Maharashtra increases budget for scam-hit irrigation sector by Rs 1,000 crores

Whistleblower Vijay Pandhare says the money will do nothing to address the state's irrigation needs, but much to line the pockets of politicians.

Karthik Balasubramanian

· Feb 27, 2014 · 08:17 am

Indian researcher finds a way to exploit the hard science of tender coconut water

Coconut water is sweet and safe to drink. Now, scientists have found it has laboratory applications as well.

Karthik Balasubramanian

· Feb 21, 2014 · 08:20 am

This shirt is an Indian man's ally in the battle of the bulge

The paunch-fit shirt counts as its precursors the Big Oxford line by Ralph Lauren and is a ready-made alternative to a sympathetic, but expensive, tailor.

Karthik Balasubramanian

· Feb 16, 2014 · 09:09 am

Indians rant about corruption in public life, so why don't they care about cricket scandals?

Yet another blow for India's favourite sport as the son-in-law of the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India is declared guilty of match fixing.

Karthik Balasubramanian

· Feb 11, 2014 · 08:09 am

Sole Indian animator to win at Cannes says we should stop imitating Disney

Mumbai-based Gitanjali Rao, whose latest work, 'True Love Story', won the best animation film at the Mumbai International Film Festival, which ended on February 9, says Indian animators must develop their own sensibilities.

Karthik Balasubramanian

· Feb 09, 2014 · 08:50 pm

Why is the BJP so afraid of the Aam Aadmi Party?

Senior RSS and BJP leaders have said in public that the AAP represents a real challenge - and it does. One reason is that it may let the Delhi government fall to focus on the general election, say experts.

Karthik Balasubramanian

· Feb 08, 2014 · 08:35 am

Ten years after IIT engineer was murdered for exposing corruption, Indian bill still doesn't protect whistleblowers

Delhi's Jan Lokpal bill, a draft of which the state government cleared on Monday, has more protection for whistleblowers than the national whistleblowers' bill.

Karthik Balasubramanian

· Feb 07, 2014 · 08:30 am

Law would have helped me, says AAP member and whistleblower on gigantic Maharashtra irrigation scam

Vijay Pandhare, who joined the Aam Aadmi Party in November, discovered in 2011 that the state had spent more than Rs 70,000 crore on irrigation projects from 1999 to 2009, but its irrigation potential had increased by only 0.1 per cent.

Karthik Balasubramanian

· Feb 07, 2014 · 08:30 am

Why the Shiv Sena's hooliganism against Pakistani band visiting Mumbai will backfire

A party spokesman threatened to not allow the band, Mekal Hasan, to perform in Maharashtra. But such parochialism and aggression have few takers in today's political climate, say experts.

Karthik Balasubramanian

· Feb 05, 2014 · 08:45 am

Four features of the Lokpal Bill that make it ineffective

The government's Lokpal Bill has been criticised -- and with good reason.

Karthik Balasubramanian

· Feb 04, 2014 · 09:08 am

MPs' perks: iPads, bathroom tiles, free train rides for spouses

Indian Members of Parliament aren't doing too badly, thank you.

Karthik Balasubramanian

· Jan 31, 2014 · 06:50 am

Dear chief justice of India, please decriminalise homosexuality

Five eloquent letters by members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community to the Supreme Court and the chief justice about the decision to recriminalise gay sex.

Karthik Balasubramanian

· Jan 28, 2014 · 09:43 am