scorecardresearch
Add as a preferred source on Google
Thursday, February 5, 2026
HomeOpinion

Opinion

Why Indian liberals respect Mamata—she’s a politician challenging their defeatist consensus

Secularism may be a tired, washed-out concept in much of India, but in Mamata Banerjee’s Bengal, it still reigns in all its majesty.

How much does Trump really know about Iran?

Israel sees Iran as an existential threat. But the US, Turkey & Gulf states fear refugee flows or attacks on oil sites. These countries need a stable end-state for the whole region over more strikes.

China’s manufacturing isn’t declining, it is moving from scale to value creation

Within Chinese discourse, manufacturing is portrayed as facing real but manageable challenges.

Why India’s science and research ecosystem is failing its global ambitions

Students often lack exposure to seminars, discussions, & active researchers. Faculty engagement in sustained, high-impact research is limited, especially at the college level.

I fought alongside Bangladeshi Hindus in 1971 War. Their suffering is a national emergency

Friends depart their homeland quietly, bearing broken hopes, writes a Bangladeshi freedom fighter.

Why Rahul Gandhi wasn’t allowed to read an excerpt from General Naravane’s memoir

General MM Naravane’s memoir—Four Stars of Destiny—reveals that he was left hanging by political leadership for more than two hours as Chinese tanks drove towards Indian positions.

How neo-casteists set up a symphony orchestra to make UGC equity guidelines fail

In the Indian education system, neo-casteism encompasses many forms of caste-based profiling, manipulation of nomenclature, political rigmaroles, and fearmongering.

The era of critical-minerals shortages is behind us. Era of gluts about to dawn

Size of Trump’s new $12 bn 'Project Vault' stockpile goes well beyond the wildest expectations, or indeed needs, of the critical minerals sector.

Don’t ask what to do with boys who rape. Ask what turned them into assaulters in the first place

Young boys who should be sweating about schoolwork are learning how to corner women. Are we now supposed to add children to the list of people we need to protect ourselves from?

Increase in STT is small but it signals a shift in how India views risk

For long-term investors and for institutional entities with substantial balance sheets, the effect is marginal. The primary burden is borne by high-frequency retail traders.

On Camera

India lived in ancient Europe as a positive ‘Other’. Ties are way older than colonialism

Stories of Indian spices, beasts, saints, and kings fired the European imagination for a thousand years. India anchored Europe’s sense of the world.

RBI policy rate decision Friday, US trade deal dashes hope of cut

Majority of 39 economists surveyed by Bloomberg expect the central bank to keep its benchmark repurchase rate unchanged at 5.25%.

Trade deal sorted, India & US move on to pending defence pacts—P-8I aircraft first, engines next

Defence Acquisition Council likely to take up P-8I procurement, cleared in 2019, in third week this month. Proposed joint production of GE F414-INS6 engine also on agenda.

Swiss report should now close Op Sindoor debate. Knowing when to stop the fight is key too

The key to fighting a war successfully, or even launching it, is a clear objective. That’s an entirely political call. It isn’t emotional or purely military.