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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.

Beyond the Diplomatic Deep Freeze: The Strategic Imperative Behind India-Canada Defence Cooperation

After years of strained political ties, a significant push for defence and technology partnership is underway. We explain the drivers, the key areas of cooperation, and the challenges that remain.

International Relations

India's Walkability Crisis: Why Reclaiming Our Footpaths is a Litmus Test for Urban Governance

A Supreme Court judgment has elevated the right to a safe footpath to a fundamental right, forcing a reckoning with India's car-centric urban design and its public health and safety consequences.

Governance

India's Demographic Dilemma: Why Gen Z is Facing a Jobless Future

An examination of the structural challenges, from high unemployment among graduates to precarious work, that threaten to turn India's demographic dividend into a liability.

Economy

Vikram-1 and the New Space Race: Deconstructing India's Private Rocket Ecosystem

With the successful orbital launch of Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1, India's space sector has entered a new era. We explain the policy shifts, the commercial challenges, and the regulatory gaps that will define this next frontier.

Science & Technology

The Doctor Won't See You Now: Deconstructing the Crisis of Communication in Indian Healthcare

Beyond overburdened doctors and crowded OPDs, a deeper crisis of listening is affecting patient care, driven by a complex mix of systemic pressures, social hierarchies, and regulatory gaps.

Health

India's High-Stakes Chip Bet: The Promise and Perils of the Semiconductor Mission

With new projects worth ?1.26 lakh crore approved, the government has escalated its ambition to make India a global semiconductor hub. An analysis of the mission's goals, the immense challenges, and what's at stake.

Science & Technology

The Battle for the Footpath: Reconciling the Right to Walk with Urban Livelihoods

A recent Supreme Court judgment establishing a fundamental right to walk has brought India's urban space conflict into sharp focus. The challenge now is to create pedestrian-friendly cities without weaponising 'encroachment' against the urban poor.

Social Issues

India's Critical Infrastructure at Risk: The Kudankulam Leak and the Cybersecurity Challenge

A recent data leak related to the Kudankulam nuclear plant highlights systemic vulnerabilities in India's cybersecurity framework, raising questions about disclosure norms, preparedness, and the safety of vital national assets.

Security & Defence

The Shenzhen Blueprint: What India's Aspiring Megacities Can Learn from China's Development Model

From a fishing village to a global tech hub in four decades, Shenzhen offers a compelling, if complex, case study for India's urban future. We explain the model, its core principles, and the challenges of adapting it to the Indian context.

Economy

Reimagining the Classroom: Charting a Course for India's Education Renaissance

A recent high-profile protest has reignited the debate on deep-seated structural reforms in Indian education, moving beyond policy documents to question the very nature of learning, assessment, and accountability.

Education