Intel grid linked to NPR with details of 119 crore residents

The National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID), a secure platform for the police and other investigating agencies to access government and private databases in real-time, has been linked to the National Population Register (NPR), which has the family-wise details of 119 crore residents in India, government officials have said.

Tightening the opium belt

The Madhya Pradesh High Court's remark that a case against an 18-year-old man, arrested for illegal opium possession, was 'rather suspicious, led to the suspension of six police personnel. It also brought the focus back on Malwa region's historic opium cultivation. Mehul Malpani reports on how farmers find themselves caught between drug smuggling and crackdowns by government agencies.

Doping menace

India must make National Anti-Doping Agency well-funded and independent

One of the biggest impediments for India in achieving the status of a global sports power is strongly rooted in its dubious distinction of being the table topper in dope positive cases for the third consecutive year. As the country is set to host the 2029 World Police and Fire Games and the 2030 Centenary Common-wealth Games in Ahmedabad, the low-on-performance and high-on-doping trend may prove detrimental to its aspirations of bidding for the 2036 Olympic Games.

A year of dissipating promises for Indian foreign policy

New Delhi confronts challenges that concern economic and energy security, global strategic stability, and regional security.

The urban future with cities as dynamic ecosystems

Merely designing better infrastructure will not deliver the desired outcome if the human element of belonging is ignored.

Can propaganda be great art?

Every artist and work of art must decide where they stand in the larger scheme of things. Do they believe that the status quo needs to change? If they do, that is not propaganda; they are going against the grain of power and against values and beliefs that are entrenched in society.

U.S. naval moves against Venezuela

Which tankers did the US. target near Venezuela? How does the US use financial systems to enforce sanctions? What role do insurance and classification societies play? What role does the Office of Foreign Assets Control have?

A mixed bag of spectacle and thoughtful storytelling in Hindi cinema

Bollywood in 2025 thrived on hyper-nationalist tropes, bombastic action, and overt communal messaging: films such as Dhurandhar, War 2, and Udaipur Files prioritised spectacle over creative artistry; cinema became an instrument for political advocacy rather than sensitive storytelling.