There was a time when philanthropy in India meant two things: generosity and immediacy. You saw a problem, wrote a cheque, and a life was eased. That impulse is pure and indispensable. But increasingly, many of us who have been gifted the capacity to give are asking a different question: how can my giving not just help an individual today, but change the conditions that make that need so persis
Anger is not a flaw; it is one of our oldest instincts, deeply embedded in human nature for survival. At its best, it helps us confront threats, assert boundariesand respond to injustice. But when anger is left unchecked or unprocessed, it can escalate into violence. What begins as a natural emotion can, over time, lead to real harm. Anger is a complex emotion shaped by stress, povertyand traum
For decades, international efforts have prioritised emissions reduction, often overshadowing adaptation. Consequently, the vast majority of tracked climate finance goes to mitigation, while only a small share of funds goes to adaptation. The global climate finance has hit ~$1.5 trillion, essentially driven largely by renewable energy and low-carbon technology investment. However, adaptation i
India’s ambition to become a developed nation by 2047 cannot be met by counting hospital beds, cards issued, or apps downloaded alone. The decisive variable is quality of care—what patients actually experience and the outcomes they achieve. Quality is the bridge between entitlement and health; without it, coverage schemes risk becoming promises that do not travel the last mile.
The White House’s decision to impose a $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions has triggered immediate boardroom conversations across corporate America and far beyond. While the Trump administration frames it as a move to safeguard domestic jobs, the economic implications for firms, global talent flows, and emerging markets are far deeper. The rule clarifies that existing H-1B h
The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar is an extensive exercise to update voter lists through verification of existing voter information, removal of deceased or ineligible voters, and correcting errors. Several concerns have been raised about SIR regarding wrongful deletion of voters, and especially its effect on poor and marginalised communities. Many have tal
In a village in Bihar, a mother brings her pale, lethargic child to a government health camp. A hemoglobin test confirms anemia. She leaves with iron tablets and dietary advice. Months later, the child remains unwell. What if the problem was never iron deficiency, but lead poisoning, silently damaging the child’s blood, brain and future? India has made notable progress in a
In the heart of Delhi’s Nizamuddin Basti, one of the world’s most densely populated neighbourhoods, women and young people across socio-economic groups are quietly reshaping their environment. Amidst narrow lanes and crowded homes, they are coaxing spinach, chillies, bitter gourd, and tulsi out of recycled buckets and broken tubs. These ‘Gardens of Hope’ are not simply j
Rani, a student of a school in Wadepuri, a remote village in Nanded district of Maharashtra, says, “There is a big Devi mandir in my village where many pilgrims come every year. This year we have planted 200 trees along the pathway to the mandir, and we will take care of the trees and celebrate their birthdays.” Sensitivity for the environment is built in young minds,
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is often hailed as the great equaliser, a technology that can democratize knowledge, drive economic growth, and help societies leapfrog development. In the Global South, governments and companies alike see AI as a tool to close the gap with advanced economies. India, for instance, speaks of “AI for All,” positioning itself as both a market and a hub for
Just six months ago, in February 2025, prime minister Narendra Modi stood with the newly re-elected president Donald Trump at the White House, announcing their ambitious "Mission 500" – a target to more than double bilateral US-India trade to $500 billion by 2030. Today, that optimism has given way to harsh reality as India faces some of the highest tariffs
Family-owned businesses in India contribute nearly 79% of the country’s GDP, one of the highest ratios globally, according to HSBC’s latest report on succession trends. Yet their future looks uncertain. The study shows that while most entrepreneurs trust the next generation’s ability to manage wealth, only 7% of Indian heirs reported feeling a sense of obligation to join the f
A kid in rural India gets a high fever. The family`s nearest clinic is hours away, they don`t know how to get there, and by the time they get to the hospital, the bill is more than what they make in a month. This isn`t a rare case; it`s something that happens every day to millions of people. Ayushman Bharat, which started in 2018, was meant to help with this kind of problem. The
Ahead of the upcoming elections in Bihar, the state has re-emerged at the forefront of India’s political landscape, where the stakes are as high as the expectations. Political parties are outbidding one another with grand visions of development for a state that was once the cradle of Indian civilization, political power, prosperity and intellectual flourishing. Today, however, Bihar grapp
The United States’ imposition of a 50% tariff on a wide range of Indian exports, effective August 27, has cast a long shadow over one of the world’s most dynamic trade partnerships. Framed as a response to India’s continued imports of Russian oil, this policy targets key sectors like gems and jewellery, textiles, machinery and chemicals, threatening to disrupt a bilateral trad
Misinformation is hardly a new challenge for India, but the problem has grown sharper in recent years. The rapid spread of affordable smartphones and cheap data has brought millions online, fuelling a digital revolution that has reshaped how people connect, consume news and share opinions. But every innovation has both advantages and disadvantages. The internet revolution has also unleashed fak
Lead is a naturally occurring toxic heavy metal, a silent poison threatening the health of millions. Globally, 800 million children have elevated blood lead levels (BLL), with nearly 275 million in India—almost half of the country’s child population1. Lead toxicity remains under-recognized in India, overshadowed by more visible public health challenges like malnutrition,
India’s recent stance on its energy trade with Russia underscores a crucial point in the global debate on post-Ukraine war economics: the difference between necessity and choice. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has pushed back against criticism from Western nations, particularly the United States and the European Union, over India’s continued imports of Russian oil. Far from
At dawn in a Naga village, a traveller steps from a bamboo hut, marvelling at how it shielded her from the rain and cold—without bricks, cement, or air conditioning. This is more than shelter; it is an immersive encounter with India’s living heritage. Today, 77% of global travellers seek such authentic, culture-rooted experiences, according to Booking.com’s 2025 Sustainability
As the nation readies to celebrate its 78th Independence Day, India’s vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 faces an important inflection point. The August 6 announcement by US president Donald Trump to impose up to 50% tariffs on Indian imports is not just a policy change; it is a stark reminder that global trade is increasingly shaped by power politics, not just economics.
