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Thursday, April 9, 2026
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The FinePrint

The history of Indian caste censuses is the history of Indian statecraft

By the 18th century, Maratha dominions and other Indian states had developed fairly detailed caste enumerations, used to regulate hierarchies and impose differential taxation and privileges.

Helicopters are Kedarnath pilgrims’ favoured transport. It’s also the most dangerous

The demand for helicopter services exceeds the supply by three or four times. This mismatch has given rise to a ticket black market and cybercriminals selling fake tickets.

Born out of ‘desperation’, DRG is first line against Maoists in Bastar. Tech is giving them an edge

Narayanpur/Jagdalpur/Dantewada: Nearly half a dozen security personnel in camouflage uniform are locked on mobile phones in a well-lit room, minutes after the sun sets in...

Ahmadiyyas in Kashmir are branded as kafirs, boycotted, spat at. They hide, pass as Sunnis

India recognises them as Muslims, but ‘other Muslims treat us like untouchables’.

How Op Sindoor fog, a hoax & Nitish tweet spun S-400 myth. Worsened soldier widow’s trauma

Journalistic errors, officials' misjudgment and political impetuosity spawned a rumour that Sepoy Rambabu Kumar Singh died operating an S-400 system. Facts show this is impossible.

Iran and Israel are fighting their demons, not a war. They are prisoners of their nightmares

The world needs leaders awake to the abyss that lies ahead of this Israel-Iran war. But there are no signs of any, not in Tehran or Tel Aviv, nor in Washington.

Behind the scenes of Gujarat’s Air India crash response—4 IAS officers, 36 DNA experts & 230 teams

Gujarat government has mobilised nearly the entire state machinery in response to the 12 June AI 171 crash that left 242 people onboard the aircraft—except one—dead.

AK-47s, Quran verses, lovers’ names —the tattoos Kashmiris are rushing to remove

Separated by a Srinagar graveyard, Basit Bashir and Ahmed Hassan are at opposite ends of the push and pull between tradition and rebellion in Kashmir. One makes tattoos, the other removes them.

Indian mangoes land in America and become ‘ticking time bombs’

Hello DC folks, I have Alphonso, Kesar & Rasalu—Indian mangoes are entering the US through WhatsApp.

A Haryana village is fighting ASI. A Mahabharata-era excavation is at stake

The ASI claims Theh Polar village could be the site of a settlement destroyed in the battle between Pandavas and Kauravas. Villagers fled Pakistan during Partition and settled here.

On Camera

India has 291 homoeopathic colleges in 2026, says Minister of Ayush Prataprao Jadhav

The World Homoeopathy Day 2026 is an opportunity to reassure that traditional medical systems remain accessible, and integral to a resilient, inclusive, and future-ready healthcare system.

Data centre gold rush risks blackouts, central electricity body warns states against tripping grids

India’s fast-growing data centre sector may strain state electricity networks; Central Electricity Authority has urged Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu to boost capacity.

Theaterisation in play: Air Headquarters to control strategic assets  

Exclusive: Theaterisation proposal has been stuck over how limited air assets would be divided. Consensus reached on division of air assets among 3 theatres, it is learnt.

China insulated itself against energy shocks. India is ‘all talk, no walk’

China patiently invested capital, skill and technology in coal gasification. Unlike it, we won’t move from words to action. As crude prices decline, we lose interest.