ThePrint.in is a news, analysis, opinion & knowledge media company that sharply focuses on politics, policy, government and governance. Start your mornings with our journalists who bring you the big story of the day in ThePrintAM. ThePrintPod offers you our special reports and opinions for when you‘re on the go. End your day with our most popular show ‘Cut The Clutter’ by Editor-in-Chief Shekhar…
NationalInterest: India has always been a hard state under Gandhian cover. Nehru to Modi, leaders have reinforced it
Modern India might have been conjured up in the image of Gandhi. But India was never a Gandhian state. Founders of the Republic, be it Nehru or Patel, nursed zero such notions. Watch this week’s #NationalInterest with ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta: To read this week's National Interest: https://theprint.in/national-interest/india-hard-state-gandhian-values/3060496/
ThePrintPod: Same X-ray, different skeleton: Inside India’s $766 billion forex reserves
In the summer of 1991, India undertook an action that no sovereign nation desires: it pledged its gold reserves. Under strict confidentiality, approximately 47 tonnes from the Reserve Bank of India’s vaults were transported abroad and deposited with the Bank of England and the Bank of Japan. This measure secured a $405 million loan, giving the country a temporary reprieve.Critical issue is whether a country’s assets comfortably exceed its liabilities and timing of these obligations. RBI’s data allows for a precise evaluation of this criterion. Watch #Economix with ThePrint Consulting Editor…
2 Oct 2026 · 12 min
NationalInterest: On Lal Bahadur Shastri’s birth anniversary, his legacy and how he changed India
On Lal Bahadur Shastri’s birth anniversary, watch #NationalInterest where ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta argued how Shastri’s legacy is unfairly overshadowed by peace he made at Tashkent and a visit that also took his life. Among his contributions were the Green Revolution and talent-hunting Dr Swaminathan. Originally published on 22 March 2025.
1 Oct 2026 · 32 min
CutTheClutter: Cockpit fight, accused Omani pilot & an Indian hero: Questions & facts of attack on flight to Israel
Israel is investigating the FlyDubai incident as a 'jihadist terror attack'. FlyDubai’s FZ1073 was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv on 30 September, when a bloody clash unfolded in the cockpit. The flight made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after Captain Smit Machchhar was stabbed by its co-pilot, reportedly an Omani pilot. The plane landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, minutes after sending the emergency signal. The motive behind this attack is still being investigated. #CutTheClutter Episode 1911 details what unfolded on the FlyDubai flight. ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta also…
30 Sep 2026 · 19 min
CutTheClutter: India's Golden Quartet shines at Asian Games again:Tracing our nation's rise in Women 4 x 400m Relay
Indian women’s 4x400m relay team ended the nation's wait, by securing our only athletics gold at the Asian Games. The team comprising of Kiran Pahal, M R Poovamma, Prachi Chaudhary and Vithya Ramraj, also won back India's traditional top spot. They are the latest behind India's spectacular success in women's 4x400m relay, since 1982. Shekhar Gupta traces the story of women’s 4x400m relay as an Indian brand, how our nation rose in this particular branch of track & field, and the generations of women’s 400m relay quartet who have made the nation proud. #CutTheClutter Episode 1910 also looks at…
30 Sep 2026 · 4 min
ThePrintAM: What's the controversy over Revanth Reddy's remark?
29 Sep 2026 · 27 min
CutTheClutter: Debt to an $18 billion bet: Ruias' journey as Trump ropes in Essar to build US' largest steel plant
US President Donald Trump announced $18-billion investment by Essar-backed Mesabi Metallics. The investment is to build the largest ever US steel plant. #CutTheClutter Episode 1909 traces the journey of the Ruias and Essar— from debt, to $25 billion repayment & and now an $18 billion bet in America. ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta also explains why Trump’s celebrating this step, and how his thinking on rejuvenating basic manufacturing in US has remained linear.----more----Read the Reuters report from November 2022 here: India's Essar Group is debt-free after repaying $25 bln |…
28 Sep 2026 · 27 min
CutTheClutter: Shorter battles, forever wars, tech & self reliance-What shapes new battlefield, & lessons for India
Ukraine and Middle East wars show how the battlefield has been redefined. #CutTheClutter draws from comments by Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth's comments at the NDTV defence summit, remarks by former Defence Minister of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov on X and an essay by the recently 'evicted' US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll in the Foreign Affairs. Why are their comments important and what's the common message in them? Episode 1998 looks at some of these crucial questions, and what they mean for the changing nature of wars. ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta also explains how technology…
27 Sep 2026 · 11 min
ThePrintPod: The Gyanesh Kumar controversy & Modi govt: When things go wrong the crises keep coming
'The Modi government may not be ready to act against Gyanesh Kumar, but allowing the controversy to continue carries its own risks.' Watch #ThePrint #SharpEdge with Vir Sanghvi: To Read: https://theprint.in/opinion/the-gyanesh-kumar-controversy-modi-govt-when-things-go-wrong-the-crises-keep-coming/3053031/
26 Sep 2026 · 10 min
NationalInterest : Third year trough for Modi 3.0. Restoring EC’s image should be the first priority.
Gyanesh Kumar has now become the second most unforgettable among our 26 CECs. He obviously didn’t seek this ‘fame’. But he can’t shake it off. For Modi government, this has come at a juncture that’s usually troublesome in India: the third year of the incumbent. Watch this week’s #NationalInterest with Shekhar Gupta. https://theprint.in/national-interest/since-indira-govts-drift-in-the-3rd-year-modi-must-restore-ec-image-to-get-out-of-it/3053831/ https://theprint.in/national-interest/narendra-modi-bjp-longest-serving-continuously-elected-prime-minister-challenges/2958655/
25 Sep 2026 · 27 min
CutTheClutter: Message behind pomp & pageantry at Trump-Xi summit, & what US-China G2 would mean for India, & world
#cuttheclutter US President Donald Trump hosted Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a 2-day summit. The summit featured much pomp and pageantry, but there was no talk of any hard bargain or breakthroughs. Both countries agreed to extend an existing trade agreement by two months. It will now expire on January 10, 2027, instead of November 10, 2026. Xi warned that U.S. support for Taiwan could complicate U.S.-China ties. #CutTheClutter Episode 1907 looks at the message behind the pomp and grand gestures, as well as the takeaways from Trump-Xi Summit. ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta also…
A Kolkata event, titled “Partition’s forgotten people: Subaltern spaces across fluid borders”, highlighted a community that has been othered due to language and alleged closeness to the Pakistan Army during the 1971 war. More than five decades after Bangladesh’s Liberation War and two years after the July 2024 uprising that ended Sheikh Hasina’s rule, many Bihari Muslims, who are branded as Pakistanis, remain on the margins of Bangladeshi society. The discrimination remains, and they are still forced to work as barbers, butchers, and rickshaw pullers. Author and ThePrint Columnist Deep…
24 Sep 2026 · 11 min
EyeOnChina: Chinese commentary on Xi-Trump summit is a cross between flowers and daggers
Chinese commentary ahead of the Xi-Trump summit focuses less on a breakthrough and more on managing competition and stabilizing China-US ties. Chinese analysts note that rivalry continues across areas from dialogue and economic interdependence to issues of AI, Taiwan and Japan, even as both sides work hard to prevent confrontation. Watch #ThePrint #EyeOnChina with Sana Hashmi----more----Read full article here: https://theprint.in/opinion/eye-on-china/xi-trump-summit-china-us-rivalry/3050913/
23 Sep 2026 · 31 min
CutTheClutter: Two ECs dissent, questions on legality of SIR process: Constitutional, legal issues & nuances
#cuttheclutter An investigation by the Indian Express reveals that two of the three Election Commissioners raised 14 objections to some aspects of the SIR (Special Intensive Revision) over a period of 10 months. The objections were raised by Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. #CutTheClutter Ep 1906 looks at the what the story reveals, what it means and what it doesn't. ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta also explains the facts, legalities, and nuances. Read EC's reply here: https://x.com/ecisveep/status/2102678422753517847?s=46 Read Indian Express' Newsbreak here:…
22 Sep 2026 · 24 min
CutTheClutter: Somaliland: Tiny 'country' Israel recognises, UAE has a port in, &why it's key to Red Sea power play
#cuttheclutter Somaliland, recognised only by Israel so far, has a deal with the UAE to operate the Berbera Port. Somaliland's President has been in the US, and is likely to address a rally near UNGA venue on 23 September. #CutTheClutter Episode 1905 looks at the fascinating 'tiny' country of Somaliland as its leader visits US and makes a pitch to the world for recognition. ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta also explains Somaliland's geography, its roots, importance and why it is key to the power struggle in Red Sea.…
21 Sep 2026 · 27 min
CutTheClutter: 58 yrs of R&AW: Why & how India's external intel agency was formed, successes, setbacks & spymasters
#cuttheclutter R&AW completes 58 years of existence today. It was on 21 September 1968 that India's external intelligence agency was formed by RN Kao. Shekhar Gupta explains why and how R&AW was formed, its many successes and a short-lived period of crisis. ThePrint Editor-In-Chief also traces the stories of the many spymasters who helmed it. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #asusexpertbook @ASUSIndia.official Checkout the ASUS Expertbook series: https://www.flipkart.com/asus-expertbook-core-ultra-store
21 Sep 2026 · 5 min
ThePrintPod : Tijara councillors detained in Haryana ahead of chairperson vote, alleges Rajasthan Congress leader
The councillors were returning from Himachal Pradesh to vote in the election of the Tijara Council chairperson, scheduled for 3 pm Monday, says Congress's Imran Khan.
19 Sep 2026 · 40 min
CutTheClutter: Flt Lt Alfred Tyrone Cooke passes on: Story of India-Pakistan war hero who took on 4 Pakistani jets
Flight Lieutenant Alfred Tyrone Cooke (retd), who took on 4 Pakistani jets during the 1965 India-Pakistan war died today. ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta tells the story of the 1965 war hero, and the remarkable Kalaikunda dogfight. #CutTheClutter Ep 1903 ----more----Read Sameer Joshi’s article here: https://theprint.in/opinion/heroics-of-1965-war-an-indian-air-force-pilot-engaged-four-pakistani-sabre-jets-all-alone/234459/
19 Sep 2026 · 10 min
NationalInterest: Bangladesh isn’t a mirror image of Pakistan. Hyphenating them undermines India’s strategic interests
India is caught in a trap of its own making. While BJP may find it convenient to play on insecurities, it gives Pakistan and Bangladesh leverage. By positioning neighbourhood policy centre-stage in our polarised politics, we’re giving them leverage. It’s a game they, especially Pakistan, know they can play. It also narrows India’s options and room for manoeuvre. This needs correction. ----more---- https://theprint.in/national-interest/pakistan-bangladesh-bjp-politics/3046888/
19 Sep 2026 · 3 min
ThePrintAM: What has India said on Pakistan’s allegations over ship collision?
18 Sep 2026 · 5 min
ThePrintPod: Tejas trainer delivered, 16 years after IAF order: What about Mk1A?
As HAL finally delivered last of the two remaining Tejas trainer ordered for in 2010, Editor - Defence and Diplomacy at ThePrint explains what is happening on the TejasMk1A front.
18 Sep 2026 · 2 min
ThePrintPod: In long due review meet with Delhi Police, home secretary discusses extortion calls, traffic jams
Top home ministry officer lists policing priorities for Capital in 90-minute meet, the first such after Anurag Kumar took over as Delhi Police chief on 17 July
18 Sep 2026 · 4 min
ThePrintPod : What’s behind Tamil Nadu’s prolonged power cuts? Vijay govt faces the heat as demand surges
From last year’s peak demand of around 16,000-17,000 MW, it has climbed to about 19,000–20,500 MW, say officials of Tamil Nadu Electricity Board.
18 Sep 2026 · 10 min
SharpEdge: Desperate Indians want Batman to take charge. We have reached that stage
Nobody has any faith in most politicians. They distrust the police. They are disappointed by the judiciary. And they live in a society where even the drugs given by hospitals to critically ill patients are fake.What is worse is that we are convinced that justice will never be done. People who are arrested, often only after public outrage and uproar, can buy their way out of criminal charges. Within weeks or a few months, they are back to doing whatever it was that got them arrested. Watch this week's #SharpEdge with Vir Sanghvi: ----more----Read full article here:…
18 Sep 2026 · 3 min
ThePrintAM: What has Pakistan Defence Minister said on Mecca Pact?
17 Sep 2026 · 37 min
CutTheClutter: Snubbed by US,stranded by Mecca pact partners,an isolated Saudi Arabia faces Iran's 3-pronged attack
Saudi Arabia has been facing attacks from Iran, the Houthis, and Shia militias in Iraq. The East-West Pipeline has been damaged, and shut. Houthis have made quick advances in Yemen, and are controlling the Bab al-Mandeb strait. #CutTheClutter Episode 1902 looks at the situation Saudi Arabia finds itself in- snubbed by Trump, left waiting by its Mecca pact partners Pakistan & Turkey, while battling attacks from the north, south and east. ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta also looks at how the Middle East equations have changed, and traces the way they have evolved over the years.
17 Sep 2026 · 9 min
ThePrinntPod: Iran Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf mocks US Fed with 'Straits Taylor Rule': The Economics behind it
Hours before the Federal Reserve raised rates by 25 basis points on 16 September, Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf posted a rewritten version of the Taylor Rule, the formula central banks use to set interest rates, adding new terms for the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb. His argument: you can hike rates all you want, but you can't reopen a chokepoint or produce a barrel of oil. It's a sharp piece of commentary built on a real, decades-old debate in monetary economics, one the world already learned the hard way once, in the 1970s. Watch #Economix with ThePrint Consulting…
17 Sep 2026 · 28 min
ThePrintPod: Weapons in Space: What the new Arms race means, and where US, China, Russia stand
Weapons in Space: What the new Arms race means, and where the US, China, and Russia stand. ThePrint Consulting Editor (International & Strategic Affairs) Swasti Rao speaks to Dr. Malcolm Davis @Dr_M_Davis, Senior Analyst - Australian Strategic Policy Institute, to understand how countries are trying to dominate a new arena. 0:00 Ad and Intro 2:35 Significance of the US announcement of putting counter-Space weapons on Orbit 4:10 Outer Space Treaty 1967 and the Legality of Deploying Weapons in Space 6:16 The New Arms Race, US, China, Russia and Counter Space Weapons 9:12 Deterrence Dilemma in…
17 Sep 2026 · 3 min
ThePrint AM: Why is BJP fuming over Vijay-themed Ganpati idols in Tamil Nadu?
Why is BJP fuming over Vijay-themed Ganpati idols in Tamil Nadu? Read more on Shweta Tripathi' report here: https://theprint.in/politics/bjp-fumes-over-vijay-themed-ganpati-idols-in-tamil-nadu-calls-them-insult-to-hindu-sentiment/3044279/
16 Sep 2026 · 22 min
CutTheClutter: Pakistan navy vessel grazes Indian ship:What happened in international waters, facts & the 1991 pact
A Pakistani Navy vessel collided with a frontline warship of the Indian Navy on 15 September. PNS Hunain reportedly approached an Indian Navy ship at high speed while attempting to intercept or follow it in the international waters, before a manoeuvre at close range resulted in the two vessels grazing each other. #CutTheClutter Ep 1901 details what happened in the international waters, where it happened and the facts we know so far. ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta also explains the rules that govern the international waters, and the 1991 agreement Pakistan violated. Read Snehesh Alex…
About ThePrint
ThePrint.in is a news, analysis, opinion & knowledge media company that sharply focuses on politics, policy, government and governance. Start your mornings with our journalists who bring you the big story of the day in ThePrintAM. ThePrintPod offers you our special reports and opinions for when you‘re on the go. End your day with our most popular show ‘Cut The Clutter’ by Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta. But that’s not all. We also have Pure Science, National Interest, ThePrint Uninterrupted, Global Print, Politically Correct and PoliTricks.
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