“Skilling has to be focused on areas that are different like AI, Pure Science, Cybersecurity and Sustainability, and not remain limited to generic STEM. This also improves the employability of students. Governments, industries, and institutions must work together to ensure every child has acess to this level of skilling; whether it’s through building labs, training teachers, or bringing digital learning to remote areas. This will help India shift from education-centric to innovation-driven growth.”

Ashish Modi, president, Honeywell India & APAC in an essay titled ‘The STEM Multiplier: Preparing India’s youth to lead’ (Economic Times, April 27)

“Today, American politics is even worse off than yesterday. Assuming it will improve tomorrow requires, sadly, the triumph of hope over experience.”

Patrick Basham, Director, Democracy Institute, USA in an essay ‘What now in US politics’ (The Times of India, April 27)

“This is a new dawn in Bengal. The seats won by BJP are not just a number. This also marks the uprooting of fear, appeasement and violence. A new journey begins in Bengal… Women will be safe, youth will get employment and migration will end.”

PM Narendra Modi addressing BJP workers after the party’s historic win in the West Bengal legislative elections (May 5)

“The Scholars at Risk Free to Think report classifies India as having “completely restricted” academic freedom. It cites declining university autonomy linked to rising political interference, and pressure on institutions. Notably, it emphasizes the systematic enforcement of a Hindu nationalist agenda within higher education with changes to curricula, limited scholarly exploration and reduced space for intellectual dissent.”

C.P. Rajendran, geoscientisit, on academic suppression signalling deep democratic decline in India (The Hindu, May 5)