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Distantly Close: Congress must find a clear response to BJP's Ram-Roti narrative

  • The chintan shivir marked the inauguration of much-needed reflection in the party. But execution is key and hard questions remain
Rahul Gandhi, Udaipur. There’s a pertinent lesson here for Rahul Gandhi who in his Udaipur address sought to discount the relevance of regional parties to showcase the Congress as the sole ideological bulwark against the BJP. (PTI)
Rahul Gandhi, Udaipur. There’s a pertinent lesson here for Rahul Gandhi who in his Udaipur address sought to discount the relevance of regional parties to showcase the Congress as the sole ideological bulwark against the BJP. (PTI)
Published on May 17, 2022 09:53 PM IST
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By Vinod Sharma
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How to insulate the police from politics

A few good men need to stand together to question appointments, cases of arbitrary arrests, fight for honest policemen, and reflect on the rule of law and the future of our democracy
All operational posts in the police are under the scanner of the political executive. In most states, the ruling party cadre wields influence over the police working in their areas (Shutterstock)
All operational posts in the police are under the scanner of the political executive. In most states, the ruling party cadre wields influence over the police working in their areas (Shutterstock)
Updated on May 17, 2022 09:23 PM IST
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ByYashovardhan Azad
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Multiple crises and the cost of wasted time

We have reached where we are after two billion years of evolution from the slime of the primeval ocean and are moving steadily into Artificial Intelligence. However, at the moment, the negative factors would seem to be overwhelming
The doomsday clock is moving forward due to three calamities: The climate crisis, the pandemic and the threat of a nuclear conflagration (Shutterstock)
The doomsday clock is moving forward due to three calamities: The climate crisis, the pandemic and the threat of a nuclear conflagration (Shutterstock)
Updated on May 17, 2022 09:24 PM IST
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ByKaran Singh
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To survive heatwaves, we need a moratorium on cutting down trees

Prior to this heatwave, several workers I spoke to asked why they couldn’t start working at 5 am and ending at 1 pm? Coupled with workplaces designed for frequent rest, shade and hydration, this could be a first step.
About 80% of the workforce in urban India is informal (90% in rural India). We know them as cobblers, workers in construction and waste, and street vendors, among other people who make cities liveable. They are vulnerable to the heat; their work requires them to be on the streets, facing the elements, for the most part, without any cooling comfort. (AFP)
About 80% of the workforce in urban India is informal (90% in rural India). We know them as cobblers, workers in construction and waste, and street vendors, among other people who make cities liveable. They are vulnerable to the heat; their work requires them to be on the streets, facing the elements, for the most part, without any cooling comfort. (AFP)
Updated on May 17, 2022 09:24 PM IST
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ByBharati Chaturvedi
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The life and labour of India's pastoral women

  • Lost in literature are the struggles of Indian shepherdesses, whose lives and work depend on laborious daily tasks. Their lives offer us a conduit to understand the invisibility of women’s work pervasive in our society. 
A significant part of a pastoral woman’s identity is derived from her care and responsibility toward the flock. (Shutterstock)
A significant part of a pastoral woman’s identity is derived from her care and responsibility toward the flock. (Shutterstock)
Published on May 17, 2022 04:24 PM IST
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ByGurpreet Kaur, Prateek and Saee Pawar
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Climate and Us | Plan for the vulnerable: India's heat emergency must be humane

  • This year’s heat spell should have been an opportunity to document the health burden of heat and come up with a humane plan for persons most exposed to this slow disaster. The government must act now
The first thing to do is study the impact of the heatwave on both mortality and morbidity. (PTI)
The first thing to do is study the impact of the heatwave on both mortality and morbidity. (PTI)
Published on May 17, 2022 03:23 PM IST
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ByJayashree Nandi
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Data protection bill: Decoding the penalty clause

This is one piece of legislation that India should get right by all means, lest we legalise snooping and profiling by the government
The Indian Penal Code does not have extra-territorial application as a general principle. In short, the competent authority (government) would like to know what is being stored as data by the data controller. It would have discretion in the determination of what data is private and what is not. (HT Photo)
The Indian Penal Code does not have extra-territorial application as a general principle. In short, the competent authority (government) would like to know what is being stored as data by the data controller. It would have discretion in the determination of what data is private and what is not. (HT Photo)
Published on May 17, 2022 03:10 PM IST
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BySrikant Parthasarathy and Amirthalakshmi R
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Huma Abedin's memoir captures what it means to be South Asian and living abroad

  • You can’t really meet Huma Abedin and not ask her about the email controversy that may have led to Donald Trump’s election. So, I asked her for her perspective and based on what she said and what else I have read, I think I may now understand what really happened.
The Taste With Vir: Huma Abedin's memoir captures what it means to be South Asian and living abroad(AFP)
The Taste With Vir: Huma Abedin's memoir captures what it means to be South Asian and living abroad(AFP)
Published on May 17, 2022 08:08 AM IST
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ByVir Sanghvi, Delhi
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Heatwaves are the new normal. Study the hazards

  • The most effective way to reduce the negative impacts of a heatwave is to develop a comprehensive response plan that combines individual strategies into an integrated approach
With unabated global warming, the probability of compound extremes such as the simultaneous occurrence of drought and heatwaves is also likely to increase. (Sanjeev Kumar /HT Photo)
With unabated global warming, the probability of compound extremes such as the simultaneous occurrence of drought and heatwaves is also likely to increase. (Sanjeev Kumar /HT Photo)
Published on May 16, 2022 09:20 PM IST
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ByM Rajeevan Nair
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The J&K delimitation report and the future of the region

  • There are several important takeaways from the Jammu and Kashmir Delimitation Commission, which submitted its final report.
On May 5, the three-member delimitation commission finalised the UT’s new electoral map, marking the first step for elections in the region since its special status was scrapped in August 2019. (PTI)
On May 5, the three-member delimitation commission finalised the UT’s new electoral map, marking the first step for elections in the region since its special status was scrapped in August 2019. (PTI)
Published on May 16, 2022 09:04 PM IST
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BySY Quraishi
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Ecostani | 2022: The link between climate, extreme weather, and inflation

  • IPCC’s caution for the future is visible in India today, where we have seen the record coldest and warmest period in less than five months, with the vulnerable set to lose the most 
On May 15, Delhi recorded 49.2 degrees Celsius, the highest for the city since 1901. (AFP)
On May 15, Delhi recorded 49.2 degrees Celsius, the highest for the city since 1901. (AFP)
Published on May 16, 2022 08:06 PM IST
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ByChetan Chauhan
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Heatwaves: Rethink India’s energy mix 

While India contributes way less than the advanced world to the global emissions pie, the decision to reduce climate impacts for its large vulnerable population will have to be the main driver while making energy choices now
Air-coolers for sale in New Delhi. (Bloomberg)
Air-coolers for sale in New Delhi. (Bloomberg)
Updated on May 16, 2022 05:04 PM IST
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ByShwetal Shah
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South Asian nations must collaborate on climate

Countries could establish a South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation Climate Fund, which could pay for adaptation and mitigation initiatives with a strong focus on innovations, joint R&D, technology transfer, knowledge exchange, and capacity building.
An Indian worker splashes water on his face to cool himself on a hot summer afternoon in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India, June 13 (AP)
An Indian worker splashes water on his face to cool himself on a hot summer afternoon in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India, June 13 (AP)
Updated on May 15, 2022 07:41 PM IST
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BySanjay Gupta and Uttam Kumar Sinha
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Sri Lanka faces an inflection point

The humanitarian ramifications of the crisis in the island nation must be effectively addressed because it has implications that reach beyond that country’s borders
Anti-government demonstrators take part in a protest near the President's office in Colombo on May 10, 2022. (AFP)
Anti-government demonstrators take part in a protest near the President's office in Colombo on May 10, 2022. (AFP)
Updated on May 15, 2022 07:42 PM IST
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ByNirupama Rao
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Modi’s hallmark: Clarity with determination

I have had the opportunity to observe successive PMs. All of them have contributed to India's progress, but I can confidently say that I have never seen such a combination of determination and clarity as I have in Modi
The pradhan sewak is aware of the difficulties which lie ahead. This is why he has added Sabka Vishwas to his famous Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas slogan going forward (ANI)
The pradhan sewak is aware of the difficulties which lie ahead. This is why he has added Sabka Vishwas to his famous Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas slogan going forward (ANI)
Updated on May 15, 2022 07:43 PM IST
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ByShashi Shekhar
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Bridging the digital divide: Push digitalisation of TVET and industry 4.0 skills

The workforce for future needs to be equipped for rapidly changing digital world, the government needs interventions for regularly updating skilling curricula, regulations to cover new skills and competences, deploying new methods of training delivery
The pandemic has accelerated the push towards digital transformation such as use of e-commerce, digital payments, artificial intelligence, edtech and so on (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
The pandemic has accelerated the push towards digital transformation such as use of e-commerce, digital payments, artificial intelligence, edtech and so on (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Updated on May 15, 2022 03:26 PM IST
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ByKundan Kumar, Gagan Preet Kaur
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When two views on marital rape divided the Delhi High Court

  • Two judges of the Delhi High Court split right down the middle in their conception of both the marital relationship and of the role judges play in the constitutional framework.
Do we – as citizens – think that forced, non-consensual sex within a marriage is rape? Is it more humiliating to be forced to have non-consensual sex by your husband than to be raped a stranger? (Shutterstock)
Do we – as citizens – think that forced, non-consensual sex within a marriage is rape? Is it more humiliating to be forced to have non-consensual sex by your husband than to be raped a stranger? (Shutterstock)
Published on May 14, 2022 07:53 PM IST
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ByArundhati Katju
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In a charged UP, why 2022 may be different from 1992

  • Three religious petitions have dredged up decades-old communal tensions. But there are key differences that will determine how the movement evolves — the most critical being the BJP’s increased stature
Though the new disputes may not be as important to the BJP, they keep the pot boiling and give the more extreme elements of its coalition an ideological goal at a time of increasing economic distress. (PTI)
Though the new disputes may not be as important to the BJP, they keep the pot boiling and give the more extreme elements of its coalition an ideological goal at a time of increasing economic distress. (PTI)
Updated on May 14, 2022 06:24 PM IST
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ByChanakya
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Indian foreign policy needs a structured gender lens

  • India may not announce a formal gender inclusive foreign policy soon but given our increasing visibility on the global stage, we can certainly make a difference to the conversation. 
The report suggests that India has made considerable progress in terms of applying a gender lens to foreign policymaking and also increased representation--but more structure is needed. (Twitter)
The report suggests that India has made considerable progress in terms of applying a gender lens to foreign policymaking and also increased representation--but more structure is needed. (Twitter)
Published on May 14, 2022 06:15 PM IST
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ByLalita Panicker
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In the Philippines, the fall and rise of the Marcos family

  • The son of the tyrant Ferdinand Marcos — who ruled for two decades — won a landslide victory and has become the new president. This must be one of the strangest things to happen in history and may have lessons for South Asia.
Last Monday, Bongbong, to use the son’s popular moniker, realised the almost impossible. (Reuters)
Last Monday, Bongbong, to use the son’s popular moniker, realised the almost impossible. (Reuters)
Published on May 14, 2022 06:12 PM IST
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ByKaran Thapar
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Terms of Trade| Opposition should not wait for (the) Godot of economic doom

The Opposition will do well to look at possible fault lines it can exploit to win back political support rather than hope for economic doomsday which will lead to a mass rebellion.
Haryana Congress leaders protesting fuel price rise, Ambala Cantonment, May 12, 2022. (HT Photo)
Haryana Congress leaders protesting fuel price rise, Ambala Cantonment, May 12, 2022. (HT Photo)
Updated on May 13, 2022 08:33 PM IST
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ByRoshan Kishore
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Why India must come clean on Covid-19 deaths

The WHO may not have covered itself in glory over the handling of the pandemic. But the debate around India’s uncounted deaths is not about arithmetic. It’s about truth-telling. And what we owe as a nation to ourselves. And to the people
t is the cold and clinical insistence that our formal death count is entirely accurate — when evidence on the ground clearly shows otherwise — that, in fact, weakens our argument. That — and a lack of empathy (Praveen Kumar/HT Photo)
t is the cold and clinical insistence that our formal death count is entirely accurate — when evidence on the ground clearly shows otherwise — that, in fact, weakens our argument. That — and a lack of empathy (Praveen Kumar/HT Photo)
Updated on May 13, 2022 05:52 PM IST
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ByBarkha Dutt
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India must protect its own ‘Antarcticas’ too

By enacting this The Indian Antarctic Bill, India gives itself the moral right to tell the world that its policy towards the earth’s only non-human continent should be: Respectful distance
By enacting this The Indian Antarctic Bil, India also gives to itself the ecological duty to protect the ecosystems, “Antarcticas” of its own, such as the fragile ecosystems of the Himalaya, the tropical forests in our Western Ghats (above) and the coral-reefs around the Rann of Kutch, the Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
By enacting this The Indian Antarctic Bil, India also gives to itself the ecological duty to protect the ecosystems, “Antarcticas” of its own, such as the fragile ecosystems of the Himalaya, the tropical forests in our Western Ghats (above) and the coral-reefs around the Rann of Kutch, the Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Updated on May 13, 2022 05:50 PM IST
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ByGopalkrishna Gandhi
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Marital rape: The State must protect women

The National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5), released this past week, finds that when women are subject to sexual violence, husbands are the perpetrators in 82% of the cases. Yet 99.1% of sexual violence goes unreported when the perpetrator is the husband, found a 2018 analysis by Mint
“Women are being raped as we speak,” says lawyer Karuna Nundy who appeared for the petitioners. “It’s time to remove the patriarchal cloak that protects one class of rapists.” (Amal KS/HT PHOTO)
“Women are being raped as we speak,” says lawyer Karuna Nundy who appeared for the petitioners. “It’s time to remove the patriarchal cloak that protects one class of rapists.” (Amal KS/HT PHOTO)
Published on May 13, 2022 05:47 PM IST
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ByNamita Bhandare
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opinion

How the sedition law has been used against citizens: Four personal journeys

According to Kapil Sabil, the lawyer representing the petitioners, there were 800 sedition cases across India and 13,000 people are in jail
The Supreme Court on Thursday put a hold on Section 124A, till the controversial law is reviewed by the Centre. But scores have been singed and have ended up spending a part of their life in jail. The incarceration has taken a psychological toll on victims and their families. (AFP)
The Supreme Court on Thursday put a hold on Section 124A, till the controversial law is reviewed by the Centre. But scores have been singed and have ended up spending a part of their life in jail. The incarceration has taken a psychological toll on victims and their families. (AFP)
Updated on May 12, 2022 11:37 PM IST
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ByHarinder Baweja
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Keeping up with UP| House challenge: From brawls to tech-driven bonhomie?

Will tablets and technology ignite healthy discussions in an era when attacks are growing increasingly acerbic and personal?
The UP Vidhan Sabha, the largest in the country with 403 members, was built in 1922 after the capital was moved from Allahabad to Lucknow. About five years were spent on the construction of the building, an example of Indo-European architectural craftsmanship, costing about <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>21 lakh. (PTI)
The UP Vidhan Sabha, the largest in the country with 403 members, was built in 1922 after the capital was moved from Allahabad to Lucknow. About five years were spent on the construction of the building, an example of Indo-European architectural craftsmanship, costing about ₹21 lakh. (PTI)
Updated on May 12, 2022 09:28 PM IST
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BySunita Aron
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Sedition law has no place in a democracy

If we attempt to stifle criticism of State institutions, we shall become a police State instead of a democracy and this the founding fathers never expected this country to become
Mahatma Gandhi, when charged with sedition, said: “Affection cannot be manufactured or regulated by law. If one has no affection for a person or system, one should be free to give the fullest expression to his disaffection, so long as he does not contemplate, promote or incite to violence.” (PTI)
Mahatma Gandhi, when charged with sedition, said: “Affection cannot be manufactured or regulated by law. If one has no affection for a person or system, one should be free to give the fullest expression to his disaffection, so long as he does not contemplate, promote or incite to violence.” (PTI)
Updated on May 12, 2022 06:36 PM IST
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ByDeepak Gupta
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Why the marital rape exception rule must go

The right to exercise agency over your own body is paramount for all human beings. The right is well recognised in law, whether it be to consent to medical treatment, vaccine mandates, or even the right to travel freely
The marital rape exception was challenged as being unconstitutional in a case before the Delhi HC. On Wednesday, a division bench delivered a split verdict. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
The marital rape exception was challenged as being unconstitutional in a case before the Delhi HC. On Wednesday, a division bench delivered a split verdict. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Updated on May 12, 2022 08:08 PM IST
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ByShyel Trehan
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What states can do to avoid disruptions in power supply

Power shortage is more a demand side problem aggravated by poor distribution infrastructure in the states. It is unrealistic to expect the remedy from the central government alone
India has the world’s third largest electricity installed capacity, about 400 GW, after China and the United States (US). (File photo)
India has the world’s third largest electricity installed capacity, about 400 GW, after China and the United States (US). (File photo)
Updated on May 12, 2022 06:40 PM IST
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ByRajesh Gupta
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