Bureaucracy, the backbone of governance, handles policy execution, public service delivery, renders policy advice, and manages crises. Famously termed the ‘steel frame’ by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, it owes its origin to the time of Cornwallis (1786-1793) and has undergone structural changes over the years to suit the needs of the day. Its strength primarily lies…
When the Editor asked me to write about the transformation of the Indian Armed Forces over the past 79-years as part of celebrating 80th Independence of Bharat, my immediate reaction was blunt: What exactly is there to boast about? The editor was understandably annoyed. But when I explained why I felt that way, he perhaps…
As Bharat celebrates 80 years of Independence, it is worth looking beyond the familiar milestones of economic growth, technological progress and social transformation to recognise one of its most consequential democratic achievements: the steadily expanding political participation of women. The journey has been neither easy nor complete. Gender inequality continues to exist in many forms,…
Lakshmanrao Upadhyayula The venerable sage Śaunaka Gṛtsamada, illumined by the vision of the Vedic seers, raised his voice in the stately cadence of the Jagatī metre to invoke the divine powers who govern the universe. His hymn, preserved in the sacred current of the Rigveda, is not merely a liturgical composition but a profound synthesis…
Duryodhana, consumed by grief, frustration, and foreboding, approached Dronacharya and poured forth his anguish. His words were heavy with disappointment and accusation. “The mighty Bhishma, whom neither gods nor demons united could subdue, has fallen because of Sikhandi. The Pandavas now flourish in splendour and confidence, surrounded by their allies and brothers, while our vast…
Swayambhu Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Temple is located at Vedadri in Jaggayyapet Mandal of NTR district, Andhra Pradesh, on the banks of the sacred Krishna River. Vedadri is an important Vaishnava pilgrimage centre and is best known for the famous Sri Yogananda Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple. The exact age of the Swayambhu Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Temple…
New Delhi: Reliance Industries and Rolls-Royce on Friday said they intend to jointly develop a sovereign combat engine for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, marking a bid by India’s largest private-sector company and Britain’s storied aero-engine maker to build indigenous fighter-jet propulsion capability in the country. The two companies, in a joint statement,…
New Delhi: National security advisor Ajit Doval has said India’s generosity and tolerance should not be mistaken for weakness, asserting that the country can take risks and hit hard, irrespective of the consequences. Speaking in the upcoming Discovery docuseries “Declassified: Operation Sindoor”, Doval said the objective of the 88-hour military operation was to destroy enemy…
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday said that the state’s girls will come under the central scheme ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao ’, which had not been implemented by the previous TMC government. The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao project, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015, is an initiative to arrest and…
New Delhi: Vedanta Ltd on Friday said it has been declared the successful bidder for the Punnam manganese block in Andhra Pradesh. Spread over 152 hectares, the block is currently at the G4 stage of exploration, which is the initial phase of mineral exploration focusing on broad-scale geological surveys to identify potential minerals. “The company…
