Government’s Reckless Push for Massive Palm Cultivation in Northeast
OCT23 Vishal Arora OCT23 Vishal Arora

Government’s Reckless Push for Massive Palm Cultivation in Northeast

The Union government plans to expand palm oil plantations into six northeastern states, covering an area that exceeds the size of the entire state of Sikkim, Hindustan Times reported. This move comes despite international and local evidence cautioning that such expansion could have devastating impacts on farmers, cultural heritage and biodiversity.

Read More
Disinformation in the Age of Confirmation Bias
OCT23 Vishal Arora OCT23 Vishal Arora

Disinformation in the Age of Confirmation Bias

While we frequently scrutinise the creators of fake news and deepfake videos, we seldom question why consumers readily accept disinformation without verifying its accuracy. Evidently, the creators recognise that “confirmation bias” has likely reached unprecedented levels in recent years.

Read More
The Right to Abort is Not Just About Women
OCT23 Vishal Arora OCT23 Vishal Arora

The Right to Abort is Not Just About Women

The Oct. 16 ruling on abortion by a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court of India involves a complex debate that extends beyond women’s reproductive rights and foetal right to life, encompassing disability rights as well.

Read More
Should India Be So Sensitive to Foreign Criticism?
OCT23 Vishal Arora OCT23 Vishal Arora

Should India Be So Sensitive to Foreign Criticism?

India’s objection to the European Parliament’s recent resolution on ethnic violence in Manipur suggests that New Delhi fails to grasp the essential equilibrium between national sovereignty and international human rights commitments in the modern world.

Read More
India Has the World’s Highest Child ‘Wasting’ Rate
OCT23 Vishal Arora OCT23 Vishal Arora

India Has the World’s Highest Child ‘Wasting’ Rate

While India is on a path to rapid economic growth and has a burgeoning technology sector, the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2023 report has ranked India 111th among 125 countries in combating hunger and malnutrition. The country has slipped four positions compared to last year, with only 17 nations faring worse, among them Timor-Leste, Afghanistan and Somalia.

Read More
Chief Auditor’s Office Transfers 3 Whistleblowers
OCT23 Vishal Arora OCT23 Vishal Arora

Chief Auditor’s Office Transfers 3 Whistleblowers

Three officials, responsible for auditing key government projects, have been transferred by India’s Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). The transfer orders follow their involvement in revealing irregularities in high-profile government schemes.

Read More
Suffering Rises Due to Lowest-Ever MGNREGS Funding
OCT23 Vishal Arora OCT23 Vishal Arora

Suffering Rises Due to Lowest-Ever MGNREGS Funding

Funding cuts to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) is straining rural India, as was expected. About 93% of this year’s budget is already spent in the first half, according to a report by the Economic Times.

Read More
Let’s Make the Upcoming Elections About Us
OCT23 Vishal Arora OCT23 Vishal Arora

Let’s Make the Upcoming Elections About Us

Upcoming elections in five Indian states, leading up to national elections next year, may overshadow voter concerns in favour of political spectacle and divisive issues. It’s likely because, during an election, focus of media coverage often strays from governance, the core responsibility of elected officials.

Read More
India Needs More Judges with the Courage of Justice Muralidhar
OCT23 Vishal Arora OCT23 Vishal Arora

India Needs More Judges with the Courage of Justice Muralidhar

Justice S. Muralidhar, former Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court and a judge of the Delhi High Court, spoke openly on Oct. 8 about a midnight hearing he conducted during the 2020 Delhi riots—a move that both saved lives and apparently upset the central government, which regulates the police in the national capital.

Read More
Eroding Media Freedom and Government’s Credibility in India
OCT23 Vishal Arora OCT23 Vishal Arora

Eroding Media Freedom and Government’s Credibility in India

The recent raids targeting 46 journalists, editors and professionals associated with the independent media outlet NewsClick have set off alarm bells about press freedom in India. Conducted by Delhi Police’s Special Cell, these actions seem excessive in both their severity and scope.

Read More
What Does Gandhi Have to Do with Cleanliness?
OCT23 Ashish Vijay OCT23 Ashish Vijay

What Does Gandhi Have to Do with Cleanliness?

Cleanliness campaigns in India these days invoke Mahatma Gandhi, but the iconic leader’s vision for the country went far beyond sanitation. Gandhi’s writings and speeches reveal a broader mission that contrasts sharply with the current direction of Indian governance.

Read More
Another Lynching in India; Who’s the Latest Victim?
OCT23 Ashish Vijay OCT23 Ashish Vijay

Another Lynching in India; Who’s the Latest Victim?

A brutal lynching during the recent Ganesh Chaturthi festivities in Delhi resulted in the death of 26-year-old Isar Mohammad, highlighting the increasing incidence of extrajudicial violence in India. This disturbing trend has repercussions not only for the victim and their community, but also carries wider implications for society at large.

Read More