-Scroll.in Floods, coronavirus, unemployment, hunger. Snapshots from Muzaffarpur district of an election where everyone speaks of change but no one is sure what it means. For six months, there was no work. Only hunger and debt. When work finally came, it proved deadly. “His leg swelled up, sir,” said a neighbour. “Itna hi dukh tha. That was all to his suffering.” Gorkha Manjhi died on October 14, three days after he came back from...

-Livemint.com * Barring some major cities, the fear of hefty traffic fines last year was short-lived, new data on road accidents suggests Just over a year ago, dramatic traffic penalties under the amended Motor Vehicles Act made headlines across the country. The centre claimed the fines would curb road accidents. But latest government data show the reality was mixed and the fear of the law may have fizzled out quite soon. A total...

-Vikalp.ind.in While the country is grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic and the economy is in doldrums, the central government, instead of taking measures to provide immediate relief to the distressed population, has used the opportunity to introduce sweeping changes in the regulatory framework of the agricultural marketing system of the country. On June 3, 2020, the Cabinet approved three ordinances. These ordinances were converted into Acts after they were passed, under...

-The Indian Express Delhi riots: One of the videos purportedly shows groups of policemen carrying arms and batons throwing portions of bricks alongside alleged rioters. The faces of the policemen as well as the rioters are visible. New Delhi: On October 5, the Delhi Government’s Home Department flagged a set of seven videoclips to the Delhi Police that include two of policemen purportedly throwing bricks alongside rioters and egging them on during...

-Livemint.com Wide disparities in agri-marketing regulations have resulted in fragmented markets across states. The new farm bills aim to change this but the jury is still out on whether it will have the intended impact. On 26 September, government procurement of food crops commenced across the country, five days in advance, following the enactment of three contentious farm bills. Under the new policy regime, farmers need not sell their produce through designated...