Astha Rajvanshi

Astha Rajvanshi is a staff writer at TIME based in the London bureau. She covers international news and affairs with an eye on India and neighboring countries. She received the Matthew Power Literary Reporting Award and a Fellowship from the Institute of Current World Affairs.

Recent Articles

A Guide to India’s 2024 Election

Voting in India begins on April 19 and is staggered in seven sequential phases over six weeks, with the results announced on June 4.

By Astha Rajvanshi

A Worrisome New Study of India's Health

A new study sheds light on declining health in India, with cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and mental health disorders at "critical levels."

By Astha Rajvanshi

India Braces for Heat Ahead of Elections

As this year's election season fast approaches, electoral officials face the challenge of safeguarding against heat waves.

By Astha Rajvanshi

Why India's Political Opposition is Weak

More than two dozen opposition parties in India have banded together—but the fractured alliance can't seem to pose a real challenge.

By Astha Rajvanshi

The WCK Aid Workers Killed in Gaza

Seven members of the World Central Kitchen aid group were killed by an Israeli airstrike. This is who they were.

By Astha Rajvanshi

India’s Income Inequality Is Now Worse Than Under British Rule, New Report Says

A new report finds that the present-day golden era of Indian billionaires has produced historic income inequality in India.

By Astha Rajvanshi

Palestinians Have Turned to Crowdfunding Platforms for Survival

In place of formal humanitarian aid, Palestinians are utilizing crowdfunding platforms such as GoFundMe and JustGiving to evacuate and find relief.

By Astha Rajvanshi

Why India’s Election Will Last 44 Days 

Nearly 970 million Indians could head to the polls between April 19 and June 1. Here's why the election takes so long.

By Astha Rajvanshi

Volunteers Bridge Gaps in Palestinian Healthcare

Israeli and Palestinian medical volunteers, defying barriers amid continuous conflict, unite to provide cross-border healthcare.

By Astha Rajvanshi

Why Birth Rates Are Plummeting in Asia

The number of babies born in Japan, South Korea and China is steeply declining. Here's why it's so hard to reverse the trend.

By Astha Rajvanshi

Anant Ambani's Indian Billionaire Pre-Wedding. What to Know

Billionaire tycoon Mukesh Ambani is hosting pre-wedding festivities for his son, 28-year-old Anant, in what promises to be a lavish affair.

By Astha Rajvanshi

The Mental Health Toll of the War in Gaza

The Israel-Hamas war has amplified mental health struggles among Palestinians—with experts warning traditional frameworks may not be equipped to handle the trauma.

By Astha Rajvanshi

A New Series on Elephant Poaching in India

A new series on Amazon sheds light on India's elephant poaching industry—and those working to protect the animals.

By Astha Rajvanshi

India Scraps Anonymous Political Donations

Why India's top court scrapped an election funding system known as "electoral bonds" to introduce campaign financing transparency.

By Astha Rajvanshi

Hina Jilani on Pakistan's Unstable Future

From honor killings to elections, Hina Jilani has spent decades fighting for democracy and human rights.

By Astha Rajvanshi

What to Know About the BDS Movement

Companies may be feeling the effects of the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

By Astha Rajvanshi and Yasmeen Serhan

A New Bill in India Will Govern Unwed Couples Who Live Together

Uttarakhand, a Himalayan state in northern India, has become the first to pass a new law that governs the personal lives of Indian citizens.

By Astha Rajvanshi

What to Know About E.U. Farmer Protests

Farmers across Europe are protesting the E.U.’s newly proposed green policies which they say would make them less competitive against imports.

By Astha Rajvanshi

India Bolsters Navy Due to Red Sea Piracy

As tensions escalate in the Red Sea, India walks a diplomatic tightrope to balance its interests with Iran.

By Astha Rajvanshi

Iraq Resumes Mass Executions

On Dec. 24, 13 Iraqi inmates in the Nasiriyah prison were unexpectedly executed—the country's first mass execution after a three year pause.

By Astha Rajvanshi
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