Counterview

By A Representative   Pension Parishad and the National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) have criticised the Union government’s revision of pensions under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), describing the increase in disability pensions as inadequate and accusing the government of neglecting elderly people and widows.

By Oten Boli*  ​The Siang has always been our life, beating in time with the quiet rhythm of our mountains and the steady pulse of our community. For as long as our grandfathers can remember, our songs, our stories, and our daily prayers have flowed right along with its waters, carrying the spirit of our ancestors from the high peaks down into the valleys.

By A Representative   Power and climate policy analyst Shankar Sharma has written to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, asking the Karnataka government to review its development priorities in light of recurring drought, water stress and ecological degradation. Sharma, who is based in Sagara in the Western Ghats, also sent a copy to the Chief Secretary with a request that it be circulated to all ministers.

By Sudhansu R Das*  India is a treasure trove of eco-friendly, sustainable economic activities that generate income and employment for millions across the country. Over centuries, Indian culture has created demand for a wide range of products — the majority of them religious artifacts, utility and decorative items made from biodegradable materials. These products do more than generate employment; they boost exports, keep the environment safe and bring people joy.

By Saurabh Thakore*  The coffee is warm. The marble beneath it is cool. By the time we settle into the morning, someone else's work is already holding our day together. The floor is clean. The entrance is attended. The lift is running. Beyond the window, buildings rise above roads carrying people towards offices, factories, hospitals and schools. For a moment, everything feels effortless. It is easy to begin the day without thinking about how it became ready, or whose hands made the room possible.

By Tings Chak   At the entrance to Xingfuli, a residential compound in Ganzhou, Jiangxi province, a bulletin board displays the names, photographs, and phone numbers of the people responsible for managing the neighbourhood. Though an ordinary bulletin board at first appearance, among the building representatives and Communist Party members is an unexpected name: Kang Jiafei, a food delivery worker who is also listed as a community ‘grid worker.’

By Tings Chak  On 25 October, Brazilians will return to the polls to choose between President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who was sentenced to 27 years in prison for his role in an attempted coup. The first round gave Flávio 47.03 per cent of valid votes against Lula’s 45.16 per cent, revealing the enduring strength of the far right four years after its electoral defeat. The runoff takes place as Donald Trump seeks to restore US domination over Latin America, with Brazil emerging as a consequential battleground in Washington’s campaign to contain China’s growing relations with the region.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak*  The 2026 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel—commonly known as the Nobel Prize in Economics—has been awarded to Prof. Robert E. Hall and Prof. Michael Woodford "for microeconomic foundations of macroeconomic stabilisation."

By Fr Cedric Prakash SJ*  "Cockroach" is suddenly an in-word in India, thanks to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, who used it during a Supreme Court hearing on 15 May 2026. He meant it in a particular context, but the derogatory remark provoked unprecedented backlash. It led to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a parody social media account founded by political communications strategist Abhijeet Dipke.