-The Telegraph Citizens’ participation in policy-making is an important factor in assessing the quality of democracy Within five days of the announcement of Agnipath, the scheme had been amended 10 times, raising the larger question concerning consultation in policy-making. The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government has taken a number of policy decisions without public consultation — from demonetisation, which saw 60 changes in 43 days, to GST, which has been...

-Hindustan Times As the public sector has contracted, there has been no other good employer that has emerged to take its place despite the economic expansion of manufacturing and services sectors. Despite several decades of rapid growth of the private sector in India, the allure of a public sector job, historically associated with security, steady pay, and multiple benefits, continues to remain strong for most Indians. The protests following the announcement of...

-The Telegraph The first step would be 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' conferences from August 7 to 14, said Yogendra Yadav, the president of Morcha constituent Swaraj India New Delhi: The Samyukta Kisan Morcha, the umbrella organisation that spearheaded the movement against the Narendra Modi government’s controversial farm laws, and the United Front of Ex-Servicemen will jointly organise a nationwide campaign against the Centre’s Agnipath armed forces recruitment scheme from August 7 to...

-PTI/ Business Standard Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra, RPG Enterprises Chairman Harsh Goenka and Biocon Ltd Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw came out in support of Agnipath, saying it has potential for employment Industry leaders, including Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra, RPG Enterprises Chairman Harsh Goenka and Biocon Ltd Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw on Monday came out in support of the Agnipath scheme, saying it has large potential for employment of youth in the corporate...

-The Hindu More than half the defence budget is allocated for pensions every year while less than 5% is allocated for research and development One key reason for the Agnipath scheme, which aims to recruit defence personnel in short-term contracts, could be to reduce increasing pension payments in the Army, Navy, and Air Force. More than half the defence budget is allocated for pensions every year while less than 5% is allocated...