By Vikas Meshram   As we marked the 77th Republic Day, the occasion called for introspection not only for those in power but also for the citizens of the country. Undoubtedly, the stature of the world’s largest democracy is ensured by the people-centric and accountable nature of our constitutional institutions. However, it is essential that democracy is not overshadowed by the dominance of systems and structures. Citizens’ lives must remain smooth, and they should not face barriers in accessing power and administration. At the same time, citizens must closely monitor the functioning and accountability of constitutional institutions.

By A Representative   A new Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) report has highlighted gaps in India’s reporting framework that could raise compliance costs and restrict access to global capital.  As climate transition planning becomes a central requirement for global investors and lenders, many Indian corporates are increasingly apprehensive about deeper climate-related disclosures, citing regulatory uncertainty, higher compliance burdens and potential exposure of business risks. The IEEFA assessment explains why these concerns persist and how gaps in India’s sustainability reporting framework may compound them.

By A Representative   Delhi–NCR’s air pollution crisis has shifted from a seasonal challenge to a structurally embedded, year-round problem, according to a new data-driven analysis released by Grant Thornton Bharat. The report states that long-term air quality data show a clear inflexion point between 2009 and 2011, after which pollution levels stopped responding to incremental policy interventions and began deteriorating persistently.

By A Representative   Several social activists, lawyers and minority rights representatives have raised serious concerns over the alleged lack of transparency in the selection process of State Hajj Inspectors (SHIs) for Haj 2026. In a joint representation submitted to the Chief Executive Officer of the Hajj Committee of India (HCI), Mumbai, they questioned the secrecy surrounding written examination results, interview outcomes and the repeated selection of the same candidates.

​ By Ram Puniyani   ​What is Indian culture? Is it purely Hindu, or a blend of many influences? Today, Hindu right-wing advocates of Hindutva claim that Indian culture is synonymous with Hindu culture, which supposedly resisted "Muslim invaders" for centuries. This debate resurfaced recently in Kolkata at a seminar titled "The Need to Protect Hinduism from Hindutva."

By Sunil Kumar*  Bihar has long been a “labour-exporting” state—during colonial rule and after Independence. Bihari workers have travelled far and wide, within India and overseas, selling their labour to survive. Today, their numbers in the Middle East have grown substantially. Within India too, a disproportionate share of workers killed in industrial accidents come from Bihar. This is why migration emerged as a major issue in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, prompting the government to announce measures to curb out-migration from the state.

By Martin Macwan*  It was the year 1865. Nearly one-third of the land area of what we now know as the UK—the “United Kingdom”—was the country called Scotland. In Scotland, there were two main means of livelihood for the poor: fishing and agricultural labor.

By Palla Trinadha Rao   The question “Who is an Adivasi?” lacks a precise, definitive answer within India's administrative and constitutional framework. Terms like Adivasi, Girijan, Vanavasi, Moolvasi, and Indigenous are common in public debate, political rhetoric, and activism. Yet the Constitution provides no explicit definition for any of them. Even the official legal category—Scheduled Tribes (ST)—lacks detailed constitutional explanation or fixed criteria.

By Syed Ali Mujtaba*  Tamil Nadu is set to go to the polls in April 2026, and the political battle lines are beginning to take shape. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state on January 23, 2026, marked the formal launch of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s campaign against the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Addressing multiple public meetings, the Prime Minister accused the DMK government of corruption, criminality, and dynastic politics, and called for Tamil Nadu to be “freed from DMK’s chains.” PM Modi alleged that the DMK had turned Tamil Nadu into a drug-ridden state and betrayed public trust by governing through what he described as “Corruption, Mafia and Crime,” derisively terming it “CMC rule.” He claimed that despite making numerous promises, the DMK had failed to deliver meaningful development. He also targeted what he described as the party’s dynastic character, arguing that the government functioned primarily for the benefit of a single family a...