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Tuesday, July 22, 2025
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The FinePrint

Dhruv Rathee’s question is wrong. Instead, ask what kind of non-democracy India is becoming

Dhruv Rathee’s viral video asks if India is becoming a dictatorship. The problem is that it is an over-stylised description that lets the present govt off the hook.

Once buzzing with development, Andhra’s ‘to-be’ capital Amaravati now lies in a heap of dashed hopes

In 2016, then CM Naidu decided to develop Amaravati as capital of bifurcated state but by 2019, most work was halted after Jagan Reddy-led govt came to power in Andhra Pradesh.

Dating apps fatigue sets in. Indian singles are now going for ‘meet-touch-feel’ mixers

In the wilderness of Bumble, Tinder and Hinge, many are disillusioned by endless swipes, ageism, ghosting, mismatched expectations, scams and dead-ends.

Political power play, ‘gang rivalry’ & a 600-sq-yard land — saga of Haryana INLD chief’s murder 

INLD’s Haryana chief’s killing in broad daylight earlier this week brought to light the rivalry between Bahadurgarh’s Rathees. At the heart of it was disputed a 640-sq-yard plot. 

Nawaz Sharif’s PM tenure shows Pakistani politicians can never solve country’s core problems

Nawaz Sharif encouraged corruption, undermined democratic institutions, and collaborated with Islamists.

Not all Hindu temples in Uttarakhand are free. But are they for tourists or pilgrims?

The BJP is spearheading temple freedom movements in southern states, but successive BJP-led governments have taken the opposite tack in Uttarakhand, with pushback from Hindu groups.

Ideology is dead. Rajya Sabha cross-voting shows politics is a livestock market now

I believed that getting rid of secret ballots ended the menace of money-fuelled Rajya Sabha elections. But this week’s polls show that we overestimated the dignity of some of our legislators.

Bhuj earthquake museum is transforming Gujarat’s tourism scene—7 lakh visitors and counting

Seven sprawling galleries–called Rebirth, Rediscover, Restore, Rebuild, Rethink, Relive and Renew–give insights into the history of the Kutch region, along with crash courses on disaster response.

How ‘NaMo Drone Didis’ are pushing past their limitations & transforming India’s rural landscapes

The ‘NaMo Drone Didi Initiative’ was announced by PM Modi on 15 August last year to train 15,000 women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in the use of agricultural drones.

Origins & evolution of BJP’s dalliance with Shia Muslims, the ‘minority within minority’

Traditionally, BJP’s outreach to Shias, who make up an estimated 15% of India's Muslim population, has been predicated on community’s religious leadership. But that is now changing.

On Camera

India’s TRP ecosystem needs a reset. Time to end BARC monopoly

A ratings monopoly in India has led to lack of technological variation, resulting in sluggish systems detached from market dynamics.

India-US set to ink mini trade deal soon, reach understanding on agricultural & dairy products

Mini deal will likely see no cut in 10% baseline tariff on Indian exports announced by Trump on 2 April, it is learnt, but additional 26% tariffs are set to be reduced.

Not just AK-203, India & Russia to jointly manufacture AK-19 and PPK-20 for domestic use and export 

India-Russia JV is also racing to deliver 7,000 more AK-203 assault rifles by 15 Aug. These are currently being made with 50% indigenisation and this will surge to 100% by 31 December.

Strategic partner one day, tactical nightmare the next: India’s learning Trumplomacy the hard way

Public, loud, upfront, filled with impropriety and high praise sometimes laced with insults. This is what we call Trumplomacy. But the larger objective is the same: American supremacy.