Rather than worry about what picture of India is being painted in the foreign media, the focus must be on marshalling all our energies to provide relief and solace to our deeply wounded and dispirited citizens, says former foreign secretary Shyam Saran.
Shortage of ICU beds, oxygen, ventilators, vaccines, doctors, nurses and crematorium space in India has dominated headlines around the world in the past few weeks with Covid-19 cases surging beyond control and the government failing to deliver. Yes, election rallies, Kumbh Mela, blatant flouting of social distancing and mask protocols coupled with a messy vaccination process are said to be responsible for the health crisis of colossal proportions that India is facing today. But an analysis of Budget speeches made by finance ministers over 75 years also offers a glimpse of how low on the priority list healthcare has featured for the political class and policy-makers, which is a significant reason for the current situation.
Among the three Deputy Chief Ministers are Govind Karjol, who has also been given the charge of PWD and Social welfare; Ashwath Narayan the portfolio of Higher Education, IT & BT, Science and Technology; and Laxman Savadi with Transport department.
Bangalore-based couple Sneha Sundaram and Bharath Bevinahally tell us how Kutuki, an early learning app, will change the way 200 mn kids in Indian will access education.
We need to give a booster shot to all our frontline workers first as if they fall victim to Omicron, the health system will collapse, points out Ramesh Menon.
The incident comes against the backdrop of a raging debate on lack of scrutiny of the curriculum and content taught in schools.
In his four-page letter in Hindi, the PM said that better infrastructure and rule of law are imperative for social and economic prosperity and only the NDA can provide that in Bihar.
In democratic India, a citizen can be a patriot and at the same time be critical of the government, unlike China which promulgated a national security law in Hong Kong prescribing patriotism to contest elections, observes Rup Narayan Das.
Cities, roads, stations rechristened in the time of Modi.
'I wrote to the PMO to know who has written the slogan. but did not get an answer.'
Whether the third wave will ravage us depends on the pace of vaccinations, careful and calibrated opening up of establishments, and a strategy to contain the spread in specific states or pockets.
Human Resource and Development minister Kapil Sibal announced that efforts are being made to conduct a single-level entrance test by 2013.
As people queued up to cast their vote, there were some famous faces in the lines at different polling stations.
'Surely a higher standard is required when ministers speak in public to an audience that will assume they are factually correct, says Karan Thapar.
Birla was the chairman of Century Textiles and Industries and had been active in business since the age of 15. He was instrumental in a slew of business initiatives, starting with his stint as the chairman of Kesoram Industries.
Rarely have we seen such intoxication over power, which ignores the cries of those dying, notes Jyoti Punwani.
Jammu and Kashmir and Odisha on Tuesday recorded their first cases of the Omicron variant of COVID as the count of the new strain in 14 states and union territories crossed 200 even as the Centre said there is a need to 'activate' war rooms, take 'pro-active' action and consider night curfews.
The longest-serving state party president since October 2010, Parameshwara has remained a hardcore loyalist of the party ever since his political debut through the Congress.
"We are committed to building a new India. We have to do this as early as possible," he said.
'The D K Adikesavulu clan is so wealthy, owns so many houses, and has so much jewellery,' notes T V R Shenoy, 'that it did not notice a servant stealing at the rate of Rs 66 lakh every year!'
Students who have received admission to foreign universities are struggling with unexpected delays, additional living costs and scarcity of vaccine supplies.
'The honourable prime minister virtually handpicked me for the Amritsar East seat.' 'Amit Shahji announced that if I am elected, the whole of Punjab will be drugs free.'
In the university category, IISc stood first, followed by JNU and BHU.
With over a million Indians residing in the UAE, there is need to set up more Indian institutes of higher education in the emirates, Human Resources Development Minister Arjun Singh has said.
Some interesting moments from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's trip to the United Arab Emirates.
Trump said he was deeply honoured to be joined by so many administration officials and leaders of the Indian-American community in celebrating Diwali -- the festival of lights.
'If people are not cooperating and do not follow policies laid down by the government or follow scientific infection control management, then all will be lost.'
Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel on Sunday announced that her government will make the state slum-free in the next five years and is also aiming to provide pucca houses to the needy.
The Yogi Adityanath government on Wednesday transferred 20 senior IAS officers, shunting out Principal Secretary-Information Navneet Sehgal and others who wielded considerable influence under the Akhilesh Yadav dispensation.
The Child Protection Services programme under the Integrated Child Development Services was increased to Rs 1,500 crore from Rs 925 crore.
His ministers's conduct may lead to a distancing between the army leadership and Prime Minister Imran Khan reveals Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at the Research and Analysis Wing, India's external intelligence agency.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday visited the Taimei Elementary School in Tokyo ahead of the significant summit-level talks with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe.
She had got 849th rank in the 2014 civil services exam and was allotted the Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Central Excise).
The quaint little village of Perumapalayam near Erode is excited about Indian American, Dr Celine Gounder making it to the United States President-elect Joe Biden's COVID-19 advisory board since she has her roots in it and for her continuing support to its residents.
The Indian high commission in London is making efforts to take the manuscript to India for display.
University Grants Commission Member M M Ansari has lashed out at Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani, accusing her of "abruptly" discontinuing mid-session teaching of German language in Central schools and said her tenure so far as been "far from satisfactory".
Magsaysay Award winner Sonam Wangchuk speaks to Claude Arpi about his journey, his fights, his hopes and how he became an inspiration for the Bollywood blockbuster.
the government has proposed setting up 7 new IIMs, 8 IITs. GA columnist Rashmi Bansal disussed the merits and demerits of the move.
Rashmi Bansal analyses the rationale behind the government's decision to open up more IIT and IIM institutes across the country.
Notwithstanding Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's warning of strict action if work is not resumed, the junior doctors carried on with their agitation.
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