Issue Briefs

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 […]

Economy and Society

India’s Electricity Subsidies: Gaps and Challenges

ABSTRACT India’s power sector is a crucial component of its infrastructure, directly impacting the living standards of its population. However, the Indian power sector faces numerous challenges, particularly in the distribution segment. This paper focuses on the existing subsidy regime in the power sector and its impact on DISCOMs’ financial stability.  It examines direct tariff […]

Economy and Society
Governance

Interstate Migration: The Need for Integrated Policy and Governance Approach

INTRODUCTION The United Nations defines migration as the movement of persons away from their usual residence within a state (internal migration) or across international borders (immigration). Over the decades, migration has become a universal phenomenon. It has significantly impacted population change, mobility patterns, demographic transition, urbanisation, and economic development (Bhagat & Keshri, 2020). In a […]

Human Rights & Law

The Impact of Indian Policy Framework on Age of Marriage

INTRODUCTION The institution of marriage aids the state in both legislation and welfare policies. The custom of marriage regularises the creation of families. The state benefits from the creation of the family because the unit of the family goes on to take on the burden of childcare, civil protection, and property (both tangible and intangible). […]

Governance

New India’s Policies from Old India’s Data: The 16th Census Delay and its Impact

Context The year 2023 has been a milestone year for India, with the country assuming the G20 presidency for the first time while also being projected to become the most populous country in the world. However in 2023, India also enters its third year of a delayed population census. The 16th Indian Census, originally to […]

Human Rights & Law

कॉलेजियम बनाम एनजेएसी: एक विश्लेषण

सुप्रीम कोर्ट कॉलेजियम पिछले लगभग 30 वर्ष से हाई कोर्ट और शीर्ष अदालत में न्यायाधीशों की नियुक्तियां करता आ रहा है। 1993 में अपने ही फैसले से सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने उच्चतर न्यायपालिका में न्यायाधीशों की नियुक्ति का अधिकार सरकार से छीनकर अपने पास ले लिया था। न्यायाधीशों की नियुक्तयों का कॉलेजियम सिस्टम शुरू से ही […]