Bhutan and its people

Where Happiness is a Measure of Governance: What Bhutan’s Democratic Consolidation Can Teach Global South Nations

As democracies around the world confront public dissatisfaction, Bhutan reminds us that the health of a democracy cannot be measured only through the ballot box.  It must also be evaluated through the well-being, dignity, security, and trust experienced by citizens.

India's Education Deficit: Real Reforms Lie in Making Coaching Redundant

India's digital infrastructure can certainly deliver free coaching to millions. But an even greater achievement would be to build an education and employment system in which families no longer feel compelled to buy coaching in the first place. Making bottled water cheaper is useful. Making the water from taps trustworthy is the real solution.    

India’s Education Report Card: Student Retention, not Enrolment is Key to Success

The message is clear. India needs not merely more children entering classrooms, but more children staying, completing and learning. Achieving the ambitions of NEP 2020 and SDG 4 will require sustained public investment, stronger secondary-school retention, better support for vulnerable learners and a sharper focus on completion.

For a Developed India, Its Young Need to Be Instilled with Civic Values First

The virtues like civic discipline or gender sensitivity in India are not at premium. Basic civic sense is conspicuous by its absence. It gets manifested as indiscriminate littering, spitting, traffic indiscipline, vulgar or derogatory comments against women etc. Such attitudes find manifestation in foreign destinations as well.

More on Education and Gen Z Voices

India at heart of Quad and Indo-Pacific strategies

The importance attached by the US to the Indo-Pacific places India in an advantageous position, both in defence and economic sectors

Passions All

Nothing but ever lasts, friends

India and Bangladesh have a lot to gain by increased trade with each other

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) have tremendous implications for India and Bangladesh because both nations are in the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

Modi's Bangladesh visit promises to be a potent mix of deliverables and symbolisms

Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi is slated to travel to Bangladesh on 26 March for what will be his second visit as PM to the neighbouring country

The Mirage Called, Reality

There is no smoke without a fire

The connectivity challenge: India, Japan working to link Northeast with Indo-Pacific

In their quest for a free and open Indo-Pacific, India and Japan will continue to make joint efforts to enhance connectivity, especially in India's northeast and Bangladesh, to cope with various challenges the region faces, Japanese Ambassador to India Satoshi Suzuki said

My Tree and I

Do the Trees, I often wonder

Wanderlust

Wandering is never a bad thing

A military commanders’ meet that was packed with significance

The idea to hold the Combined Commanders’ Conference (CCC) at Kevadia, Gujarat is packed with a significance which strikes those aware of India’s post-Independence history, which was swept under the carpet

Quad puts environment and climate on global front burner

The Quad meeting of leaders on March 12, 2021 has sprung a surprise. From what it has been earlier called - a 'four-member grouping', 'a loose coalition', an Asian NATO and even 'a security dialogue', the Quad has evolved into a robust construct after last week's meeting

What Is Beautiful?

‘Tell me what is beautiful, Mother

After Quad, will India, US resume trade talks?

Proposed talks on free trade agreement (FTA) between New Delhi and Washington is set to gather steam in the coming months as the Quad or the Quadrilateral group, which held its much-awaited meeting on Friday, indicated that the focus of the member countries, India, the US, Japan and Australia, will encompass economic co-operation besides strengthening security ties

Hinduism remains strong in Trinidad and Tobago

Hindus in Trinidad and Tobago - like in many other countries in the Caribbean - celebrated Maha Shivaratri, an annual festival organized in honour of Lord Shiva, one of the Hindu Trinity, with great gusto

India can only survive as a secular democracy

There are many in the western world and many in India who are expressing doubts about India continuing as a democracy

Desiderata

Roses in bloom, Daffodils besides