-ICF Team/ Newsclick.in At the moment, the looming NPR process betokens a loss of liberty to Indians whether through their inclusion as citizens or their exclusion as illegal immigrants. Dismissing Amit Shah’s statement that the process for the registration of citizens is yet to be worked out, Prof Faizan Mustafa warns that the data collected for the National Population Register (NPR) under Census 2020 will later be used for the National...

-The Hindu Border districts most affected; authorities caught napping despite FAO warning. Ahmedabad: Sharing borders with neighbouring Pakistan, Gujarat is under attack from hoppers — new-born locusts — that have flown in across the international border. As the swarms mature, they have ravaged farms in North Gujarat, devastating farmers in the three border districts Banaskantha, Patan and Kutch. The locusts, known as tiddis locally, have wreaked havoc on standing crops of castor, cumin,...

-Firstpost.com * Even in terms of the nationwide NRC that the BJP is proposing, it is too premature to determine how the CAA will be extended to religious groups left out of the NRC * Would there be separate authority set up such as the Foreigners Tribunal? Who would have the last say in declaring individuals as illegal foreigners? * What would be the proof required to prove citizenship? What documents would an...

-Down to Earth KV Prabhu says controversial changes noticed recently on his organisation’s website could have Been made well before his tenure started The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPV&FR) will work to protect farmers’ rights over plant varieties, its chairperson has reiterated to Down To Earth (DTE) after a controversy erupted recently over changes in its booklet. On December 10, 2019, farmer organisations and activists had sent a letter...

-Newsclick.in The Centre had promised to release funds in a week’s time about two weeks back. At a time when the crisis-ridden economy has pushed millions against the wall, with many not being able to make ends meet, the employment guarantee scheme (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005) is adding to the distress of the poor—instead mitigating it. In Rajasthan, funds that are yet to be released for the payment of...