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Recent human fatalities due to wild animal attacks, deep inside forests, in forest-fringed human habitations, and even within villages, have highlighted growing human-wildlife conflict in Kerala, where nearly 29% of the land is forested. With a dry spell and an unusually hot summer expected, urgent measures are needed to prevent further escalation of this conflict, … Read more

Irony died a thousand deaths in the Munich Security Conference in Germany, that was held recently, and the United Nations General Assembly vote on Ukraine. A few days ago, in Saudi Arabia, the United States and Russia, led by their respective Foreign Ministers, had held bilateral discussions on the Ukraine war. The Ukrainians and Europeans … Read more

The number of Internet shutdowns in India was slightly lower in 2024 than in 2023, according to the Software Freedom Law Center (SLFC), India’s annual report. A separate report by the web rights advocacy, Access Now, shows that India continues to lead globally in the number of government-ordered Internet shutdowns. The Union government has maintained … Read more

The political environment The resurgence of right-wing populism is threatening the very basis of western liberalism. What explains citizens’ support for parties such as the AfD in Germany or leaders such as Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni? Is it simply a reaction against liberal values? Or are there more profound socio-economic causes at work? It … Read more

‘There is still a dearth of more nuanced AI-specific legislation to govern this evolving sphere’ | Photo Credit: Getty Images The allocation of ₹2,000 crore to the IndiaAI mission in the Union Budget 2025-26 demonstrates India’s commitment to developing its artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. But this also calls for more robust AI regulations. India has … Read more

The announcement by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, in December, of a target of establishing two lakh Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) within five years reflects the government’s commitment to reinvigorating India’s cooperative movement. The inauguration of 10,000 newly established Multipurpose Primary Agricultural Credit Societies alongside reforms in bylaws and structural frameworks, signifies … Read more

As India strives toward achieving a $1 trillion digital economy by 2028, digital citizenship has become indispensable for accessing e-governance services and basic entitlements. At this critical juncture, where India emphasises the need for “digital inclusion”, it is imperative to evaluate the effectiveness of the government’s strategies vis-à-vis the scale of digital reach, adoption, and … Read more

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) government is basking on the perceived success of the Invest Kerala Global Summit (IKGS), which was held in Kochi last week to open the State to trade and investment. The LDF could claim that it enlisted the national leadership of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and of the Bharatiya … Read more

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has been in the news again, with the States pushing back on its directive on the procedure for appointment of vice chancellors. It is unusual for chief ministers to concern themselves so closely with minutiae of this kind, but those of Kerala and Tamil Nadu have campaigned against it, terming … Read more

‘The rules make it nearly impossible for couples, particularly interfaith ones, to live without oversight’ | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto On January 27, 2025, Uttarakhand became the first Indian State to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), placing private relationships under state surveillance. The official claim is that it would restore gender justice, create “uniformity”, … Read more