A Reality Check for India’s Economic Growth Projections
NOV23 Vishal Arora NOV23 Vishal Arora

A Reality Check for India’s Economic Growth Projections

Predictions for India’s economic growth in 2023-24 are optimistic. The Reserve Bank of India and the International Monetary Fund project growth rates of 6.5% and 6.3%, respectively. On paper, these numbers paint a picture of a nation swiftly rebounding from the pandemic’s blows. But is this the whole story?

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41 Workers Trapped in Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescued
NOV23 Vishal Arora NOV23 Vishal Arora

41 Workers Trapped in Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescued

At last, after an intense 16-day struggle, 41 workers were saved from the Silkyara Bend-Barkot Tunnel in Uttarakhand, owing to the efforts of rat-hole miners armed with simple tools. This rescue, though a relief, serves as another crucial reminder for India’s path of development: the pursuit of progress must not undermine the health of our environment and the well-being of local communities.

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Women Have the Right to Safety AND Freedom
NOV23 Vishal Arora NOV23 Vishal Arora

Women Have the Right to Safety AND Freedom

In Uttar Pradesh, an intriguing twist unfolds under the Safe City Project. The new policy introduces a unique restriction: private coaching centres are now barred from conducting late evening classes specifically for female students. And the controversial “anti-Romeo squads” will do the rest. This decision, allegedly for safety, ends up penalising the very group it intends to safeguard – the women and girls of the state. Moreover, it also impacts boys and men who enjoy socialising.

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When News Media Ceases to Be People’s Voice
NOV23 Vishal Arora NOV23 Vishal Arora

When News Media Ceases to Be People’s Voice

In a world where news is omnipresent, the integrity and purpose of media have never been more critical. However, the recent decision by Jacinta Kerketta, a poet and journalist, to decline an award from a major media house, speaks volumes about the current state of news media.

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Everybody Loves a Good Fake News
NOV23 Vishal Arora NOV23 Vishal Arora

Everybody Loves a Good Fake News

In the grand “theatre” of politics and media, there’s a secret everyone knows but seldom acknowledges: everybody loves a good piece of fake news, as long as it sings in their choir. The recent episode involving Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and a creatively edited video of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is a perfect illustration of this unspoken truth.

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3 Indian Women Among World’s 100 Inspiring Women
NOV23 Vishal Arora NOV23 Vishal Arora

3 Indian Women Among World’s 100 Inspiring Women

The BBC’s 2023 list of 100 inspiring and influential women, released on Nov. 21, features three Indian women, acknowledging their dedication to societal impact in the realms of environment, advocacy and sports. They embody India’s diversity and stand as a counter to patriarchy.

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When Women in Pubs Make News
NOV23 Vishal Arora NOV23 Vishal Arora

When Women in Pubs Make News

Amid its efforts to find a place on the global stage, India grapples with a stark contradiction. On one side, there’s a relentless pursuit of progress and influence. On the other, a deeply ingrained, regressive mindset persists. This dichotomy was blatantly exposed during the cricket World Cup final, when Tamil Nadu’s news channels bizarrely spotlighted women in a pub, treating their presence as a sensational crime story ... in public interest.

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What’s Wrong With Our Discourse on Caste Reservations
NOV23 Vishal Arora NOV23 Vishal Arora

What’s Wrong With Our Discourse on Caste Reservations

Maharashtra is currently in news for both the advocacy for and opposition to the inclusion of the Maratha community in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category for reservations. But news coverage on the issue focuses predominantly on electoral politics, overshadowing the fundamental objective of uplifting marginalised communities.

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Why Haryana’s Booming Industry Fails to Create Sufficient Jobs
NOV23 Vishal Arora NOV23 Vishal Arora

Why Haryana’s Booming Industry Fails to Create Sufficient Jobs

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has quashed a Haryana state law that required 75 percent of private sector jobs to be reserved for local candidates. It casts a spotlight on the state’s paradoxical situation. Renowned for its vigorous industrial expansion, Haryana has, however, neglected to develop a correspondingly strong educational system for its residents. As a result, while industries have flourished, local employment opportunities have remained scarce.

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The Problem with India’s Single-Use Plastic Ban
NOV23 Vishal Arora NOV23 Vishal Arora

The Problem with India’s Single-Use Plastic Ban

A new study highlights significant shortcomings in India’s ban on single-use plastics, particularly its neglect of the challenges faced by the country’s numerous street vendors. The report suggests a financially viable solution that could reduce plastic waste by 86% and create job opportunities.

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How India’s Persistent Trade Deficit Affects Us
NOV23 Vishal Arora NOV23 Vishal Arora

How India’s Persistent Trade Deficit Affects Us

India’s trade scenario in October presented a startling revelation. The country’s merchandise trade deficit, a measure of how much more we import than we export, hit a record high of $31.46 billion, after months of persistent high deficit. It depicts the bad health of our economy.

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Discovering the South Asian Identity
NOV23, Perspective Vishal Arora NOV23, Perspective Vishal Arora

Discovering the South Asian Identity

Stepping off the plane at Kathmandu Airport in Nepal, I felt a rush of anticipation. A sign with my name awaited me, and a van whisked me and fellow delegates off to a conference destined to reshape my perspective on South Asian unity. The venue, buzzing with energy, was our meeting ground.

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Does the Judiciary Overlook Probe Agencies’ Manipulations?
NOV23 Vishal Arora NOV23 Vishal Arora

Does the Judiciary Overlook Probe Agencies’ Manipulations?

A disconcerting trend in bail proceedings is casting a shadow over the Indian judiciary, as per a former Supreme Court judge, Justice Madan B. Lokur. In a media interview, he sheds light on a worrying pattern – the erosion of the basic principles of bail, the intertwining of politics with legal proceedings and the judiciary’s apparent oblivion to these realities.

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The Paradox of Madhya Pradesh’s Agricultural Boom
NOV23 Vishal Arora NOV23 Vishal Arora

The Paradox of Madhya Pradesh’s Agricultural Boom

In the agriculture sector, Madhya Pradesh is reportedly outshining traditional agrarian champions like Punjab and Haryana. But beneath this lush green facade may lie a narrative tinged with the hues of struggle and unsustainable practices, reminiscent of Punjab’s post-Green Revolution predicament.

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How Are Businesses in India Doing?
NOV23 Vishal Arora NOV23 Vishal Arora

How Are Businesses in India Doing?

In a country where economic narratives often paint a picture of resilience and growth, recent findings from the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad (IIM-A) serve as a stark contrast, revealing a reality that the government seems reluctant to acknowledge: the economic challenges confronting Indian businesses.

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An Alarming Rise of Illegal Indian Migration to the US and UK
NOV23 Vishal Arora NOV23 Vishal Arora

An Alarming Rise of Illegal Indian Migration to the US and UK

In a striking revelation, the most recent data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection unveils a stark reality: a staggering 96,917 Indians were detained between October 2022 and September 2023 for illegally entering the United States. This five-fold surge in numbers from previous years challenges the narrative of India’s progress and raises profound questions about the reasons driving such a mass exodus.

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