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Rethink Kalpasar, end 'civil engineering mindset' in Gujarat's water strategy

Prof. Vidyut Joshi, a prominent sociologist and one of the leading protagonists of the mega Narmada dam project, has raised critical questions regarding the viability of Gujarat’s ambitious Kalpasar project. Writing in the Gujarati daily Sandesh under the headline "Let us consider alternatives scientifically for the Kalpasar project," Joshi argues that rather than remaining trapped in a "civil engineering mindset" focused solely on constructing massive dams, the state must pivot to modern, sustainable, and technologically viable alternatives to quench the thirst of the arid Saurashtra region.
Recent posts

India’s app market faces maturity shock, fraud surge, monetization crisis

India’s once-explosive app economy is entering a difficult transition phase marked by slowing growth, rising fraud, declining advertising efficiency, and mounting pressure on app companies to prove profitability rather than simply chase downloads.

Geoeconomic headwinds test India’s economic resilience, warns WEF report

India’s economic growth prospects continue to lead the global stage, but escalating geopolitical tensions are mounting severe inflationary and currency pressures on the nation, according to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Chief Economists’ Outlook published in May 2026.  

'Earth system at risk': Scientists call for immediate ‘Nature Positive’ action to halt biodiversity collapse

A landmark scientific paper published in Frontiers in Science warns that humanity is actively destabilizing the Earth system upon which all life depends, and issues an urgent call for a coordinated global "Nature Positive" (NP) strategy to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.

India's housing boom hits a wall: Prices soar, buyers struggle

  India's residential real estate market recorded near-flat growth in the January–March quarter of 2026, with sales volumes dipping slightly year-on-year even as property prices hit a historic milestone — crossing ₹10,000 per square foot for the first time.

Ram, Bam and Bengal: Memories of a Left turn towards the Right

The BJP’s massive electoral win in West Bengal is being interpreted across political persuasions — except, of course, by the BJP itself — as the result of the alleged deletion of around 90 lakh voters from the electoral rolls during the controversial intensive revision process. This may well be true, given my own experience in Gujarat regarding the shoddy manner in which electoral revisions have often been conducted. In West Bengal, there also appeared to be a political angle to the exercise. But I am not interested in discussing that here, as enough has already appeared in the media on the subject.

Dumping junk: How rich-country food giants are targeting India, Brazil, Mexico

Global sales of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have shifted dramatically toward the developing world as growth stagnates in wealthy nations, raising urgent questions about fairness, food sovereignty, and public health across the Global South — with India, Brazil, and Mexico at the centre of the debate.