Asia Pacific / Politics Jan 9, 2022

India’s Modi braces for tough local elections amid virus surge

Indian voters will head to the polls in several states in February and March, posing a key test for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Asia Pacific Nov 29, 2021

Indian farmers pressure Modi for more after forcing his retreat

The administration has previously said it will find it difficult to adopt a minimum support price for farm crops as it involves huge budgetary expenditure.

Asia Pacific Sep 16, 2021

India’s prime minister gets a three-week birthday bash as popularity dips

The celebrations are in stark contrast to the everyday reality of millions of Indians left jobless by the pandemic.

Asia Pacific Jun 11, 2021

Indians still battling impacts of COVID-19 now burdened with medical debt

Even before the pandemic struck, India’s out-of-pocket expenses on health care were among the highest in the world.

Asia Pacific May 18, 2021

‘Entire families’ wiped out as COVID-19 ravages rural India

As leaders in Delhi struggle to contain the crisis, horrifying scenes are playing out across the country.

Asia Pacific / Politics May 3, 2021

Modi experiences setback after loss in key India state poll

The prime minister's party lost big in a state he visited frequently before the recent virus surge forced him off the campaign trail.

Asia Pacific | FOCUS Apr 30, 2021

How India’s vaccine push faltered and left a country in chaos

India has fully vaccinated less than 2% of its 1.3 billion-strong population, inoculation centers say they’re running short of doses and exports have all but stopped.

Asia Pacific Apr 27, 2021

Indian politicians vow to pay women for housework as virus rages

If enacted, the stipends would be some of the first in the world to specifically address women’s unpaid labor, which economists estimate accounts for up to 39% of global GDP.

Asia Pacific / Politics | FOCUS Apr 26, 2021

World's biggest COVID-19 crisis threatens Modi's grip on India

The political fallout of Modi's handling of the pandemic may become clear on May 2, when election results are due to be announced for the five states voting over the past month.

Asia Pacific Apr 19, 2021

There’s a new COVID-19 variant in India. How worried should we be?

Health experts worry that a new — possibly more virulent — coronavirus variant could be racing through the crowded nation of more than 1.3 billion people.