The article explores how capitalism, social media influencers, and FOMO fuel modern consumerism, turning everyday products into symbols of status and identity. It questions whether we buy things out of genuine need or a manufactured desire to fit in.
The article examines Gloria Steinem’s complex feminist legacy, acknowledging both her contributions to the movement and criticisms of her approach to intersectionality. It argues against idealizing or demonizing public figures, urging readers to recognize their complexities and the collective nature of social movements.
This article dissects Qala's lead single 'Ghode Pe Sawaar', through a feminist lens.
Has the popularity of social media hastened war news reporting or sensationalism? Does the youth of today find themselves torn between deciphering real news and misniformation? This article aims to look beyond the surface and uncover the answers to these questions and more.
On March 13, 2026, India's government introduced the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha, which swiftly passed both houses by March 25 and became law despite widespread protests from trans activists, lawyers, and opposition parties. The bill scraps self-identification for gender—upheld in the 2014 NALSA Supreme Court judgment—replacing it with mandatory medical certification by a board and District Magistrate approval, while limiting recognition to hijra, kinner, and intersex groups, effectively sidelining trans men, women, and non-binary individuals. It also imposes severe penalties, including life imprisonment, for "coercing" others into transgender identity, which critics fear could criminalize family and allies. Activists like Krishanu, Raghavi, Aryan Pasha, and Kanmani slammed it as unconstitutional (breaching Articles 14, 15, 19, 21), arbitrary, and reminiscent of colonial-era laws like the Criminal Tribes Act, with protests erupting in cities from Delhi to Hyderabad. Amid global anti-trans backsliding (e.g., TGEU's 2025 index, US and UK developments), figures like Aakar Patel of Amnesty International India decried it as state overreach on inherent identity. Affecting ~487,803 trans persons (only ~32,500 with ID cards), the law unravels hard-won rights, framing the fight as one for the state's recognition of self-naming over official control.
Video Controversy SynopsisA video from April 9, 2026, showing 11,000 liters of milk (worth ₹5.5–7.7 lakh) poured into the Narmada River during a religious ritual sparked national outrage online, pitting devotion against accusations of waste, excess, and environmental harm.Public BacklashSocial media users condemned the act as irresponsible amid food insecurity and river pollution risks, arguing the milk should have fed the needy instead of treating the river like a "sink."Defenses and Expert WarningsSupporters defended it as sincere faith, but environmentalists like Subhash Pandey and Ajay Dube highlighted ecological damage: the organic load depletes oxygen, harms aquatic life, drinking water, and local communities.Broader ImplicationsThe Narmada's cultural significance amplified the debate, turning a local ritual into a flashpoint on balancing tradition with ethics, responsibility, and river health—raising timeless questions on when devotion crosses into waste.
Bennett University has launched BENNETT DIALOGUES, a fortnightly talk series conceptualized by Chancellor Vineet Jain (Times Group MD) to help students grasp global geopolitical shifts. Led by Prof. Dhiraj Singh (Head, Centre for Media & Technology), it features informal fireside chats and Q&A with experts in geopolitics, business, and media. The series aims to connect world events to everyday impacts, like how the US-Israel-Iran war affects India's petrol and LPG prices. The inaugural edition on April 21 explores "The War in West Asia," with Times Now's Zakka Jacob and Dr. Waiel Awwad (Syrian-origin expert on West Asia conflicts, based in Delhi). Prof. Singh highlights its blend of Times Group media legacy and Bennett's academic excellence, benefiting media, liberal arts, business, and law students.