ECONOMY
Budget 2022: Divestment targets likely to be missed, despite 2021 promises
When the finance minister will unveil her fourth consecutive Budget on February 1, it will show a 95 percent shortfall in budgeted revenues from the sale of equity stakes in companies it owns.
POLITICS
Pak's new national security policy: old wine in new bottle
Islamabad's new national security policy seeks peace with India, with apparently no hostility for the next 100 years and doesn’t rule out normalisation of trade and economic ties without waiting for a final resolution on Kashmir. The situation on the ground in Jammu and Kashmir, however, tells a different story.
POLITICS
Canada-US border deaths: Illegal crossings by Indians a regular affair; unusual tragedy draws attention
The lucrative racket, ferrying Indians across the US border illegally, has been running for quite some time now. It has taken four tragic deaths and a few arrests to blow the lid off.
POLITICS
Explainer: Mamata leads non-BJP states’ attempt to change IAS rules for central deputation
The Union government in planning to acquire for itself overriding powers to transfer IAS and IPS officers, is doing away with the requirement of taking the approval of state governments; new trend reveals that all India service officers avoid Delhi posting.
BUSINESS
Covid-19 booster shot: How safe and effective is the mix-and-match third dose?
Experts seem to be of the view that using different kinds of vaccines or mixing-and-matching vaccines is quite safe. The 'mixed' third dose's effectiveness is still being studied though.
POLITICS
Uttar Pradesh’s BJP rebels: Its Mandal vs Kamandal this elections
UP netas, used to freewheeling caste politics, are finding it hard to keep themselves confined to party discipline and a straitjacketed existence. In the process, the BJP is facing a stiff challenge.
CORONAVIRUS
Virologist Dr Shahid Jameel on COVID-19: "We have to get used to this way of life for the next few years"
Cases in India are rising very quickly – about 195,000 cases were reported on January 11. Over the next 2-4 weeks, there would possibly be a peak
BUSINESS
Lockdowns have little impact on Omicron spread, hospital system crucial: Epidemiologist Ramanan Laxminarayan
He said two things we can be sure of are that Covid is not going anywhere and that new variants will emerge.
INDIA
It would be a mistake to brand Omicron as mild: Pulmonologist Lancelot Pinto
Several people, who have reported sick for other ailments like heart attacks, kidney transplants etc, have found to be Covid positive, says Mumbai’s top pulmonologist
CORONAVIRUS
India’s Third Wave is here, with two variants Delta and Omicron in tow: Experts
Some political rallies called off; government, issues fresh guidelines as two Omicron deaths reported
INDIA
Preventing accidents like one at Vaishno Devi's: easier said than done
Religious tourism and crowds go hand in hand, and the challenge of maintaining discipline among frenzied believers is the job for a Hercules and modern technology rolled into one.
BUSINESS
Missionaries of Charity, other NGOs under government scanner
Why aren't Hindu NGOs and charity organisations being questioned, ask activists; BJP supporters believe that Christian organisations use foreign funding to proselytise Hindus.
HEALTH-AND-FITNESS
Children's vaccination: Can Bharat Biotech meet this challenge?
No one can quite say how India’s indigenous Covid-19 vaccine company will meet the challenge of vaccinating close to 10 crore Indians between the ages of 15-18 next month
BUSINESS
India gears up for third, booster dose; but plan of action still unclear
More clarity from ICMR, NTAGI expected soon; Imperial College research reveals impact of two doses is beginning to wear off
BUSINESS
Scars of COVID19 waves 1,2: India prepares for Omicron
Experts believe information on this coronavirus variant is still sparse to arrive at a definitive conclusion
POLITICS
Kashmiri delimitation proposals raise hackles
The recommendations would take the number of assembly seats in Jammu to 43 from the existing 37, and to 47 in Kashmir from 46, making the chances of a first Hindu chief minister (CM) to govern the former state a remote possibility.
HEALTH-AND-FITNESS
ICMR plays down Omicron threat; says Delta still the dominant corona strain in India
Delhi’s virus number goes up near year end; ICMR's Dr Samiran Panda says that pockets of infection need to be controlled.
BUSINESS
The Great Indian Immigration: Why educated, skilled Indians are leaving the country in droves
Indian competence, linguistic prowess, and a higher level of education are the triggers for relocation to countries, which have eased visa rules to attract talent.
POLITICS
Disquiet in the North East: Is it China's payback?
Much will depend upon how New Delhi deals with Tibet and Taiwan, which China considers its internal affair
POLITICS
Army Chief Naravane leading contender for CDS
Government is keen to push Rawat’s agenda on redesigning existing military commands into theatre commands and establishing new joint commands, which would combine the resources and assets of the three defence forces, based on threat perceptions
HEALTH-AND-FITNESS
Citizens queue up privately for third vaccine jab, as demand for booster dose gathers momentum
Opposition politicians, doctors, virologists, and industry organisations are all demanding a third shot since the emergence of the Omicron variant, which is believed to be more infectious than Delta, though data about it remains relatively scarce
POLITICS
What exactly is the new law on BSF and how does it play out?
As some non-BJP states cry foul, officials point out that the jurisdiction of state police forces has neither been curtailed nor its powers reduced.
BUSINESS
Withdrawal of farm bills unfortunate: key agriculture bureaucrat Ashok Dalwai
His 14-volume Committee on Doubling Farmers’ Income proposals were the basis of the now-withdrawn farm legislations introduced by the Modi government
BUSINESS
A major improvement in air quality is unlikely to happen: Sunita Narain
During winter, excessive emitters from all sectors must be checked, but air pollution action must continue throughout the year for sound results, she says; GRAP without long term action cannot be fully implemented.
