Living Relics and the Challenge of Modern Stewardship

The recent reunification of ancient gems associated with the corporeal remains of the historical Buddha—excavated more than a century ago at Piprahwa in present-day Uttar Pradesh—has revived a fundamental question for India’s cultural institutions: how should objects that are simultaneously archaeological artefacts and living objects of faith be cared for? Acquired from an overseas seller by an Indian conglomerate and handed over to the government, these relic-associated gems are now on public display in Delhi. What follows this exhibition will test India’s ability to reconcile modern museology with deeply rooted spiritual traditions.

Ease of Doing Business and India’s Clean Energy Manufacturing Moment

India’s addition of over 45 GW of clean energy capacity in 2025 marks a decisive shift in its energy transition. Renewable power is no longer a marginal supplement but a core pillar of the electricity system, increasingly expected to deliver round-the-clock, dispatchable energy. As India moves from intermittent renewables to firm clean power, a larger strategic opportunity opens up: becoming a global manufacturing hub for clean energy technologies. Whether this opportunity is realised will depend less on ambitious targets and more on the depth and continuity of Ease of Doing Business (EODB) reforms.

The Nobel Peace Prize, Political Symbolism and the Limits of Transfer

The Nobel Peace Prize occupies a unique space in global public life. It is at once a legal honour governed by strict statutes and a powerful symbol frequently invoked in international politics. This tension was on full display last week when US President Donald Trump received a Nobel Peace Prize medal from Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado during her visit to the White House. The gesture sparked controversy not only because of its political overtones, but also because it raised a fundamental legal question: can a Nobel Prize be transferred at all?

India’s Cooperative Movement and the Promise of Shared Prosperity

India’s cooperative movement draws strength from a civilisational ethic that views economic life as a collective endeavour. The idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the world as one family—has long shaped India’s understanding of welfare, participation and shared responsibility. In 2025, as the world observes the International Year of Cooperatives, India’s renewed focus on the cooperative sector under the vision of Sahkar Se Samriddhi reflects an attempt to align this tradition with the demands of a modern, market-linked economy.

Elections in the Algorithm Age: Media, Misinformation and India’s Democratic Test

As India prepares for another round of Assembly elections in 2026, electoral politics is entering an increasingly complex phase. If the 2019 general election was labelled the first “WhatsApp election” and 2024 marked a decisive shift to digital-first campaigning, the upcoming polls promise a hybrid model—ground mobilisation fused with relentless online persuasion. This evolution has made media not merely a vehicle of politics, but one of its central battlegrounds, raising urgent questions about misinformation, influence, and democratic resilience.