Bollywood actors Sunny Deol and Shatrughan Sinha, renowned for their roles as tireless heroes on the silver screen, have, paradoxically, chosen a path of silence in the political arena. Perhaps they consider the responsibilities associated with being a Member of Parliament (MP) in the Lok Sabha and the articulation of concerns and viewpoints in this forum to be optional.

India’s national average monthly farm income is 5,298 rupees and the average monthly total income is 10,695 rupees, according to data from the latest National Sample Survey. It’s scant, indeed, but more troubling is that this average fails to reflect the circumstances of the majority of farmers, as shown by The India Forum amid an ongoing farmers’ protest around Delhi.

In the drought-prone district of Sangli in Maharashtra, a quiet revolution is unfolding—one that has transformed the lives of women grappling with limited mobility. In the episode, “A Ticket to Ride” for Newsreel Asia’s Radio Local podcast, a community radio Yeralavani sheds light on the inspiring stories of Savita Mote and Sakhubai Suryavanshi, illustrating how innovative solutions are breaking down barriers for rural women.

A significant resurgence of agricultural dissent is anticipated in Delhi. Preparations are underway for thousands of farmers, along with a convoy of 2,000 tractors, to converge on the borders of Delhi. It’s a part of a planned protest, with farmers preparing to make their way to the national capital. The farmers have set an ultimatum for the government until Feb. 12.

A journalist and his colleagues were ambushed in Pune on Feb. 9 by members of two political parties, according to Newslaundry, which quoted the journalist as saying that he felt the attack was an attempt on his life.

The Forest Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2023, or FCAA, which faces criticism for favouring corporate interests over forest communities, especially threatens the northeastern states of India. This is due to a provision allowing the diversion of forest land for certain projects without forest clearance under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 (FCA).

A report by the human rights group Amnesty International has documented the alleged targeted demolition of at least 128 properties, including homes, businesses and places of worship, largely belonging to Muslims in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled states and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-governed state of Delhi in a span of 15 days between April and June 2022.

The Uttarakhand government has introduced a bill mandating residents, whether they are from the state or not, to register their live-in relationships with district authorities. This move starkly contravenes the essential respect for individual freedoms, contradicts legal precedents established by the Supreme Court of India, challenges societal norms and raises questions about governance practices.

Thousands of protesters in Ladakh’s Leh and Kargil districts participated in a shutdown on Feb. 3, rallying against the constitutional changes following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. The protesters are seeking the restoration of statehood, tribal status for Ladakh and a parliamentary seat for each of the Leh and Kargil districts.

The central government’s decision to fence the India-Myanmar border, purportedly to bolster national security by terminating the Free Movement Regime (FMR), may not necessarily achieve its intended security objectives. Instead, it could detrimentally impact the welfare of communities living along the border and create more security challenges, as indicated by experts and the affected populations themselves.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted raids on the premises of Harsh Mander, a human rights activist and former Indian Administrative Service officer, and the Centre for Equity Studies (CES), an organisation he is associated with, on Feb. 2. This action has led to criticism, with many viewing it as a politically motivated attempt to silence one of the government’s most articulate critics.

India’s “interim” Union Budget for 2024-25, presented on Feb. 1, when analysed for its impact on the average citizen, particularly those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, uncovers several problematic aspects in key sectors such as education and health.

In the next 10 years, we’re about to see something huge happen: someone will become the world’s first trillionaire. A recent report, highlighted by CNBC, tells us this is not just a big deal for the rich person but a moment that makes us all think hard about what it means when one person has that much money.