India Today Magazine - March 17, 2025

In this issue

Highlights of India Today 17th March 2025 issue:

An in-depth look at how the Modi government is going all in to root out India's biggest internal security challenge, along with an exclusive interview with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Also in the issue, the North-South divide over delimitation, India AI push, Bollywood's year of sequels and a Q&A with chess Grandmaster Koneru Humpy.

A LANGUAGE BATTLE IN TAMIL NADU

In an intensifying confrontation between the Tamil Nadu government and the Centre, chief minister M.K. Stalin has reinforced his unequivocal opposition to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, declaring that the state will not implement it.

4 mins

IT'S ALL ABOUT MAYA

Behenji may be down, but not out. That is what the leaders and cadres of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have been telling themselves for the 13 years since Mayawati was last chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.

3 mins

THE POWER SHUFFLE

In politics, words can be weapons, but silence is often the sharpest blade. Barely a day after swearing in seven new ministers, all from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Bihar chief minister and Janata Dal (United) president Nitish Kumar made an appearance at a public gathering organised by another alliance partner—Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular)—at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan on February 28. What followed was an enactment of brevity.

3 mins

A COSTLY PREDICAMENT

The Bengaluru Palace, an iconic Tudor-style castle located in the heart of India's tech capital, has been the subject of a long-drawn legal battle. In 1996, the Karnataka government had enacted a law to take over the entire property—spread over 472 acres, dotted with trees and open vegetation—from the heirs of the Maharaja of Mysore.

2 mins

KASHMIR GETS A CLIMATE SCARE

It’s a miracle Kashmir calls its own—the mysterious appearance every year in February of the Vasak Nag stream during the urs (festival) of Sufi saint Syed Noor Shah Wali Baghdadi in Kund village of Kulgam district.

3 mins

SERVICE AT YOUR FINGER TIPS

For devotees heading to the Tirumala temple, booking darshan and stay and even offering donations will soon be as easy as, well, using WhatsApp. But that barely scratches the surface. A month after the Andhra Pradesh government launched 'WhatsApp Governance' for 161 civic services on January 30, the state is now poised to extend the rollout to more programmes.

2 mins

NEW OUTFIT DIVIDES DHAKA

Seven months after tumultuous events changed the course of the country, a new wind is picking up in Bangladesh’s pol- ity—and getting caught, right upon its birth, in its twisted arcs. On February 28, a grand political event at Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka marked the launch of the National Citizen Party (NCP), an outfit born out of the July 2024 student- led uprising that overthrew ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Given that backdrop, its inherent formative contra- dictions didn’t take long showing up.

3 mins

WINNING THE WAR

THE INSIDE STORY OF THE MODI GOVERNMENT'S DETERMINED BID TO END THE NAXAL THREAT, INDIA'S GREATEST INTERNAL SECURITY CHALLENGE

10+ mins

THE TIP OF THE SPEAR

IN India’s arsenal against Left-wing Extremism, the Naxal surrender policy has emerged as a crucial weapon. By providing Naxal cadres a peaceful exit, the policy has reduced insurgent numbers, disrupted leadership structures and logistical support, and yielded valuable intelligence for counter-insurgency operations. Over the past five years, nearly 3,000 rebels, including mid-level leaders, have surrendered in Chhattisgarh, significantly weakening Naxal influence in its last bastion.

2 mins

"We are telling the Naxals, it's either goli or boli”

Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai spoke to Raj Chengappa and Rahul Noronha on how his state has been tackling Naxalism. Excerpts:

1 min

"WE WILL FREE INDIA OF THE NAXAL THREAT BY MARCH 2026"

When Amit Shah took over as the Union Minister of Home in 2019, Left-wing Extremism was considered an even bigger threat than Jammu and Kashmir.

9 mins

The North-South DIVIDE

THE SOUTH'S RESISTANCE TO THE DELIMITATION EXERCISE-TO PRESERVE ITS POLITICAL VOICE, FEDERAL AUTONOMY, AND ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS-IS AT ODDS WITH THE NORTH'S CRIES OF UNDER-REPRESENTATION

8 mins

A Visionary Journey Towards Global Leadership

Highlighting the significance of giving infrastructure status to large ships, PM Modi said, Due to infrastructure status, the construction of big ships in India will be encouraged, the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan will get momentum and we all know that ship building is the sector that provides the most employment.

5 mins

VIKSIT BHARAT

POWERING GROWTH, SECURING THE FUTURE

9 mins

CHARTING NEW WATERS PARADIP PORT'S RISE AS INDIA'S CARGO LEADER

With unparalleled cargo handling growth, cutting-edge digital solutions, and sustainability-driven expansion, Paradip Port is redefining India's maritime landscape. Sh. P L Haranadh, Chairman of PPA, discusses the port's innovative approach to multimodal logistics, green hydrogen initiatives, and future-ready infrastructure in this insightful Q&A:

2 mins

THE WARRIORS OF MODI'S WATER MISSION

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for a water-secure India is being realized through bold reforms, conservation initiatives, and grassroots leadership. While initiatives such as Jal Jeevan Mission, Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch The Rain, Namami Gange, and Atal Bhujal Yojana are transforming water access, quality, and management, this water renaissance thrives on its silent soldiers who battle scarcity with resolve. As water warriors, some of whom were recognized with the National Water Awards, these custodians of a precious resource are proving that Jal Samridh Bharat is not just a dream but a movement.

6 mins

Pioneering a New Era of Indian Aviation

India's aviation sector is soaring to new heights, thanks to AAI's relentless focus on infrastructural expansion.

2 mins

ASSAM CHIPS IN FOR SEMICONDUCTORS

Once known for tea and oil, Assam is now poised to become India's semiconductor frontier. With Tata's Rs 27,000 crore plant, global partnerships, and massive investment inflows, the state is chipping in to power India's tech future.

4 mins

INDIA'S DEEPSEEK FOR ITS OWN AI

FROM LARGE LANGUAGE MODELS CATERING TO ITS LINGUISTIC DIVERSITY TO SOLUTION-DRIVEN AI AGENTS THAT CAN BE DEPLOYED ACROSS SECTORS, THE NATION LOOKS POISED TO RIDE THE NEXT-GEN INNOVATION WAVE BACKED BY THE GOVERNMENT’S RS 10,300 CRORE ‘INDIA AI MISSION’

6 mins

WHY EVERYONE LOVES A GOOD SEQUEL

BANKING ON PAST SUCCESS, BOLLYWOOD STUDIOS ARE MAKING FOLLOW-UP FEATURES AND ADDING TO FRANCHISES WITH GUSTO. BUT SUCCESS WITH SEQUELS COMES ONLY WHEN AUDIENCES ARE SERVED THEMATIC FRESHNESS

6 mins

BARIATRIC SURGERY

A Tailored Approach to Weight Loss and Metabolic Health

2 mins

URBAN ANGST

Sudhir Patwardhan's new solo is a visual meditation on the organised chaos of the city, and the grinding rites of passage its people must endure

3 mins

VISIONARY BUILDER

This biography of the eminent architect Charles Correa highlights his penchant for design innovation and a sense of social responsibility

2 mins

ART AND THE CITY

DAG's annual art and heritage festival will debut in Mumbai with a multi-site programme

2 mins

Magic of Modernism

In its inaugural exhibition, Celebrating the Modernists of Indian Art, Thapar Gallery in Delhi honours several pioneers

1 min

Period Drama

Ram Madhvani's SonyLIV series The Waking of a Nation uses the courtroom drama and investigative procedural tropes to depict the lead up to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre

2 mins

WOMAN POWER

Season 2 of the Tamil crime thriller series Suzhal, set against the backdrop of a vibrant local festival, features strong female characters

2 mins

GOT THE BLUES

The Soulful Blues Festival at the NCPA, Mumbai, is bringing major international performers to India

1 min

Playing In The Capital

The Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards have announced their top 10 nominated plays which will be staged in New Delhi

2 mins

MASTERLY MOVES

Women's World Rapid Chess champion KONERU HUMPY on her win and what lies ahead

1 min

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