Op-Eds Opinion

Feeding Votes, Not Bellies: How Subsidies Subsidize Political Careers, Not Jobs

By BPN News Desk January 11, 2025

Ah, Indian politicians. True virtuosos of turning taxpayers’ hard-earned money into campaign confetti. Their favorite trick? Populist subsidies and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes. Why solve unemployment or fill government vacancies when you can rain rice sacks, gas cylinders, and farm waivers on the masses, all in exchange for votes? It’s genius, really—keep the

Editorials

Swipe, Spend, Repeat: India’s Youth and the Debt-Fueled Dream of “Living the App Life”

By BPN News Desk January 9, 2025

There was a time when Indian youth dreamed of owning a house, a car, and a secure future. Fast forward to 2025, and the only ownership they care about is the “owner” badge on Zomato or being the proud swipers of shiny credit cards that scream “Live your best life (on debt, of course)!”. Let’s […]

Editorials

“Panipuri Profits vs Middle-Class Taxes: The Bitter Taste of Inequality”

By BPN News Desk January 7, 2025

Ah, the life of a middle-class, tax-paying citizen in India! If there’s one thing that brings tears to my eyes, it’s not onions at ₹100/kg, but my paycheck. My monthly salary, meticulously chopped and sautéed by income tax, professional tax, and cess, barely lasts me till the 20th of the month. And then, just as […]

Op-Eds Opinion

Op-Ed: Fool Me Once, Shame on You. Fool Me Twice? Not This Time, China

By BPN News Desk January 6, 2025

When it comes to global health crises, there’s an adage that goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” If COVID-19 was the world’s two-ton wake-up call, the recent surge in Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections in China feels eerily like déjà vu. Except this time, the world isn’t inclined to play the […]

Editorials

Laws and Claws: How Misuse of Women-Centric Laws Is Pushing Men to the Brink

By BPN News Desk January 2, 2025

In India, where family and tradition reign supreme, marriage is often seen as sacred. But for many men, this sacred bond has turned into a legal nightmare. Laws meant to protect women from genuine cruelty have, in several cases, been weaponized to settle scores, extort money, or simply exact revenge. The Indian Penal Code’s Section […]

Op-Eds Opinion

India’s Test Woes: When Will We Learn to Separate Formats?

By BPN News Desk December 30, 2024

Watching India in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy feels like attending a stand-up comedy show—except no one’s laughing by the end. The performances have been subpar, the decision-making laughable, and the team management? Well, let’s just say they’re taking the “test” in Test cricket a bit too literally. Here’s a dissection of what’s gone

Editorials

Middle Class to the Rescue: Why Tax Relief is the Hero India Deserves (and Needs Right Now)

By BPN News Desk December 29, 2024

Ah, the great Indian middle class—the tireless engine of our economy, the cushion during recessions, the perpetual safety net for our policymakers’ ambitious dreams. They are the ones who pay their taxes on time, religiously invest in ELSS (because tax-saving ads guilt them into it), and keep the consumer economy humming along with their carefully […]

Editorials

Dr. Manmohan Singh: A Legacy of Integrity, Vision, and Quiet Leadership

By BPN News Desk December 29, 2024

Dr. Manmohan Singh, the architect of modern India’s economic reforms and the nation’s 13th Prime Minister, lived a life marked by humility, intellect, and unwavering dedication to public service. From his early years in a modest village in Gah, Punjab (now in Pakistan), to leading one of the world’s largest democracies, Dr. Singh’s journey is […]

Op-Eds Opinion

Kohli vs. the Aussies: When the Hunter Becomes the Hunted

By BPN News Desk December 27, 2024

Cricket, they say, is a gentleman’s game. But let’s be real: when India plays Australia, it’s less Downton Abbey and more WWE SmackDown. For years, the Australians have been the undisputed kings of sledging, intimidation, and, let’s not forget, playing the victim card when someone dared to clap back. Enter Virat Kohli, India’s sultan of […]

Editorials

Popcorn and Tax: A Recipe for Chaos

By BPN News Desk December 26, 2024

India’s GST Council has found itself in yet another snack-sized controversy. This time, it’s over popcorn—a delightful, humble treat that has now been dissected, categorized, and taxed to the point of absurdity. Under the new rules, plain salted popcorn gets a 5% GST, branded varieties jump to 12%, and caramel popcorn—a supposed sinful luxury—sits at […]