By A Representative  In a bold conservation move, India’s Project Cheetah sought to reintroduce African cheetahs into Kuno National Park (KNP) after the extinction of the native Asiatic cheetah in the 1950s. However, a recent study* published in Frontiers in Conservation Science raises significant concerns regarding the project's scientific, ecological, and ethical foundations.

By A Representative  A new study analyzing the revenue-expenditure nexus of Indian states has revealed that state government spending drives tax revenue growth, supporting the ‘spend-tax’ hypothesis. Conducted by researchers Himani Baxi and Dhyani Mehta from Pandit Deendayal Energy University, the study used a panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach -- statistical technique used to analyze the long-term relationship between variables -- to examine fiscal trends across 29 Indian states from 1990 to 2022.

By Dr. Manohar Chauhan*  Chhattisgarh is poised to benefit significantly from the Pradhan Mantri Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Uttkarsh Abhiyan (PM-DA JGUA) Mission, launched by the Prime Minister on October 2, 2024.  This mission aims to support 400 gram sabhas in the state in developing and implementing Community Forest Resource (CFR) Management Plans.

Counterview Desk  National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), condemning the inhumane treatment of Indian citizens deported by the United States of America, has said, both US and Indian governments are bound to uphold human and labour rights. Text of the NAPM statement: *** National Alliance of People’s Movements strongly condemns the inhuman and cruel treatment meted out to Indian Citizens by the new Trump-led US Government. In the history of deportation, this is yet another cruel and shameful low and marks the beginning of another era of racist politics. We equally condemn the meek inaction of the PM Modi-led Indian Govt thus far and demand that the Union Govt must take all necessary measures to safeguard the fundamental human rights and labour rights of its citizens, both domestically and overseas. We demand PM Modi, who is likely to visit the US on the 12th & 13th February, to raise this issue strongly with the US authorities and also ensure that the Govt of India regis...

By Chaitanya Pandey, Shashank Singh,  Sandeep Pandey  In 2017 the Electoral Bond Scheme was introduced. In the name of making funding of political parties transparent, the information of purchaser of electoral bond and the political party it was donated to was made opaque even to the Election Commission of India. ECI objected to the possible influencing of policy making by unchecked foreign funding. But it took Supreme Court eight years to strike down the EBS, holding it unconstitutional. Even then it did not seize the illegally accumulated funds. Bhartiya Janata Party which benefited the most from this scheme, as was expected, didn’t have to pay any price. On the contrary, it took advantage of this scheme in two Lok Sabha cycles and in various State Assembly elections.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak  The Nobel laureate economist Prof. Joseph E. Stiglitz continues to advocate for capitalism in a progressive form and its potentials for human wellbeing. Prof. Joseph E. Stiglitz in his New York Times article on “Progressive Capitalism Is Not an Oxymoron” (19th April 2019) defines progressive capitalism as “a new social contract between voters and elected officials, between workers and corporations, between rich and poor, and between those with jobs and those who are un- or underemployed”.  

By Harsh Thakor*  On January 26th of this year, we celebrated the birth centenary of Paul Newman, one of the finest actors of his era. His passing on September 26, 2008, after a prolonged battle with lung cancer, was met with an outpouring of tributes and remembrances from artists across the film industry, all sharing their thoughts and memories of the legendary actor.  

By A Representative  Menstrual health and intimate personal hygiene are still taboo in many parts of India. Around 71% of adolescent girls do not know about menstruation before their first period and 60% of women experience vaginal and urinary tract infections each year due to poor menstrual hygiene. Pee Safe Founder Vikas Bagaria joined media entrepreneur and author Shutapa Paul on the What India Needs! podcast recently to discuss the stigma surrounding menstrual care and evolving hygiene practices in India. The episode explored the challenges, societal shifts, and innovative solutions driving change across the intimate care space.

By Harasankar Adhikari  The lower court verdict regarding the brutal rape and murder of a trainee postgraduate lady doctor from R.G. Kar Hospital, Kolkata, unfortunately, indicates that the overall justice system is a significant procedural hazard and failure. It reveals how the domination of a political party is often linked to tampering with evidence, including threats to the judiciary. Denying or delaying justice has become a common practice.

By Harsh Thakor*  American professor Grover Furr is a historian known for his research on Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Union. He has examined Soviet archives and presented arguments that challenge widely accepted narratives about Stalin, particularly those promoted by Western media and anti-communist sources.

By Bharat Dogra  The United Nations warned on February 6 that two states in Sudan (South Kordofan and Blue Nile) were on the brink of catastrophe after a recent eruption of violence. UN resident and humanitarian coordinator C. Nkweta-Salami said, “I condemn the reported use of women and children as shields in Kadugil, the obstruction of humanitarian aid and the detention of civilians including children.”

By A Representative  Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), a human rights organization, has petitioned the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) alleging severe human rights violations and deteriorating living conditions in the border villages of Hakimpur and Daharkandha under Swarupnagar Police Station, North 24 Parganas district.  MASUM, along with the Programme Against Custodial Torture & Impunity (PACTI), claims that the Border Security Force (BSF) is responsible for the villagers' plight.

By A Representative  The Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) has demanded an immediate end to what it calls unlawful detentions, custodial torture, extrajudicial killings, and fake encounters in Jammu and Kashmir. The appeal follows a series of recent incidents that have raised concerns over human rights violations in the region.

By N.S. Venkataraman* When 104 illegal immigrants were deported back to India by the Trump administration, with the men shackled hand and foot, millions of Indians were deeply upset. Many felt that such treatment of illegal immigrants was unwarranted and reflected the administration’s insensitivity, with some even calling it cruel. In India, where citizens enjoy significant personal freedom, the outrage among Indians is hardly surprising.  

By Ram Puniyani  Eric Hobsbawm famously stated that history is as important to sectarian nationalism as poppy is to an opium addict.  The right wing is surging with great speed, and its ideologues are keeping pace, constructing a history that suits their political agenda of exclusion and glorification of their past. 

By A Representative  The NREGA Sangharsh Morcha (NSM) has strongly criticized the Union Budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year, alleging it betrays Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) workers and demonstrates the government's continued neglect of the rural workforce. The budget allocation for MGNREGA remains at ₹86,000 crores, which, after adjusting for inflation, represents an approximate ₹4,000 crore decrease compared to the previous year.  The allocation as a percentage of GDP has also fallen to a mere 0.24%, down from 0.26% in the last fiscal year.  The budget also fails to account for routine wage indexation. The NSM argues this inadequate funding will lead to several critical issues: massive delays in wage payments, further straining the financial stability of millions of rural workers; suppression of work demand, denying individuals their legal right to employment; and a decline in the creation of quality assets, weakening rural infrastruct...

Counterview Desk Shankar Sharma, Power & Climate Policy Analyst, in a representation to Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister, with copy to  Prime Minister Narendra Modi,  Prime MInister, regrets that while nuclear energy stocks gain as FM announces 100 GW nuclear energy target, the move is "part of irrational energy policy".  Excerpts: *** This has reference to a PIB release of 2nd Feb. 2025, indicating the intention of the Union Government to open the Nuclear Power sector for private participation, and with a goal of increasing the nuclear power capacity from the present level of 8.1 GM to 100 GW of  by 2047.  Quoting you and the PM, the PIB notification has stated that nuclear energy is essential for the country's energy transition efforts, and that opening the Nuclear Power sector for private participation will be historic.  The apparent success of  DAE in persuading the finance ministry and the PMO to believe in its 'pie in the sky' goal ...

By Shankar Sharma*  The recent anxieties surrounding the proposed Chutka nuclear power plant, as highlighted in a GroundReport article , are unfortunately not an isolated incident.  Across India, communities face similar displacement fears and livelihood threats due to large-scale projects, particularly within the power sector.  While media attention to these stories is vital, it's clear that simply documenting these struggles isn't enough to prevent them.  A more strategic approach is needed to challenge the current trajectory of energy development. The Chutka situation underscores a larger trend.  Despite numerous reports of the devastating impacts of such projects over the past two decades, the planning and implementation of these initiatives continue unabated.  This necessitates a shift in strategy, moving beyond simply raising awareness to actively advocating for alternatives.  Challenging the need for these projects, analyzing the long-term costs...

By Prem Singh  While outrightly opposing the hard-line Hindutva of the RSS/BJP, scholars from the secular camp refer to the soft Hindutva of secular parties, as if using soft Hindutva to gain political power is a constitutionally secular practice. Without hesitation, they place their bets on soft Hindutva political parties and leaders, believing that these can prevent the hard-line Hindutva RSS/BJP from winning elections. It seems not to matter even if the party or leader in question is part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

By Vijay Prashad  The fragility of U.S. power was clear when a small Chinese startup released the DeepSeek machine learning program. The U.S. stock market Nasdaq shuddered , with technology stocks collapsing. This collapse is not a minor matter for the U.S. economy. During the post-COVID-19 inflation (2021), foreign investors began to slow down their purchase of U.S. debt. Then, after the U.S. seized $600 billion in Russia’s foreign exchange assets (2022), many central banks moved their own holdings away from the long-arm jurisdiction of the United States. U.S. Treasury bills languished.

By A Representative  Four student activists associated with the Bhagat Singh Chhatra Ekta Manch (BSCEM) were allegedly beaten after being illegally detained by Delhi Police and intelligence agencies, according to a press statement released by the Campaign Against State Repression (CASR).

By A Representative  A significant collection of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's writings and speeches has found a new home at Indiana University's Herman B Wells Library.  Professor Kevin Brown, a leading expert on "Law and Caste," donated the 20-volume set on behalf of the Ambedkar Association of North America (AANA) on January 31st, 2025.  The donation was supported by university faculty members Kenneth Dau Schmidt, Luis Fuentes Rohwer, and Pedro Machado.

- રમેશ સવાણી   સમાજ વિજ્ઞાની  અચ્યુત યાજ્ઞિકની સ્મૃતિમાં પત્રકાર/ લેખક રાજદીપ સરદેસાઈએ 2 ફેબ્રુઆરી 2025ના રોજ સાંજે અમદાવાદ મેનેજમેન્ટ એસોસિએશન હોલમાં ‘ભારતમાં પ્રચાર માધ્યમ, રાજકારણ અને લોકતંત્ર’ પર વ્યાખ્યાન આપેલ. એડવોકેટ આનંદ આજ્ઞિક દ્વારા આ આયોજન થયું હતું.  રાજદીપ સરદેસાઈએ કહ્યું : “અમદાવાદમાં મારો જન્મ. અમદાવાદ આવું એટલે ઘેર આવ્યો તેવું લાગે. મારા ગ્રાન્ટફાધર પંત IGP હતા. તેઓ મુંબઈમાં આસિસ્ટન્ટ પોલીસ કમિશનર હતા ત્યારે એક રેસ્ટોરન્ટમાં દિલીપકુમાર અને રાજ કપૂરને દારુ પીતા પકડ્યા હતા. દિલીપ કુમારે મુખ્યમંત્રી મોરારજી દેસાઈને ફોન કર્યો. મોરારજીભાઈએ કહ્યું કે ‘સોરી, પંતે પકડ્યા કર્યા હોય તો તમારે એરેસ્ટ થવું પડે !’ એ પછી જામીન પર છૂટ્યા.” “મેં ‘2024 : The Election That Surprised India’ પુસ્તક લખ્યું છે. તેમાં છેલ્લુ ચેપ્ટર મીડિયા વિશે છે. લોકશાહી મજબૂત ન થાય જો મીડિયા મજબૂત ન હોય. નબળા મીડિયા એટલે નબળી લોકશાહી. હું થોડાં ઉદાહરણ આપીશ. NDTVના પ્રણવ રોય અને રાધિકા રોયને ED/ IT / CBI તરફથી નોટિસ મળતી રહી. 7 વરસ સુધી આ ચાલ્યું. 7 વરસના અંતે 2023માં ગૌતમ અદાણીએ NDTV ખરીદી લીધુ...

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat   Why is there no outrage from the so-called #Deshbhakt media over the inhumane and insulting deportation of Indians by the Trump Administration? Countries like #Colombia, #Venezuela, and #Mexico have boldly raised the issue and arranged civilian planes to bring their citizens back honorably.

By A Representative  The People's Commission on Public Sector and Public Services (PCPSPS) has expressed strong concern and anguish over the recent deportation of Indian immigrants from the United States, particularly the arrival of the first batch of 203 individuals, including women and children, who were reportedly shackled.  The PCPSPS also highlighted the urgent need for increased employment opportunities within India.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak  American imperialism has historically employed both free trade and protectionism, depending on its own needs after the Second World War. American foreign policy is also strictly embedded with American trade policy. It is not a departure from American orthodoxy, but rather a continuation in a different form. Therefore, it is no surprise that President Donald Trump took a strong stance against free trade, implementing a wide range of protectionist tariff measures to safeguard the interests of American corporations, boost the domestic economy, and reduce the U.S. trade deficit. 

By A Representative  On February 4, 2025, four student activists from Bhagat Singh Chhatra Ekta Manch (BSCEM) were detained by the Delhi Police while engaging in wall paintings at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). The detained students—Gaurav, Gauraang, Kiran, and Rahul—were taken to Vasant Kunj Police Station, where they were held for over 12 hours. The incident has raised concerns regarding freedom of expression on university campuses and the role of law enforcement in handling student activism.

By Vikas Meshram*  Biodiversity and environmental conservation have become some of the most pressing global concerns today. The diversity of life on Earth, the interconnections between species, and the balance of natural ecosystems are crucial for human survival. However, increasing environmental interventions are disrupting this balance. Deforestation, pollution, climate change, and reckless consumption are leading to biodiversity loss and environmental degradation. Understanding the causes of these problems, recognizing their consequences, and finding possible solutions is critical.

By A Representative  A recent fact-finding report by Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) has shed light on the dire conditions faced by residents of Teroghariya and Doghariya, two Indian villages near the Indo-Bangladesh border in West Bengal. The report, submitted to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), highlights severe human rights violations, socio-economic hardships, and systemic neglect caused by the mispositioning of the Border Security Force (BSF) naka checking post.

By Bharat Dogra  In recent times when very serious concern was expressed regarding the increase in devastating health problems led by oral cancer due to the escalating consumption of smokeless tobacco and there were also court cases to check this followed by court directives to protect public health, some steps were initiated by the government which can be seen in prominent warning signs on pouches. However the manufactures, some of whom are billionaires, responded very shrewdly by separating the other ingredients called pan masala from tobacco in two pouches but in practice most vendors continue to sell the two pouches together. 

By Harsh Thakor  On January 27, 1945, the Auschwitz concentration and extermination camp (then in occupied Poland) was liberated by the Soviet Red Army, marking the 80th anniversary of this historic event. In January 1945, the Red Army liberated Auschwitz, exposing the full extent of Nazi crimes and their collaborators, who had exterminated millions of Jews, Russians, Roma and Sinti people, and other persecuted groups. It is an undeniable historical fact that Soviet soldiers were the ones who put an end to this genocide. The anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation symbolizes the victory of anti-fascist, democratic, and revolutionary forces over German fascism.

Counterview Desk  Saluting the fight for justice led by Zakia Jafri (1939-2025) against the 2002 genocide in Gujarat, People’s Union for Civil Liberties says, it will continue to stand in solidarity with the struggles of other victims. PUCL statement: ***  PUCL expresses its sorrow and anguish at the passing away of Zakia Jafri at the age of 86 on 1st February at Ahmedabad.  Zakia Jafri was a brave fighter for justice  for the victims of the Gujarat carnage of 2002 , against overwhelming odds. It is a sad commentary of the India of today that she died without seeing the justice for which she had faught for so valiantly.  When the Gujarat carnage happened from late February, 2002 onwards, Zakia was 63 years old, already a senior citizen. She was staying at the Gulbarg Society with her husband, ex MP Ehsan Jafri. On 28th February, 2002 a large mob attacked the housing society and she was present in the house when the attack took place. Despite police presence and ...

- राज कुमार सिन्हा*  वित्तीय वर्ष 2025-26 में बजट अनुमान 50,65,345 करोड़ रुपए का है, जिसमें केन्द्रीय पर्यावरण, वन एवं जलवायु परिवर्तन मंत्रालय को 3412.82 करोड़ रुपए का आबंटन किया गया है। यह 2024-25 के प्रावधान 3330.37 करोड़ रुपए से थोड़ा अधिक है। इस बजट में केन्द्रीय योजना/परियोजनाओं के लिए 1060.56 करोड़ रुपए, पर्यावरण वानिकी और वन्यजीव के लिए 720 करोड़ रुपए, हरित भारत राष्ट्रीय मिशन के लिए 220 करोड़ रुपए, प्राकृतिक संसाधन और पारिस्थितिकी तंत्र संरक्षण के लिए 50 करोड़ रुपए, जलीय पारिस्थितिकी तंत्र संरक्षण के लिए 35 करोड़ रुपए तथा प्रोजेक्ट टाइगर और प्रोजेक्ट एलिफेंट के लिए 290 करोड़ रुपए का प्रावधान किया गया है। यह बजट देश में बिगड़ते पर्यावरणीय हालातों को देखते हुए बेहद कम है। विश्व के 10 सबसे प्रदूषित शहरों में से 9 भारत में स्थित हैं, और सबसे अधिक प्रदूषित 10 देशों में भारत तीसरे स्थान पर है। केन्द्रीय प्रदूषण नियंत्रण मंडल के अनुसार, अध्ययन की गई 521 नदियों में से 351 प्रदूषित पाई गई हैं। जलवायु परिवर्तन के कारण भारत में तापमान वृद्धि, बारिश के पैटर्न में बदलाव, सूखे की घटनाओं...

By Dr. Vikas Singh   The growing significance of agriculture in India’s economy is becoming increasingly evident, with its share in employment rising from 42% in 2018 to 46% in 2024. This shift underscores the economy's increasing reliance on agriculture, even as it continues to evolve. A NABARD study further confirms this trend, revealing that the proportion of rural agricultural households increased from 48% in 2016–17 to 56.7% in 2021–22.

By A Representative  In a landmark move, the Economic Survey 2024-25 has explicitly highlighted the urgent need to regulate ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in India, citing their detrimental impact on public health. The Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest (NAPi), a national think tank comprising independent experts on public health and nutrition, has lauded the survey’s recommendations, calling for immediate action to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) linked to UPF consumption.  

- પ્રો. હેમંતકુમાર શાહ   ૨૦૨૫-૨૬ના બજેટને પરિણામે દેશની આયાત પરની સરેરાશ જકાત ૧૧.૬૫ ટકાથી ઘટીને હવે ૧૦.૬૬ ટકા થશે. આનાથી આયાત સસ્તી થશે. આયાત સસ્તી થાય તો એ વધે. એનો અર્થ એ કે ભારતનું આયાત પરનું અવલંબન વધે. તો આત્મનિર્ભરતા કઈ રીતે વધે? 

By Harsh Thakor*   Late Jockey M. Jagdish epitomized sportsmanship like no other Indian jockey and dominated horse racing for a longer tenure than any rider in the history of the sport. His illustrious career spanned four decades, leaving an indelible mark on Indian horse racing. Jagdish’s entry marked a new dawn, symbolizing the evolution of Indian racing from a sport reserved for Maharajas to one embraced by the public. The golden era of Indian horse racing is inseparable from the name Jagdish, whose legacy continues to evoke nostalgia among racegoers, especially those who witnessed the sport before 1985. This year, we commemorate 40 years since Jagdish bid farewell to race riding.

By Harasankar Adhikari   The assertion that “women are not born, but made” underscores the social construction of gender, which is shaped by cultural practices within specific societies and historical contexts. Gender roles, traditionally divided into masculine and feminine, have been rooted in production and reproduction relations. Under patriarchal systems, women have historically been confined to the realm of reproduction, their bodies often reduced to sexual commodities. 

By Bharat Dogra*   The Supreme Court’s highly welcome directions on January 29 have raised hopes for the belated enactment of welfare laws for domestic workers.  

By A Representative  The All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO) has launched a statewide campaign demanding the timely disbursement of scholarships for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, and Other Backward Class students.  The organization alleges systemic issues with the scholarship process, causing significant hardship for students. AIDSO claims the Digital Gujarat website, the platform for scholarship applications, is plagued with technical glitches, often crashing and causing delays.  

By A Representative  The Constitutional Conduct Group (CCG), a collective of former civil servants, has expressed serious concerns over the Indian State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023 in an open letter to the Union Minister for Environment, Forests & Climate Change. The group has criticized the report's delayed release, flawed methodology, and misleading claims regarding the state of India's forests.

By Jerald D’souza  With the growth of India’s population, concerns about electoral fraud associated with ballot papers, also began to escalate. In 1989, the People’s Representation Act was amended to enable EVMs to prevent electoral fraud. In 1998, EVMs made their debut during legislative assembly elections and for the first time for general elections in 2004. However, criticisms against the EVMs and questions about their integrity have been raised by political parties, civil society and the general population. On 2 February 2024, there was a noteworthy demonstration of dissent where numerous individuals, including Ambedkarite advocates, legal professionals, and other members of civil society  convened at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar demanding the prohibition of EVMs. In 2024, the Supreme court had slapped down a petition to return to paper ballots on the basis that machines give “absolutely accurate results” unless human bias maligns them. The court stated that it was open to testi...