Governance

Gender Budgeting and Electoral Politics in India: From Welfare to Empowerment

Introduction Gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) has emerged as a vital tool in addressing gender disparities, by embedding gender considerations into fiscal policies and transforming resource allocation for women-centric programs. Introduced in India in 2005-06, GRB marked a shift from the “Women in Development” approach to a broader “Gender and Development” perspective. The National Institute of Public […]

Sexual Autonomy of Women in Rural India: Assessing SDG 5.6.1

Unfortunately, around 800,000 of these abortions are unsafe, contributing significantly to maternal mortality, despite the legal framework established by the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act. This highlights the persistent barriers rural women face in accessing safe sexual health services, particularly due to inadequate healthcare infrastructure compared to urban areas. This indicator is a critical measure of gender equality and women’s empowerment, particularly in the context of sexual and reproductive health rights .

Evolving Landscape of Election Campaigning in India

Introduction Election campaigning in India, the world’s largest democracy, has undergone a profound transformation in recent decades. From traditional methods relying on grassroots mobilisation and rallies to the integration of sophisticated technology and data-driven strategies, the evolution of election campaigning reflects broader societal changes and advancements in communication and information technology. Independence from British rule […]

The Criminality Conundrum: Navigating Challenges in Indian Electoral Politics

Introduction The landmark case of People’s Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL) Vs The Union of India 2003, was the turning point for transparency with regards to elections, as it made it mandatory for contesting candidates to declare their criminal records in their affidavits accessible to the public. Quoted by P.V Reddi in his judgement from […]

Demystifying the Model Code of Conduct

As we inch closer to the start of one of the most cardinal and exhaustive exercises in Indian democracy, we reflect on one of the major frameworks instituted by the Election Commission of India to determine standards of political behaviour prior to elections. In 1960, it was referred to as the ‘Minimum Code of Conduct’ […]

चुनावी चंदे का ब्यौरा जानने का हक है मतदाता को

चुनावी चंदा या इलैक्ट्रोरल बांड पर दिया गया सुप्रीम कोर्ट का फैसला राजनीतिक दलों और औद्योगिक घरानों के बीच के गठजोड़ से पर्दा उठाने का एक साहसिक प्रयास है। चंदा एकत्र करने में पारदर्शिता के अभाव के चलते सुप्रीम कोर्ट की संविधान पीठ ने छह साल पुरानी चुनावी चंदे की योजना को असंवैधानिक करार दिया। […]

When Wealth Wins: The Cost of Indian Elections Amidst Overspending Candidates, Exchange Of  Cash, Liquor, Drugs And Gold For Votes, And An Increasingly Wealthy Political Elite

The recent Supreme Court ruling on electoral bonds has brought attention to the nature of political finance and its implication for democratic attitudes in the country. Notably, the first election held after the Electoral Bond Scheme of 2018, the 2019 Indian General Election, stands out as the largest and the most expensive Indian election to […]

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 […]

Contours of Caste Census: The Kerala Quandary

Introduction The state of Bihar published the ‘Bihar Caste-based Survey 2022’ in October 2023, revealing that the combined population of Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) constitutes almost 63% of the state’s 13-crore population, establishing them as the largest caste group in the state. This revelation sparked the demand for a caste […]