Rakesh Khar

Rakesh Khar

Rakesh Khar is a seasoned editor. He writes at the intersection of politics, business, technology and society.

IAS Out, IPS In: The New Federal Information Order

Governments – state and union – are linking the PR machinery with state intelligence,  and while this might help manage crises, the move risks turning into an apparatus to curb dissent.

Rakesh Khar

July 17, 2026 at 8:32 AM IST

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Identity, Convergence, and the WhatsApp-CRED Gambit

As Meta positions WhatsApp to dominate the digital payments ecosystem to crack its monetisation problem, New Delhi is worried about mass impersonation, phishing and cyber fraud, and most importantly, data arbitrage with the username rollout.

Rakesh Khar

July 6, 2026 at 6:53 AM IST

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From NYAY to AI: How Jobless Growth Is Forcing Universal Basic Income Back on the Table

Artificial intelligence is reshaping India's job market just as welfare politics becomes increasingly entrenched, bringing Universal Basic Income, once dismissed as politically unviable, back into the spotlight.

Rakesh Khar

July 1, 2026 at 6:11 AM IST

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After the Unicorn Rush, India's Start-ups Face a Reality Check

The first decade was about scale and valuation. The next will determine whether India's start-ups can build businesses that endure.

Rakesh Khar

June 19, 2026 at 4:19 AM IST

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When States Compete, Can Economics Trump Politics?

As states battle for capital, Niti Aayog faces a crucial test: can economics trump politics in India's growth story?

Rakesh Khar

June 16, 2026 at 7:55 AM IST

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The Bureau

The Foster Mother of Lodhi Garden
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