scorecardresearch
Sunday, July 20, 2025
HomeThe FinePrint

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

Fauja Singh’s death shows Indian roads remain a national emergency—474 lives lost every day

Fauja Singh, 114, died after being hit by a speeding car. His death renews questions about India’s deadly roads, rising accidents, and poor traffic discipline.

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.