Opinion

Ian Buruma With the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico, in its knockout rounds, it’s now win or go home. But as more teams are eliminated and the field narrows, the tournament looks increasingly like a success, despite many...

By Ajit Ranade 27 June marked National MSME Day, bringing a wave of lavish tributes canonising small businesses as the “backbone” of employment, industrial production, and exports. A few days later on 1 July, the nation marked GST Day, commemorating the ninth anniversary of the...

Manica Balasegaram & Martin Fitchet   Despite delivering extraordinary gains in the fight against child mortality and diseases such as HIV, polio, and malaria, the global health system has come under strain not only from shrinking resources but also from unprecedented scrutiny and rising expectations....

Delhi's proposed EV-only policy is driven by noble intentions, but the risks are becoming a classic case of policy outrunning reality. Cleaner air is an imperative. Yet mandating a single technology while sidelining viable alternatives is neither economically prudent nor environmentally comprehensive. The policy effectively...

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, speaking at the first Global Progressive Mobilisation meeting in April, highlighted the connection between democracy and material dignity. If citizens do not believe that their lives will get better, democracy will continue to be challenged by populists and...

By Bhaskar Nath Biswal India’s life insurance industry, long hailed as a cornerstone of financial security and long-term savings, is facing a troubling paradox. While the sector boasts impressive premium growth and expanding reach, a rising tide of policy surrenders is undermining its very purpose....

An Island of 1,25,000 people drew the Indian Prime Minister for three days at the end of June. Was it just a goodwill visit, or more than it meets the eyes? One thing that is vindicated by this visit is that, in diplomacy, small is...

The recent controversy over thousands of errors in Odisha’s newly published school textbooks is far more than an editorial lapse. It highlights a deeper concern about the quality of school education and its role in shaping the nation's future. The Odisha government’s decision to investigate...

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak Why do you not dress like a teacher, lecturer, or professor? asked a well-meaning, innocent colleague who liked to dress up properly for different occasions. She asserted herself further by saying, "Dressing does not reduce your commie praxis. Stop dressing like...

By Dhurjati Mukherjee The recently released World Cities Report 2026 by UN-Habitat and World Urban Forum showed that 40% of the global population is affected by a housing crisis, with living conditions totally unsatisfactory, lacking access to water and sanitation. Housing prices increased faster than...