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.

FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

India Today

Presenting India Today Insight • For sharp analysis on topical issues by the editors of india today, log on to www.indiatoday.in/india-today-magazine-insight

SOWING CHANGE • Over two decades in the making, a proposed seeds law tightens regulation, but forces a trade-off between sectoral formalisation and farmers’ autonomy

IS INDIA READY FOR AUTONOMOUS AI LIKE MYTHOS

FAREWELL, COMRADE

CONSERVATION DILEMMAS WILDLIFE VS HUMAN HABITATS

THE HEALTH GAINS AND GAPS • The National Sample Survey’s 80th round on household social consumption–health shows a mixed picture: stronger maternal care and insurance coverage alongside rising illness reporting, high treatment costs and a continued reliance on private healthcare

THE GULF IN THE GULF • As the UAE exits OPEC, India must leverage ties without alienating its GCC neighbours

MARATHI VERSUS KONKANI • An old ghost stalks pre-poll Goa. Marathi activists demand official status for their language. Konkani speakers say ‘naka’

The Powerful Battle the ‘Permanents’ • Why are MP’s bureaucrats increasingly raising their voice against neta toughies?

THE GENE HUNT SPORT • Sports genomics takes off in a big way in the state, with a big DNA data hunt to help isolate ‘the athletic gene’ among its peoples. Final aim: readiness for Olympics

Mandarins in a Not So Merry Go Round • Revanth’s dizzying transfer sprees keep his IAS cadre in a permanent tizzy

HISTORIC C ONQUEST • AS THE PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI-LED BJP VANQUISHES MAMATA TO TAKE BENGAL, THE INSIDE STORY OF THE RELENTLESS DETERMINATION, DELIBERATE STRATEGY AND FLAWLESS EXECUTION THAT LED TO THE SAFFRON SWEEP

HOW BJP WON WEST BENGAL • The saffron party’s expanding footprint and the region-wise micro-strategies that drove it

ALL THE KEY PLAYERS • West Bengal was not just any election. By the end, it became a meticulous operation drawing authority from the central government and heft from constituency-level mobilisation of BJP workers

THE SAFFRON SPREAD • The BJP and its allies have steadily expanded their political footprint over the past decade

SUPERSTAR’S STUNNING SWEEP • ACTOR-TURNED-POLITICIAN VIJAY CONFOUNDS ALL EXPECTATIONS AS HIS TAMILAGA VETTRI KAZHAGAM BECOMES THE SINGLE LARGEST PARTY, LEAVING THE STATE’S TWO DRAVIDIAN TITANS IN DISARRAY

From Reel to Real Life Hero • Vijay’s onscreen persona was cast in the mould actors-turned-politicians of yore had set in Tamil Nadu—as champion of the oppressed

THE CONGRESS COMEBACK • THE KERALA VOTER HANDS THE CONGRESS-LED UDF A HUGE MANDATE, PUNISHING THE LEFT FRONT FOR ITS COMPLACENCY AND OVERCONFIDENCE

HURRICANE HIMANTA • BEHIND THE BJP’S THIRD STRAIGHT VICTORY LIES CHIEF MINISTER HIMANTA BISWA SARMA’S WELFARE EXPANSION, CONSTITUENCY REDRAWING AND IDENTITY CONSOLIDATION, WHICH HAVE TILTED ASSAM’S POLITICS IN HIS FAVOUR

ONE-MAN SHOW DELIVERS • N. RANGASAMY’S GREAT CONNECT WITH VOTERS HELPS NDA SMASH THE FRAGMENTED CONGRESS-LED CHALLENGE

INDIA in Retreat • A COALITION THAT CAN STILL HOLD THE LINE IN PARLIAMENT IS STEADILY...