India Today

India Today is the leading news magazine and most widely read publication in India. The magazine’s leadership is unquestioned, so much so that India Today is what Indian journalism is judged by, for its integrity and ability to bring unbiased and incisive perspective to arguably the most dynamic, yet perplexing, region in the world. Breaking news and shaping opinion, it is now a household name and the flagship brand of India’s leading multidimensional media group. Additionally, the weekly brings with it a range supplements like Women, Home, Aspire, Spice and Simply which focus on style, health, education, fashion, etc. and Indian cities.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

India Today

THE STATE OF SURRENDER

RAHUL’S ROUGH START

Who’s That Man?

Tipple Tattle

EARLY BIRD

Gehlot’s Acid Test

BETTING BIG ON INFRA • The Modi government wants to put the country on a high-growth trajectory by opening the purse strings for infrastructure development rather than offer palliatives. But effective implementation holds the key to achieving this ambitious objective

KEEPING A STEADY COURSE • Union Budget 2022-23 expands on the policies and intent of its predecessor while increasing capital expenditure, especially on infrastructure, to spur growth as well as jobs. The Board of India Today Experts delivers its verdict

FIX THE SPENDING GAP • The capital expenditure outlay has been increased by 35 per cent, but the yawning gap between outlay and actual spend is worrying

MISSING THE MIDDLE CLASS • Once an engine of India’s economic growth, now reeling from the pandemic, India’s middle classes find little comfort in Budget 2022

PANDEMIC STRUCK • India’s middle class is still reeling from the body blows of the pandemic—salary cuts, shaky job security and rising levels of debt. Direct support in Budget 2022 would have gone a long way

BANGING ON EMPTY PLATES • Despite the Centre’s massive welfare schemes, the pandemic saw poverty increase and the emergence of two Indias. The budget continues with the one-size-fits-all approach

UNHEALTHY DIVIDE • NITI Aayog’s Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) published in 2021 shows that poor-performing states in healthcare and education are also home to a large share of the BPL population. The gap between the worst-performing states and the top ones is also growing wider

THE BUDGETARY PUSH • Several poor-performing states have tried to improve standards in healthcare and education by allocating a higher share of budgetary expenditure to these two sectors

UNBALANCED DIET • India is home to 25% of the world’s under nourished people. Even in the best states, figures are high, but gap is stark between toppers and laggards

UNEVEN POPULATION GROWTH • Fertility rates remain high among BIMARU states

HELPING HANDS • Central government schemes to provide relief to the poor

MORE BANG FOR THE INDIGENOUS BUCK • The government walks the talk on its indigenisation thrust by loosening its purse strings to facilitate R&D funding for the private sector. Policy implementation will remain a key challenge

NO BOOSTER SHOT FOR HEALTH • Despite the ongoing pandemic and growing healthcare needs, the sector gets little impetus

HEALTH SPENDS

THE PROMISE IS OVER • There is no more talk of doubling farm incomes, and while the emphasis on green farming is good, the sops continue with no clear future roadmap

‘E’ FOR EDUCATION • The expanded e-Vidya scheme sees a big push in the education budget. Can it bridge the divide?

CRYPTO GAINS SOME CURRENCY

MANDAL ON THE MANDOVI? • Amidst all the personal and party rivalries, a novel factor—backward caste politics—reshapes Goa’s electoral map

CRUMBLING PIE • The BJP and Congress have, till now,...