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Friday, April 3, 2026
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The FinePrint

From front bencher to ‘X factor’ in Bihar: The trajectory of ‘Tu-Tu Bhai’ Prashant Kishor

A topper in school, Prashant Kishor is still aiming high, his Jan Suraaj party is contesting 238 of Bihar’s 243 seats. His ancestral village in Rohtas awaits his return.

Shafali Verma is Rohtak’s favourite daughter. Inspiring girls like Sachin Tendulkar did

At Shafali Varma’s home in Rohtak, guests keep pouring in to congratulate the family. The common refrain is ‘Beti ne naam roshan kar diya’— a daughter has done us all proud.

In India, pushing through a policy is easier than changing a culture. Period

Karnataka’s menstrual leave policy is worthy of applause. But it exists in a country where menstruating women can be stripped and humiliated any time, without a hiccup.

Bulldozers demolish ‘Connaught Place’ of Meerut. A story of master plan vs organic markets

Shastri Nagar market grew and thrived in Meerut for over three decades until a Supreme Court order brought in the bulldozers. Some call it illegal, others call it ‘organic’.

Bihar’s Buxar ethanol plant is BJP election postcard. Is it changing lives?

It's small beginning but a big win for the Bihar story. And politicians are desperately using it to show that the turnaround has begun. It’s been a long time coming.

How is ‘Vikas Raj’ going in Bihar? Roads shining, cracks in classrooms, clinics

After 20 years of Nitish rule, Bihar remains India’s worst-performing state overall, ranking among the lowest in health and education despite massive budget increases.

Anant Singh vs Suraj Bhan: Enduring relevance of Mokama strongmen in Lalu & Nitish’s race to win Bihar

Mokama has a bloody history of crime & politics. Gunfire, stone pelting between political opponents are commonplace, and a Jan Suraaj supporter’s killing has marked a new chapter.

War was the norm between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Asim Munir is bringing it back

Pakistan massively enhanced the funding for Islamists in Afghanistan, hoping to bury ethnic nationalism. That strategy has now backfired spectacularly.

‘How to talk about ladies’ problem?’ Rohtak is silent after MDU demands photo of periods

Students learned about the incident through a video clip showing workers and activists questioning the assistant registrar. But the message did not ignite any conversation.

Pregnant & ‘ziddi’—Delhi Police constable fought Indian mindset to win powerlifting medal

‘My family told me I was running against the tide,' Sonika Yadav said. 'They told me sports arenas are meant for children, and not grown up women like me.'

On Camera

Pam Bondi’s firing is good news. Now, US Senate must stand up for DOJ

Bondi’s missteps hastened her exit, but her departure offers a reset. The Senate must not rubber-stamp Trump’s pick and should demand an attorney general committed to DOJ independence.

SEBI proposes return of open market share buybacks to support stocks

Regulator seeks feedback on allowing firms to repurchase shares via exchanges after tax changes, as markets reel from war-led selloff and foreign outflows.

South Korea’s Cheongung-II missile system makes its mark in West Asia war. Here’s why

UAE has been using this defence system, which is similar to America's Patriots, against Iranian missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Gulf war exposed India’s fragilities. It’s time for navel-gazing, in the national interest

It’s easy to understand why the government can’t speak the hard truth. When this war ends, as all wars do, India’s interests will lie with both the winner and the loser.