The Statesman is one of India's oldest newspapers. It was founded in Kolkata in 1875 and is directly descended from The Friend of India, which was published from 1869 to 1875.

The newspaper has been in the business of publishing news since its inception. It has always been an independent newspaper and has never been affiliated with any government.

The newspaper is well known for its objective and unbiased coverage of news stories. It is known for its sharp editorial slants and has a strong readership. The Sunday edition is a day later than the daily edition and is printed on a larger size paper. It is also more affordable.