Editorials · 26 August 2026

Fair pricing could help sustain UPI network

40 years ago August 26, 1986: Volcanic gas kills 2,000

The article commemorates the 1986 Lake Nyos disaster in Cameroon, where a limnic eruption released a massive cloud of carbon dioxide gas, leading to the asphyxiation of approximately 2,000 people and thousands of livestock. This event serves as a historical case study of a unique natural disaster involving volcanic gas emissions.

A place for Onam at Delhi table and in its heart

The article title suggests an analysis of the Onam festival, focusing on its cultural presence and significance, particularly in the context of Delhi. It implies a discussion about the festival's traditions, origins, and its broader acceptance or celebration beyond its traditional geographical boundaries.

Repairing ties with Nepal: A strategy of two hands, 10 fingers

The article discusses strategies for improving bilateral relations between India and Nepal.

Warmer oceans are sounding a warning

The article likely discusses the critical phenomenon of increasing ocean temperatures, its underlying causes, and the profound implications it holds for marine ecosystems, global climate patterns, and human societies, serving as a stark warning about the escalating climate crisis.

Tamil Nadu can lead India on revenue reform

The article discusses Tamil Nadu's initiative to form a high-level Revenue Augmentation Committee, chaired by Montek Singh Ahluwalia, aimed at modernizing the definition and management of state revenue. It highlights the need for Tamil Nadu to strengthen its own-tax and non-tax revenues, improve fiscal buoyancy, and achieve greater fiscal self-reliance, given a decline in its own-tax revenue as a percentage of GSDP. The author advocates for adopting international standards, specifically the IMF's Government Finance Statistics Manual (GFSM 2014), to clearly distinguish genuine government revenue from financing activities like borrowing and asset sales. The article suggests that by improving tax administration, reviewing user charges, royalties, and returns from public assets, Tamil Nadu can establish a sustainable revenue base and set a benchmark for other Indian states and the Union government in public financial management reform.

Root causes: On India’s youth crisis

The article discusses India's youth crisis, linking it to high costs of competitive exam coaching, declining undergraduate enrollment, and a severe youth employment problem. It attributes these issues to structural problems in the Indian economy, particularly the stagnant manufacturing sector's share in Gross Value Added (GVA) and a significant decline in corporate investment. The author argues that mere free coaching is insufficient and calls for increased public investment in industrial capacity, export-driven industrial support, and a more balanced regulatory environment to create jobs.

Escape velocity: On what India’s space sector must focus on

The article discusses the evolution of India's space sector from a state-led prestige project to a modern commercial enterprise. It highlights the challenges faced by India's private space sector, particularly high launch costs and low launch frequency compared to global competitors like SpaceX. The author argues that India's space sector needs to shift its focus from 'aura' to economic viability, emphasizing jobs, long-term capital, tax revenues, and competitive heavy-lift launches to attract global talent and investment, rather than relying solely on monumental missions.

The limits of air power, implications for theatre-isation

The article analyzes the limitations of air power in modern warfare, drawing lessons from the Ukraine and Iran conflicts, where air superiority alone proved insufficient to achieve decisive victory. It then applies these insights to India's military strategy, focusing on the Indian Air Force's (IAF) preference for operational flexibility over fixed theatre commands. The author argues that while the IAF's current approach has been effective against Pakistan, it may be inadequate against China due to factors like advanced networked air defense, China's strategic depth, the cost-arithmetic of modern weaponry (drones vs. interceptors), and challenging Himalayan terrain. The article advocates for theatre-isation and enhanced 'jointness' among India's armed forces to address integration deficits and ensure readiness for potential future conflicts, particularly along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), emphasizing that this decision ultimately rests with India's political leadership.

India must reassess its differential treatment of international criminals

The article critically analyzes India's differential approach to international criminals, specifically pirates and alleged war criminals, despite both being considered 'enemies of all humankind' (hostis humani generis). It highlights India's robust enforcement against piracy under the 2022 Maritime Anti-Piracy Act, citing recent convictions of Somali nationals. In contrast, it points out India's inaction regarding alleged war criminals, such as Eitan Gilboa, who was found vacationing in India but faced no legal action despite complaints. The author discusses India's obligations under international conventions like UNCLOS (permissive universal jurisdiction for piracy) and the 1949 Geneva Conventions (mandatory universal jurisdiction for war crimes), and its domestic laws (1960 Geneva Conventions Act, 1962 Extradition Act). The article criticizes the opacity and lack of clear policy, judicial review, and evidence-first criteria in India's handling of war crimes, contrasting it with practices in countries like Germany, Canada, and the UK. It argues that India's inaction undermines its commitment to combating impunity and its aspiration to be a 'Vishwaguru'.

Prepare for crude prices above $100

The article warns of crude oil prices potentially rising above $100 per barrel due to sustained disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. It highlights that while the world isn't running out of oil, logistical challenges, increased marine insurance, and freight costs are creating a global supply shock. Alternative routes and strategic reserves offer limited relief, as the problem lies in the ability to deliver crude efficiently and affordably. The article emphasizes the inflationary impact on importing economies like India, which, despite its flexibility in sourcing, remains vulnerable to delivery security issues. It suggests monitoring tanker movement, insurance costs, regional crude premiums, and product market stress as key indicators.

Revising the Indus Water Treaty

The article discusses the ongoing debate surrounding the revision of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), 1960, highlighting the need to update it due to changing hydrological realities caused by climate change and to incorporate principles of Equitable and Reasonable Utilisation (ERU). It argues that the IWT, currently a partition-based allocation, should evolve into a shared management approach for mutual benefits, drawing parallels from other international water treaties like the Nile, Mekong, US-Canada, and US-Mexico agreements. The author emphasizes that revising the IWT would also help India and Pakistan meet their international obligations under conventions like Ramsar and CBD, related to water conservation and biodiversity. Both countries have implicitly recognized the need for climate alignment in their respective water policies, despite the political complexities involved.