Editorials

HEMA COMMITTEE REPORT – MALAYALAM FILM INDUSTRY The Hema Committee, chaired by retired Kerala High Court judge Justice K Hema, along with veteran actor Sharada and retired IAS officer K B Valsala Kumari, was formed to investigate and address issues in the Malayalam film industry. The committee's recent report has uncovered serious concerns about sexual

INDIA-POLAND RELATIONS The recent visit of the Prime Minister of India to Poland was a historic event, marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations. The visit resulted in the elevation of bilateral ties to a "Strategic Partnership," signifying a deepening of cooperation across various sectors. This visit highlights India's intent to

OVERHAUL OF THE INCOME TAX ACT, 1961 The Indian Income Tax Act of 1961, a cornerstone in the country’s direct tax system, is undergoing a significant revision. This initiative, led by the Income Tax Department through an internal committee, is part of a larger central government effort to modernize and simplify the tax laws. The

INDIA’S PRIME MINISTER’S VISIT TO UKRAINE India's Prime Minister recently made a historic visit to Ukraine, marking the first such trip by an Indian head of state since Ukraine's independence in 1991. This visit aimed to strengthen bilateral relations, especially in areas of defence, trade, and humanitarian assistance. The visit holds particular importance given the

INDIA, AFRICA CAN DOUBLE TRADE TO $200 BILLION India has unveiled an ambitious plan to double its exports to African countries to USD 200 billion by 2030, as revealed at the 19th India-Africa Business Conclave in New Delhi, organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). This strategic initiative aims to strengthen economic ties between

UNIFIED PENSION SCHEME The Union Cabinet has approved the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), designed to provide government employees with an assured pension after retirement. The scheme is scheduled to come into effect on 1st April 2025, shifting central government employees from the current National Pension System (NPS) to the UPS. This new pension framework offers

PRADHAN MANTRI JAN-DHAN YOJANA (PMJDY) The Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) was launched on August 28, 2014, as a flagship financial inclusion initiative of the Government of India. Its primary objective is to provide affordable financial services like banking, credit, insurance, and pensions to all citizens, especially the underprivileged. Now, as it completes a decade,

NATURAL RUBBER SHORTAGE IN INDIA India is currently grappling with a significant shortage of natural rubber (NR), with domestic production falling short of demand by around 550,000 tonnes. Despite efforts to increase production, the gap between supply and consumption continues to widen, impacting various industries and contributing to higher import dependency. Causes of Natural Rubber

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND EUROPEAN COLONISATION The colonisation of Indigenous peoples by Europeans led to significant upheaval, loss of land, and cultural disruption across various continents. Indigenous Peoples Affected by European Colonisation Māori in New Zealand Colonisation Impact: European arrival in 1769, marked by Captain James Cook, transformed New Zealand from a Māori-dominated society to one

INDIA TO INTRODUCE REPAIRABILITY INDEX FOR ELECTRONICS TO COMBAT E-WASTE CRISIS The Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution recently hosted a National Workshop on the Right to Repair Framework for the Mobile and Electronic sectors. A significant highlight of the event was the proposed launch of

DE-HYPHENATING RICE AND WHEAT PRODUCTION Policymakers are now advocating for de-hyphenating the production and policy approaches towards rice and wheat. This is due to differences in their production patterns, consumption trends, and challenges posed by climate change. While India enjoys surplus rice production, wheat is facing a deficit due to increasing demand and fluctuating production

GOVERNMENT’S EFFORTS FOR LGBTQIA+ INCLUSIVITY The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE) has initiated a public consultation process to enhance inclusivity for the LGBTQIA+ community. This move follows key actions by the Government of India in response to directives from the Supreme Court (SC) in 2023 to protect queer rights and clarify their entitlements.