Monday, 2 November 2026 New DelhiLondonNew YorkDubaiTokyo
INDEPENDENT THINKING.
SHARED UNDERSTANDING.International edition · Correspondents across India and around the world
RationalTimes●
A little less noise.
A little more perspective. Subscribe
BREAKING
TechBinance hack: about $6.4bn stolen and $2.7bn frozen, analysts say MarketsChristine Lagarde to step down as ECB president on 7 February 2027 UNUN Security Council holds its seventh straw poll for the next Secretary-General IsraelIsrael: near-final count gives Netanyahu’s bloc 53 seats and Eisenkot’s 48; official results on 4 November ClimateCOP31 climate talks open in Antalya, Türkiye, on 9 November USAmericans vote in the midterm elections on 3 November TechnologyNorth Korea-linked hackers steal about $6.4 billion from Binance in the biggest crypto theft on record, analysts say WorldSpain mourns after a high-speed train ploughs into a stationary train near Toledo, killing at least 68 WorldIsrael’s election ends without a clear winner as exit polls leave both blocs short of a majority WorldSaudi Arabia intercepts Houthi missiles and drones as Egypt’s parliament backs military support PoliticsLula wins Brazil’s presidential runoff as Flávio Bolsonaro concedes
Rational Times Learn

How things work.

The news makes more sense when you know how the machinery works. Short, sourced guides to Parliament, elections, courts, budgets and the economy — written to be read in a few minutes.

11guides

Guides11 guides

Politics

How a bill becomes a law in India

Three readings in each house, a committee if needed, the President’s assent — and the special routes for money bills, ordinances and…

·Rational Times Explainers
Economy

How the Union Budget works

What the Constitution calls the “annual financial statement”, how Parliament approves the spending, and the words — fiscal deficit…

·Rational Times Explainers
Politics

How a Lok Sabha election works

From the announcement of the schedule to the counting of the last VVPAT slip: 543 constituencies, one winner each, and a majority of 272 to…

·Rational Times Explainers
Economy

How GST works

One tax on goods and services, collected at every stage and credited back along the chain — with the Union and the states sharing it and…

·Rational Times Explainers
Politics

How the Rajya Sabha works

A house that is never dissolved, elected by state legislators, with equal say on most laws — but not on money.

·Rational Times Explainers
Economy

How inflation is measured in India

The price indices behind the headline number, the RBI’s 4% target, and why your own costs can rise faster — or slower — than the official…

·Rational Times Explainers

The reference shelf

Glossary A–ZThe words and acronyms in the news, each explained in a sentence or two.308 terms Institutions A–ZWho does what — from the Election Commission to the IMF.70 institutions TimelinesBig stories and big histories, date by date.12 timelines Reference listsPrime ministers, presidents, prize winners and more, in tables.17 lists States & union territoriesCapitals, history and the latest news for every part of India.36 places Data hubOfficial figures, charted and explained.18 datasets Tools & calculatorsLoans, savings, tax, dates and units — worked out in your browser. Games & puzzlesSudoku and an endless quiz built from our glossary.