Predictions for India’s economic growth in 2023-24 are optimistic. The Reserve Bank of India and the International Monetary Fund project growth rates of 6.5% and 6.3%, respectively. On paper, these numbers paint a picture of a nation swiftly rebounding from the pandemic’s blows. But is this the whole story?

U.S. federal prosecutors have brought a case to the New York courts, charging an unnamed Indian government employee with masterminding a plot to assassinate an American citizen, who is a member of a pro-Khalistan group officially banned in India, according to a press release by the U.S. Justice Department.

At last, after an intense 16-day struggle, 41 workers were saved from the Silkyara Bend-Barkot Tunnel in Uttarakhand, owing to the efforts of rat-hole miners armed with simple tools. This rescue, though a relief, serves as another crucial reminder for India’s path of development: the pursuit of progress must not undermine the health of our environment and the well-being of local communities.

In an op-ed, Kapil Sibal, a senior lawyer and member of the Rajya Sabha, makes a bold assertion: India is experiencing an undeclared emergency. His claim is grounded in his observations of the current political and judicial landscape.

In Uttar Pradesh, an intriguing twist unfolds under the Safe City Project. The new policy introduces a unique restriction: private coaching centres are now barred from conducting late evening classes specifically for female students. And the controversial “anti-Romeo squads” will do the rest. This decision, allegedly for safety, ends up penalising the very group it intends to safeguard – the women and girls of the state. Moreover, it also impacts boys and men who enjoy socialising.

In a world where news is omnipresent, the integrity and purpose of media have never been more critical. However, the recent decision by Jacinta Kerketta, a poet and journalist, to decline an award from a major media house, speaks volumes about the current state of news media.

In the grand “theatre” of politics and media, there’s a secret everyone knows but seldom acknowledges: everybody loves a good piece of fake news, as long as it sings in their choir. The recent episode involving Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and a creatively edited video of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is a perfect illustration of this unspoken truth.

According to the British newspaper Financial Times, U.S. authorities thwarted India’s alleged plot to kill a Sikh separatist on American soil. While New Delhi has rejected the claim, it holds profound implications for India and its people.

The BBC’s 2023 list of 100 inspiring and influential women, released on Nov. 21, features three Indian women, acknowledging their dedication to societal impact in the realms of environment, advocacy and sports. They embody India’s diversity and stand as a counter to patriarchy.

In the dense forests of Maharashtra on November 20, police dismantled a protest site where Adivasi communities had been demonstrating against proposed iron-ore mines. In this act, the government also disrupted the delicate balance between state authority and citizen rights in a democracy.

Amid its efforts to find a place on the global stage, India grapples with a stark contradiction. On one side, there’s a relentless pursuit of progress and influence. On the other, a deeply ingrained, regressive mindset persists. This dichotomy was blatantly exposed during the cricket World Cup final, when Tamil Nadu’s news channels bizarrely spotlighted women in a pub, treating their presence as a sensational crime story ... in public interest.

Maharashtra is currently in news for both the advocacy for and opposition to the inclusion of the Maratha community in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category for reservations. But news coverage on the issue focuses predominantly on electoral politics, overshadowing the fundamental objective of uplifting marginalised communities.