No elixir for rural India: Union Budget 2023-24 has very little to offer the rural population; here’s why
The last full budget before the incumbent party seeks re-election in May 2024 should have targeted India’s suffering rural folk to enable …
Carbon budget will exhaust in 10 years at current emission levels: IPCC report
The world can emit approximately 400 billion tonnes more of carbon dioxide before hitting the 1.5°C limit, the report said
Union Budget 2020-21 promises Rs 4,400 cr for clean air; how, where and how soon?
Fiscal promise for clean air action without a blueprint for spending; even after a year of NCAP, output & outcome indicators not available in …
Budget push for zero budget farming but contradictions mar Andhra’s natural agri foray
The method was promoted as low-cost investment on part of farmers, but huge amounts are being raised for statewide implementation
Katowice offers last chance
To limit warming to 1.5°C, countries must revise national plans at the upcoming climate conference
Forests can keep our planet cool
Improving our forests and farm practices offers a low-risk path for climate mitigation, while securing the lives of traditional communities
Is the government's Ujjwala target achievable?
The ambit of the Ujjwala scheme is to be increased from five crore to eight crore beneficiaries
Budget 2018: To make India open defecation-free, Centre must invest less in building toilets
The focus should be on educating people and building capacity for effective implementation of Swachh Bharat Mission
Central concerns
In a bid to give more fiscal autonomy to states, the Centre in the last budget gave them a higher share in Union tax receipts. Has this helped …
Financial devolution
With increased funds and Centrally Sponsored Schemes, India’s states now urgently need the institutional mechanism to manage this responsibility
Forget Union budget, track state budgets now
States, already flush with cash surplus of Rs 1.6 lakh crore, will get significantly raised share from the central taxes. Along with this …
Why US-China climate deal is neither ‘historic’ nor ‘ambitious’
It will take the world towards a catastrophic beyond 4°C temperature increase pathway
Budget brings no relief to health sector
FM does not mention Universal Health Coverage, combines rural and urban health missions while making allocations
Kerala’s water budget can help tackle shortage issues: Experts
Budget prepared based on the availability and consumption of water in the state for equitable distribution
Union Budget 2022-23: Activists express disbelief at sanction of money for river interlinking
River interlinking projects including Ken-Betwa do not have statutory clearances, are sub judice and have hardly progressed in the last two …
Mood at Glasgow: Promises galore, substance lacking
A slew of announcements by countries and businesses are missing the mark on key outcomes needed by the Global South.
Drying up of MGNREGA allocation will shrink the rural economy further
The focus of MGNREGA has, over time, shifted from employment creation to asset creation
Clean energy, renewables, stubble burning: What the Union Budget 2021-22 missed
The budget lost the opportunity to address rural sector, where the Ujjwala Scheme will be extended to only one crore additional beneficiaries
GDP loss due to COVID-19 will lead to higher mortality
As economies take a tumble in states, expect a toll bigger than the pandemic itself
Ending child marriage, beyond slogans
Nirmala Sitharaman's Union Budget 2020-21 speech proposed a task force to review minimum age of marriage for women; child marriage is widely …
Economic Survey 2019-20: Agriculture growth stagnant in last 6 years
Document emphasises sustainable agricultural practices to support farmers and avert water crisis
Democratic choice held hostage to cash: A tale of Odisha's urban poor
Though political parties deny such claims and these “incidents” often go unnoticed, the truth is that the poor consider elections to …
Demand for fair pricing of medicines at WHO forum
Delegates say that a frank discussion among all stakeholders would help identify strategies to reduce medicine prices and expand access for all
Budget for children: The story doesn’t change
Crucially missing in the budget is a response from the government in the area of Child Protection
Budget focuses on Gramin Swachh Bharat, clean railways
Swachh Bharat Gramin allocated almost 55 per cent higher funds; by 2019 all coaches of Indian Railways to be fitted with bio toilets