Good Economics,
Risky Politics
Defying the pressures of politics, Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha has come forth with a bold, hard budget. He has committed the Government to a slew of daring economic reforms through this year's budget. But, beyond the initial euphoria generated by sheer promises, lies a rough road to fulfilling them. Will the pressures of coalition politics and an irrational Opposition allow him to deliver?

Interview:
Yashwant Sinha
"It is my budget,
not the PMO's."

Smeltdown
The NDA Government handsomely wins a vote moved by the Opposition in the Lok Sabha against the privatisation of Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO), but it should now start worrying about the poor response to bidding for strategic partnership of public-sector units.

Progress Report
With an overwhelming response from readers, the CARE TODAY society had funds flowing in from all quarters to aid it in its efforts to help those rendered homeless and jobless by the devastating earthquake of January 26.

Reeling Estate
Gujarat is witnessing a strange phenomenon with the two hands of the Sangh Parivar, the RSS and the VHP, earning public goodwill and the BJP leadership finding itself in the hot seat over links with the building mafia.

Bust to Dust
International outrage doesn't deter the Taliban militia from pushing ahead with its plan to destroy historical statues, including the 2,000-year-old Buddha statues in Bamiyan.

Piecing the
Ahar Puzzle Excavations of sites from the 4,500-year-old Ahar culture provide clues to the link between the Harappans and their predecessors.

METROSCAPE

Personality Matters

What does a personality pageant do? If you're a participant, it checks for poise, wit and intelligence. Incidentally, it also makes you parade around in trunks, perhaps to see if your calf muscles have attitude. The Grasim Mr India contest-the finals were held last week in Kolkata-thinks it has an edge over other male pageants because it probes the mind. So contestants face up to approximately 45 minutes of verbal parleys. From introducing themselves to fielding questions from the judges (this year's high-power panel included Akshaye Khanna, Namrata Shirodkar Neena Gupta, Gayatri Devi and pageant veteran Yukta Mookhey). There was also some middle-level grilling in the form of a "couch" round: VJ Suchitra Pillai quizzed contestants on a wish-list they had filled out earlier. Favourite politician? Albright. Favourite writer? Shakespeare. It had a nice "intellectual" ring to it.

	TRIUMPHANT TROIKA: Bhatena (centre) with the two runners up

"Maybe," says Mookhey, "But it sounds better because these guys really know their mind and can get it across with confidence." No small-town reticence, even though almost half the contestants (and about 60 per cent of the 400-odd preliminary applicants) were from outside the metros. Most happily dropped their inhibitions-and their pants-for a pre-judging session. "I don't know how they can walk about in their briefs so unabashedly," said an embarrassed Neena Gupta. Winner Vivan Bhatena, 22, sees this new attitude as a good thing. "There's a dearth of good models right now," he says. "It's time the talent from other cities came to the fore." Clearly it is.

-Labonita Ghosh

MetroScape
Personality Matters Those behind the Grasim Mr India contest think it is one up over other male pageants.
But is it?
more...

Looking Glass

Mumbai: Swarovski Boutique

Delhi: Colours 'n' Spice

Delhi: Mindscapes

The Keoladeo National Park Sanctuary in Bharatpur gets an unprecedented number of migratory birds due to the dry spell last year. But experts feel another drought could be disastrous, writes INDIA TODAY's Supriya Bezbaruah in
Despatches.

"The only obvious competition is in bhangra," say the Pakistani duo of the music group, Strings, in conversation with INDIA TODAY's Sonia Faleiro in
Interviews.