Are These Parliament's Formidable MPs?

What would Parliament be without these nine ladies?   IMAGE: This is likely Congress MP Sonia Gandhi's final term in Parliament, having declared her intention to retire from politics.Soniaji......

The Importance of Smriti Irani

Being made a member of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs makes her an important player in BJP politics, observes Rashme Sehgal. IMAGE: Smriti Irani addresses an election rally in Assam......

Budget ignores women and children

Women and children have been given short shrift with these crucial sectors facing substantive budgetary cuts, discovers Rashme Sehgal. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com   The Budget......

The Reluctant Sentimentalist

'Deep down, it betrays a transactional view of politics. That, to get, the voter must give,' argues Krishna Prasad. Photograph: Shailendra Bhojak/PTI Photo An interesting distraction to indulge......

How workplace creches can change the game for women workers

Making employers provide creche facilities would be a powerful incentive for women to stay on in the workforce rather than drop out owing to the pressure of child care, says Shuma Raha. In recent......

Maternity leave now raised to 26 weeks

The government is also thinking of introducing direct benefit transfer for women Cutting across party lines, elders in Rajya Sabha passed a Bill that provides for 26 weeks maternity leave, even as......

Roads before welfare: Modi faces dissent over spending shakeup

In his first full-year budget, approved by parliament on May 7, Modi halved funding for a scheme that gives millions of poor children free food and drastically cut allocations to make clean water......

Holy cow! Maneka bats for bovine urine-based floor cleaner

Union Minister Maneka Gandhi is pitching for the use of a surface cleaner made out of extracts of cow urine in government offices saying phenyl which is currently used for the purpose is......

'Investing in girls is about the smartest thing you can do'

Over Dosas in Mumbai, Oscar winner Megan Mylan tells Vaihayasi Pande Daniel why she chose India and girl empowerment as the subject of her new documentary. Image: Megan Mylan (centre) with her......

Mary Kom is a 'national treasure'

Maneka Gandhi called Mary Kom a 'national treasure' IMAGE: MC Mary Kom with Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi. Photograph Courtesy: PIB A sixth world title added to......

Sania practises prenatal yoga, gets praise from Maneka Gandhi

IMAGE: A pregnant Sania Mirza performs Yoga on International Day of Yoga. Photograph: Kind courtesy, Sania Mirza/Twitter Describing prenatal yoga as an exhilarating way to stay fit, Union minister......

'Ladies First': Story of Deepika's journey from Ranchi to Rio

'It's a story of a fightback and believing in yourself. You should never give up.' IMAGE: Deepika Kumar in action during the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Photograph: Yves Herman/Reuters The......