SPRF
At the beginning of October 2023, the glacial-fed Lhonak Lake in the northern part of the state of Sikkim triggered a flash flood in the Teesta River basin. The flash floods have claimed 74 lives, and more than 100 people have been reported missing. The disaster unfolded due to a cloudburst that led to a […]
Introduction Care work, broadly defined as the provision of physical, psychological, emotional, and developmental support to individuals, plays a pivotal role in society. It encompasses a wide spectrum of activities, from direct and personal care tasks like nursing an ill family member to indirect duties such as cooking and cleaning. Care work is instrumental in […]
Delhi-NCR’s air quality hit the ‘400’ danger mark on the AQI 500 scale, considered hazardous once again in the early part of November 2023. The coming festivities on Diwali, despite the ban coupled with a surge in farm fires, are expected to escalate the issue in the coming weeks. According to the Air Quality Life […]
The 2023 Global Hunger Index placed India 111 out of 125 countries. According to the report, India scored 28.7 on a 100-point scale, putting the country under the “Serious” hunger category. The report measures hunger through four parameters- undernourishment (in both children and adults), child stunting, child under 5 mortality and child wasting. GHI put […]
The Indian Parliament represents the predominant theatre of democratic deliberation and participation in the country and serves as the orienting source of nation-building strategy and legislative outlook. As a result, the quality of discussion of key bills in the Parliament represents a complex system of public consultation, standing committee reports, political concerns and federal cooperation. […]
Introduction: The rising problem of urban floods The global surge in urban flooding presents an escalating challenge that has captured the attention of city administrators and urban planners worldwide. This phenomenon, characterised by its complexity and urgency, has particularly taken centre stage in India. Over recent years, the country has witnessed a distressing surge in […]
On 1st October, thousands of central and state government employees, alongside workers from public sector units across more than 20 states, gathered at New Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan for what they called the “Pension Shankhanaad Rally”. Their primary demand was the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme [OPS]. This event not only triggered extensive nationwide discussions […]
The Gyanvapi mosque, constructed in 1669, has a contested history. History stitches facts and invented narratives together, and the same is true for the Gyanvapi compound. Many have propagated many anecdotes about the construction, and the reason for the construction, of the mosque to be adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, Uttar […]
Introduction: the Comprehensive List of Critical Minerals The world has witnessed unprecedented technological advancements and growing demand for clean energy solutions in recent years. This transformative shift towards a sustainable and low-carbon future has underscored the critical importance of securing a reliable supply of some crucial minerals. The Government of India has recognised this […]
Context The Lok Saha passed the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2022 in July and the Rajya Sabha in August 2023. As the name suggests, multi-state societies operate in more than one state. The Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act (MSCS) of 1984 was enacted to introduce comprehensive central legislation that facilitates the organisation and functioning of […]
Background: The Ethanol Push India’s energy demand has steadily risen with the growing population and urbanisation. During the inauguration of India Energy Week 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted that the country’s energy consumption is projected to increase to 11% of global demand in the near future, in contrast to the current consumption rate of […]
The Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023 amends the Cinematograph Act,1952 and comes as a revision to the version which was withdrawn from the Indian parliament on July 20, 2023. The 1952 Act led to the establishment of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and set guidelines for film certification and exhibition within the country, aiming […]
The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act was introduced in Parliament on 22nd December 2022 to review the country’s existing legal system and decriminalise petty business offences. The Joint Committee of the two houses was set on the same date, and the report was released on 17 March 2023. The bill was scheduled to be […]
The Lok Sabha has passed the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill 2023 despite concerns from different sections of ecologists, conservationists, and tribal groups in the country. The Bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha in March this year, amends the long-standing Forest (Conservation) Act 1980. Earlier this month, all amendments proposed in the Amendment were cleared by […]