The article discusses India's abstention from voting on International Labour Conference's Convention No. 193, 'Decent Work in the Platform Economy,' which aims to provide a floor of rights, including minimum pay, occupational safety, and social security, to platform workers globally. While many nations adopted it, India's government abstained, despite its employer and worker delegates voting in favour. The article highlights that India's abstention means denying its growing gig workforce (projected to reach 2.35 crore by 2029-30) these protections, including against opaque algorithmic management. It critiques India's domestic Code on Social Security, 2020, for defining gig workers but failing to operationalize concrete benefits, contrasting it with proactive state-level legislations. The author argues that India's stance is consistent with its history of endorsing principles but withholding obligations on certain ILO conventions, ultimately choosing platform interests over worker rights.
The article highlights the paradox of acute water scarcity in Meghalaya's Sohra (Cherrapunji) and Mawsynram, despite these regions receiving some of the world's highest rainfall. This crisis is attributed to changing rainfall patterns (shorter, sharper bursts, overall decline linked to rising sea-surface temperatures and deforestation), unique geology (limestone plateau leading to rapid drainage), and critically, a severe lack of water management infrastructure and governance failures. The State has historically not invested in water harvesting, storage, and distribution, exacerbated by issues like catchment degradation from quarrying and poor implementation of schemes like the Jal Jeevan Mission. The crisis disproportionately affects women and children and is seen as an 'existential crisis' demanding urgent policy and political follow-through.
The article critiques the Indian political leadership's crisis management approach to the education sector, specifically regarding the National Testing Agency (NTA) and systemic examination failures. It highlights the stalled implementation of the K. Radhakrishnan Committee's recommendations for a statutory, UPSC-like NTA and a robust testing infrastructure. The author argues that the government treats a fundamental education crisis as a technical problem, failing to engage with academia or address core issues of institutional autonomy and quality, thereby perpetuating a dysfunctional architecture.
The article discusses the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, which has been listed for consideration in the monsoon session of Parliament. Despite previous widespread protests from civil society organizations and religious groups, the government remains committed to passing the Bill. The article highlights the long-standing controversial nature of foreign contributions in India, which are typically allowed for humanitarian relief, healthcare, education, and environmental protection.
The article critically examines the functioning of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), highlighting its significant cultural influence and alleged political capture. It argues that the CBFC's decisions, often amounting to de facto bans or extensive cuts, stifle artistic freedom and promote self-censorship among filmmakers, particularly concerning politically inconvenient themes. The article points out the CBFC's non-compliance with the Cinematograph Act, 1952, such as not publishing certificates in the government Gazette and making details of cuts inaccessible. It advocates for curtailing the CBFC's role and compelling it to adhere to its founding statute and the law.
India is undergoing military theatre-isation, a reform to integrate 17 single-service commands into three unified theatre commands, following models in the US, UK, and China. While crucial for modern conflict, this transition poses short-term risks to operational readiness due to knowledge gaps for commanders, challenges in integrating diverse service cultures, and potential for slower decision-making. The article emphasizes the need for India to develop a comprehensive military readiness framework, including clear metrics, standards (unit-level, force, sustainability), and oversight mechanisms (like a Defence Readiness Council), along with a hedging strategy to mitigate risks during the multi-year transition, especially given ongoing border pressures with China and Pakistan.
The article critically analyzes India's National Coal Gasification Mission, which aims to convert 100 million tonnes of coal into methanol, ammonia, and fertilizers by 2030, backed by a ₹37,500-crore incentive scheme. While supporting the objective of energy security, it argues that the current strategy's reliance on lignite and high-ash Indian coal faces significant technical (high moisture, ash fusion temperature, sulphur, feedstock variability, unproven technology), economic (high capex, subsidies), and environmental (high carbon intensity without CCUS, lack of CCUS infrastructure) constraints. The author advocates for agricultural biomass as a more viable feedstock for gasification, highlighting its lower ash, negligible sulphur, established technology, lower lifecycle emissions, potential for distributed deployment, rural income generation, and ability to address stubble burning. The article suggests prioritizing biomass gasification at commercial scale while continuing pilot efforts for lignite.
