Page 4 - Aditi Phadnis

As Bihar polls near, Patna Metro lifts hopes amid costly metro trend

As Bihar polls near, upcoming Patna Metro fuels excitement - but across India, expensive metro dream projects often outweigh ridership and financial reality, writes Aditi Phadnis

'Nehru's First Recruits' traces how India's early diplomats shaped policy

Kallol Bhattacherjee attempts to do that by exploring how Indian diplomats were recruited in the 10 or so years after Independence in 1947

Miss World heads to Hyderabad as Telangana seeks global spotlight

To promote Telangana, the city will hold the Miss World contest in May. Some states organise like-for-like events to get global focus

BJP's boatman in Kerala: Can Chandrasekhar steer the party to success?

Mr Chandrasekhar calls himself a fauji brat who was born in Ahmedabad and grew up in cantonments all over India: Ladakh, Jorhat, and Delhi

Sikkim's Rs 50 tourism toll sparks debate over cost, sustainability

State argues the "entry fee" for travellers will boost infrastructure and instil ownership of sustainable tourism, but critics call it unjust and a burden on the sector. ADITI PHADNIS weighs in

How Dravidian politics has evolved beyond the LTTE over 35 years

Since the IPKF's withdrawal from Sri Lanka in 1990, the once-powerful ideology and influence of LTTE in Tamil Nadu has faded, with minimal electoral impact

Gyanendra's push for relevance meets resistance in democratic Nepal

Nepal's recent political history tells us that the route to a return of monarchy cannot go through India despite friends in high places

Bofors Gate: Chitra Subramaniam's book deep-dives into the arms scandal

A household name for her investigation into the Bofors scandal, Chitra Subramaniam's book offers an unsparing account of the defence deal, even as it examines her own motivation

Kerala ASHA workers live on hope as promised wage hike remains elusive

As women health care workers' protest enters 30th day amid political blame game, ADITI PHADNIS explores the Centre-state funding ratio debate

Down but not out? Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party confident amid setback

AAP's Goa President Amit Palekar says the Congress has voters but it has no cadre. Therefore, AAP has chance

As with US, so with India: Deportation images and political silence

The fact is, deportation, which should have been like a cracker thrown in the midst of routine, slightly tired politics, has not compelled people to take to the streets

Varying constants of Delhi: New power equations after BJP's return

The BJP is mindful that on the ground the AAP still exists. And so does the Congress. In 14 seats of the Delhi Assembly, the Congress got more votes than the margin of defeat of the AAP

Fear of tighter US visa regulations keeps temples, consultancies busy

Footfalls at the Shree Siddhi Peeth Chamatkari Hanuman Mandir in New Delhi's Neb Sarai have increased, especially since January 20, when Donald Trump was sworn in as US president

Aam Aadmi Party's journey from idealism to power: A first-hand account

The book explains that around 2011, Mr Gandhi became a part of the India Against Corruption (IAC) movement and a member of its 24-person "core committee"

A walkout in the midst of a 'colourful' Budget, but the mood stayed bright

The Treasury Benches erupted with joy when the restructuring in income-tax slabs was announced, breaking spontaneously into chants of "Modi, Modi"

The changing face of the Dalits: Budget as a catalyst for empowerment

The biggest angst of Dalit groups is the issue of manual scavenging

A new address, and then a reshaped house: Cong eyes organisational revamp

"Expect a major reshuffle in Maharashtra and Rajasthan after 27 January," said a top Congress leader

G20 from the backroom: Amitabh Kant on navigating crises and consensus

Kant describes with ill-concealed glee how slack-jawed reporters reacted when a joint communique was indeed accepted as the New Delhi declaration of the G20

Shivraj Singh Chouhan's Delhi move: A promotion or loss of MP clout?

In the delicate dance that will accompany the appointment of a new president of the party, Mr Chouhan could be a participant

Indonesian President Subianto set to grace R-Day parade as chief guest

History beckons as Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto attends India's Republic Day function as chief guest amid growing ties between the two countries in a shifting global landscape