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.
The Rupee-Rouble Riddle: Deconstructing India's Russian Oil Strategy
With Russian crude imports hitting a two-year high despite rising costs, a closer look at the economic compulsions, geopolitical risks, and the questions being raised about India’s strategic autonomy.
The Ethanol Mandate: Balancing Energy Security, Farmer Incomes, and Consumer Choice
India's ambitious push for ethanol-blended petrol aims to cut the import bill and support farmers, but raises critical questions about consumer costs, food security, and environmental sustainability.
The Enduring Sheen: Why Gold Still Dominates the Global Economy and India's Fortunes
From central bank vaults to household lockers, gold remains a critical economic anchor. But with the rise of strategic 'critical minerals', is its undisputed reign finally being challenged?
The Silent Epidemic: Unpacking Elderly Loneliness in a Transforming India
As India's demographic profile shifts, a growing number of its elderly are facing a profound, yet often invisible, crisis of loneliness. We explain the drivers, the policy response, and the societal implications.
The Shifting Battlefield: Why Declining Terror Statistics Mask New Dangers
A deep dive into 2025 global terrorism data, which shows a drop in overall attacks but reveals a dangerous concentration of violence and a mutation in terror tactics, posing new challenges for India and the world.
Beyond Bank Accounts: Charting India's Path to Financial Well-being
After a decade of unprecedented success in financial inclusion, the policy focus is shifting from simply providing access to financial services to ensuring genuine financial health for every citizen. This new paradigm redefines economic progress at the household level.
Regulating the Digital Public Square: India's Dilemma Between Platform Liability and User Freedom
A recent proposal to ban social media for minors has reignited the debate on whether India should control user access or impose a greater 'duty of care' on technology platforms. We explain the legal framework, the arguments for and against, and the global context.
The Manipur Conundrum: Why a 'Special' Electoral Roll Revision Risks Deepening the Divide
Amid an unresolved ethnic conflict and mass displacement, the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision of voter lists in Manipur has triggered fears of disenfranchisement and demographic engineering, particularly targeting the Kuki-Zo community.
Wayanad's Calamity: A Man-Made Disaster in a Fragile Ecology?
A debris slide at a tunnel construction site in Wayanad has killed six, halting a ?2,100 crore project and reigniting the debate over large-scale infrastructure in ecologically sensitive zones. We explain the project, the warnings, and the governance failures at play.
Talking to Pakistan: Decoding the Perennial Dilemma in India's Foreign Policy
With formal dialogue suspended for nearly a decade, a fresh debate has erupted over whether New Delhi should re-engage with Islamabad. We explain the history, the arguments for and against, and what lies ahead.