The Dangers of Outsourcing Government Planning to Global Consulting Firms
A critical examination of the Union government’s engagement of Boston Consulting Group to finalise ‘Vision 2047’ for India.
Apple Alert: Threat Notifications Strike at Heart of Indian Democracy – 3 Articles
Apar Gupta, the founding director of Internet Freedom Foundation calls for full government disclosure regarding its spyware purchases and deployments. Also: Review of book by Laurent Richard and Sandrine Rigaud, “Pegasus: The Story of the World’s Most Dangerous Spyware”.
Unemployment May Impact India’s Economic Growth in FY24; But Bihar Creates Jobs
Declining manufacturing activity, a slowdown in the services sector, rising unemployment, and air pollution may pose a challenge to India’s projected economic growth. Also: “With Job ‘Mahakumbha’, Nitish Kumar Foregrounds Importance of Promises Kept”; and “ Employment Versus Hindu-Muslim Politics”.
Sikkim Floods a Reminder of Why Locals Opposed Dams in the Himalayas for Years – 2 Articles
Those familiar with the region’s geography say merely raising questions about the lapses in dam and water governance isn’t enough. What we really need to ask is why do we have so many dams along the Teesta.
Overpricing of Coal Imports by Adani Group Led to Higher Profits, Customers Overcharged for Fuel: FT
A detailed FT investigation points to Adani’s use of “offshore intermediaries” to import $5 billion worth of coal at prices that were at times more than double the market price. One of these firms is owned by a Taiwanese businessman who was named by FT as a hidden shareholder in Adani firms.
How State-Backed Hindutva Rhetoric Is Fuelling the Ethnic Cleansing of Uttarakhand
India’s most populous hill state Uttarakhand is in unprecedented turmoil. It is the first State in India in which an influential and popular campaign for ethnic cleansing has gathered ominous momentum: a battle for the expulsion of all Muslims from the State.
Making Sense of Recent Developments in the Indian Labour Market
The PLFS for 2022-23 reports the highest workforce participation rate and the lowest unemployment rate in the last six years. This has been the result of the entry of an increasing number of women into agriculture. Stagnant household incomes are pushing women into low-paid self-employment.
Caste | Caste | Indian Economy | Online Blog
The Struggle for Social Representation in Education and Employment
Without addressing structural inequities and ensuring secure employment opportunities, increasing quotas alone won’t bridge the gap.
Fascistic Hostility to Evidence – 2 Articles
India has a robust and admired statistical system. But the government is suppressing data to suit its narrative. It is perilous not to know the reality of the governed.
Remembering Edward Said at a Time of Palestinian Tragedy
Text of Richard Falk’s Edward W Said Memorial Lecture: ‘The Enduring Legacies of Edward Said’, at The American University in Cairo on November 4, 2023.