By Sandeep Pandey, Mir Shahid Saleem   Shri Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti, a conglomerate of Hindutva organisations, has succeeded in forcing the shutdown of the MBBS programme at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Katra merely because 42 of the 50 admitted students, selected on the basis of their NEET scores, happened to be Muslims. Hindutva interference in academic institutions has been steadily growing since the Modi government came to power, but this is the crudest and most alarming example yet.

By A Representative   A detailed representation submitted on 5 January 2026 by power and climate policy analyst Shankar Sharma has urged key statutory bodies and the Union government to halt approvals for pumped storage power projects (PSPs) in river valleys, citing high ecological costs and the growing viability of battery energy storage systems (BESS) with grid-forming capability as a superior alternative.

By Raj Kumar Sinha*  Among the exceptional individuals who laid the intellectual and scientific foundations of environmental conservation in India—and challenged the dominant development discourse—Professor Madhav Dhondo Keshav Gadgil stands as a towering figure. He was not only a pioneering ecologist, but also among the first to view environmental protection through the lens of democracy, local communities and social justice.

By Vikas Meshram   The Banswara district in the southern part of Rajasthan is known for its rich tribal heritage and cultural traditions. It is here that the remarkable story of 50-year-old tribal farmer Badarsingh Phoolji Ad from Sukheda village unfolds — a story that demonstrates how firm determination, the right guidance, and access to knowledge can transform a life. Badarsingh not only reshaped his own economic situation but also emerged as a role model for farmers in the region.

By Nava Thakuria   Amidst the crisis that escalated following the COVID-19 pandemic within the Assam Tribune Group of newspapers in Guwahati , a popular Assamese weekly newspaper shut down at the end of 2025.

By Archana Kumar*  This account does not seek to expose names or tarnish identities. Its purpose is not to cast blame, but to articulate—with dignity—the silent suffering of a woman who lived her life anchored in love, trust, and duty, only to be ultimately abandoned.

By Prakash N. Shah*  ​A fortnight and a few days have slipped past that grim event. It was as if the wedding preparations were complete and the groom’s face was about to be unveiled behind the ceremonial tinsel. At 3 PM on December 18, a press conference was poised to announce the Sahitya Akademi Awards . 

By Shankar Sharma*  The recent news that NTPC is scouting 30 potential sites across India for a massive nuclear power expansion should be a wake-up call for every citizen. While the state-owned utility frames this as a bold stride toward a 100,000 MW nuclear capacity by 2047, a cold look at India’s nuclear saga over the last few decades suggests this ambition may be more illusory than achievable. More importantly, it carries implications that could fundamentally alter the safety, environment, and economic health of our communities.

By Vikas Meshram  India may be celebrated as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, but a closer look at who benefits from that growth tells a starkly different story. The recently released World Inequality Report 2026 lays bare a country sharply divided by wealth, privilege and power. According to the report, nearly 65 percent of India’s total wealth is owned by the richest 10 percent of its population, while the bottom half of the country controls barely 6.4 percent. The top one percent—around 14 million people—holds more than 40 percent, the highest concentration since 1961. Meanwhile, the female labour force participation rate is a dismal 15.7 percent.