Editorials

PAGE 7

Bruised Delhi heads to polls

Editorials

Published on Jan 07, 2025 08:21 PM IST

The Capital goes to the polls after five years of acrimony that hamstrung governance. The new government might not be able to do better

New Delhi, Nov 23 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party supporters cheer during the celebration of the party's victory in the Maharashtra Assembly election, at party headquarters in New Delhi on Saturday. (ANI Photo) (Modi website)

ByHT Editorial

Early steps to digital dignity

India's draft digital privacy rules aim to protect 800 million users, focusing on children's online safety, data protection, and user rights

Last week, the government released draft rules that will operationalise the digital privacy law passed in 2023. The rules, on which the public can give feedback till February 18, represent an ambitious attempt to protect the country’s 800 million-plus internet users. (Photo by Money SHARMA / AFP) / To go with 'India-Wedding-Detective', FOCUS by Aishwarya KUMAR (AFP)

Editorials

Updated on Jan 06, 2025 08:45 PM IST

ByHT Editorial

Connecting the NCR with public transport

The Regional Rapid Transit System, described as a semi-high-speed rail, is a good first step towards facilitating smooth travel in the National Capital Region

New Delhi, India- December 24, 2024: Metro Rail service in the chilly morning with light fog amid rising air pollution near the Samachar apartment, in New Delhi, India, on Tuesday, December 24, 2024. (Photo by Sunil Ghosh / Hindustan Times)

Editorials

Published on Jan 06, 2025 08:45 PM IST

ByHT Editorial

Caste discrimination in university campuses

A lot will depend on systematic and thoughtful implementation of the rules against caste-based discrimination in higher education institutions

Students from poorer families, marginalised castes and first-generation learner backgrounds often find it difficult to survive on campuses — not only because they fail to get adequate help but also due to hostility

Editorials

Published on Jan 05, 2025 08:50 PM IST

ByHT Editorial

New pain points on China border

Mega dam on the Brahmaputra and new counties in occupied Ladakh can have a negative impact on bilateral ties

India must remain as clear-eyed as it is being in its approach to the rapprochement with China (AFP/Indian Army)

Editorials

Published on Jan 05, 2025 08:47 PM IST

ByHT Editorial

No end to farm economy unease

Jagjit Singh Dallewal, 70, has been on a 40-day hunger strike in Punjab, highlighting farmers' demands for MSP and debt waivers amid escalating tensions.

Jalandhar, Dec 30 (ANI): Farmers raise slogans during a sit-in protest for the 'Punjab Bandh' call given by the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) in support of Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been holding a hunger strike for more than a month over various demands, in Jalandhar on Monday. (ANI Photo) (Sunny Sehgal)

Editorials

Updated on Jan 03, 2025 08:28 PM IST

ByHT Editorial

Filling the gaps in school education

Lopsided student-teacher ratio, teacher absenteeism, the digital divide and gender discrimination continue to impact enrolment and retention.

Ghaziabad India - December 26 2024: Ghaziabad School children at Ghaziabad Kavi Nagar Primary School in Ghaziabad , India on Thursday, Decemberr 26 2024. (Photo by Sakib Ali /Hindustan Times)

Editorials

Published on Jan 02, 2025 10:25 PM IST

ByHT Editorial

The battle to beat the heat

UN chief Guterres warns of a climate crisis as 2024 becomes the hottest year on record, urging urgent action and accountability from developed nations.

Shimla: Flames billow out after a fire broke out in a forest near residential area, in Shimla, on Sunday night, May 26, 2024. (PTI Photo) (PTI)

Editorials

Updated on Jan 02, 2025 10:24 PM IST

ByHT Editorial

The unsettled debate about Covid origins

Five years later, as China and WHO still grapple over Covid data, the early missteps from five years ago continue to haunt us

People walk on a pedestrian street in Wuhan, in China's central Hubei province on December 22, 2024, ahead of the fifth anniversary of China confirming its first death from the Covid-19 coronavirus. (Photo by Hector RETAMAL / AFP) (AFP)

Editorials

Published on Jan 01, 2025 09:24 PM IST

ByHT Editorial

In Manipur, the search for peace

Manipur CM N Biren Singh's late apology for 19 months of violence marks a potential turning point, urging communities to forgive and seek peace.

Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh addresses a press conference, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (PTI Photo) (PTI)

Editorials

Updated on Jan 01, 2025 09:24 PM IST

ByHT Editorial

Signalling a maturing space ecosystem

India tackling a technology fundamental to mankind’s space future is a testament to its imagination, scientific prowess, and determination

Sriharikota [Andhra Pradesh], Dec 31 (ANI): Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launches Polar Satellite Launch vehicle (PSLV-C60) with two Space Docking Experiment (SpaDex) satellites and 24 other innovative payloads into orbit from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), in Sriharikota on Monday. (ANI Photo) (PIB- X)

Editorials

Published on Dec 31, 2024 08:02 PM IST

ByHT Editorial

Optimism, with a dose of caution

India has held strong in the bleak global milieu of war and climate crisis, but there are challenges in the new year that it must deftly navigate

Puri, Dec 31 (ANI): Sand artist Manas Kumar Sahoo makes a sand art wishing New Year 2025, at Puri beach in Puri on Wednesday. (ANI Photo) (Prahlad Mahato)

Editorials

Updated on Dec 31, 2024 08:01 PM IST

ByHT Editorial

Preparing for the Trump disruption

India has the diplomatic wherewithal to deal with Trump 2.0 even as issues such as H-1B visa and trade will test ties from time to time

President-elect Donald Trump holds hands with Melania Trump after speaking to supporters at the Palm Beach County Convention Center during an election night watch party, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

Editorials

Published on Dec 30, 2024 08:15 PM IST

ByHT Editorial

Start to finish, golden year for Indian chess

This year, chess quietly emerged as the sport that consistently perched the country on top of the world

India’s victory march in chess began with 18-year-old D Gukesh when, against all odds, he became India’s first Candidates champion since five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand. / AFP PHOTO / Dibyangshu SARKAR (AFP)

Editorials

Published on Dec 30, 2024 08:15 PM IST

ByHT Editorial

Azerbaijan crash calls for a thorough probe

Russia's response to the downing of an Azerbaijani plane raises concerns about accountability, as 38 innocent lives were lost amidst the Ukraine conflict.

People mourn at the grave of Captain of the plane Igor Kshnyakin during the funeral of the crew members of Azerbaijan Airlines Flight J2-8243 that crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau, in Baku, Azerbaijan December 29, 2024. REUTERS/Aziz Karimov (REUTERS)

Editorials

Updated on Dec 29, 2024 09:21 PM IST

ByHT Editorial

An emblem for the India story

Manmohan Singh’s life and work are entwined with post-Independence India’s transformation from a poor country to a global power

**EDS: FILE PHOTO** Tokyo: In this Oct. 24, 2010 file photo, then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in Tokyo, Japan. Singh passed away on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, at the age of 92. (PTI Photo/Vijay Verma) (PTI)

Editorials

Updated on Dec 27, 2024 09:05 PM IST

ByHT Editorial

MT was a master of the word and screen

MT Vasudevan Nair was a remarkable cultural figure who left his imprint on the worlds of word and cinema

17 July 1991 - MT Vasudevan Nair, Writer - HT Photo by Sanjay Sharma.

Editorials

Published on Dec 26, 2024 08:37 PM IST

ByHT Editorial

Taliban lesson for Islamabad

Pakistan's air strikes in Afghanistan highlight tensions with the Taliban, killing 46, prompting protests over sovereignty and reflecting shifting allegiances.

Afghan victims injured in a Pakistani air strike, receive medical treatment at a hospital in Sharan, capital of Paktika province on December 25, 2024, a day after the attack. Pakistan air strikes in an eastern border region of Afghanistan killed 46 civilians, the Taliban government said December 25, whilst a Pakistan security official said the bombardment had targeted

Editorials

Updated on Dec 26, 2024 08:37 PM IST

ByHT Editorial

Setting out the Budget agenda

The forthcoming Union Budget will be presented in a radically different economic environment compared to its predecessor.

New Delhi, India - Feb. 1, 2023: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman with Ministers of State Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad and Pankaj Chaudhary and officials poses for photographs outside the Finance Ministry ahead of the presentation of the Union Budget 2023-24 at North Block in New Delhi, India, on Wednesday, February 1, 2023. (Photo by Ajay Aggarwal/ Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times)

Editorials

Published on Dec 25, 2024 08:24 PM IST

ByHT Editorial

Detention policy is a double-edged sword

The scrapping of the no-detention policy in central schools is welcome as far as the underlying intent is concerned — identifying and remedying learning gaps among students

Ghaziabad India - December 22 2024: School children going to school in light rain in Ghaziabad , India on Monday, Decemberr 22 2024. (Photo bySakib Ali /Hindustan Times)

Editorials

Updated on Dec 25, 2024 08:24 PM IST

ByHT Editorial

The Benegal imprint on Indian cinema

Shyam Benegal, a key figure in the 1970s parallel cinema, reshaped Indian film with strong characters and aesthetics, leaving a lasting legacy.

**EDS: FILE PHOTO** Mumbai: In this June 14, 2024 file photo, filmmaker Shyam Benegal during the release of a special postal cover to mark Film Heritage Foundation's 10th anniversary, in Mumbai. Benegal passes away at the age of 90. (PTI Photo/Shashank Parade) (PTI12_23_2024_000397B) (PTI)

Editorials

Updated on Dec 24, 2024 08:59 PM IST

ByHT Editorial

Pulls of domestic politics in Dhaka

Bangladesh needs political reforms, surely, but Dhaka’s excessive focus on Hasina, and the targeting of her friends, at home and abroad, India included, is unlikely to help the country stay on course for a democratic overhaul

Bangladesh former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina checks her watch as she waits for the official opening time to cast her vote in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Jan. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri) (AP)

Editorials

Published on Dec 24, 2024 08:59 PM IST

ByHT Editorial

Forest survey misses the wood for the trees

The need is to assess reafforestation efforts through the prism of preserving and furthering biodiversity and the imprint these have on the climate crisis through the long-term effects on the environment and the way the hydrological cycle is impacted.

An Indian giant squirrel rests on a tree branch in the tribal village of Banagudi in Nilgiris district, India, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) (AP)

Editorials

Published on Dec 23, 2024 09:00 PM IST

ByHT Editorial

Making friends in the Gulf region

While India’s relations with Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the main players in West Asia, are better than ever, it is sound policy to develop equally close ties with the other Arab States at a time when a lot of Indian interests are closely tied to developments in the region

Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah shakes hands with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kuwait City, Kuwait, December 22, 2024. KUNA/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES (via REUTERS)

Editorials

Published on Dec 23, 2024 09:00 PM IST

ByHT Editorial

Ways to make our roads accident free

Poorly designed roads, flouting of rules by road traffic, and lack of adequate monitoring form the cocktail that is behind most mishaps on India’s roads

Good design, effective laws, and zero-tolerance of violations can change human behaviour for the better (X.com/@DriveSmart_IN)

Editorials

Published on Dec 22, 2024 08:48 PM IST

ByHT Editorial

Towards a simple and rational GST

Indirect tax regime needs to be rejigged and an honest debate on fiscal federalism and the politics and economics of welfare is essential

GST is no longer the Good and Simple Tax it was touted to be. The window for the rationalisation of the tax slabs (currently four) has been extended, and it isn’t clear whether this will even happen (FinMinIndia-X)

Editorials

Published on Dec 22, 2024 08:41 PM IST

ByHT Editorial

Not in the name of Ambedkar

The raucous winter session was a disservice to his legacy, the illustrious track record of the Constitution and Parliament

Bengaluru, Dec 19 (ANII): Photos of Dr BR Ambedkar has been placed inside Karnataka Assembly to condemn the Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remark in Rajya Sabha over BR Ambedkar, in Bengaluru on Thursday. (ANI Photo) (Congress-X)

Editorials

Published on Dec 20, 2024 08:29 PM IST

ByHT Editorial

Dealing with the Dragon

India-China talks show incremental progress on border issues, yet differences in statements indicate ongoing challenges in peacebuilding and trust.

Beijing, Dec 19 (ANI): Indian Special Representative and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval with Chinese Special Representative, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Office Wang Yi at the 23rd meeting of the Special Representatives on the China-India Boundary Question, in Beijing on Wednesday. (ANI Photo) (India in China - X)

Editorials

Updated on Dec 19, 2024 09:12 PM IST

ByHT Editorial

Oscars are no yardstick to judge Indian cinema

Laapataa Ladies is a sensitive and layered comedy about the status of women in the Hindi heartland and how aspirations are changing gender relations in rural India, but it arguably lacks the grandeur and thematic and emotional universality to rock global screens

Editorials

Updated on Dec 19, 2024 09:12 PM IST

ByHT Editorial

Ashwin, match-winner & innovator for the ages

Ashwin’s variations and constant experimentations kept him ahead of the curve.

TOPSHOT - This picture taken on December 1, 2024 shows India's spin bowler Ravichandran Ashwin arriving to attend a cricket warm-up session at Manuka Oval in Canberra. (Photo by Saeed KHAN / AFP) (AFP)

Editorials

Published on Dec 18, 2024 08:36 PM IST

ByHT Editorial

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Editorials

The Capital goes to the polls after five years of acrimony that hamstrung governance. The new government might not be able to do better

India's draft digital privacy rules aim to protect 800 million users, focusing on children's online safety, data protection, and user rights

The Regional Rapid Transit System, described as a semi-high-speed rail, is a good first step towards facilitating smooth travel in the National Capital Region

A lot will depend on systematic and thoughtful implementation of the rules against caste-based discrimination in higher education institutions

Mega dam on the Brahmaputra and new counties in occupied Ladakh can have a negative impact on bilateral ties

Jagjit Singh Dallewal, 70, has been on a 40-day hunger strike in Punjab, highlighting farmers' demands for MSP and debt waivers amid escalating tensions.

Lopsided student-teacher ratio, teacher absenteeism, the digital divide and gender discrimination continue to impact enrolment and retention.

UN chief Guterres warns of a climate crisis as 2024 becomes the hottest year on record, urging urgent action and accountability from developed nations.

Five years later, as China and WHO still grapple over Covid data, the early missteps from five years ago continue to haunt us

Manipur CM N Biren Singh's late apology for 19 months of violence marks a potential turning point, urging communities to forgive and seek peace.

India tackling a technology fundamental to mankind’s space future is a testament to its imagination, scientific prowess, and determination

India has held strong in the bleak global milieu of war and climate crisis, but there are challenges in the new year that it must deftly navigate

India has the diplomatic wherewithal to deal with Trump 2.0 even as issues such as H-1B visa and trade will test ties from time to time

This year, chess quietly emerged as the sport that consistently perched the country on top of the world

Russia's response to the downing of an Azerbaijani plane raises concerns about accountability, as 38 innocent lives were lost amidst the Ukraine conflict.

Manmohan Singh’s life and work are entwined with post-Independence India’s transformation from a poor country to a global power

MT Vasudevan Nair was a remarkable cultural figure who left his imprint on the worlds of word and cinema

Pakistan's air strikes in Afghanistan highlight tensions with the Taliban, killing 46, prompting protests over sovereignty and reflecting shifting allegiances.

The forthcoming Union Budget will be presented in a radically different economic environment compared to its predecessor.

The scrapping of the no-detention policy in central schools is welcome as far as the underlying intent is concerned — identifying and remedying learning gaps among students

Shyam Benegal, a key figure in the 1970s parallel cinema, reshaped Indian film with strong characters and aesthetics, leaving a lasting legacy.

Bangladesh needs political reforms, surely, but Dhaka’s excessive focus on Hasina, and the targeting of her friends, at home and abroad, India included, is unlikely to help the country stay on course for a democratic overhaul

The need is to assess reafforestation efforts through the prism of preserving and furthering biodiversity and the imprint these have on the climate crisis through the long-term effects on the environment and the way the hydrological cycle is impacted.

While India’s relations with Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the main players in West Asia, are better than ever, it is sound policy to develop equally close ties with the other Arab States at a time when a lot of Indian interests are closely tied to developments in the region

Poorly designed roads, flouting of rules by road traffic, and lack of adequate monitoring form the cocktail that is behind most mishaps on India’s roads

Indirect tax regime needs to be rejigged and an honest debate on fiscal federalism and the politics and economics of welfare is essential

The raucous winter session was a disservice to his legacy, the illustrious track record of the Constitution and Parliament

India-China talks show incremental progress on border issues, yet differences in statements indicate ongoing challenges in peacebuilding and trust.

Laapataa Ladies is a sensitive and layered comedy about the status of women in the Hindi heartland and how aspirations are changing gender relations in rural India, but it arguably lacks the grandeur and thematic and emotional universality to rock global screens

Ashwin’s variations and constant experimentations kept him ahead of the curve.

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