OPINION

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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