Opinion

By Carl Bildt It was once common to speak of a “liberal international order.” Even if the accompanying institutional arrangements were not always entirely liberal, international, or orderly, the label had its uses. After all, the purpose of an ideal is not to describe reality,...

By Rajdeep Sardesai We live in the Instagram-reel age, where a short, sharp sound bite on video resonates far more than an erudite debate. That partly explains why, on counting day in Bihar, a clip of mine—blowing a whistle and remarking that Prashant Kishor had...

By Sonia Guajajara This year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, has been eagerly awaited worldwide. A COP in the Amazon raises expectations for all those who recognize the urgency of climate change and its impact on our lives and environment. That...

By Dhurjati Mukherjee India’s trade outlook is a subject of much discussion due to the changing and uncertain geopolitical conditions. The government is quite worried about the matter and has rightly decided to clear the Rs 25,000 crore Export Promotion Mission as well as the...

By Ashyashree Praharaj It is often said that while the world was still learning to walk, Indian civilisation was already running. Before politics, philosophy, or science became formal disciplines globally, the Indian subcontinent was a centre for organised urban growth, artistic endeavours, spiritual discovery, and...

By Aminata Touré & Kevin Casas-Zamora Democracy is in trouble. For nine consecutive years, more countries have suffered a weakening of democratic institutions than have experienced improvement — the longest such decline in a half-century. Around the world, citizens are losing faith in democracy, and...

By Nikhilanand Panigrahy The foresight of Nobel laureate George Bernard Shaw is reflected in the quote, “Science has solved no problem without creating ten more.” For this reason, one might say that while science successfully remedies a difficult issue or crisis, it simultaneously creates a...

By DK Giri   Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on a two-day visit to the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. This was a short visit with long-term objectives. Bhutan is strategically critical for India as a buffer against China. The key highlight of the visit was...

By Melvin Durai If you know the names of your neighbours and have a good relationship with them, consider yourself lucky. My wife, Malathi, and I certainly do. We have such a good relationship with our neighbours that they don’t think twice about coming to...

By Agnes Dasewicz This year marks a historic milestone: for the first time, global renewable-energy production has surpassed coal. In the first half of 2025, renewables accounted for more than 34% of the world’s electricity, while coal’s share fell to just above 33%. Notably, these...