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Monday, December 15, 2025
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StateDraft

Families hopeful as Kamathipura finally on brink of a makeover. But sex workers have no place in it

Mumbai: Gritty women dressed in bright saris or salwars walking down narrow alleys, their faces painted with garish make-up, flowers in their hair. Lecherous...

The Thevar factor in southern Tamil Nadu & how DMK, AIADMK have harnessed it for electoral gains

Traditionally an AIADMK votebank, the Thevars are now seen to be moving towards DMK. While they may influence how other communities vote, are they numerically strong enough to play kingmaker?

How Centre’s downsizing of Panjab University Senate has sparked larger debate on democracy & federalism

With PU's top decision-making Syndicate to function without elections, it marks control of Centre over 142-year-old university. The Senate’s strength is down from 90 to 24 members.

Punjab’s war on drugs fell victim to abuse. 8 years on, an overhaul begins

2016 survey estimated that 15.4% of Punjab's population was engaged in substance use. Latest NCRB report says state recorded highest no. of overdose deaths for 2nd straight year in 2023.

Rise of Murlidhar Mohol, Modi’s minister & former wrestler now grappling with Jain land row

BJP is keeping its distance from the controversy involving Murlidhar Mohol as it finds itself dealing with weight of alliance and risk of alienating Jains, a traditional support base.

How handover of Guru Gobind Singh’s ‘Jore Sahib’ has put spotlight on scattered relics of Sikh Gurus

Scholars say many of these relics, especially those in private hands, are at risk of getting lost or damaged without systematic documentation.

The hardliner BJP underestimated: Medha Kulkarni’s journey from sidelined MLA to Hindutva MP

BJP's Medha Kulkarni, now Rajya Sabha MP, came under the spotlight recently for her ‘gaumutra’ protest at ‘Shaniwarwada’ after a video showed women offering ‘namaz’ at the site.

Combining easy commute & tourism, Kochi Water Metro is redefining urban transport—not just in Kerala

Air-conditioned boats plying between mainland & city’s island towns have added a new dimension to travel. Other states are collaborating with Kochi Metro Rail to implement similar systems.

Gen Dyer to Advani & Rahul Gandhi: How SGPC has dealt with award of ‘Siropa’, highest Sikh honour

As SGPC acts against gurdwara staff for ‘disrespecting protocol of felicitation’ while giving siropa to Congress leader, experts on Sikhism say siropa has to be ‘earned with merit’.

Punjab simmers as 5-year-old boy’s rape-murder deepens Punjabi vs ‘parvasi’ fault lines

Panchayats in Hoshiarpur have passed resolutions asking migrant workers to move to outskirts of village. Skirmishes were also reported between Punjabis and ‘parvasis’ in parts of Punjab.

On Camera

Why district judges almost never make it to India’s Supreme Court

Indian judiciary has a corrosive imbalance between the bar and the bench. Those who supervise the district judiciary do so without the lived experience that is essential for meaningful reform.

Rupee’s turmoil has echoes of 2013

With the US-India trade deal yet to get done, rupee depreciation may be helping to mitigate India’s loss of competitiveness. The other problem is extreme despondence among overseas equity investors.

US clears $686-mn package to breathe fresh life into Pakistani F-16s

Of the total package, $649 million will be utilised for additional hardware, software, and support services, and the remaining for Major Defence Equipment (MDE).

India’s top airline just handed sarkar the keys. That’s IndiGo’s real ‘crime’

Don’t blame misfortune. This is colossal incompetence and insensitivity. So bad, heads would have rolled even in the old PSU-era Indian Airlines and Air India.