-The Hindu BJP government’s “alarming” policies draw comparisons with Chinese repression India has become one of the world’s least free democracies, according to a global survey, which warned that “the Indian government’s alarming departures from democratic norms under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) could blur the values-based distinction between Beijing and New Delhi.” The Freedom in the World 2020 report ranks India at the 83rd position, along with Timor-Leste and...

-Newsclick.in An opaque policy, inefficiency and a flawed target plague this scheme. Over the past twelve months, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has been one of the most-cornered ministers of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, owing largely to her weak and often ambiguous comments on the state of the Indian economy. For her and her supporters, this year’s Union budget was meant to both rejuvenate and rekindle investor’s hopes and sentiments. The...

-The Telegraph 'Finance secretary Rajiv Kumar was eventually not chosen, probably because of stiff opposition' A member of the search committee for the chief vigilance commissioner (CVC) was also an applicant and he was shortlisted, sources have told The Telegraph. The applicant was eventually not chosen, probably because of stiff opposition, the sources added. The search committee constituted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi included cabinet secretary Rajeev Gauba, finance secretary Rajiv Kumar and secretary...

-The Indian Express Widespread protests, largely led by women, against the amended law which grants citizenship to non-Muslim minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh have cropped up in the last two months. Amidst the ongoing nationwide protest against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday reiterated that his government stands by the decision “despite all pressure”. “For years, India had been waiting for decisions like repealing Article 370 and...

-Down to Earth India, like the rest of the world, is intensely debating population explosion. But while countries are struggling to keep their numbers at replacement level, India is on the right path towards stabilising population sooner than expected. So what's the discussion all about? Be it a political meeting, a hot TV debate or just a healthy tea-time chat, the topic would most often veer around population. That was about...