Bursting at the seams

India's April retail inflation, at a 13-month high of 3.48%, is only marginally higher than its March print of 3.4%, and continues to remain deceptively benign. Wholesale inflation has more than doubled to 8.3% in April from 3.88% in March - a 42-month high - signalling that substantial upstream price pressures are still working their way through the economy.

The Iran war, India's strategic autonomy challenges

Despite the defence, commerce and trade deals, India needs to be aware of a possible European alignment with the United States

Building a preventive health culture in India

India has made remarkable strides in health care over the past four decades. It has built institutions of global repute, trained exceptional clinicians, and expanded access to advanced treatments. Yet, even as it celebrates these achievements, it must confront a deeper truth: it has built a system that responds to illness far more effectively than it preserves health.

Capital flight and pressure on the rupee

The outbreak of hostilities in the Persian Gulf and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have created profound uncertainty in global markets, leading to capital outflows from emerging market economies such as India.

Foreign investors may have already priced in the possibility of future interest rate increases abroad, while the war merely accelerated the depreciatory pressures that the rupee had already been facing for some time.

India's labour market shows gains, but challenges persist

The recently released Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2025 report offers some key insights.

It points to measurable progress across several dimensions, while also underlining some challenges that must be addressed to fully leverage India's demographic dividend.

The Labour Force Participation Rate stands at 59%, the Workforce Participation Rate at 57%, and the unemployment rate at 3%. These are robust headline indicators. Youth unemployment has declined since 2024, with gains for rural and urban youth. Monthly PLFS bulletins through 2025 also point to improving trends in women's participation.

Phase 3 of SIR in 16 States, 3 U.T.s from May 30, says EC

The Election Commission of India (EC) on Thursday announced the schedule for Phase 3 of the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 16 States and three Union Territories beginning May 30.

India backs two-state solution for Palestine issue, says Jaishankar at BRICS meeting

Highlighting India's traditional approach to the Israel-Palestinian conflict, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday presented the "National Statement" at the BRICS ministerial, reiterating India's call for a "two-state solution" to the issue and calling for an end to "risks to maritime traffic, and disruptions to energy infrastructure" in the Gulf region.

Free and fair elections are dependent on a truly independent poll body: SC

The Supreme Court on Thursday nudged the Union government to address concerns over its dominant role in the appointment of Chief Election Commissioners and Election Commissioners, observing that free and fair elections depend on a truly Election independent Commission.

COVID-19 linked to 22.1 million excess deaths globally from 2020 to 2023: WHO report

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said the COVID-19 pandemic ex-posed vulnerabilities in global health systems and was linked to an estimated 22.1 million excess deaths, including indirect deaths, between 2020 and 2023.

The estimate, published in the WHO's flagship World Health Statistics re-port, is more than three times the number of officially reported COVID-19 deaths and reflects the scale of the pandemic's global impact.

WPI more than doubles to 8.3% in April

In the first sign of the impact of the West Asia crisis on prices in India, wholesale inflation in India jumped to 8.3% in April 2026, its highest level in 3.5 years, driven by the sharp rise in crude oil and natural gas prices. Inflation in this category stood at 67.2% in April.

India back on EU approved list of aquaculture exporters

In a major boost for India's seafood industry, the country has been re-included in the list of nations that can export aquaculture products to the EU from September 2026, as it has proven its compliance with EU restrictions related to use of antimicrobials in animals used for food.

Govt. bans sugar exports till Sept. 30; U.S., EU excluded

The Department of Commerce issued a notification on Wednesday moving sugar from 'restricted' to 'prohibited' list of items for exports. Export of raw, white and refined sugar is banned till September 30, 2026. The ban, however, does not apply to exports to the United States and the European Union under the CXL and TRQ quota, and ex-ports under the advance authorisation scheme.

Lebanon and Israel hold new peace talks in U.S. as 'ceasefire' nears end

Lebanon and Israel held new peace talks in Washington on Thursday, as their latest cease-fire considered to still be in place despite hundreds of deaths in Israeli strikes nears its end. 

Israel's military said it was striking Hezbollah targets in south Lebanon on Thursday after warning residents of several towns and villages there and in the country's east to evacuate.

From PCOS to PMOS: understanding the reasons for name change

A couple of days ago on a hot May day, a niche group of people across the world celebrated. The reason the endocrinologists were rejoicing was the change in the nomenclature of a single condition, only one letter had changed, and it seemed as if the festivities were a bit disproportionate. The Endocrine Society, a global network of people dealing with hormones, announced that PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) would henceforth be known as PMOS (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome).