Issue Briefs

Governance

Competitive Welfarism: India’s New Political Agenda

Abstract India’s considerably vibrant democracy has now accepted a new form of welfarism reflected through party politics and electoral promises. As the country gears up for the 2024 elections, it is increasingly evident that competitive welfarism will shape political strategies, governance priorities, and socioeconomic dynamics. However, this model of welfarism remains far from its Scandinavian […]

Environment and Energy

India’s Ebbing Water: Conservation Measures and Impacts of New Amendments 

Abstract For India, a nation grappling with a rapidly growing population, urbanisation and environmental degradation, water conservation is a critical priority. Current data stresses India’s need to strengthen its conservation tactics and policies to tackle the upcoming challenge of water scarcity in the country. This paper looks at the current state of water bodies and […]

Human Rights & Law

उत्तराखंड के समान नागरिक संहिता के जरिए लिव-इन रिश्तों पर पहरेदारी 

उत्तराखंड विधान सभा द्वारा पारित समान नागरिक संहिता विधेयक विवाह, तलाक, लिव-इन, उत्तराधिकार और बच्चों को गोद लेने के कानून में एकरूपता लाने का प्रयास है ताकि इसे सभी धर्मों के लोगों पर समान रूप से लागू किया जा सके। संविधान के अनुच्छेद 44 में पूरे देश में समान नागरिक संहिता की बात कही गई […]

Human Rights & Law

आजीवन कारावास की सजा भुगतने वाले कैदियों की समयपूर्व रिहाई के दुरुपयोग पर सुप्रीम कोर्ट का प्रहार

लम्बे समय से जेल की सलाखों में कैद अपराधियों को समाज की मुख्य धारा में वापस लाने के लिए सजा में छूट(रेमीशन) दी जाती है। जेल से बाहर आकर वह सामान्य जीवन गुजार सके, इसके लिए देश के अलग-अलग राज्यों ने अपनी-अपनी गाइडलाइंस बनाई हैं। पिछले दिनों सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने गुजरात के दंगों से संबंधित […]

Economy and Society
Human Rights & Law

Stagnating Between Tea and Tourism: How The Darjeeling Hills May Have Caught The Dutch Disease

Abstract: The Darjeeling Hills of North Bengal have an economy that is highly dependent on tea and tourism, both of which employ a significant population of the region. At the same time, challenges of population growth, tourism induced crowding and traffic, political movements, global shifts in demand for Darjeeling tea and climate change have led […]

Economy and Society

Navigating Retirement: Comparative Analysis of OPS and NPS

Introduction The global landscape is witnessing a dual shift—population growth coupled with an increasingly ageing populace—a transformative trend unfolding across the globe, India included. As of 2022, India was home to 149 million individuals aged 60 and above, making up around 10.5 per cent of its population (International Institute for Population Sciences and United Nations […]

Human Rights & Law

Navigating the Unseen: Deepfakes in Indian Politics

AI in Indian Politics India first faced the risk of AI intervention in elections during the Delhi Assembly polls in 2020. Users came across videos featuring the then state BJP chief, Manoj Tiwari, criticising Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s policies in various languages. Later, it was ascertained to be a deepfake video. The recent assembly elections […]

Environment and Energy

Grain-Based Ethanol: Feasibility and Sustainability Considerations

Background  India’s position as the world’s third-largest primary energy consumer, highlighted in the India Energy Outlook 2021 by the International Energy Agency (IEA), emphasises its growing energy needs (International Energy Agency, 2021). However, these needs are primarily met through substantial oil imports, posing challenges regarding energy security, environmental concerns, and substantial foreign currency outflows (ibid.). […]

Environment and Energy

Burning Landscapes: Assessing the Concerns and Actualities of Forest Fires in India

Abstract Forest fires have emerged as a critical environmental concern in India, further enhanced by the country’s susceptibility to climate-related risks. This paper investigates India’s escalating threat of forest fires over the last two decades by examining the interplay between vulnerability, ecological significance and state disparities. A comprehensive analysis of secondary data sources makes a […]

Environment and Energy

Tackling India’s E-Waste Crisis: Balancing Growth and Responsibility

In an era marked by technological progress and increased internet accessibility, electronic devices have become essential elements of modern daily life, significantly enhancing living standards for a considerable global population. However, the downside of this digital advancement is the alarming rise in electronic waste, or e-waste, resulting from electronic equipment reaching the end of its […]

Human Rights & Law

Strengthening Community Healthcare: Analysing Mahila Mohalla Clinics in Delhi

The Indian healthcare system faces persistent challenges and has limited government health spending. Healthcare services are primarily delivered by the private sector, leading to high out-of-pocket expenditures and overcrowding in public health facilities, particularly in urban areas. The establishment of Mahila Mohalla Clinics in Delhi, an offshoot of the Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinics, represents a […]

Human Rights & Law

Ban on Conversion Therapy: All that needs to be done?

  Context The ban on conversion therapy needs a more comprehensive study to understand both its effect and efficacy. The provisions laid down by the court in S. Sushama v. Commissioner of Police, 2021 (HC 7284, 2021) only banned the medical practice of conversion therapy without criminalising the act of professing or practising the same. […]

Environment and Energy

Navigating Climate-Induced Migration in Kerala: Challenges, Responses, and Adaptation Strategies

Abstract This article delves into the intricate web of climate-induced migration in the Indian state of Kerala, offering insights into the causes, impacts, and policy responses surrounding the issue. The potential effects of rising temperatures, erratic precipitation patterns, rising sea levels, and more frequent extreme weather events result in population displacement and internal migration. Kerala’s […]

Governance
Human Rights & Law

Regularising Qualifications within the Mental Health Industry

  Abstract: The MHA 2017 was a long time coming and a necessary revamp of the Indian State’s engagement with the mental health infrastructure of India. The Act makes claims of ensuring patient-centric affordable health care. This piece would specially advocate for a policy mechanism which recognises a larger ambit of mental healthcare practitioners to create […]