By Bharat Dogra   There have been frequent debates on agro-business companies not showing adequate concern for the livelihoods of small farmers. Farmers’ unions have often protested—generally with good reason—that while they do not receive fair returns despite high risks and hard work, corporate interests that merely process the crops produced by farmers earn disproportionately high profits. Hence, there is a growing demand for alternative models of agro-business development that demonstrate genuine commitment to protecting farmer livelihoods.

By N.S. Venkataraman*  The recent visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India was widely publicized across several countries and has attracted significant global attention. The warmth with which Mr. Putin was received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was particularly noted, prompting policy planners worldwide to examine the implications of this cordial relationship for the global economy and political climate. India–Russia relations have stood on a strong foundation for decades and have consistently withstood geopolitical shifts. This is in marked contrast to India’s ties with the United States, which have experienced fluctuations under different U.S. administrations.

By Atul Chandra   The year 2025 witnessed escalated threats from the United States on the Global South. In the span of months, Washington declared Venezuelan airspace “closed in its entirety,” threatened to invade Nigeria “guns-a-blazing” to protect Christians from an alleged genocide, and demanded that the Taliban return Bagram airbase with warnings of unspecified consequences. These are not isolated episodes of Trumpian bluster. They are symptoms of a deeper structural crisis in the way US power manages its relationship with the rest of the world.

By Harsh Thakor*  Thota Sitaramaiah was regarded within his circles as an example of the many individuals whose work in various underground movements remained largely unknown to the wider public. While some leaders become visible through organisational roles or media attention, many others contribute quietly, without public recognition. Sitaramaiah was considered one such figure. He passed away on December 8, 2025, at the age of 65.

By Nava Thakuria*  It may be surprising but true that the largest democracy on Earth has been functioning for more than a year without a fully constituted government-sponsored media watchdog. The Press Council of India (PCI), a quasi-judicial body initiated to safeguard and nurture press freedom in the country, remains almost non-functional since the term of its 14th council expired on 5 October 2024. Efforts to constitute the statutory 15th council have faced multiple hurdles, preventing the body from carrying out its prescribed activities.

By Jag Jivan   The 2026 World Inequality Report reveals stark and persistent inequalities across income, wealth, gender, and global financial systems, with India positioned at the centre of several critical trends. The report, drawing on the work of over 200 researchers coordinated by the World Inequality Lab, provides a comprehensive assessment of global disparities up to 2025.

By Ram Puniyani*  India’s transition from a feudal and hierarchical social order to a society aspiring for democratic values began during the colonial period. The emergence of modern industries created a new working class, and the introduction of modern education, especially through policies shaped by Thomas Macaulay, laid the groundwork for a more liberal and rights-based public sphere. Pre-modern social structures—feudal and semi-feudal—were rooted in divine authority and caste-based hierarchies, leaving little space for the notion of equal rights. It was within the colonial context that new social forces emerged and articulated demands for rights.

By A Representative  The Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (People’s Health Movement–India) organized a national health conference in Raipur on December 8–9. Around 350 prominent health leaders, activists, representatives of people’s movements and community organizations from 19 states participated. The conference focused on the major challenges in health, the demand for policy changes in the health system, and the need to strengthen grassroots public health movements through coordinated strategies.

By Bharat Dogra   Discussions on water projects often revolve around how many years it will take for them to recover their costs. In the case of a recently completed water conservation effort in Jogipura village of Sapotra block in Rajasthan’s Karauli district, the villagers are convinced that the project will recover its entire cost within a single year—once the rabi crop is harvested.

By Ravi Ranjan*  Ranjana Mishra’s poetry collection "Stone Steps of Time" ( "Patthar Samay Ki Sidhiyan" , 2022) marks a significant moment in contemporary Hindi poetry . Bringing together seventy-six poems of varied textures, the book reveals a poet whose creative universe is shaped by classical music , cultural memory , feminist consciousness , and a deep engagement with the anxieties of our time. Across these poems, Mishra weaves a world where musicality merges with philosophy, where intimate emotions intersect with political realities, and where the individual’s inner life refracts the fractures of society.

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  The recent Vande Mataram debate in Parliament was never meant to foster genuine dialogue. Each political party spoke past the other, addressing its own constituency, ensuring that clips went viral rather than contributing to meaningful deliberation. The objective was clear: to construct a Hindutva narrative ahead of the Bengal elections. Predictably, the Lok Sabha will likely expunge the opposition’s “controversial” remarks while retaining blatant inaccuracies voiced by ministers and ruling-party members. The BJP has mastered the art of inserting distortions into parliamentary records to provide them with a veneer of historical legitimacy.

By Shankar Sharma*  Recent discussions at COP30 in Brazil have again exposed the widening gap between India’s climate claims and its actual performance. Even as the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change repeatedly asserts that India is a global leader in climate action, the country slipped 13 places to 23rd in the Climate Change Performance Index released during the summit in November 2025. The principal reason flagged by the Index is India’s limited progress on phasing out coal, a challenge that has become increasingly structural and politically complex.

By Parineeta Dandekar*  Salun village , perched about 50 feet above the Ravi River , experienced its brief moment of national attention on 26 August 2025 —a moment that also marked its end. On a dark and rainy afternoon, the small settlement of homes, rajma fields, apple orchards and cattle sheds collapsed into the flooded river within half an hour. Ancestral houses filled with memories, documents and belongings were swept away. Residents who managed to escape watched helplessly as their village disappeared.

By Bharat Dogra  Baba Adhav passed away at the age of 96 on Monday, December 8. As one of the most effective organisers of workers from the poorest and most unorganised sections of society, he became widely respected during his lifetime. The impact of the struggles he helped lead and motivate remains extensive. His high personal integrity, deep commitment to workers’ rights, and openness to practical and innovative solutions earned him respect across ideological lines.

By Harsh Thakor*  The Democratic Front Against Operation Green Hunt (Punjab) organised a state-level convention and protest in Jalandhar on December 7, calling attention to killings in Adivasi regions and demanding the release of political prisoners, including those who have completed their sentences but remain in jail.

By A Representative    In a hard-hitting five-page submission to the Joint Secretary (Seeds), Ministry of Agriculture, eminent public policy expert and seed rights campaigner Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi has accused the Government of India of once again succumbing to multinational seed companies while drafting the “Hybrid Seed Regulation Bill, 2025”. He has described the proposed law as the fourth pro-industry version in 21 years (after 2004, 2010, and 2019) that completely ignores the daily reality of lakhs of farmers who continue to receive fake, sub-standard, illegal, and over-priced seeds.

By Jag Jivan   The award-winning documentary film from India, " Amma’s Pride ", has qualified for the 98ᵗʰ Academy Awards® in the Documentary Short category , emerging as the only Indian trans-centeredstory to enter this year’s Oscar race. Directed by Shiva Krish , the film has been steadily gaining global attention by prioritising community engagement and emotional impact rather than conventional promotional strategy.

By A Representative  Mallojula Venugopal Rao, also known as Sonu, a former Central Committee member of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), surrendered before Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Gadchiroli last month along with 61 others. The surrender, which included the laying down of arms, has drawn varied responses from political and civil society groups.

By A Representative   A political debate has emerged in West Bengal following recent announcements about plans for new religious structures in Murshidabad district, including a proposed mosque to be named Babri Masjid and a separate announcement by a BJP leader regarding the construction of a Ram temple in another location within Behrampur.

By A Representative  The latest round of the Business Inflation Expectations Survey (BIES) for October 2025 indicates a marginal rise in one-year-ahead business inflation expectations, even as cost pressures remain stable and profit margin expectations improve among firms. Carried out by the Misra Centre for Financial Markets and Economy, IIM-A , the survey results are based on the responses of around 900 companies. 

By A Representative   A representation has been submitted to Gujarat Chief Electoral Officer Hareet Shukla seeking the immediate suspension of eviction and demolition drives being carried out by various local authorities across the State during the ongoing Special Summary Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The appeal cites the Election Commission of India ’s ( ECI ) guidelines that prohibit demolition or eviction activities during the revision period to ensure voters are not disenfranchised. The representation has been filed by Mujahid Nafees , Convener, Minority Coordination Committee .

By Ram Puniyani  Recently, in the presence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat , Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted a flag atop the Ram temple—whose inauguration took place a few years ago—declaring that the ceremony marked the completion of the temple. He said, “Centuries-old wounds are healing, there is relief, and the resolve taken hundreds of years ago has been fulfilled.”

By Dr Palla Trinadha Rao  Climate change is no longer a distant threat for the tribal communities of Andhra Pradesh —it is an unfolding reality reshaping landscapes, altering ecological relationships, and disrupting livelihoods sustained for generations.

By Harasankar Adhikari   6 December 2025 marked 33 years since the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, an event that continues to influence political and social discourse in India. In West Bengal, where assembly elections are scheduled for 2026, political developments around the proposed foundation of a Babri Masjid structure in Beldanga, Murshidabad, have drawn significant public attention. The incident has emerged at a time of heightened political competition among major parties in the state.

By Tabassum Begum*  Ravi Ranjan occupies an important position in contemporary Hindi criticism as a scholar whose work combines poetic sensitivity, analytical sharpness and a distinctive sociological approach to literature. His writings traverse a remarkably wide terrain, from the study of medieval Bhakti poetry to incisive critique of modern Hindi fiction and progressive poetry, and from explorations of popular literature to reflections rooted in Marxist aesthetics. This breadth, sustained by deep scholarship and an intuitive grasp of poetic language, makes him one of the most widely read and respected critics in the field today.

By Bharat Dogra  Frequent concern has been expressed regarding the degradation—or even the ‘vanishing’—of pastures and common grazing lands in rural communities. Yet the protection of existing pastures and the regeneration of degraded grazing land has often been neglected. This has become a silent crisis, weakening the foundation of sustainable livelihoods in many villages. Hence, any effort to prioritize pasture regeneration and improvement, while involving rural communities, is highly desirable.

By A Representative   A representation submitted by power and climate policy analyst Shankar Sharma to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and its Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), and Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) has called for the permanent cancellation of the proposed 2,000 MW pumped storage project (PSP) in the Sharavathi Lion-Tailed Macaque (LTM) Sanctuary in Karnataka. The letter, dated December 5, 2025, has also been marked to the Union Environment Minister and the Prime Minister.

By Harsh Thakor*  Selecting the correct all-time Test Cricket XI is an almost impossible task. With no accurate parameters to compare eras—a sentiment echoed by many—the endeavor of choosing the best team of all time remains one of the most challenging in the sport. The evolution of the game makes the perfect lineup an unattainable ideal.

By A Representative   The world is on the brink of an unprecedented surge in Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) development, with 279 new projects planned globally, threatening to derail international climate goals and causing severe local impacts. This stark warning comes from a coalition of organizations—including Reclaim Finance, Rainforest Action Network, BankTrack, and others—that today launched the " Exit LNG " website, a new mapping project exposing the extent of the expansion, the companies involved, and their bank financiers.

By A Representative   The All India Committee of the Centre for the Protection of Democratic Rights and Secularism (CPDRS) has strongly criticised the Central Government and IndiGo Airlines management, alleging systemic negligence that has triggered a nationwide air travel crisis with hundreds of flight cancellations and delays.

By Rosamma Thomas*  Large cracks have appeared on Subhash Bridge across the Sabarmati in Ahmedabad, close to the Gandhi Ashram . Built in 1973, this bridge, named after Subhash Chandra Bose , connects the eastern and western parts of the city and is located close to major commercial areas. The four-lane bridge has sidewalks for pedestrians, and is vital for access to Ashram Road , Ellis Bridge , Gandhinagar and the Sabarmati Railway Station .

By Dr Vikas Singh, Dr Vina Singh  At the heart of India’s development governance lies a simple yet powerful proposition: schemes designed in New Delhi deliver meaningful impact only when implemented effectively at the district level. The District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA), chaired by Members of Parliament and convened quarterly by District Collectors, was conceived as the institutional bridge linking national development priorities with local delivery systems.

By Bharat Dogra   Recently, a group of five tribal community members travelled in a desperate condition to Udaipur city. Devilal, Narayan, Lakshman, Dharmi, and Sushila—three men and two women workers—were facing serious economic difficulties in their families and urgently needed some income. As many workers in such situations do, they gathered at the labour hiring point (naka) at Govardhan Vilas Chowkhti in Udaipur, hoping to be hired by an employer or contractor for construction or related work. Although tired and underfed, they initially felt fortunate when a contractor arrived quickly and said he had enough work for them for several days. However, after making a small advance payment, the contractor withheld the bulk of their wages. He first promised to pay soon, but then stopped responding to their phone calls. Their hopes were shattered, and they were at their wits’ end about how to recover their hard-earned and badly needed money. At this stage, another worker to...

By A Representative   A day after a detailed complaint was filed seeking disciplinary action against ten lawyers in Tirunelveli for allegedly assaulting human rights lawyer Dr. V. Suresh, no action has yet been taken by the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, according to the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL).

By Nava Thakuria*  Trouble-torn Myanmar (also known as Burma or Brahmadesh) is preparing for three-phase national elections starting on 28 December 2025, with results expected in January 2026. Several political parties—primarily proxies of the Burmese military junta—are participating, while Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) remains banned. Observers expect a one-sided contest where junta-backed candidates are likely to dominate.

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*   The visuals of Russian President Vladimir Putin in India have drawn considerable global attention. In parts of Europe and the wider Western world, the visit has been met with mixed reactions ranging from curiosity to disappointment. Some Ukrainian groups and Western commentators expressed strong criticism of India, reflecting limited understanding of India’s historical relationship with Russia and its foreign policy traditions.

By Harsh Thakor*  Yuri Ivanovich Pimenov (November 26, 1903 – September 6, 1977) was a prominent Soviet painter, graphic artist, theatre designer, and illustrator, recognized as one of the major figures associated with Socialist Realism, the officially sanctioned artistic style in the USSR from the 1930s onward.

By Rajiv Shah   In what might be interpreted as a move to globalise the contentious issue of India's judicial independence, a new academic study published in a research journal associated with the Heidelberg University, Germany , "Indian Politics & Policy", delivers a devastating verdict on the Supreme Court of India ’s performance during Narendra Modi ’s tenure from 2014 to 2025. 

By Raj Kumar Sinha*  The Madhya Pradesh government is preparing to sign a 25-year power-purchase agreement (PPA) with private companies for 4,000 MW of electricity at the rate of ₹5.83 per unit. The proposal has been sent to the Madhya Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission for final approval. Experts warn that if the proposed rate is cleared, the state will end up paying more than ₹1 lakh crore in additional expenditure over the contract period—an amount that will ultimately be borne by consumers.

By Harsh Thakor*  Kosuganti Bhumayya and Gunnala Kishtagoud, associated with the first generation of the Naxalbari movement, were executed by hanging in Mushirabad Jail, Secunderabad, on December 1, 1975. The 50th anniversary of their execution has prompted renewed discussion among writers, activists, and civil liberties groups about the case, its legal handling, and the broader debate on capital punishment in India.

By A Representative   The Gujarat High Court has sought responses from the Centre, the state government and the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) on a public interest litigation demanding extension of benefits under the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948, to workers in the Kutch district. The division bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice D.N. Ray issued directions on November 21 and posted the matter for further hearing on December 12 .

By A Representative   The All-India Feminist Alliance (ALIFA) under the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) has expressed strong solidarity with the ongoing struggles of fisherwomen across India and globally, as part of a five-week international campaign that began on November 5 and concludes on December 10. The campaign, led globally by the World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP) and endorsed in India by the National Forum of Fishworkers (NFF), coincides with the first International Fisherwomen’s Day, observed a year after the India Fisherwomen’s Assembly held in November 2024 in Thiruvananthapuram.

By A Representative   A nationwide initiative led by the civil society network Just Rights for Children (JRC) has launched an intensive drive aimed at making one lakh villages across India child marriage free within the next year. As part of this effort, villages across 17 districts in Gujarat identified as high-prevalence areas under the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019–21) have been selected for focused intervention.

By Shamsul Islam    Thirty-three years ago, on December 6, 1992, a 16th-century mosque was reduced to rubble by a frenzied mob orchestrated by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its political fronts. The demolition was not a spontaneous outburst of Hindu sentiment; it was the meticulously planned culmination of a hate campaign that branded Indian Muslims as “Babur-ki-aulad” and the Babri Masjid as a symbol of historical humiliation. 

By Kantilal Parmar*  So long as inequality, caste discrimination, atrocities on the poor, and exploitation persist, the name of Babasaheb Ambedkar will remain immortal. Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was born on April 14, 1891, at the Mhow military cantonment in present-day Madhya Pradesh. His father’s name was Ramji Maloji Sakpal and his mother’s name was Bhimabai. He was the fourteenth child in the family. Their ancestral village was Ambavade in the Ratnagiri district of the Konkan region in Maharashtra. Born into the Mahar community — considered “untouchable” — his family followed the Kabir Panth. Affectionately he was called Bhima.

By A Representative   Civil rights groups and electoral reform activists have raised serious concerns over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Gujarat and 11 other states, alleging that the newly enforced requirements could lead to large-scale deletion of legitimate voters, particularly those unable to furnish documentation linking them to the 2002 electoral list.

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*     The murder of Saksham Tete , a Dalit described as a ‘ jaibhim wallah ’ by the family of his girlfriend Anchal Mamidwar in Nanded, should not surprise anyone. The bitter and brutal fact is that we are a highly caste-conscious society, and anyone venturing beyond caste boundaries must be prepared for the repercussions that Saksham faced. There is not one single caste, region, or identity to be blamed for this. The reality is that we are all proud of our castes, and anyone who crosses the red line becomes unwanted and unaccepted.  

By Ravi Ranjan*  In an India still fractured by caste, religion, and language, where narrow loyalties repeatedly threaten to tear the nation apart, Rammanohar Lohia once observed that the true leader of the bahujans is one under whose banner even non-bahujans feel proud to march. The remark applies far beyond politics. In the literary-cultural and social spheres as well, only a person armed with unflinching historical consciousness and the moral courage to refuse every form of personality worship—including worship of oneself—can hope to touch the weak pulse of the age and speak its bitter truths without fear or favour. 

By Bharat Dogra   Mahatma Gandhi once said that one of the most important tests of a society is how it cares for its elderly. In many parts of India, particularly in villages facing poverty and outmigration, this test is increasingly being failed in the lives of the most vulnerable older people whose needs remain invisible and unmet. Recent visits to several villages in the tribal belts of South Rajasthan reveal painful stories of neglect but also inspiring examples of collective effort and hope shaped by a wellness-based model of elderly care emerging through the Prabal Yatra (PY) initiative of ARTH, a voluntary organisation working in the region.

By Harsh Thakor*  Robin Smith, who has died at the age of 62, was among the most adept and convincing players of fast bowling during an era when English cricket was in decline and pace bowling was at its most lethal. Unwavering against the tormenting West Indies pace attack or the relentless Australians, Smith epitomised courage and stroke-making prowess. His trademark shot, an immensely powerful square cut, made him a scourge of opponents. Wearing a blue England helmet without a visor or grille, he relished pulling, hooking and cutting the quicks.