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Explained Archive

Every Explained article we’ve published, in one place. Filter by category to revisit in-depth breakdowns of the policies, events, and ideas behind the headlines.

A Pride in Peril: The Scientific and Political Case for a Second Home for India's Asiatic Lions

Despite a celebrated recovery in numbers, the concentration of the entire global population of Asiatic lions in one landscape presents a grave ecological risk. A decade after a Supreme Court directive, the plan for a second home remains stalled, caught between scientific consensus and political resistance.

Environment

Beyond the Barrel: Deconstructing India's Strategy for Energy Security Amidst Global Crises

As geopolitical fault lines deepen, an examination of the multi-pronged approach—from diplomatic outreach to domestic infrastructure—that India is deploying to insulate its economy from global energy shocks.

International Relations

The Steel Frame's Crucible: Reimagining India's Civil Service Selection System

Examining the societal impact of India's rigorous civil service selection process and the imperative to leverage the intellectual capital of its participants.

Governance

India's Dairy Sector: Purity, Policy, and the 'White Revolution 2.0'

An examination of ethical concerns, health debates, and governance gaps in India's milk production, as highlighted by recent critiques.

Economy

The Missing Link: Why Reviving the Family Doctor is Crucial for India's Health System

India's healthcare landscape, increasingly dominated by super-specialty hospitals, faces a critical challenge in the diminishing role of family doctors, necessitating a policy re-evaluation for equitable and holistic care.

Health

Beyond the Monsoon: Charting India's Path to Water Security

With major river basins under stress and cities facing acute shortages, India's water future depends less on rainfall and more on a paradigm shift in management, from infrastructure to data and reuse.

Environment

The West Asian Reset: Understanding the US-Iran Deal and India's Choices

A new agreement between Washington and Tehran, signed in June 2026, has upended the strategic calculus in West Asia. We explain the terms of the deal, its impact on regional powers like Israel and Saudi Arabia, and the complex diplomatic tightrope India must now walk.

International Relations

AI in the Courtroom: Promise, Peril, and the Future of Indian Justice

Following Supreme Court interventions against AI-'hallucinated' judgments, an analysis of how Artificial Intelligence is being integrated into the Indian judicial system, the risks involved, and the rules being framed to govern its use.

Science & Technology

The Process as Punishment: Why India's Undertrial Crisis Threatens the Right to a Fair Trial

Prolonged pre-trial detention, especially under stringent laws like the UAPA, has sparked a critical debate in the Supreme Court on whether indefinite incarceration without conviction violates the fundamental right to liberty.

Polity

Regulating the Algorithm: India's Approach to AI Governance Amidst Global Debates

As global powers frame rules for Artificial Intelligence, India is charting its own course, balancing innovation with accountability. A look at the challenges, the government's strategy, and the road ahead.

Science & Technology