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Friday, April 17, 2026
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The FinePrint

1800s Kolkata is key to Modi’s Act East policy. It needs imagination, not just bureaucracy

A globalised India is a project of imagination. It must model itself after 19th century Kolkata, as it seeks to integrate with the economic powerhouses to its East.

America, your Natural History museum has a problem. ‘Hall of Asian Peoples’ is a hall of shame

Every day, the New York City’s American Museum of Natural History, a popular school trip destination, exposes children to racist depictions that enable hate crimes against Asian Americans.

‘Our cases mustn’t be forgotten.’ Wives of men killed by gau rakshaks stitch their lives back

Parmeena has retreated into a shell of silence, Sajida has found her voice. She has opened a shop now and leads the legal battle for victims of Hindu cow vigilantism.

Cabinet & home secretaries to CBDT & IB chiefs — Modi govt’s penchant for extensions to top officials

Since 2nd term, Modi govt has retained top civil servants beyond retirement for ‘continuity in policymaking’. But extensions are also being seen as service rule violations & demoralising.

How Buddhists lost out to Brahmins in Nalanda. Even before the Turks came

Nalanda started losing importance by the 11th century, with rulers determining that Brahmin settlements were far more useful than Buddhist monasteries. Brahmins were willing to work as a state cadre, whereas Buddhist monks would not.

Delhi’s tanker mafia begins from Jal Board borewells—pipes, profits, politics

Delhi's private tanker mafia is exploiting every avenue to meet the rising demand. Siphoning water from Jal Board is less risky than extracting it from Yauma or diverting it from canals in Haryana.

The Imperial Prime Ministership is beginning to seem much less Imperial these days

BJP leadership is smart enough to recognise how vindictive CBI arrest of Arvind Kejriwal or Delhi L-G permission to prosecute Arundhati Roy looks. But it doesn’t care. The message is clear: will come after you and will get you somehow.

On ground zero in Italy, voices rise against ‘Capo’ system after death of farm worker from Punjab

Satnam Singh who entered Italy illegally died after his arm was amputated by machine while at work. His employer has been accused of gross negligence that led to his death.

I worked to reform CBSE’s testing system. NTA can learn from it—Anil Swarup

CBSE has more than 16 full-fledged regional offices in the country manned by permanent employees. These regional offices monitor every aspect of exams, from transportation to selection of exam centres, custodians, invigilators, and evaluation.

Pimpri Chinchwad vs 310 women waste pickers—a 12-year battle, a trade union & Rs 7.5 cr

The women were often villainised in court. The corporation’s lawyer even accused the women of being thieves. But after the verdict, they were upheld as integral to the city’s clean civic image.

On Camera

The inherited intolerance of ‘my-god-the-only-god’. Why peace fails

Over millennia, men, social groups, and countries have fought over land, resources, women, even honour, but the arrival of Abrahamic monotheism brought in a...

Indian LNG importers accelerate spot market purchases as prices dip

The purchases mark a turnaround after Indian buyers had earlier limited spot buying and canceled tenders because offers were too expensive.

Why Siliguri Corridor is strategically important for India & how it is being secured | Cut The Clutter

This special edition of Cut The Clutter, straight from the Siliguri corridor, details the strategic importance of the narrow strip of land in West Bengal, and how it’s a vital link connecting the Northeast to the rest of India.

The world’s in a flux. India must reform, consolidate & build a strong economy

We now live in a world order that will keep shifting. India must use this window. This also means we remain disciplined enough not to be knee-jerked into reacting to what Pakistan sees as its moment in the sun.