CATEGORIES

WHY SUKHBIR BROKE FREE

On October 1, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal launched tractor rallies to Chandigarh from the three holiest seats of Sikhism in Punjab— Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib, Akal Takht Sahib in Amritsar and Takht Sri Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo—against the Centre’s new farm laws, over which his party walked out of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on September 26.

BJP'S PLAN B?

The race for Bihar has suddenly opened up, just weeks ahead of a three-phase assembly election, which gets under way on October 28. The NDA alliance is officially riven, with Chirag Paswan of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) deciding to categorically back the BJP even while declaring war against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) or JD(U).

A HORROR FILM OF ITS OWN

The industry withdraws into a shell as allegations of drug abuse and nepotism are levelled against it

How Private Are Your WhatsApp Chats?

Everything you need to know about how your messages can be tapped, cloned or hacked and what you can do to protect yourself

TEJASHWI'S CROSS TO BEAR

The RJD scion is trying to set a new political narrative for his party and the state, but the JD(U)-BJP alliance will not let him live down memories of Lalu raj

THE MISSING TOURIST

With international tourists unlikely to visit this year, the state is trying to attract domestic travellers—but with restrictions still in place and fearful locals not warming to the idea, it will be a hard year

FOR THE RECORD

A national health ID, with portable patient data, seems a big milestone in public healthcare, but challenges such as full integration, the lack of privacy safeguards and the risk of data misuse remain

SECURING YOUR HOME

A home insurance policy will prove to be a blessing if your house suffers damage in a natural disaster or you lose precious belongings to theft

The Artful Diplomat

JASWANT SINGH 1938­ - 2020

READY FOR TAKE-OFF?

THE NEW ‘TEAM BJP’ HAS QUITE A CHALLENGE ON ITS HANDS

CORPORATE CONUNDRUM

THE CENTRE SAYS THE ORDNANCE FACTORY BOARD’S 41 FACTORIES ARE DENS OF INEFFICIENCY AND NEED TO BE CORPORATISED. BUT THE REMEDY COULD PROVE WORSE THAN THE DISEASE

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

HATHRAS GANG - RAPE

ALARM BELLS IN PANNA

BIG CAT POACHING

Narendra Modi Plans To Transform The Bureaucracy Into A Future-Ready Service

Mission Karmayogi, PM Modi’s most ambitious programme yet to reform the bureaucracy, aims to transform it into a future-ready service

Short-Circuiting Parliament

On September 20, Parliament passed two contentious farm bills—Farmers’ Produce Trade & Commerce (Prom­otion & Facilitation) Bill and the Farmers’ (Empowerment & Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance & Farm Services Bill.

A War Of Attrition

Partisan governors and their increasingly fraught relationship with the chief ministers are now a regular feature in opposition-ruled states. It is time the gubernatorial role and the criteria of selection are clearly defined

How To Break The Impasse

The gridlock in eastern Ladakh is total, and the border crisis between India and China seems to have hit a cul-de-sac.

THE POLITICS OF MSP

Three highly contentious farm bills made their way through the Rajya Sabha between September 20 and 22, amid vociferous political opposition and farmer protests in the country.

THE SECOND WAVE

With cases of Covid reinfections surfacing in the country, is India’s low case fatality rate (CFR) really any cause for comfort?

SHOOTING BLUES

With many testing positive for Covid, and elderly actors and crew in the mix, the resumption of work in the entertainment industry has been marked with a shiver of fear

THE PASWAN FACTOR

THE YOUNG PASWAN SCION IS SEEKING TO CARVE A SPACE FOR HIMSELF IN REGIONAL POLITICS, AND IS UNWILLING TO CONCEDE THE LJP’S SHARE OF SEATS TO NITISH AND THE JD(U)

FRACTURED LEGACY

THE RULING AIADMK AND JAYALALITHAA’S ESTRANGED HEIRS BATTLE FOR CONTROL OF THE LATE CM’S ICONIC RESIDENCE, VEDA NILAYAM

Uddhav Thackeray In The Eye Of A Storm

CM Uddhav Thackeray is under fire as Maharashtra struggles to contain the pandemic and revive industrial growth in the state. The poor handling of the Sushant Singh Rajput case has done him no favours

Why Social Media Wants You Angry

How the business models of social media platforms thrive on anger, hatred and the divisive fake narratives often spread by political parties

THE BATTLE OF ALLIANCES

The NDA goes into the Bihar election as the clear favourite, buoyed by Nitish’s credibility and thanks to the disarray in an RJD-(mis)led opposition. But it needs to quickly iron out differences among its two main constituents over seat distribution

IN THE LEFT LANE

On August 5, Debesh Das, a minister in the erstwhile Left Front government in West Bengal, received an unexpected phone call.

A BREAKDOWN OF TRUST

Three years after India began implementing a bold new, if still undercooked, Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime on July 1, 2017, a hard-won agreement between the Centre and states on the terms of transition is being severely tested.

The Cold War In Ladakh

As the India-China standoff near winter, the armed forces ramp up abilities to sustain themselves through it. Who will win the game of logistics?

Should India Make Cannabis Legal?

Given its widespread use and the ancient and well-established culture of marijuana consumption in this country, it’s time for a conversation on decriminalising the drug

TWO LEADERS AND AN ELECTION

MADHYA PRADESH BY POLLS