Opinions and Editorials

Minister of Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal is one of the most active ministers of UPA-II. In this Idea Exchange moderated by Special Correspondent Anubhuti Vishnoi, Sibal discusses his roadmap for education ANUBHUTI VISHNOI: The election results are out in Maharashtra, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh.

Offensive against the Taliban by Pakistan and US forces apparently is not successful possibly on account of Taliban's familiarity with the rough terrain and the tough foreign mercenaries fighting alongside them.

Last week's election results confirm that the political map of India is radically changed. There is only one political party left on the national landscape because the Bharatiya Janata Party can now be officially declared dead.

Eleven months ago we had elections in six states. The result was an even split between the Congress and the BJP. Then came the national elections and all the hopes of a BJP comeback disappeared. Now in October, we have a confirmation of a solid trend. It is the Congress and no other party that can win again and again.

Society at large is experiencing a contradiction between open and closed environments at the individual and industry levels.

All too often the explanation for the current turmoil in Pakistan—in particular the threat of radical Islamists—is traced back to the events of 9/11. Unfortunately, that is far too simple a characterisation of Pakistan's problems.

Society at large is experiencing a contradiction between the open vs closed environment at the individual and industry levels.

Ethiopia has once again appealed for urgent food aid. Hit by another drought, they requested 159,410 tonnes of food aid at a donors conference, for 6.2 million people of the landlocked country. This, 25 years after the autocratic rule of Mengistu Haile Mariam, when over a million perished in the 1984 "great famine".

The Congress's continued election victories are good for the Congress; they are, to the extent the verdicts make the Congress a little more courageous in policymaking, good for the country; they are good for the BJP, on the assumption that at some point of time it will wake up; but they aren't too good for news TV.

On Thursday night, the Maoists threw down the gauntlet more firmly than ever before. They released a West Bengal policeman at a time and place of their choosing. They did it with the media brazenly trekked in, in well-planned attendance. And Atindranath Dutta was released from captivity on Indian soil, with the legend "P.O.W." hung around his neck.

On October 19, Dawn reported a triumphant army press release: "Security forces claimed to have made steady gains in their assaults on militants' strongholds in South Waziristan and army officials said they were surprised by the low level of resistance... A Taliban spokesman acknowledged the army had launched a multi-pronged attack.

Debates over examinations embody not just technical pedagogical questions, but a vast array of social anxieties and aspirations.

A recent cover for Forbes India features drawings of a tiger and a dragon, and the two fierce predators are seen in battle over the prized catch.

A Raja, the cabinet minister for telecommunications, is a fantastically lucky man. Even with the erstwhile leaders of international finance as mocked as they are today, it is difficult to imagine any other job on the face of the planet where someone could lose Rs 60,000 crore for their employer and still be re-employed when their term came to an end.

There has been vigorous debate whether Jinnah really wanted a separate state or merely a veto on the domination of Islamic identity by Hindu majoritarianism within the Indian union.

Ever since the Lok Sabha election results, Bengal watchers have been harping on the fact that the rural electorate—LF's critical support base—had shifted loyalties to the opposition Trinamool Congress.

To run an industry you need money. You go to a guy who has the dough and hope to interest him enough to lend you some. If the investment works out, you pay him back (hopefully).

It has pulled off a double hat-trick, and the Congress combine, therefore, has much reason to celebrate.

One of the very few unpleasant side-effects of a global economic recovery steadily gaining momentum is the impact that it will have on oil prices.

The recent G-20 and IMF meetings have seen a long overdue increase in emerging markets (EM) representation in global institutions.