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The FinePrint

Shah’s right, India lacks formal defence policy. Past govts were busy avoiding liability

From Pulwama to Uri, the Modi-Shah team claim India’s defence policy is exemplar. But a formal defence policy does not exist.

India’s liberals must decide: Oppose UCC because of BJP or uphold secular principles?

My fear is that secular liberals, disgusted by the Hindu triumphalism that will probably accompany the Uniform Civil Code, will forget their secularism and oppose the move.

Aurangabad or Sambhajinagar? Far from Kashi, communal politics simmers in Aurangzeb’s capital

Ahead of civic body polls, Shiv Sena’s decades-long quest to have Aurangabad renamed to Sambhajinagar has made a comeback in mainstream Maharashtra politics.

Sri Lanka wasn’t India’s backwater. Just look at its violent, religious medieval history

In some ways, Sri Lanka’s history is a laboratory where we can observe trends — from medieval state formation to modern religious and ethnic nationalism.

Crime, cult status, young death — Moose Wala killing brings focus on Punjab’s brutal gang feuds

‘Gang culture’ has existed in Punjab for decades and has been difficult to shake despite clampdowns by the police. Viral songs and social media warfare are increasing its reach.

India is seeing its worst ‘edu-cide’. First survey after Covid shows

The education gap in India only seems to be widening, and lockdown-induced school closure has only made matters worse.

Sex workers welcome SC order against abuse, but fear of police runs deep

A Supreme Court order has legally empowered India's sex workers, but decades of police and societal abuse means ingrained cynicism and fear aren't going go away overnight.

Indian drivers are experiencing a ‘myopia epidemic’ — large numbers just can’t see properly

Poor eyesight is a major problem among Indian drivers. Forty per cent need corrective glasses, while another 5 per cent need urgent treatment for cataract.

LIC isn’t alone, shares of half the PSUs that went public since 2010 trading below IPO price

Only seven of 22 PSU stocks are currently trading at double their issue price. LIC, the much-awaited IPO, managed to garner Rs 20,560 crore.

Shiv Sena in a bind as old debate erupts at new location for big-ticket Konkan refinery

Shiv Sena wants to shift Rs 3 lakh crore Ratnagiri refinery project to Barsu-Dhopeshwar after getting it scrapped in Nanar. But, ‘environment’ and ‘sons of soil’ are issues here too.

On Camera

Postcards from Hyderabad—stories Europeans told about the city

For all their colonial underpinnings, postcards from Hyderabad also inadvertently preserve a trace of local memory: a glimpse of a street, a face, a forgotten name.

Navigating Trump’s tariffs is no child’s play. Indian toymakers are losing out on orders, enquiries

Indian toymakers are now exploring new markets, but they want govt to negotiate a trade deal with US soon, introduce incentives and subsidies to make the industry more competitive.

What is Project Sudarshan Chakra, announced by Modi from ramparts of Red Fort

The project is meant to be a ‘protective shield that will keep expanding’, the PM said. It is on the lines of the ‘Golden Dome’ announced by Trump, it is learnt.

War of IAF, PAF doctrines: As Pakistan obsesses over numbers, India embraces risk, wins

Now that both IAF and PAF have made formal claims of having shot down the other’s aircraft in the 87-hour war in May, we can ask a larger question: do such numbers really matter?