By A Representative   The All India Feminist Alliance (ALIFA) – a collective under the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) – has strongly condemned the brutal assault on journalist Sneha Barwe and called for the immediate arrest of the prime accused. In a statement issued on July 18, 2025, the alliance expressed solidarity with Ms. Barwe and demanded a time-bound judicial or magisterial inquiry into the incident, while holding the state accountable for the increasing attacks on grassroots journalists across India.

By A Representative   The Thirty-Fifth General Synod of the United Church of Christ (UCC), meeting in Kansas City, USA, has passed a resolution expressing concern over reports of rising violence and discrimination against religious minorities in India. The resolution , titled “A Response to Violence Against Religious Minorities in India,” reflects the denomination’s stated commitment to global human rights and religious freedom.

By Hemantkumar Shah*  The World Bank’s recent claim that poverty has drastically reduced in India should ordinarily be cause for celebration. However, a closer look at the statistics and methodology behind this claim reveals a different, more disturbing picture. According to the Bank, if a person’s daily income was less than $3.00 or $4.20 in 2021 (measured in purchasing power parity or PPP terms), they would be considered poor. But this calculation method, based on an outdated exchange model and an abstract measure of purchasing capacity, severely misrepresents lived realities on the ground.

By A Representative   “The right to health cannot be dislocated from gender equality and human rights,” said Shobha Shukla, speaking as the Lead Discussant for SDG-3 (health and well-being) at the ongoing United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF 2025) in New York. Representing the Asia Pacific Regional Civil Society Engagement Mechanism, she was the only Indian on the SDG-3 panel.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak  The prevailing narratives surrounding capitalism's supposed invincibility persistently undermine all alternative systems, employing diverse tools and strategies of governance that not only domesticate daily life but also suppress the critical consciousness essential for societal transformation. Capitalism's ideological, cultural, social, political, and economic apparatuses promote ideas, policies, processes, and institutions designed to stifle both individual and collective awareness. It dismantles communitarian society in the name of individual freedom and individualizes consumption in the pursuit of personal happiness, utility, and satisfaction. These processes accelerate various forms of individual alienation, an intrinsic feature of the capitalist system. The separation of consumers from producers, justified by mythical free-market efficiency, is part of this commodification, reinforcing alienating structures that domesticate both.

By A Representative   A prominent power and climate policy analyst, Shankar Sharma, has raised significant concerns regarding India's current reliance on pumped storage plants (PSPs) for energy transition, advocating strongly for the adoption of battery energy storage systems (BESS) instead. In a detailed communication addressed to top government officials and ministers, including the Chairman CUM Managing Director of Grid-India, the Chairman of the Central Electricity Authority, and the Secretaries of Power, MNRE, and MoEF&CC, Sharma highlighted the "unacceptable ecological costs" associated with PSPs and called for a strategic re-evaluation of India's energy storage policy.

By A Representative   Civil rights activist and Magsaysay awardee Sandeep Pandey has strongly urged the Uttar Pradesh government to implement the 2015 judgment of Justice Sudhir Agarwal, which mandates that children of all government-salaried employees and beneficiaries of public funds must compulsorily study in government schools. Pandey argued that if this order is enforced, the quality of government schools would improve substantially, and public confidence in the system would be restored.

By A Representative   A group of concerned Indian citizens, including medical professionals and activists, has sent an urgent appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to reject proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) before the ratification deadline of July 19, 2025. 

By A Representative   Over 150 concerned citizens, academics, former bureaucrats, lawyers, journalists, and activists have strongly opposed the move to link Aadhaar with voter IDs, calling it a grave threat to electoral integrity, democratic participation, and fundamental rights. In a statement endorsed by groups including Rethink Aadhaar, Article 21 Trust, Jan Hastakshep, and individuals like economists Jayati Ghosh, Reetika Khera, and former chief secretary Sharad Behar, the signatories denounced what they describe as the government's coercive push to make Aadhaar submission effectively mandatory for voters.

By Sandeep Pandey*  In Lucknow, we saw Akhilesh Yadav scaling the fence of the Jayaprakash Narayan International Centre—ironically built by his own government—to pay respect to the iconic Socialist leader on his birthday in 2023. The Yogi Adityanath government had denied him permission, citing security concerns. What could be the security concern in visiting a memorial is inexplicable.

By Raj Kumar Sinha*  The Supreme Court of India has delivered a landmark judgment declaring that denying tribal women inheritance rights solely based on gender is unconstitutional. The court affirmed their equal right to ancestral property, stating that refusing a share in such property to a tribal woman or her legal heirs on the basis of sex is both unjust and unconstitutional.

By A Representative  A prominent human rights group has appealed to both the Indian and Bangladeshi governments for the immediate release of 34 Indian fishermen who were detained by Bangladeshi authorities on July 15. The fishermen were taken into custody by the Bangladesh Navy and Mongla Police after their trawlers allegedly strayed into Bangladeshi waters.

By Harsh Thakor*  Naseeruddin Shah has epitomised versatility, inventiveness and experimentation in a way that no other Bollywood actor of his era has. As we celebrate his 75th birthday on July 20, it is worth reflecting on the contributions of a man who transformed the very grammar of acting in Hindi cinema. Lacking the conventional good looks of a mainstream hero, Shah nevertheless radiated a magnetic energy on screen, often overshadowing the most dominant of superstars. Few actors in Bollywood's history have paid as much justice to the characters they portrayed. His ability to mould himself into the skin of any role set new standards for performance. With remarkable introspection and emotional depth, Shah brought to cinema a spirit of constant reinvention. His acting journey has been marked by a series of pathbreaking experiments, which expanded the artistic boundaries of Hindi films. Arguably the finest actor of the modern era—and among the all-time greats—Shah gave...

By Rosamma Thomas*  Transparency activist Commodore Lokesh Batra wrote to Indian embassies in Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka in June this year, seeking details of expenses incurred by Indian missions abroad during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visits to these countries in April 2025. Modi visited Thailand on April 3 and 4, on the invitation of the Prime Minister of Thailand. He travelled to Sri Lanka from April 4 to 6, again on an invitation from the Sri Lankan Prime Minister. His visit to Saudi Arabia took place from April 22 to 23, on the invitation of the Crown Prince. Information received indicates that the total expenditure on these trips exceeded Rs 10 crore; however, the Indian embassy in Thailand refused to disclose any information under the RTI Act.

By A Representative   The Indian Coordination Committee of Farmers Movements (ICCFM), a coalition of farmers’ organizations from across India, has issued a strong appeal to the Union Government urging it not to proceed with any trade agreement with the United States that could undermine the livelihoods of Indian farmers. In a detailed letter addressed to Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, the ICCFM expressed serious apprehensions about the ongoing negotiations with the US, which they fear may lead to an interim or comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that includes provisions for the liberalization of agricultural imports.

By Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra*  Kashmir, once a vibrant confluence of cultures and religions, has over the years been consumed by unrestrained radicalization and violence. What Kashmir truly deserves is the chance to become a hub of trade and tourism—open, accessible, and flourishing with a soft border that allows people from around the world to visit and engage in commerce. In recent years, the Indian government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sought to promote infrastructure development and tourism in Kashmir through a policy of centralized control over militancy and radicalism, especially since 2019.

By Prof. Hemantkumar Shah*  What is the true scale of unemployment in India? The standard unemployment rate is defined as the percentage of people in the labour force who want work but can’t find it. That means only those seeking jobs are counted as unemployed—those not looking for jobs, voluntarily or otherwise, don’t make it to the list. The latest official estimate pegs India's unemployment rate at 5.6%. That’s a drop from May’s 5.8%, according to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. Considering India’s estimated population of 1.46 billion, the labour force makes up 46.9% or approximately 684.7 million people. Of these, a 5.6% unemployment rate implies around 38.3 million people actively seeking but unable to find work. That’s an enormous figure—and even if a million new jobs were created each year, it would take four years to absorb them all, assuming the population does not increase further. But population will rise, so even that scenario is opt...

By  Raj Kumar Sinha*  A looming ecological and social disaster is unfolding in the forests of Gadchiroli, Maharashtra. Over 1.23 lakh trees are set to be felled for mining activities—an alarming development that has sparked widespread protests from Adivasi communities and civil society organizations. They are urging the state and central governments to immediately halt all mining-related approvals and operations in the region. They are also calling for a complete review of all clearances, including Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and Detailed Project Reports (DPR), based on holistic ecological, hydrological, and social assessments. These groups demand that forest corridors and tiger habitats be recognized as protected areas, and that the laws under the Forest Rights Act (2006) and PESA Act (1996) be strictly enforced. Most crucially, they insist that decisions made by tribal gram sabhas be respected through transparent public hearings.

  By Bhabani Shankar Nayak  On the evening of July 15, 2025, a roundtable discussion was held at the Marx Memorial Library in London, organised by Friends of Socialist China in the UK. The event brought together UK-based participants and a delegation from the Institute of Marxism at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), a research institution established by the Communist Party of China (CPC).

By Harsh Thakor*  July 1, 2025, marked the fifteenth death anniversary of Cherukuri Rajkumar, also known as Azad, a Central Committee member, ideologue, and spokesperson of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist). He was killed on this day in 2010, in what civil liberties groups have described as a "fake encounter" with security forces in the forests of Adilabad, Telangana. Azad was involved in public communication for the CPI (Maoist), issuing press statements and interviews that aimed to present the party’s perspective, often at odds with mainstream media portrayals.

By Rosamma Thomas*  Expressing appreciation to the Union Agriculture Minister for inviting suggestions from farmers and concerned citizens on the sharp decline in cotton crop productivity, Aruna Rodrigues—lead petitioner in the Supreme Court case ongoing since 2005 that seeks a moratorium on genetically modified (GM) crops—wrote to Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on July 14, 2025, stating that conflicts of interest have infiltrated India’s regulatory system like a spreading cancer, including within the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR).

By Hemantkumar Shah*  In recent news, the government has announced that the inflation rate has reached a six-and-a-half-year low. According to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, the Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based inflation for June stood at just 2.1 percent, down from 2.82 percent in May. This is the lowest rate in 77 months, and the ministry even claims that food prices have fallen by 1.06 percent compared to last year.

By Vikas Meshram  In Maharashtra, often hailed as one of India's most progressive states, a distressing trend continues: between January and March 2025, a farmer tragically died by suicide every three hours. State Rehabilitation Minister Makarand Patil shared this shocking data, revealing that 767 farmers ended their lives during the first quarter of this year. The tragic incidents persisted, with an additional 55 cases reported in April, May, and June 2025. According to the Minister, most of these incidents occurred in the Vidarbha region.

By A Representative   The Right to Food Campaign has issued a strong condemnation of the Ministry of Women and Child Development's (MWCD) directive mandating facial recognition authentication for accessing nutrition services under the Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP). Calling the move exclusionary and unconstitutional, the Campaign has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the requirement and a return to universal, dignified, and non-discriminatory access to nutrition entitlements.

By A Representative  Gujarat’s Members of Parliament (MPs) have come under scrutiny for failing to effectively utilize funds allocated to them under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) Scheme. Data sourced from the official MPLAD portal shows that only 4.2% of the total budget sanctioned for the state has been spent in the past year, with not a single project completed in 14 out of the 26 parliamentary constituencies.

By A Representative   A collective of heritage conservationists and social organisations have submitted a formal application to the Municipal Commissioner of Ahmedabad, urging urgent intervention to protect the remnants of the historically significant Fatehbaug Palace in Fatehwadi. The palace, believed to have been partially demolished recently by municipal bulldozers, was once the residence of Abdu'r-Rahim Khăn-i-Khānān (popularly Rahim), a prominent 16th-century Mughal noble, poet, and governor of Gujarat under Emperor Akbar.

By A Representative   Marking its 30th year of transformative grassroots work, the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), India, has issued an urgent letter to delegates of the Emergency Conference of States on Gaza in Bogotá, Colombia, calling for immediate and decisive action to halt what it describes as the “ongoing genocide” in Gaza. The letter, signed by over 40 grassroots leaders and representatives from across India, aligns with the Hague Group’s initiative and condemns what NAPM terms the "barbarism of our times" — Israel’s military offensive in Gaza which, according to the letter, has killed over 58,000 Palestinians by official estimates, with independent studies citing death and disappearance figures ranging between 109,000 and 377,000 since October 2023. “Israel’s war on Gaza is a live-streamed extermination campaign that systematically targets hospitals, schools, refugee camps and civilians,” the statement declares, accusing Israel of violating humanitari...

By Gajanan Khergamker*  In an era marked by growing friction between environmental preservation and urban development, the decision of the Bombay High Court in Clean and Heritage Colaba Residents Association & Ors. v. State of Maharashtra & Ors. delivered in 2025, stands as a watershed moment. The Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep V. Marne, upheld the construction of the ₹229 crore Passenger Jetty and Terminal Facilities Project abutting Mumbai’s iconic Gateway of India, striking a delicate balance between constitutional principles, environmental governance, and urban policy.

By A Representative  The residents of Mallabuchan village, Tehsil Pattan, Block Sherabad Khore, District Baramulla, have submitted a formal complaint to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on 14 July 2025, alleging corruption, misuse of public funds, and procedural fraud in the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in their locality.

By A Representative   In a dramatic early morning rescue, a bull with an aluminum can dangerously stuck in its mouth was saved by a dedicated team of animal welfare volunteers and veterinarians. The incident, which highlights the critical need for specialized equipment for animal rescues, took place in Ganpati Fatsar.

By A Representative The Campaign Against State Repression (CASR), a collective of civil and democratic rights organisations, has strongly condemned what it describes as the illegal abduction of psychologist and social activist Samrat Singh by a team of Delhi Police officials. The incident occurred on the evening of July 12, 2025, at Singh’s residence in Yamunanagar, Haryana.

By Harsh Thakor*  Gurdial Singh Paharpuri, a Central Committee member of the Communist Party Re-Organisation Centre of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPRCI(ML)), passed away on July 2, marking a significant loss for the Indian Communist Revolutionary movement. For six decades, Singh championed the cause of revolution, leaving an enduring impact through his lifelong dedication to the global proletarian movement. His contributions are considered foundational, laying groundwork for future advancements in revolutionary thought. He is recognized as a key figure among Indian Communist revolutionary leaders who shaped the mass line, and his example is seen as a model for revolutionary communists to follow.

By A Representative   The political landscape in Jammu and Kashmir has been thrown into turmoil after local authorities denied permission for observing Martyr’s Day on July 13, 2025, a day historically commemorated by Kashmiris. The move, which included keeping the Mazar-e-Shuhada graveyard out of bounds and placing prominent political leaders under house arrest, has drawn sharp criticism from political parties and activists who decry it as a severe blow to democratic principles in the region.

By Prem Singh  The RSS/BJP’s demand to remove the words ‘socialist’ and ‘secular’—added during the Emergency—has stirred widespread discussion. However, the debate is largely focused on the word ‘secular’; ‘socialism’ appears to be of no concern to anyone. The Indian Express editorial dated 1 July 2025, titled ‘Secularism isn’t just a word. It’s at the heart of India and its Constitution’, is a case in point. 

By A Representative   As trade negotiations between India and the United States continue, a prominent advocacy group, the Coalition for a GM-Free India, has voiced strong concerns regarding potential concessions on genetically modified (GM) crops, seeds, and related products. In a letter addressed to Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Shri Piyush Goyal, Rajesh Krishnan, Co-Convenor of the Coalition, has urged the Indian government to resist American pressure and uphold the interests of Indian farmers, consumers, and exporters.

By A Representative   Gurugram's real estate market is booming, with South of Gurugram (Sohna) and Dwarka Expressway emerging as top performers. Both micro-markets have seen property values more than double in the past five years, driven by extensive infrastructure development and strong demand from homebuyers and investors.

By Bharat Dogra  For centuries, farmers, including women, meticulously saved, shared, and exchanged a vast diversity of seeds, ensuring self-reliance and accessibility without economic burden. This traditional system, built on wisdom, skill, commitment, creativity, and love, fostered diverse seed availability suited to various needs and locations.

By A Representative   A book titled "Global Warming: A Global Problem" authored by Rajnibhai Dave was launched recently in Ahmedabad, accompanied by a seminar on climate change. The event was organized by Paryavaran Mitra and other civil society organizations in Gujarat working on climate change issues.

By A Representative   India’s food regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), is facing strong criticism for deliberately delaying the implementation of crucial warning labels on High Fat, Sugar, and Salt (HFSS) food products. This comes despite a clear Supreme Court order on April 9, 2025, which mandated the completion of the "entire exercise" within three months. Adding to the controversy, the FSSAI is reportedly hiding expert reports and over 14,000 public comments under the pretext of "trade secrets."

By Bharat Dogra  Recent reports from various parts of Punjab, including Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Phagwara, and Hoshiarpur, indicate growing farmer mobilization against the state government's land-pooling policy for urban estate development. This opposition isn't isolated; similar sentiments are surfacing across the country. Furthermore, indiscriminate and profit-driven urbanization has led to widespread ecological damage, including blocked natural drainage and destructive floods.

By Raj Kumar Sinha*  Our policies—especially those related to forests—are based on the assumption that we can regenerate natural resources after consumption. The Compensatory Afforestation Programme Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) reflects this idea. But can we truly restore lush green forests after clearing millions of acres? What has CAMPA actually achieved so far?

By A Representative  In the wake of a recent media report suggesting that India's forests are losing their ability to absorb carbon dioxide, ecological experts and environmental activists are voicing deep concern over what they describe as a dangerous misreading of scientific data that could embolden continued ecological degradation in the name of development.

By Bharat Dogra  India's pursuit of inclusive development necessitates special attention to its diverse tribal communities. Success in these efforts is often higher when initiatives align with the communities' existing skills, knowledge base, and access to local resources.

By Busani Ngcaweni, Shiping Tang  The post-Cold War order is unravelling. The global trading system and the multilateral order, painstakingly built after the Second World War, have been torn apart. What once stood as a framework for cooperation is now a weapon of mass bullying. Trade wars strike like sudden cyclones. Tariffs rise unpredictably. One day they are 15 percent, then they shoot to 50 percent, jump to 100 percent the following week and drop again to 20 percent days later. Such turbulence shakes small and large economies alike, bringing uncertainty, disrupting supply chains and sending countries scrambling for new markets and solutions. 

By Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra*  The United States and its steadfast ally, Israel, perceived a decline in Iran's regional power following significant damage to its proxies, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, and the subsequent weakening of the Assad regime in Syria. Believing this opportune, they sought to intensify pressure on Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions, potentially paving the way for regime change and the installation of a pro-Western government by exacerbating internal instability. However, Israeli strikes on Iran on June 13 and the ensuing 12-day standoff yielded consequences far from their estimations.

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  A young woman, a national-level athlete, was allegedly murdered by her father in Gurugram—initially portrayed as a case of wounded pride, mocked by locals for relying on his daughter's earnings. Yet deeper facts reveal a disturbing contradiction: this father lived comfortably, owning and renting out multiple houses in a posh locality. If he could invest in her education and coaching, why resent her success?

By Harsh Thakor*  Omar Sharif, a name synonymous with versatility and groundbreaking achievement, scaled heights unprecedented by an Arab actor. His illustrious career, spanning varied roles, mirrored his extraordinary life—a Christian who embraced Islam for love, an Egyptian actor whose global fame was ignited by a Jewish filmmaker from Hollywood, a champion contract bridge player, author of syndicated columns and books on the game, and an advisor to George W. Bush against the Iraq invasion.

By Bharat Dogra  Every day—indeed, every hour—millions of people around the world perform countless acts of kindness, often at the cost of their own comfort, to help others. These actions, carried out in the midst of adversity, keep alive the faith in humanity and its enduring potential to build a better, safer world.

By A Representative   In a harrowing aviation disaster, Air India’s Boeing 787-8 aircraft, VT-ANB, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on 12 June 2025, killing 241 people, including both flight crew, almost all passengers, and 19 individuals on the ground. The aircraft, operating scheduled Flight AI171 to London Gatwick, suffered a sudden dual engine shutdown just seconds after liftoff. According to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the incident occurred at approximately 13:39 IST during the initial climb phase.

By A Representative Marking two decades of citizen-led governance accountability, the Wada Na Todo Abhiyan (WNTA), a coalition of over 3,000 civil society organizations, released its flagship annual report “Promises and Reality 2025”—an independent citizens’ review of the first year of the third term of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA-III) Government. The event, held at Vishwa Yuvak Kendra in New Delhi, featured a powerful panel discussion and brought together academics, activists, journalists, and community representatives to spotlight gaps in governance, democracy, and inclusion.

By Bharat Dogra*  In the tapestry of daily life, vegetables are vibrant threads of health, bursting with essential vitamins, minerals, and the protective power of antioxidants. Yet, for many in weaker sections, the dream of a diverse, fresh diet remains just that—a dream, unattainable due to financial constraints. But in the heart of rural India, a quiet revolution is blossoming, fueled by the simple, profound act of growing one's own food.

By Dr. Prem Singh   I was not personally close to Chandra Shekhar  (17 April 1927 – 8 July 2007), and was unsure if he even knew of me as a socialist activist and writer. However, a friend once informed me that Chandra Shekhar had expressed a desire to meet me. I was told he wanted to discuss his approach to the problem of corruption, about which I had been sharply critical in my writings. Unfortunately, that meeting did not happen before he assumed the office of Prime Minister.