Opinion

Should the world adopt a law to recognise ecocide as a global crime?

From the Vietnam War to the crisis in West Asia, the environment is no longer just collateral damage. It is becoming a target in its own right

AI export curbs blur the line between security and mercantilism

Are restrictions on frontier models really driven by national-security concerns?

Brazil's ethanol journey offers India both lessons and cautionary tales

Brazil avoided it, but India seems to be rushing through the ethanol transition at consumers' expense viewpoint

The politics of image: How the World Cup became a battlefield of symbols

As several scholars have written, a symbol has language. But a symbol also has multivale¬n¬ce. It can mean many things at the same time

States' fiscal realities vary widely as debt, revenue and capex diverge

Revenue gaps and structural spending imbalances weigh on their finances, squeezing crucial infrastructure growth

For India's urban rejuvenation, the case for practical, scalable fixes

Skipping the ideal and pushing doable urban reforms immediately is key to reviving India's sputtering city growth engines

Social welfare spending is improving quality of lives across states

Devolved funds and tailored welfare schemes empower grassroots development, lifting poor families and driving rural equality

State legislatures shape the destiny of people; they must act like it

They handle Budgets and laws, but their dismal sitting days shows a lack of debate & scrutiny

16th Finance Commission's balance and tilt in Centre-state fiscal ties

The 16th Finance Commission tilts Centre-state fiscal ties by retaining 41% tax devolution while ending revenue deficit grants, raising concerns over fiscal balance

Population debate needs nuance, not panic over India's fertility shift

India's falling fertility calls for region-specific, rights-based policies-not a shift from population-control fears to pro-birth alarmism

Best of BS Opinion: Nato, remote work and economic resilience

Today's opinions examine the Nato summit, women's cash transfer schemes, global market risks after the Iran conflict, remote work and Mary Beard's exploration of the classics.

Ankara's ambiguous outcomes: Trump overwhelms Nato's best intentions

The NATO summit reaffirmed collective defence and support for Ukraine, but Donald Trump's remarks on Spain, Greenland and Iran exposed deep alliance tensions

Improving cash transfers: Time to construct a firm policy framework for DBT

An EAC-PM study finds women's cash-transfer schemes improve savings and spending, but raises questions over their long-term fiscal sustainability

Young professionals should prioritise office work over remote jobs

Studies show remote work is responsible for nearly two-thirds of the unemployment gap between college graduates under 29 and older graduates

Global risks persist despite markets' optimism after the Iran conflict

Risks to the global economy persist, and it is far too early to celebrate finger on the pulse

Best of BS Opinion: Cybersecurity, ageing and women's financial freedom

Today's opinions examine cybersecurity in connected vehicles, India's ageing challenge, Karnataka's regional inequalities, women's entrepreneurship and the hidden world of trees

Connected vehicles demand stronger cybersecurity and common standards

The ban on three Chinese-origin EV apps has exposed cybersecurity risks in connected vehicles, underscoring the need for robust standards like AIS189 and stronger digital safeguards

Expanding women's access to credit key to inclusive economic growth

Optimism implicit in the ASUSE data should not suggest a dynamic change in women's participation rate in the workforce swot

Listening to communities: The first step towards lasting development

Listening is the first act of dignity restoration. It communicates to the community that their experience is valid, their knowledge is respected

Karnataka's next challenge will be to make growth inclusive statewide

Beneath its spectacular growth over the past three decades lies a stark historical imbalance that needs policy intervention