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Chapter 13 in the Economic Survey of India, which purports to offer an Indian lens to the problem of climate change, is a joke in bad taste, and an insult to millions of Indian dealing with climate induced disasters. https://thewire.in/environment/man-nature-are-indestructible-entities-gems-from-chapter-on-climate-change-in-economic-survey in its latest Economic Survey of India, the chapter dedicated to responding to climate change says, “Man, and Nature (gross forms of Purush and Prakriti in the Samkhya Tradition) are indestructible entities that interact to provide meaning to consciousness in the form of reality as we know it. Hence, any strategy that aims to alter things far beyond the comprehension or control of man, such as ensuring that the planet’s temperature doesn’t cross 2 degrees Celsius, must travel the journey inwards and not outwards.” What, you may ask, does this mean? How will this help drowning children, or make sure our infrastructure is built to sustain increasing climate-related disasters? That, apparently, is the wrong question because the unknown author of this chapter is far more concerned about why people watch things on mobile phones rather than together. by Omair Ahmad 25/07/2024

Let us be clear about one thing, this wasn’t just a wedding, it was a powerful political statement. It appears to me that Mukesh Ambani was making two statements here through the glitz, hype and greenbacks. One, that no one should be in any doubt about his political clout and preeminence. Incidentally, this also vindicates what Rahul Gandhi has been saying all along about who the real powers behind the throne are. And Mr. Ambani’s confidence is certainly justified. Barring the South and the Left, every politician of any note, including those from the INDIA block and even the Congress itself, were in obsequious attendance, as were the Shankarcharyas who had boycotted the Ram temple inauguration, an indication that the Ambani empire holds sway over both the temporal and the spiritual. The prime minister was there too, making contrite amends for accusing his host of sending tempo loads of black money to the Congress during Lok Sabha elections. https://thewire.in/society/the-fine-print-of-the-ambani-wedding The second statement by Asia’s richest man is that he doesn’t give a tinker’s curse for public opinion or his fellow Indians, the other 99%, who have funded his riches, consumed his products and have made him what he is. He had demonstrated as much earlier, when he built his 27-storey mansion. at a cost of Rs 3000 crores, overlooking the slums of these very Indians. And why should he bother, anyway? He controls most of the media, with anchors and editors obligingly read from the script prepared by him. Many years ago, when I was a probationer on district training in Mandi, I used to go to the district club almost every evening for a drink or a game of bridge. My deputy commissioner, the late C.D. Parsheera, was the president of the club but never visited it. One day I asked him the reason for this. I still remember his words, which have guided me throughout my career: “Avay, our job demands that we say no more often than we say yes. And remember this: it’s very difficult to say ‘no’ to a person with whom you have had a drink the previous evening.” Do you now see the fine print of this wedding? by Avay Shukla 21/07/2024

Karnataka is not the first state to do so, Haryana, Jharkhand, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and other states have time and again attempted to enact laws and policies that mandate to provide quota for the locals. Though many of these laws were scrapped by the courts of law citing ‘unconstitutionality,’ it begs the question: why do the government and political discourses continue to revolve around this debate, and what does it mean for the welfare of the people and the country? https://thewire.in/labour/locals-vs-outsiders-the-bitter-truth-behind-karnatakas-jobs-reservation-policy The rise of the private sector post-liberalisation of the Indian economy in the 1990s has also emerged as one of the major employment providers. Many scholars argued that with the rise of modernisation, urbanisation and privatisation, caste will lose its essence and relevance. However, the work of Sukhadeo Thorat and Katherine Blocked by Caste scientifically proves that caste reshapes itself to survive and thrive in the private sector and urban areas. An outsider or migrant is often depicted as an enemy who steals jobs and takes away opportunities, claiming a significant share of the pie. Humans, driven by primal instincts to protect their territory and resources, often struggle to trust and accept strangers in their midst Karnataka has always attracted migrants from the adjacent states of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Apart from these states, there is an influx of people from northern, eastern and northeastern states. What can be done Instead, Karnataka can address its multiple socio-economic challenges, which require immediate attention, by providing sustainable and comprehensive solutions. by Boddu Srujana, Murali DA and Sipoy Sarveswar 25/07/2024