Blogs

This is my twenty-fifth year in journalism, and my twenty-fifth Union Budget. Once upon a time, it was a three-day carnival. It began with the Railway Budget, moved to the Economic Survey, peaked with the Union Budget, and spilled over into thick, ink-stained newspapers dissecting the Finance Bill the morning after. Newsrooms hummed, and readers…

A post on social media caught the attention of Messrs Hehra and Pheri (Wheeling is our Dealing). The post described two variations of musical chairs. In the first, nine chairs are given to 10 children, who are told that the winner would be the one who could find a chair after all the chairless others…

Longevity and anti-ageing R&D may be in for a pivot, now that there’s a new answer to the question how much do genes determine how long we live. Scientists now say that genes have a much bigger influence – as much as 50% – in influencing lifespans than earlier studies suggested (between 20-25%). To be…

Has ‘Mother of All Deals’ delivered a baby? Trump’s sudden announcement of a trade deal with India, “effective immediately”, has led to speculation that last week’s India-EU FTA may have urged him to make haste. Recall that his finance minister Scott Bessent’s reaction to FTA – “Europeans signed a trade deal with India…funding the war…

By invitation The Union Budget 2026-27 is a strategic document that reflects the govt’s long-term vision for transforming India into a Viksit Bharat by 2047. At a time when the global economy faces uncertainty and disruption, this Budget demonstrates confidence, clarity of purpose and unwavering commitment to nation-building. India’s transformation into a developed nation cannot…

Amit Singh Capt. Amit Singh is an aviation professional with over 35 years of experience in commercial airlines, including pivotal roles in three startup airlines, where he developed systems for efficient, low-cost, and profitable operations. A leader in flight operations, safety, and pilot training, he channels his expertise into writing insightful articles on aviation, history,…

That India’s trade deal with US seems sealed just days after its FTA with EU is great news. But trade deals are not won by headlines – they are judged by text, timelines, and enforceability. So, a full assessment will have to wait for the full text. But some broad conclusions can be drawn. Read…

India Energy Week (IEW) 2026 opened with a clear message: India is no longer just navigating the global energy transition—it is shaping it. The high-level inaugural session set the strategic tone for the week, positioning India as a central anchor in a world grappling with energy uncertainty, geopolitical fragmentation and divergent transition pathways. Prime Minister…

Introduction India is the second-largest producer of food in the world with heavy reliance on agriculture, the primary livelihood for its rural population. The sector faces a number of challenges to meet the increasing food demand of the Indian populace in offering them food security, the state of having reliable access to sufficient quantity of affordable…

There are moments when a metaphor stops being symbolic and starts feeling uncomfortably literal. The Doomsday Clock moving to 85 seconds to midnight is one of them. On January 27, 2026, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists pushed the clock closer to catastrophe than at any point in its nearly eight-decade history. Not 90 seconds. Not two…