Dweep Tulika

  A developed India cannot be a promise for tomorrow. Citizens need to experience measurable progress today. For years, Indians have been asked to look towards the future. 2047 has become one of the country's defining development milestones — the year India aims to complete 100 years of independence as a developed nation. There is nothing wrong with having an ambitious national goal. The question is what happens between now and then . An Indian citizen living in 2026 does not live in 2047. That citizen pays taxes today. Pays GST today. Pays electricity bills, transport costs, school fees and medical expenses today. So the legitimate question is simple: Why should citizens have to wait until 2047 to experience the basic standards of a modern, efficient country? The world is already moving Technology is moving rapidly from laboratories into everyday life. Autonomous vehicles are being deployed in some markets. Drone technology is moving towards increasingly practical co...

New Delhi | August 27, 2026 A fresh confrontation has emerged between India and a United Nations human-rights watchdog over the proposed development of Great Nicobar Island , with the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) calling for suspension of the projects pending independent assessments, while the Government of India has rejected the committee's observations as “politically motivated” and “highly malicious.” The development has brought the long-running debate over the Great Nicobar infrastructure project back into the national spotlight, placing Indigenous rights, environmental concerns and India's development priorities at the centre of the discussion. In its concluding observations on India, CERD expressed concern over the potential impact of major infrastructure and development projects on Indigenous and tribal communities. With regard to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the committee recommended that India suspend implementation of the pr...

  Sri Vijaya Puram | August 26, 2026 The Andaman & Nicobar Islands has a unique economic challenge. Its geography makes many essential services expensive to provide, while its small and scattered population can make several commercial activities difficult for private companies to operate profitably. That is one reason government intervention remains necessary. But there is another side to the question. The Andaman & Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation Limited ( ANIIDCO ) is a government-owned corporation that does not merely perform administrative functions. Its stated objective includes developing and commercially exploiting the natural resources of the territory for balanced and environmentally friendly development. This raises an important public-policy question: When a government corporation participates in commercial activities and generates revenue, where is that commercial role justified—and how should Islanders benefit from it? ANIIDCO Was Cr...

Sri Vijaya Puram | July 6, 2026 Imagine governing a place where every sack of cement, every litre of fuel, every ambulance, and even many government officials must first cross more than 1,200 kilometres of sea before reaching their destination. Welcome to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands , India's most isolated and perhaps most uniquely administered Union Territory. For many visitors, the islands feel almost like another country. Flights from mainland India take several hours, ships require days, and daily life is shaped less by highways and railways than by tides, weather conditions and ferry schedules. Yet these islands remain an inseparable part of India, making their administration unlike anywhere else in the country. Unlike Indian states, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands do not have a Legislative Assembly or an elected Chief Minister. Instead, the Union Territory is administered by the Lieutenant Governor on behalf of the Central Government. As a result, many important decision...

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has said that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are no longer a remote region and are set to play an important role in India's journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047 . Addressing a gathering comprising professionals, business leaders, senior citizens, women, youth and BJP leaders during his visit to the islands, Rijiju emphasized the importance of direct interaction between policymakers and society. He noted that while digital communication has become widespread, face-to-face engagement remains essential for understanding local concerns and strengthening public participation. Speaking about the transformation of remote regions, Rijiju said areas such as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Northeast and border regions were once viewed as distant from the country's mainstream development process. According to him, improved transportation, internet connectivity and digital infrastructure have significantly changed that perception over t...

Sri Vijaya Puram , June 21: Member of Parliament Bishnu Pada Ray has raised concerns regarding spending priorities in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands , alleging that essential public infrastructure continues to face neglect while significant funds are being spent on vessels and facilities intended for administrative use. Speaking at a public gathering, the MP questioned the need for expensive new vessels reportedly costing several crores of rupees. He alleged that despite persistent issues related to drinking water supply , road connectivity and other basic infrastructure in various parts of the islands, substantial expenditure was being incurred on assets primarily used for the movement and functioning of senior officials. The parliamentarian also referred to frequent administrative changes and criticized what he described as insufficient focus on the everyday concerns of island residents. According to Shri Ray, development priorities should be directed towards improving public...