its more of a tabloid than a newspaper.
Tabloids have a different size, broadsheets like the TOI don't really enter into tabloid space (yet). Also maybe a more sad fact is tabloids sell well above broadsheets in the west. Something like the SUN of all has prolly the highest circulation in the UK. If Murdoch ever gets into this country, you will get to see what a tabloid really is !!!
I like the edit section for the TOI, the syndicated articles from abroad are also interesting. The only thing i can knock them on is lack of enough proof readers, sometimes the howlers to be found are quite embarassing.
I hear a lot about the Hindu, but its dense reading, like the ppl there badly need to take courses on more effective writing!
Read the NYT, washington post or the guardian to get an idea of what i mean, the style is very easy to read and you feel like you actually learnt something at the end of it. Hell even the UK's Times is an easier read.
The days when you impress the audience by contorting speech is passe.