GENRE: Explainers

While the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is currently on in Karnataka, people have been confused about voter roll updates. Following the initial chaos over filling out enumeration forms, the Election Commission of India (ECI) extended the deadline for the process.   To assist residents who lack any of the 11 standard documents specified by the Election Commission of India (ECI), the State government announced fast-track issuance of Permanent Residential Certificates (PRCs). The list of documents to prove one’s citizenship in the Claims and Objections phase of the SIR process includes birth certificate, passport, matriculation certificate, forest rights certificate, or caste certificate.…

As summer temperatures reach record highs across India, our homes are increasingly turning into heat traps. While air conditioning offers immediate relief, relying heavily on high energy-consuming cooling methods cannot be a long-term solution. These are not sustainable and contribute to carbon emissions. On the other hand, many quick DIY fixes may not work, and heavy architectural changes may not be an option for those living in rented homes or in budget-conscious households. So, how can we make our homes more liveable as cities heat up? What are some sustainable, affordable yet durable options available for cooling? To answer some…

As visitors arrive at Kempegowda International Airport, they are welcomed by lush indoor greenery designed to showcase Bengaluru's identity as the "Garden City." Beyond the airport gates, however, the reality is starkly different. Roads and streets all over the city are losing the green cover that once defined its character, to make way for metro lines, elevated corridors, and road-widening projects. Development is essential for a growing metropolis. But when it comes at the cost of thousands of trees, it raises a difficult question: can Bengaluru continue to build for the future without erasing the very landscape that made it…

“Ae Dil hai mushkil jeena yahan, Jara hatke, jara bachke, ye hai Bombay meri jaan!”  This song from the 1956 hit movie C.I.D has become most Mumbaikars’ anthem since the monsoon has started—replace the words “kahin building, kahin trame” with open manholes and falling trees. Residents have seen mayhem and mishaps due to lashing rains in the city. Within the first six days of July, the Colaba and Santacruz observatories have recorded 823.4 mm and 898.4 mm of rainfall, respectively. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) had initially issued an orange alert on July 3, which was changed to a red alert…

Inside her 10x10 sq ft home in Pulianthope, Parvathy faces unbearably hot conditions during the sweltering summers from March to July. Green shade is a rare luxury in her neighbourhood, home to many marginalised families who earn a living making shoes. “We live right under the roof on the second floor, so it’s hot. Even if we open all the windows and doors, it does not help. Here, we end up spending more time on the streets to find respite,” she says. As temperatures continue to climb, residents like Parvathy are left with little relief. Despite July’s arrival with hopes…

As of July 8, booth level officers (BLOs) have distributed over 4.57 crore enumeration forms for the mandatory Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Karnataka. Yet despite the 82.45% completion rate, the process has faced widespread criticism and been plagued with problems including BLO burnout, and the Kannada-only forms. If you are still figuring out how to fill the enumeration form, read Part 1 of this series. In this part, you can find answers to some common questions on filling the form, online enumeration, progeny mapping, etc. The SIR process poses specific challenges to transgender and queer communities due to changes…

Amudhini regularly boards the 29C or A1 from Abhiramapuram to Chetpet. On a scorching day, without any roofing, the bus shelter seats radiate heat, and they are “uninviting and uncomfortable to sit on for a prolonged period of time,” says the public relations professional. On her route, she passes Mylapore Tank and KMC Hospital and notes: “Bus stops differ from one to the other. I have seen well-maintained bus stops with decent seating, but many others are poorly maintained. Across these stops, none have ramps or uniform display boards. For a lot of elderly working-class people, buses are the only…

Uppal is a suburb of Hyderabad, located in the northeastern part of the city. It is known for housing landmarks like the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium and has schools, government offices, industrial zones and commercial centres. The area experiences high temperatures due to the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect that operates within the city limits.  Our examination of Land Surface Temperature (LST) data covered the years 2015, 2020, and 2025 and shows how heat zones have expanded with warmer areas becoming larger. In Uppal, rapid urban development has changed the thermal balance. Dense construction and fewer trees  are creating  persistent…

Karnataka's Special Intensive Revision (SIR), which began on June 30, requires every voter to complete a fresh verification exercise. The SIR is carried out by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to prepare and revise electoral rolls, and ensure its accuracy. The process especially aims to remove deceased voters and duplicate names in the rolls, including those of  citizens who have migrated and are registered as voters in  multiple places. The election commission announced the process with the aim that ‘no eligible citizen is left out and no ineligible citizen is included in the electoral roll’. In the Special Summary…

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) headed by actor-turned-politician C Joseph Vijay emerged as the single largest party in the recent Tamil Nadu assembly election. Launched in 2024, the debutant party won 108 of the available 234 seats, and secured power after gaining post-election support from Congress, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), CPI, CPI (M) and some rebel All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) MLAs. Vijay was sworn in as the Chief Minister on May 10. In Chennai, TVK’s tally was an impressive 18 of 20 seats.  A leading star testing political waters and finding success has…