OPINION

The Rise in Female Suicide Bombers in Boko Haram: A Gendered Analysis of Extremism

Boko Haram has carried out numerous attacks across Nigeria and the wider Lake Chad region, leaving behind destruction, loss of life, and displacement. Among its most disturbing tactics is the recruitment of women and girls as suicide bombers, a grim reflection of the group’s gendered ideology. In just four years, these bombers killed over 1,200 […]

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The Doctrine of Self-Reliance: How Xi Jinping is Engineering a Techno-Nationalist China

Doctrine of Self-Reliance is the unifying theory of Xi Jinping’s rule that has systematically and deliberately forged a techno-nationalist China. By elevating Science, technology, and innovation from an economic tool to the primary determinant of national security and identity, Xi has set his nation on an irreversible course. By authoring the global rules for 5G,

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Needonomics: The Bhagavad Gita’s Path to Ethical and Sustainable Prosperity

 Needonomics School of Thought (NST), inspired by the timeless wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita, is not only an economic model but also a philosophy for meaningful existence. It teaches that prosperity without morality, power without purpose, and progress without compassion lead only to imbalance and suffering. In today’s world of economic expansion and moral decline, where materialism

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From Waste to Wonder- Learning Geography through Touch

From Waste to Wonder: Learning Geography through Touch

Despite decades of educational reform, India still lacks comprehensive research on inclusive TLMs (Teaching Learning Materials) and pedagogical strategies for visually impaired learners. The RPWD Act (2016) mandates free education for every child with benchmark disabilities in special schools. However, the Act does not ensure that these schools are equipped with the materials and infrastructure

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BRICS in Transition: Expansion, De-Dollarization, and the Growing Role of the New Development Bank

While the idea of a BRICS common currency has been ruled out by several member states, the organisation is now focusing on developing a common payment system for member countries. Apart from the Existing national payment systems like China’s Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS), and India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI), the New Development Bank is

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Heritage Sovereignty: The Legal Labyrinth India Navigates for UNESCO Glory

As India contemplates future nominations from its provisional list, the implications are evident: UNESCO recognition confers international prestige and the potential to draw tourists, yet it also imposes intricate legal obligations that constrain policy autonomy for future generations. When India celebrated the addition of the Maratha Military Landscapes to its list of UNESCO World Heritage

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Diwali ads

An Open Letter to 2025 Diwali Ad-Makers: Do not normalize family fragmentation and commodity fetishism in the garb of Diwali

When commodities like paints and sweets are glorified as replacements for the joy of children visiting their parents, the very essence of Diwali as an occasion of family get-together is diminished. Emotions get marketized. Employees’ commitment towards their employers during Diwali, at the cost of their families, is now being normalized. Where are the ads

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Nobel Prize in Economics 2025 Explains How India Can Ride the Waves of Innovation

The insights of Schumpeter and this year’s Nobel laureates in the field of economic sciences offer a compelling framework for understanding the challenges and opportunities facing India today. The nation’s economic future, its national security, and its societal stability are all intrinsically linked to its ability to embrace and lead in the ongoing technological revolution.

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From Greedonomics to Needonomics: Rethinking Economics for a Fair and Sustainable Future

Every society grapples with the tension between wants and needs, between accumulation and sufficiency, between competition and cooperation. Needonomics School of Thought offers an ethical compass to navigate these dilemmas. The global community stands at a defining crossroads today. Despite unprecedented technological progress, the centralized state and globalized markets are failing to address the most

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Sonam Wangchuk’s Arrest Under NSA: Balancing National Security and Civil Liberties in India

The Wangchuk case necessitates a revisit to preventive detention in contemporary India. While instances of genuine national threats may occasionally trigger the usage of extraordinary measures, the routine invocation of special laws like the NSA, even in situations manageable under ordinary criminal laws, erodes civil liberties without corresponding security gains.  The recent arrest of the

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Karambhumi & Needonomics: Transforming Work from Stress to Joy, Purpose, and Spiritual Growth

In today’s context, the idea of Karambhumi assumes renewed importance. Globalization, migration, and digitization have blurred the boundaries of geographical workplaces. For the Needonomics School of Thought workplace—whether rural or urban, physical or digital—is a Karambhumi where ethical action can be cultivated. Needonomics School of Thought (NST) emphasizes that Karambhumi—the land of action, or one’s workplace—is the most significant dimension

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BRICS+ in Transition : Palestine’s Membership Push, India-Russia Ties, and U.S. Criticism

While India recognizes the limitations of BRICS, and ties with the US remain important despite recent setbacks, it is likely to adopt an independent approach vis-à-vis BRICS. It is also important to understand that while the BRICS+ organisation has immense potential, there are several complexities that need to be understood. Developments within BRICS+ highlight its

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Reviving the Indian Coffee House Legacy: Towards Inclusive and Sustainable Cafeterias

If the Indian Coffee House represented the warmth of “one more cup before we leave,” today’s cafeterias must represent the freedom of “choose our cup, stay as long as we need.” In doing so, we would not only revive the legacy of the Coffee House but also reinvent it for the challenges and aspirations of

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H-1B Visa Shock: Trump’s $100,000 Fee Hike and Its Fallout for India and the U.S.

Trump’s recent proclamation is likely to impact not just India but the US economy as well, so it is important to approach the issue without bias. It may also be premature to draw firm conclusions, as many believe that the Trump administration may reconsider the decision given its potential effects on the US economy. In

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Childhood Obesity in Bharat: Needonomics for Nutrition Security and Healthy Demographic Dividend

The obesity crisis among children is not just a health issue; it is a moral, social, and economic challenge. By prioritizing needs over wants, by embracing mindful needo-consumption, and by balancing food with physical activity and digital fasting, Bharat can safeguard the health of its future generations. The recently released Child Nutrition Report 2025 of UNICEF, titled “Feeding

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Trump–Modi Exchanges: Balancing India–US Ties Amid BRICS Tensions

Recent statements of Trump clearly indicate his attempt to undo the damage caused to ties with India. However, it is challenging to make any predictions regarding the US President’s future policy course. India, for its part, has followed a pragmatic approach by responding cautiously to earlier statements of Trump and senior officials in his administration.

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Compassionate Conservation: Why India Needs Culture, Ethics, and People to Save Wildlife

Conservationists must work by uniting people to promote conservation. Science cannot be their only tool for this. They must understand human empathy, ethics, and morals, and use them to approach conservation goals. We need a midway approach – where science must be used to find “humane” solutions to issues that affect our wildlife. In all

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Mula Gabharu Avenge Love

Mula Gabharu: The Woman Who Fought to Avenge Her Love

This is the fifth in a 5-part weekly essay series – Veiled Valour: The Forgotten Women of Warfare. Mula Gabharu was born into the Ahom Dynasty of Assam, as the daughter of King Supimphaa. She was married to Phrasenmung Borgohain, the chief general of the Ahom army. Legend has it that Mula Gabharu loved Phrasenmung deeply, with a devotion that becomes central to her story and her legacy. Her strength was born from love, her love for her husband, for her motherland, and for the ideals she refused to surrender. Even in heartbreak, she found bravery.

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Can BRICS Trump Trump

Can BRICS Trump Trump?

Multifaceted challenges confront BRICS in the aftermath of Trump’s second term. The convergence of economic strain, geopolitical rivalry, and financial pushback during Trump’s second term has undoubtedly weakened internal cohesion. But, China and India’s economies remain engines of global growth; resource-rich Russia and the Middle Eastern entrants hold keys to energy security; and Brazil and others are indispensable to food supply and climate solutions. These interdependencies ensure that the idea of BRICS, as a coalition of non-Western powers, retains appeal. The article analyses the alliance’s internal dynamics, the external pressures exerted by US policies, and the potential pathways BRICS might pursue to maintain its relevance on the global stage. The central question remains: Can BRICS navigate these turbulent times and emerge stronger, or are we witnessing the gradual erosion of its influence?

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Razia Sultan Delhi Ruler

Razia Sultan: The Only Woman Ruler of Delhi

As the first woman to sit on the throne of the Delhi Sultanate, Razia Sultan had to claw her way through deeply ingrained misogyny. She was constantly under siege, not from foreign invaders, but from within, by those who couldn’t handle the idea of a woman as a Sultan. The glorious story of a women ruler who challenged norms and misogynistic culture remains quietly buried while grand monuments and roads are proudly named after invaders and corrupt statesmen. It speaks volumes about the India we live in, run by patriarchy, which immortalizes the actions of a king but questions the attire of a queen creating a revolution.

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Scrapping OPT American Universities

American Dream in Doldrums: Scrapping OPT, International Students to Opt out of US Universities?

In recent years, while there has been a drop in the enrolment of Chinese students in US universities due to the deterioration of ties between both countries and some changes to the visa regime, the number of Indian students in the US has risen. However, the recommendation of a new bill introduced in the US Congress on March 25, 2025 – the Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act 2025 – to scrap the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program could result in a dip in Indian enrollment in US higher education institutions. It would be important to point out that US universities are also dependent upon international students, and with a dip in the enrolment of students from China, they have become more dependent upon Indian students.

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India Climate NDC Commitments

Extreme Weather, Rising Costs: India Must Ratchet Up NDC 3.0 Climate Commitments and Act!

India is the 7th most vulnerable nation to climate and weather-related events. The increasing frequency and impact of extreme weather events serve as a clarion call for a structured policy and concrete action plan to fill the existing policy vacuum. As the world steps into 2025, a year that marks the beginning of the New

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India Grand Strategy Regional

India’s Grand Strategy: Economic Reforms, Global South Diplomacy, and Regional Integration

The economic policies pursued by India after independence were primarily based on a centrally planned model inspired by the Soviet Union and focused on state intervention and control through the five-year plans. They led to the creation of public sector enterprises in industries critical to steel, coal, and telecom; these created jobs, and built infrastructure,

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US-Iran Tensions: Pezeshkian's Foreign Policy, EU Role, and the 2024 Election Impact

US-Iran Tensions: Pezeshkian’s Foreign Policy, EU Role, and the 2024 Election Impact

While analysts remain skeptical about the reduction of US-Iran tensions under a possible Trump presidency, the possibility of Trump altering his approach towards Iran cannot be ruled out.                                         In an article titled “My Message to the New World” which appeared in Tehran Times (July 12, 2024), Iranian President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian criticized the European Union (EU)

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