By Jag Jivan*   A major new scientific report reveals that Tamil Nadu has emerged as India's largest contributor to plastic waste, generating approximately 7.82 lakh tonnes annually and accounting for nearly one-fifth of the nation's total plastic pollution, despite having only six percent of India's population. The report , titled "Reducing Plastic Pollution in Tamil Nadu, India: A Science-Based Strategy," was released under the India-Norway cooperation project INOPOL, a collaborative effort between the Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Mu Gamma Consultants, and the Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology.

By A Representative   The Business Inflation Expectations Survey (BIES) for January 2026, conducted by the Misra Centre for Financial Markets and Economy at IIMA, points to a complex economic landscape where easing cost pressures are being offset by rising uncertainty and persistently muted demand. According to the survey, which polled around 1,100 companies, the one-year ahead business inflation expectation in January 2026 declined marginally by 7 basis points to 4.29%, down from 4.36% in December 2025. This slight dip continues a trend of anchored expectations, with firms' average inflation expectation over the past 12 months holding steady around 4.11%. However, this stability in the average figure masks a significant increase in the divergence of opinions among businesses. The uncertainty surrounding these inflation expectations, as measured by the survey, jumped sharply to 2.11% in January from 1.84% in December 2025. Mixed Signals on Costs The data on ...

By Bharat Dogra  Among the many dimensions of food security, ensuring adequate nutrition for older people has received far less attention than it deserves. Yet proper nutrition in old age is central to healthy ageing and, by extension, to the well-being of entire households and communities.

By Sudhansu R. Das Good roads pave the way for economic growth and prosperity. Bad roads take lives, break spines and limbs, and drain precious hours of productivity. They adversely affect trade, tourism and a range of economic activities. No country can truly prosper without safe and well-built roads. Yet building durable, climate-resilient and environmentally sound roads remains a major challenge for much of the developing world.

By Moin Qazi*  “And fear the Day when you shall be brought back to Allah. Then every soul shall be paid in full for what it earned, and none shall be dealt with unjustly.” — Qur’an 2:281 In every individual’s life, there comes a moment for a sincere self-audit of one’s deeds and actions. Life is short, and it is only when one is at peace with oneself and with the world that the tranquillity required for reflection—about God and about one’s own life—can truly emerge.

By Ravi Ranjan*  In an age when truth is crushed beneath layers of information, algorithms, and ideological walls, Kedarnath Singh’s poem “Keep the Doors Open” functions as a quiet moral compass. It draws us back from digital echo chambers toward the intuitive awareness that alone can preserve the grammar of our shared humanity.

By A Representative   A proposal by the Karnataka State Policy and Planning Commission (KSPPC) to construct a 350-kilometre-long ‘green wall’ across five districts in North Karnataka has drawn sharp criticism from a senior power and climate policy analyst, who has urged the state government to prioritise protection of existing natural forests over launching what he termed a “grandiose and uncertain” afforestation initiative.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak*  The current Indian government's foreign policy orientation raises questions about continuity and change in the country's international positioning. Under the present administration, India has increasingly aligned itself with the United States, Israel, and Western European nations through strategic partnerships and trade agreements, marking a departure from previous foreign policy approaches.

By Mohd Ziyaullah Khan*  The recent escalation against Iran, initiated under US President Donald Trump, has elicited two distinct responses from New Delhi. The Ministry of External Affairs issued a calibrated official statement expressing “deep concern” and urging dialogue, restraint, and respect for sovereignty. Concurrently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a phone call to the leadership of the United Arab Emirates, strongly condemning attacks on Emirati soil and expressing solidarity.