-TheWire.in States like Delhi (despite its unique multi-party governance architecture), West Bengal, Kerala (or even Goa and Sikkim) perform better compared to UP when it comes to being measured for securing access to basic social, economic services. In a veiled attack against BJP’s political opponents, accusing them of promising ‘freebies’ (revdi) in exchange for electoral votes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on SaturDay cautioned people, especially the youth, against this “revdi culture”, saying...

-Down to Earth Dry June led to late paddy transplantation; More than half of targetted acreage lie uncultivated     A dry June followed by a rainy July might delay Kharif crops in Odisha this monsoon. Farmers in several districts, mainly the western and coastal areas, have yet to start paddy transplantation due to erratic rainfall. Through July 23, paddy was sown in 1.27 million hectares out of 3.5 million hectares planned by...

-IndiaToDay.in According to sources in the health ministry, surveillance will be increased for people coming in from countries where monkeypox has become prevalent. The Uttar Pradesh government TuesDay ordered the administration to reserve beds for monkeypox in Covid-designated hospitals across the state. Although no monkeypox case has been reported in the state so far. The officials in all hospitals have been asked to adhere to the Centre's guidelines. The decision comes on the Day...

-Gaon Coonection Half of the southwest monsoon season is almost over, and several districts in the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are still waiting for good rainfall. Paddy and pulses farmers are staring at a wilting crop. They fear a drought year ahead. Panna, Madhya Pradesh  "July is about to end, but where is the rain?"  With a marked anxiety in his voice, Malkhan Singh Gaud, a 55-year-old farmer from Madhya...

-TheWire.in There is little doubt that the practice of handing out freebies undermines both democracy and development. But the problem doesn't lie just with the opposition. Constitutional authorities in India have recently spoken about key challenges the country is facing. The Chief Justice of India (CJI) has said that there is “diminishing” space for the opposition, that there was no longer any mutual respect between the Union government and the opposition, and that...