Illustration of School Children in Tamilnadu enjoying food under Midday meals and Breakfast scheme

As India reopens delimitation after 2026, a population-only formula could shrink the south’s voice. Here’s the data, the law—and a better federal plan.

Tamil Nadu’s new VETRI Schools coaching initiative promises free IIT-JEE, NEET, and CLAT training for disadvantaged students. While this bold move could bridge gaps in privilege, it also raises critical questions: Do we need to send students into the competitive exam rat race, or should Tamil Nadu invest in building its own world-class institutions?

India talks about hustle, startups, and merit. But the engine behind who succeeds — or even gets a chance — is often caste, not talent. It decides who owns land, who earns what, who networks, and who inherits opportunity. Meritocracy? Too often, it’s just a story we tell ourselves. In this series, we break down the hidden caste economy and what it would take to truly build opportunity for all.