News: Bombay High Court granted bail to lawyer-activist Sudha Bharadwaj, an accused in the Elgar Parishad case. Reasons behind the delay in bail, and what is the High Court’s observation on it? Under the Bhima Koregaon/Elgar Parishad case, the state opposed all bail pleas of the accused, even if some of them were ailing. Even the Bombay… Continue reading Issue of Bail: Relief to Sudha Bharadwaj is welcome. Prolonged imprisonment of other Bhima Koregaon accused must also be questioned
Author: Ramandeep Kaur
National Family Benefit Scheme is in urgent need of revival
News: The National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS), which is meant to help the survivors in difficult circumstances, is losing its purpose now. About National Family Benefit Scheme 1) Launched in 1995 under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP). 2) Restricted to BPL families. 3) Rs. 20000 will be given as a lump sum assistance to… Continue reading National Family Benefit Scheme is in urgent need of revival
Challenges in NIRF: Recast this apples-and-oranges ranking method
News: Ranking of state-run Higher Education Institutes (HEI) with centrally funded institutes (CFI) like IIT’s under the National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF) is not a good step. What is National Institution Ranking Framework? Read here: National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Why it is not a good step to rank both state-run HEI and CFI altogether? Allocation of… Continue reading Challenges in NIRF: Recast this apples-and-oranges ranking method
Dadabhai Naoroji: Why this nationalist served as a British MP
What is the news? Recently, Dinyars Patel’s biography ‘Naoroji: Pioneer of Indian Nationalism‘ won the Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize 2021. Facts about Dadabhai Naoroji He was an Indian nationalist, educationist, first Indian MP in British Parliament, an Economist, a mentor and belonged to the Parsi community. As an educationist: He began his career as… Continue reading Dadabhai Naoroji: Why this nationalist served as a British MP
Human trafficking survivors identify gaps in draft Bill, seek community-based rehab
News: Indian Leadership Forum Against Trafficking (ILFAT), a forum set up in 2019 by trafficking survivors, has written to the Ministry of Women and Child Development to identify gaps in the Trafficking in Persons (Prevention, Care and Rehabilitation) draft Bill 2021, which is about to table in the Parliament. What are the changes demanded by the survivors?… Continue reading Human trafficking survivors identify gaps in draft Bill, seek community-based rehab
There’s a clear-eyed vision behind China’s maritime build-up
News: American surprise over a secret Chinese military base in the UAE port of Khalifa is unwarranted. About China’s maritime plan China in 2019 released Defence White Paper (DWP), declares overseas interests as a crucial part of China’s national interests. To address deficiencies in overseas operations and support, China builds far seas forces, develops overseas logistical… Continue reading There’s a clear-eyed vision behind China’s maritime build-up
Should the state stop focusing on population control?
News: Recent NFHS-5 data revealed that India’s Total Fertility Rate has declined to 2 from 2.2 of NFHS-4. Read here: NFHS-5 and its findings – Explained, pointwise Contents1 What factors have helped India bring down the Total Fertility Rate?2 Why the decline in TFR does not signal population stabilization?3 Should India adopt coercive population control measures?4… Continue reading Should the state stop focusing on population control?
Annual Report on State Finances: The vital third tier
News: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released its annual study of state finances. What are the findings of the report? -States’ gross fiscal deficit breached the 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) mark. -Combined revenue deficit of the state governments rose from 0.1% of GDP in 2018-19 to 2% of GDP in 2020-21 because… Continue reading Annual Report on State Finances: The vital third tier
Draft Data Protection Law: Privacy must be held as a fundamental right
News: Supreme Court declared the Right to Privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21. Considering this, Indian data protection law must be based on the principle that we own our personal data and only specified legal processes can deprive us of it. What are the recommendations by Joint Parliamentary Committee? Read here: What are… Continue reading Draft Data Protection Law: Privacy must be held as a fundamental right
Sudha Bharadwaj bail: how HC spelt out limitations of sessions court
Contents1 What is the news?2 What was the High Court’s observation regarding the bail?3 What is default bail?4 Who is the special judge under the law?5 Why was the extension challenged? What is the news? Bombay High Court granted bail to lawyer-activist Sudha Bharadwaj, an accused in the Elgar Parishad case. What was the High… Continue reading Sudha Bharadwaj bail: how HC spelt out limitations of sessions court
