-Newsclick.in The statistics are dubious because there is a substantial increase in GDP under the head “discrepancies”, which is synonymous with errors and omissions. It is ironic that government spokespersons should exhibit so much euphoria over the second quarter (July-September) gross domestic product (GDP) estimate, which shows a drop “only” of 7.5% compared with the second quarter 2019-20. The expectation had been that the drop would be larger, about 8 to 9%;...

-Livemint.com The economy is recuperating faster than anticipated, the RBI chief said The Reserve Bank expects GDP to contract 7.5% this fiscal, said central bank chief Shaktikanta Das while announcing monetary policy committee decision to keep interest rate unchanged. This is an upgrade from the central bank's earlier forecast of 9.5% contraction in its October review. The economy is recuperating faster than anticipated, the RBI chief said, adding that the recovery in...

-SabrangIndia.in Days after the UP’s Unlawful Religious Conversion Prohibition Ordinance is passed, right-wing elements begin using the law to prevent peaceful weddings. Lucknow police stopped an interfaith wedding of a Muslim man and Hindu woman on December 2, 2020 claiming the couple require a clearance from the District Magistrate under the Uttar Pradesh Unlawful Religious Conversion Prohibition Ordinance (2020.) Citing the ordinance passed a week ago by Governor Anandiben Patel to stop unlawful...

-Hindustan Times For the AIKS, the experience of 2014 movement against the land bill and the 2018 long march in Maharashtra came handy this time The CPIM in India had long mastered the art of issue-based support. It’s farmer arm, All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), increasingly widened the scope of such pacts to stage big-ticket protests such as the ongoing farmers’ agitation in the National Capital Region. For the AIKS, a key participant...

-TheIndiaForum.in The protests in Punjab are happening at a time when the agrarian economy is under stress. With increasing uncertainty, previously antagonistic groups across classes, castes & gender are coming closer, building a broader base for the agitation & beyond. Punjab’s farmers have been unrelenting in their opposition to the new farm laws passed in September. Their sustained and creative opposition continues to make headlines. The central government too remains adamant and...