First-time voters: A narrative about to change
Over 52 million children have come of age and would cast vote for the first time. But they have been victims of malnutrition, injustice and …
Economic Survey 2018-19: Growth slowest in five years due to low food inflation
Agriculture sector contracted in fourth quarter; farmers produced less, spent less on consumption
South Africans are finally set to know who funds their political parties
Even as the Supreme Court of India is in the middle of hearing a petition on political funding here's looking at how South Africa is dealing …
How democratic was the 16th Lok Sabha?
A lot of recent decisions, like Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s low attendance in Parliament to passing Constitutional Amendment Bill as a …
In poll season, Punjab debates legalising poppy seed and opium farming
Proponents feel the two crops will help farmers, save Punjab’s groundwater and wean its youth from synthetic drugs
'Women should be self-reliant to make a big difference in society'
Down To Earth talks to Pramila Bisoi, an SHG leader chosen to contest Aska Lok Sabha seat in Odisha
Will recent floods change voting pattern in Kerala?
Despite the devastating floods and the 'flawed' rehabilitation process, these issues are not going to be big in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, …
For the survivors of 1999’s Super Cyclone in Odisha, polls mean nothing
None of the political parties in the state have provided them with amenities ranging from sources of livelihood to cyclone shelters to …
India’s WhatsApp election: political parties risk undermining democracy with technology
WhatsApp has already been used to misinform voters in elections and spread damaging 'fake news' that has led to serious violence
Environmental charter for the new government
Sustainable development, pollution, employment generation and agrarian crisis did not play major roles in deciding the outcome of the 2019 …
Elections 2019: Every fourth voter a distressed farmer
Though the farmers were not an issue in the general elections they now hold the fort for the world’s fastest growing economy despite being …
Missing women voters: 21 mln can't exercise franchise this Lok Sabha polls
Excerpts from The Verdict: Decoding India’s Elections by Prannoy Roy and Dorab R Sopariwala; published by Penguin Random House India
'Poor women and children are low priority for this government'
Criticising current government’s policies or lack of them, women demand change and empowerment across all sectors
Notes on how the world’s largest democracy presses the button
While the electronic voting machine system is useful and functional, officials and observers shouldn’t assume there’s no way to …
'Indian elections will always be unpredictable'
For 25 years, economist Ruchir Sharma has travelled the length and breadth of India analysing voting paterns, sociological landscapes and nuances …
General Elections: All you need to know to be an environmentally informed voter
As India goes to polls, here’s all the knowledge you need about environment and development to make an informed decision
Congress manifesto promises jobs, welfare steps
Five focus areas include: Unemployment, poverty, farm distress, access to quality education and healthcare
Land injustice, Aadhaar problems dog Jharkhand. Is the Opposition listening
Activists under Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha highlight issues that should make a buzz before the Lok Sabha elections
Assam schoolchildren draw up agenda for 2019 Lok Sabha elections
About 500 girls from Assam, aged 14-19, have produced a 'Children’s Agenda' focusing on health, nutrition, water, sanitation and …
On the cards in Kerala: A clean, green Lok Sabha polls
Kerala Suchitwa Mission Executive Director R Ajay Kr Verma says mass involvement most crucial
General Elections 2019: Whose voice and which issues matter
Agrarian distress, the women electorate and new voters will be crucial to the Lok Sabha polls
In India, WhatsApp is a weapon of antisocial hatred
A new challenge has arisen in the form of social media – specifically WhatsApp. Hate speech, disinformation and scary rumors are already …
Yes, green issues are missing from poll discourse, but who is to be blamed?
It’s the civil society that has failed to inform and engage citizens on this crisis
No new vision in BJP manifesto
The document makes the same old promises of doubling farmers’ income by 2022, housing for all and bridging the doctor-patient ratio
NYAY a positive step: UBI pilot study lead researcher
Calling it a good intiative, Sarath Davala questions how the Congress will implement such a scheme