Why have Modi’s rivals failed to challenge him? This survey of Indians’ religiosity has clues
Latest PEW survey on Indians and religion could be a handbook for the opposition as it struggles to understand why its message of secularism doesn’t have many takers.
Why Modi govt is suddenly ‘looking west’, talking to the Taliban and Pakistan
Talks with Taliban, J&K leaders, thaw with Pakistan are strategic imperatives for Modi govt. It can’t covet US as Quad ally in the east & work at counter-purposes with them in the west.
China’s Wuhan story unravels as world’s finest, including from India, nail Covid lab-leak proof
The global hunt for where the virus behind pandemic came from shows science, democracy and a sense of inquiry can overcome politics, ideology and omerta codes.
Sub-African India: Much of Africa is richer than us, has better indicators, while we diminish
As we resent B.1.617 being called ‘Indian variant’ or sneer at sub-Saharan Kenya’s Covid aid, think of the real embarrassment ahead unless our heartland changes.
Death and journalism: India’s Covid deaths are undercounted, but twice the Partition toll?
Last 3 months have been gravest period of national tragedy, and a lot of Indians have died, mostly avoidably. But an undercount of total deaths at a mass scale is tougher.
Can 2024 become more challenging for Modi? Yes, but it’s all up to Congress
Modi and Shah know Congress is the only likely challenger to them nationally, and the Gandhis are key to keeping it together. That’s why they need to be targeted ruthlessly.
By the rivers of the heartland & across Vindhyas, proof which politics sucks & which works
Politics & economics are at the heart of Covid tragedy in UP, Bihar. The regional imbalance in political power, economic & social indicators is deeply troublesome.
Modi govt is in denial & India is back to being a flailing state
Modi government didn’t strengthen the foundations of basic governance in the last 7 years. Now, the PM has retreated and ministers are failing, adding to the Covid disaster.
Mayday, Mayday — How Modi govt led India into a perfect storm
Triumphalism, premature declaration of victory meant no one checked if India had enough vaccines, oxygen, remdesivir, bringing us back to a crisis where we need foreign aid after four decades.
As Modi govt faces up to Covid disaster, BJP learns a tough truth — the virus doesn’t vote
Till February this year, Narendra Modi and the BJP were congratulating themselves on having avoided the tsunami of Covid. Now India is a hare in headlights.
Why the pandemic’s invisible deaths needs to be counted
A better grasp of the toll is vital to assess the precise, real-world impact of vaccines and other preventative measures, or to understand just how lethal variants have been.
Centre’s fiscal deficit stood at 18.2% of budget estimate for FY22 at end of June
In absolute terms, the fiscal deficit was at Rs 2,74,245 crore. For the current financial year, the government expects the fiscal deficit at 6.8% of GDP or Rs 15,06,812 crore.
Defence
12th India-China Corps Commander talks tomorrow, focus on ‘low-hanging fruits’ Gogra, Hot Springs
The India-China talks are expected to bring progress to the disengagement process in Gogra and Hot Springs, which was agreed upon by both sides last year.
Why Mizoram vs Assam is a BJP project to ‘integrate’ northeast gone wrong
Assam-Mizoram violence is an outcome of BJP trying too hard to ‘integrate’ distinct northeastern states. This has unleashed latent regionalism.