Apropos ‘Net ambiguity’ (May 27), Bharti Airtel’s commercial launch of its ‘Priority Postpaid’ plans marks a turbulent turning point for India’s digital ecosystem. By utilising 5G network slicing to partition bandwidth, the telecom giant is creating an exclusive “fast lane” that guarantees consistent speeds for premium, high-paying subscribers even during peak congestion.

While operators defend the move as a content-neutral technology necessary to monetise 5G networks, it establishes a troubling precedent of class-based discrimination on the open internet.

Over 90 per cenr of India’s mobile base relies on budget-friendly prepaid connections. Consigning these users to an artificially throttled or degraded network layer effectively fractures equal internet access.

Regulatory authorities must therefore vigilantly ensure that innovation in telecommunications infrastructure does not legitimise discriminatory access or dilute the foundational principles of digital equity.

N Sadhasiva Reddy

Bengaluru

Ease burden on NPOs

This refers to ‘SSE: A vital cog in the CSR chain’ (May 27). The article rightly highlights the promise of the Social Stock Exchange, but the crushing compliance burden on non-profit organisations (NPOs) needs equal attention. They juggle Income Tax rules, NGO DARPAN Portal, FCNR provisions, ROC filings, and District Registrar requirements, often without trained compliance or HR teams. This paperwork maze discourages capable philanthropists from serving as Presidents, Secretaries or Trustees. Governments must create a single-window compliance system and offer a one-time amnesty for pending defaults, so genuine NPOs can focus on impact, not endless filings.

Arul Mozhi Varman

Sivakasi, TN

Road to Viksit Bharat?

This refers to ‘Glitches, hack claims put CBSE exam portal under the scanner’ (May 27). While efforts are on to understand what really happened with the help of expert academicians, the broader issue is one of inadequate planning, shoddy execution, and indifferent governance.

While the nation is making big strides in areas like defence equipment manufacturing, hi-speed railways, and aerospace, instilling much pride in citizens, the basics are being ignored.

See the quality of our city roads and public works. Recently, pillars of a 10-year-old bridge gave way in eastern India.

We read multiple reports about fires in rail coaches, in public buildings (including hospitals) almost every day. And what about traffic jams in our cities. All these indicate non-respect for quality standards, flagrant violation of laws, and near-zero enforcement.

This must change if we are to get to be Viksit Bharat soon.

V Vijaykumar

Pune

Save our planet

There have been various reports of heatwaves across Asia. Some years back, a school of whales were stranded and died on the Tiruchendur beach in Tuticorin,Tamil Nadu. Various reasons like climate change were cited for that unfortunate incident. Phenomena like El Nino and La Nina are nothing but the result of global warming. Countries should come together to tackle emissions which are the root cause for erratic rainfall patterns and climate change.

P Senthil Saravana Durai

Mumbai

Published on May 27, 2026