alert at a time 

OPINION | When brands use apologies casually, credibility is the real casualty

What began as a creative hack to grab attention has quickly become a gimmick. And like all gimmicks, it risks trivialising something important

OPINION | The perennial debate over the role of a governor

Supreme Court’s recent verdict which removed timelines for a governor to clear Bills passed by state assemblies showcased the controversial role of the office from the very beginning

OPINION | Computer science cannot rely on jugaad for real-world reliability

India’s reliance on jugaad in computing leads to fragile, unreliable systems. True progress requires rigorous computer science education, formal reasoning, and principled design instead of improvisation and shortcuts 

OPINION | Asim Munir’s constitutional coup leaves him with a target on his back

The most significant changes are the subordination of all arms of the military to the Pakistan army, and the concentration of power in an individual rather than the institution. The country’s history shows that meaningful opposition to such an arrangement will come from within the military rather than civilian actors

OPINION | The Labour Codes: To wait or not is the dilemma

States need to notify new rules that are in sync with the Codes. In the interim, the Codes can be partly implemented under the existing rules. This transition phase is likely to lead to an uncertain operating environment as the Codes’ provisions on gratuity payments and contract hiring may trigger big changes