Editorials

Researchers had published results of their animal studies on the cancer-inducing potential of cell phone radiation With the phenomenal growth in the number of users of mobile phones worldwide, there is public concern that cell phone radiation may cause adverse health effects such as brain cancer. Recently, the US National …

T.M. Krishna, a leading Carnatic vocalist, has previously commanded a full lawn in Delhi’s chilly season tradition of classical music and dance performances in Nehru Park. His scheduled participation in a Spic Macay programme this weekend was always going to be a big draw. But in a move that should …

Lower courts, performing critical functions, must not be bogged down by vacancies The burgeoning docket burden that weighs down the judiciary is not because of its lumbering judicial processes alone, as it is often made out. The chronic shortage of judges and severe understaffing of the courts they preside over …

The pursuit of nuclear-armed submarines reflects a security assessment that is becoming increasingly irrelevant On November 5, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India’s first indigenous ballistic-missile armed nuclear submarine (SSBN), Arihant, had “successfully completed its first deterrence patrol” and claimed that this “accomplishment” would “always be remembered in our …

Trafficked into Haryana in their teens, they were sexually exploited and physically abused all through their youth before being abandoned by their ‘husbands’ in their middle age. Ashok Kumar reports on the plight of the hundreds of survivors of trafficking, some elderly, who, in the absence of any support from …

It is important to understand the myth and reality of the current economic situation in order to map the road ahead Economics is a technical subject of interdependent variables and parameters, that allows for objective mathematical and statistical analysis. It is no more a single commodity demand-supply subject. Those in …

Russia hosted a regional conference on Afghanistan last week to nudge the reconciliation process between the Taliban and the Afghan authorities. The Taliban were represented by the political council chief, Sher Mohammad Stanikzai. Representatives from Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, the U.S. and India swere also …

The making of a coalition is no more a matter of choice for the parties opposed to the right-wing authoritarian postures of the BJP but a command from the common people. The churning on the ground among almost all social groups is exerting pressure on the Opposition parties to jettison …

The debate on opening the shrine to all women is revealing deep casteism and misogyny Sabarimala, it appears, could be our new touchstone for understanding liberals, especially from Kerala. The intellectual emptiness in the arguments of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and former Foreign Secretary Nirupama Menon Rao on the Sabarimala …

The GSLV-GSAT launch enhances India’s capacity to meet its communication needs The Indian Space Research Organisation has marked a big milestone by successfully testing its heavy-lift launcher while launching an advanced communication satellite. It plans to use this for the Chandrayaan-II moon mission in the early months of 2019. On …

Israel and Hamas need to pull back to allow humanitarian intervention in the territory The sudden flare-up in Gaza between Palestinian militant groups and Israel is another grim reminder that the situation in the blockaded Mediterranean strip remains precarious. The latest violence was triggered by a botched spy operation by …

In many recent judgments, the Supreme Court has become hyper-activist in making laws. But can judges legislate? This question has already been answered in the past by the court. In Ram Jawaya v. The State of Punjab (1955), the court observed: “Our Constitution does not contemplate assumption, by one organ …

“What to do with the Kaiser?” is the question most keenly debated in Paris. The French press demands that the Kaiser shall be placed on trial by the free peoples for the murder of millions of men and for the ravaged towns. No agreeable retirement must be allowed him. [In …

President, Dr. Zakir Husain said here [New Delhi] to-day [November 15] that the draft Fourth Plan will be presented to the National Development Council in January next. The preparation of the Fourth Plan had involved difficult choices at every stage and a re-formulation of basic national policies. Inaugurating the conference …

To tackle malnutrition, food prices must be regulated and the PDS strengthened in both developed and poor States Despite being one of the fastest growing economies in the world, India has been ranked at 103 out of 119 countries, with hunger levels categorised as “serious”, in the Global Hunger Index …

Jawaharlal Nehru’s greatness is that the nation often misses his empathy, intellect and competence India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, is now moving through an eclipse that B.R. Ambedkar experienced and yet emerged from more luminous. During his life, Ambedkar was vilified by both the left and the right, and …

The Sabarimala and Asia Bibi cases put the spotlight on how institutions adhere to constitutional principles On the streets of India and Pakistan, a frightening message is being sent out: that courts must not rush in where politicians fear to tread. In matters of faith, courts must simply sit on …

The U.K. Supreme Court has made the mistake of conflating speech with conduct in the gay marriage cake case Bakeries in the U.S. and the U.K. have become the latest sites of contestation about fundamental rights. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Christian baker’s right to refuse to …

Sri Lankan President Sirisena must find a way to work with Ranil Wickremesinghe After three weeks of political turmoil, Sri Lanka’s controversially dismissed Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, appears to have gained the upper hand. A majority of lawmakers backed a no-confidence motion in Parliament against Mahinda Rajapaksa, a former President …

Structural reforms are needed to bring accountability to the credit rating industry After the IL&FS crisis, the Securities and Exchange Board of India is now trying to increase the level of scrutiny on credit rating agencies that failed to warn investors about it. SEBI has come out with new guidelines …