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Decoding 6,000-Year-Old Language Can Bury North-South Divide
Work by an Indian cryptographer on the still-undeciphered Indus Valley script suggests Sanskrit may have been the root language. If true, it questions Aryan invasion theory as well as the north-south divide
Thinking of studying in the US? Here’s why you should think twice
If the Trump administration has its way, American universities will no longer be hallowed centres for academic research and scientific breakthroughs
- Meghan O Rourke
- New York Times
How list of India’s enemies killed in Pakistan is getting longer
LeT commander Abu Qatal’s killing was the result of infighting in Lashkar ranks. The shooting ends the months-long pause in ‘mysterious’ killings of terrorists in Pakistan who were high on India’s ‘persons of interest’ list
How a boatman earned ₹30 crore in 45 days at the Maha Kumbh
Recalling the bustling crowds of the 2019 Kumbh, Pintu Mahara made a bold and calculated gamble: He took a loan and mortgaged the family jewellery to expand his fleet from 60 to 130 boats. And the gamble paid off big time
- Kapil Dixit
- TNN
Why this Kanpur man is a hero for all victims of cyber scams
A 30-year-old Kanpur journalist not only did not fall for a cyber scammer’s threats, but also turned the tables on him and scammed the scammer of Rs 10,000, leaving him begging and crying. Here’s his story
- Faiz Rahman SiddiquiLabanya Maitra
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM
Why India wants to build its own great wall, of trees
Gujarat to Delhi, it's a massive reforestation of the Aravalis to keep the Thar desert from advancing
- Vishwa Mohan
- TNN
Nepal Doesn’t Need A King & Won’t Get One Anyway
Nepalese versions of MAGA & Hindu nationalism are driving demands for monarchy’s revival. But the groups are too fractured. Yes, politicians failed. But royals failed even more spectacularly
With IPL bets in excess of $100bn, why Indian banks are struggling
India's IPL cricket frenzy is fuelling massive gambling, straining banks' IT systems, particularly due to the surge in real-time transactions via the UPI interface. Why this is an elephant in the room that needs to be tackled
- Andy Mukherjee
- Bloomberg
Is Yogi Adityanath the X factor in Modi-Shah duopoly?
If Narendra Modi decides to step aside as prime minister between 2029 and 2034, Union home minister Amit Shah is his natural heir — but Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath is the X factor
- Minhaz Merchant
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM
Why Indian courts can no longer stop the police from making illegal arrests
This excerpt from lawyer Abhinav Sekhri’s chapter in ‘Policing and Violence in India’ looks at the evolution of anticipatory bail in Indian criminal law. How through judicial conservatism and legislative pushback, its scope was steadily eroded over time, especially in cases framed as ‘public interest’, enabling a resurgence of custodial violence under the guise of effective investigation
Parwanoo to Shimla in 90 minutes: HP plans world’s longest ropeway
A proposal to link Shimla to Parwanoo could reduce traffic on the lone highway that connects the two cities and could also give tourists a far more scenic ride to the state capital.
- Bhavika Jain
- TNN
How one of India’s biggest jobs scandals was executed
It’s all in court records. Answer sheets went missing, candidates who had submitted blank answer sheets were selected, appointment letters were issued to those who did not even sit for exams. No wonder one of the court orders striking down the recruitment for teaching and non-teaching staff in West Bengal called the entire process ‘unashamedly’ manipulated
- Sunil Baghel
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM
How Kerala overtook Punjab to become India’s drug epicentre
Kerala is in the grip of a surging drug crisis. It recorded more than three times the number of cases as Punjab in 2024. Even schoolchildren test positive and murders are traced back to synthetic high. The state is cracking down, but the ground is slipping under its feet
- Nidheesh MK
- THE ECONOMIC TIMES
Beware of these four ways that cyber-scammers can steal your money
Screen sharing, call merging, call forwarding and voicemail — these are some of the tools criminals now use to steal your money and hack into your devices. Cyber security expert Amit Dubey explains how to stay safe
- Labanya MaitraKetki Angre
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM
As troubles mount at Gensol, BluSmart is fighting for survival
Gensol’s aggressive growth strategy in green business encountered harsh realities, compounded by corporate governance issues. As a result, sister concern BluSmart’s clean mobility ambitions are now in jeopardy
- Rajiv GhoshManu P Toms
- THE ECONOMIC TIMES
The men who hate women: Inside the dark, angry world of Indian incels
The popular crime drama ‘Adolescence’ has been a wake-up call about how the online world of misogyny and self-loathing has sucked young teens in
- Ketaki Desai
- TNN
Is Mamata Banerjee’s rule in West Bengal unravelling?
With just one year left for the assembly polls, the fallout of the anti-Waqf law violence and the SC verdict affecting over 25,000 school teachers could be electorally damaging for the chief minister
- Minhaz Merchant
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM
Pause, and recall your purpose, now is the time to act
Time and tide wait for no one, as they say. Hours, days, months and years slip away, carrying us like pebbles in the mighty river of time. But are we using our time earnestly to build something meaningful that endures? How can one carve out time for one’s inner calling? It is indeed possible. Listen in to know how, through Valluvar’s insights.
Is Trump’s Tariff Turmoil Good News For India?
Global order is changing, US pre-eminence is in decline. That’s why it’s demanding trade concessions. This approach suits New Delhi. If it’s clever, it can make a few geopolitical deals
Why no one wants the Rs 101 crore lying in eight Maharashtra banks
Eight banks have notes worth Rs 101.2 crore just rotting away. The man who watched Money Heist on loop 15 times, not just because he liked it, but because he had bigger plans. And the high-flying train thief who flew to Kolkata for rosgullas, Goa for scotch – three stories on India Uncovered
Ratan Tata leaves more than ₹3 crore for home and office staff
While long-time cook gets ₹1 crore, butler gets ₹66 lakh and pet dog Tito gets ₹12 lakh. The industrialist’s will also directs the executors to waive off loans
From Che Guevara to Hindutva: Actor-turned politician Pawan Kalyan’s power play
The Telugu superstar had once styled himself as a working-class hero. Now, a BJP ally, he’s quick to come to the defence of Sanatan Dharma and scoffs at North-South politics
She told friends she had access to her grandma’s bank account...and then the blackmail started
A 15-year-old girl was blackmailed for months by a youth who morphed her photos and forced her to withdraw Rs 80 lakh from her grandmother’s account. Eight people have been arrested and Rs 40 lakh recovered
- Mahesh Buddi
- TNN
‘Yunus was behind Hasina’s ouster…It was a well-planned conspiracy…Process to East Pakistan has begun’
Awami League joint general secretary AFM Bahauddin Naseem, considered party’s second-in-command after Sheikh Hasina, tells Mohua Chatterjee in a phone interview that the “process to East Pakistan” has begun in Dhaka, that Hasina remains party leader, and that Yunus is “bound to create anti-India propaganda to stay in power”.
India’s microfinance bubble grew 2,100%. Now a bust looms
Multiple lenders are chasing the same borrowers amid stagnant incomes at the bottom of the pyramid
- Andy Mukherjee
- Bloomberg
Book extract: How Facebook played ‘dirty’ to push Free Basics down India’s throat
In 2015, Facebook rolled out an initiative called Internet.org, later renamed Free Basics, in India to connect the unconnected. A former employee discloses how the company used dirty tactics to browbeat critics but ultimately failed in its mission
How India’s Musk is feeling the heat of intense public scrutiny
It’s not just Tesla and Elon Musk who are going through a rough patch. Amid falling sales, revenues and stock price, Ola Electric’s claims, numbers and practices are under the spotlight, giving CEO Bhavish Aggarwal sleepless nights
- Manu P Toms
- THE ECONOMIC TIMES
Why are Kashmiri youths flocking to erase their AK-47 tattoos?
While tattoos once symbolised rebellion for some Kashmiris, there’s a growing trend of individuals seeking tattoo removal, driven by evolving personal and cultural beliefs
- Naseer Ganai
- TNN
April 11 — Amit Shah in Chennai, Italy's deputy PM in India, IPL: CSK vs KKR
The day’s top events in a nutshell brought to you only on TOI+
- Team TOI Plus
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM
What pilots were discussing just before South Korean plane crash killed 179
A partial transcript reveals that the pilots were discussing alternate ways to land just before the deadly crash. With the black boxes having stopped recording four minutes prior to the crash, this exchange could be a crucial piece of the puzzle
- Grace MoonSelam Gebrekidan
- New York Times
Explained: What 9 months in space can do to a human body
It was an eight-day mission that turned into nine months. This is what Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore survived
- Team TOI Plus
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM
Caught in a debt trap? Here’s how you can get out of it
Reckless spending, poor planning and unchecked borrowing are pushing many into deep debt. Disciplined saving, debt restructuring and expert guidance can offer a way out
- Yasmin Hussain
- THE ECONOMIC TIMES
India gets 300 sunny days a year — so why is solar power falling short?
An IIT Delhi study finds that rising air pollution is cutting into India’s solar energy potential, shrinking usable land and dimming irradiance. With just 29.3% of land now viable, the country is losing solar capacity every single year
- Team TOI Plus
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM
Who’s the real ‘guardian of the sea’? A Modi-Jaishankar lesson for Yunus
India has given a befitting counter to Bangladesh interim leader Muhammad Yunus’ recent remark pertaining to Northeast and the Bay of Bengal and urged him to avoid rhetoric that could affect bilateral ties
- Jayanta Kalita
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM
Is it a Kuki-vs-Kuki conflict now in Manipur?
Manipur has a history of intra-ethnic conflicts, which claimed hundreds of lives in the 1990s. Recently, one person was killed and several others were injured in clashes between Zomi and Hmar groups belonging to the larger Kuki-Zo family
- Jayanta Kalita
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM
Like Preity Zinta, public figures must call out fake news
In an increasingly toxic social media landscape, most public figures choose to stay silent in response to defamatory comments. Will Preity Zinta’s response against false allegations embolden more people to speak up?
- Minhaz Merchant
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM
Commonwealth membership is an affront to postcolonial India
If India leaves the Commonwealth, it will actually enhance its influence as an independent voice to deal with global issues like the Russia-Ukraine war
- Minhaz Merchant
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM
For India, there is a bigger worry than US tariffs
The main impact on India will not be US tariffs. It will be the coming recession caused by Trump’s actions. That will depress the GDP of all countries, including the US and India.
On the ground report: How Mizoram became entry point for mercenaries headed to Myanmar
Across the Northeast state’s border, resistance groups fighting the Myanmar junta claim they have received training from former soldiers belonging to countries like UK and US. The Mizoram CM recently said that these foreigners had used his state to cross over into the neighbouring country. TOI travelled to the Chin state of Myanmar on their trail
In charts: Christians, Buddhists lead mass exit from religion
However, people born into Islam or Hinduism rarely change religions or stop believing, finds a survey of 36 countries by Pew Research Centre
The not-so-rocking side of the great Indian gig rush
Organisers of live music events say pressure to give free passes, red tape for licences and lack of good venues is preventing the concert economy from really taking off
Congress introduced 3-language policy. Why is it fighting it now?
Congress leader P Chidambaram’s accusation that the BJP has instigated an 'unprovoked' war with the south would have carried greater conviction had his party opposed the continuation of its failed policy
- Hasan Suroor
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM
Mumbai: Solution Is The Problem
India’s most celebrated metropolis is a textbook case of how fancy transport projects can create more urban snarl. It’s driven people to nostalgia for simple BEST days
MUGs & Mrs: Kitchen patriarchy comes at a cost
Moral issues aside, the cost of Indian men demanding hot phulkas may have significantly impacted our GDP and contributed to India’s continued economic struggles
Meet the next tycoons who will run India Inc’s biggest companies
Across India’s most powerful business families, a transition is underway — the next gen is being groomed to occupy the corner offices
- Lijee PhilipKala Vijayraghavan
- THE ECONOMIC TIMES
Thirukkural: Beyond equality; why women deserve equity
In the current political climate where companies in the West are moving away from inclusion and diversity hiring, Valluvar’s words on the concept of equality become more relevant than ever. Did he advocate for equality, or did he foresee the need for something deeper? Listen to this week’s episode.
- Team TOI
- TNN
How to hedge against AI stealing your knowledge-worker job
Previous advances in automation and outsourcing mainly affected blue-collar employees. This time it’s white-collar workers who are most at risk of being displaced
- Chris Bryant
- Bloomberg
What makes these countries the happiest in the world?
Finland’s unbroken streak as the world’s happiest country continued for an eighth year while Nordic countries dominated the top 10 list. Here’s what the rest of the world can learn from them
- Team TOI Plus
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM
Will new wave of terror derail Pakistan’s nascent economic revival?
Recent gains on the economic front could be swiftly jeopardised if terror and insecurity spread from the country’s tribal borderlands to its urban centres
- Mihir Sharma
- Bloomberg
In charts: Shehbaz Sharif says Pak will beat India. Can he defeat poverty, unemployment and illiteracy first?
Pak PM recently declared that he would change his name if Pakistan didn’t beat India in every development parameter. Was he talking sense? Here’s what the numbers reveal about the gap between India and Pakistan’s progress
- Jayanta KalitaChandrima BanerjeeRajesh Sharma
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM