India’s WhatsApp election: political parties risk undermining democracy with technology

WhatsApp has already been used to misinform voters in elections and spread damaging 'fake news' that has led to serious violence 

Forests up for grabs?

The amended Forest Conservation Act opens up large swathes of forestland for different non-forest activities

‘Ocean thermal energy conversion plant coming up in Lakshadweep’

The plant will power the one lakh litre per day low temperature thermal desalination plant, which converts seawater into potable water

Elections 2019: Every fourth voter a distressed farmer

Though the farmers were not an issue in the general elections they now hold the fort for the world’s fastest growing economy despite being …

Missing women voters: 21 mln can't exercise franchise this Lok Sabha polls

Excerpts from The Verdict: Decoding India’s Elections by Prannoy Roy and Dorab R Sopariwala; published by Penguin Random House India

Democracy is good for heart, increases life expectancy

A study of 170 countries between 1980 and 2016 brings out for the first time the impact of democratic systems on population health

It will take 55 years to have one-third women representatives in Parliament

Despite women voting in record numbers, Parliament didn’t enact the Women’s Reservation Bill that promised to keep aside a third of …

Lok Sabha passes Women’s Reservation Bill with two-thirds majority

It will grant 33 per cent seats to women in the Lok Sabha as well as state assemblies, once it becomes law  

As told to Parliament (March 24, 2022): Tropical Indian Ocean warmed by 1°C from 1951-2015

All that was discussed in the House through the day  

Notes on how the world’s largest democracy presses the button

While the electronic voting machine system is useful and functional, officials and observers shouldn’t assume there’s no way to …

Election Commission, NGT, environment ministry say no to plastics in 2019 poll campaigning

Efforts are on for the first time to reduce the use of non-degradable materials during the upcoming general elections

As told to Parliament (March 16, 2022): India to triple nuclear power capacity this decade

All that was discussed in the House through the day  

Land injustice, Aadhaar problems dog Jharkhand. Is the Opposition listening

Activists under Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha highlight issues that should make a buzz before the Lok Sabha elections

On the cards in Kerala: A clean, green Lok Sabha polls

Kerala Suchitwa Mission Executive Director R Ajay Kr Verma says mass involvement most crucial

Does the monsoon this year means forests for India?

The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill 2015 has crossed the doors of the Lok Sabha, but is set to face the Rajya Sabha test during the monsoon …

Telangana Bill: MPs disrupt Parliament proceedings, 17 suspended

One MP took out a knife in the Lok Sabha and another used pepper spray, say media reports

Rajya Sabha passes Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill amid confusion, concerns

Rights to recognise forest land and register it to lie with the state government, clarifies environment minister

As told to Parliament (August 6, 2021): 65 Zika virus cases reported in Kerala

All that was discussed in the Houses through the day  

As ODF deadline nears, govt should focus on key areas

While we near the deadline of October 2, 2019 for ODF, concerns like non-functional toilets, poor sewage and drainage systems, lack of water, and …

In India, WhatsApp is a weapon of antisocial hatred

A new challenge has arisen in the form of social media – specifically WhatsApp. Hate speech, disinformation and scary rumors are already …

How much politics is too much politics for civil society

 Should non-profits contest elections? Should they be identified with parties? 

No elixir for rural India: Union Budget 2023-24 has very little to offer the rural population; here’s why

The last full budget before the incumbent party seeks re-election in May 2024 should have targeted India’s suffering rural folk to enable …

Adivasis in Jhargram fight a divided battle for the same aim in LS polls

In these General Elections, tribals in West Bengal are sparring among themselves over politicising their struggle for tribal rights

MP raises antibiotics in chicken issue in Lok Sabha, urges government to act

Recent study by Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment had found that 40 per cent of tested chicken samples were contaminated …

Standing Committee asks MNRE to apprise it of efforts to assess tidal energy potential

In theory, estimated potential of tidal and wave power in India is 12,455 MW and 41,300 MW, respectively