BUSINESS
How India's toy story can help boost economy
India’s toy market has the potential to grow to $2-3 billion by 2024 (from $1.7 billion in 2017), and for every $100 million investment in the sector, 20,000 direct jobs, and 8,000 indirect jobs can be created
BUSINESS
Changes in job market demand an ethical moonlighting policy
The dispensable attitude that many employers demonstrated during COVID-19 has led to an erosion of job loyalty among employees. Now more than ever, people are aware that organisations can give up on them, and that they must safeguard their own interests
POLITICS
Assembly Elections | AAP puts spotlight on youth
AAP’s impact on this election cycle is visible on the ground too, with major political parties revisiting their manifestoes and campaign strategies, to announce similar sops
BUSINESS
COP26 | 10 words that you need to know while following the climate meet
Is Climate Change and global warming the same? What are emissions trading schemes? Never heard of Green Bonds?
BUSINESS
COP26 | The ‘last best chance’ to save the world
India has maintained that it will keep its climate commitments, without acting under pressure from developed countries. Indian lawmakers have emphasised the need for industrialised countries to lead the way in cutting emissions since they have historically contributed to higher emissions
POLITICS
Why gender matters in the West Bengal elections
It is increasingly becoming clear that in order for political parties to win an election, the support of female voters is crucial. We are witnessing this in West Bengal
BUSINESS
Can Tesla jumpstart India's electric vehicle revolution?
The hope is that Tesla will do for the Indian EV market what Apple did for smartphones, or McDonalds did for the simple burger — disrupt it or impact it enough so that other brands are pushed to make better and cheaper electric vehicles
TRENDS
Is work from home here to stay?
The trend set off by the pandemic may scale down, but not disappear
BUSINESS
Does Ujjwala 2.0 hold the answers to India’s air pollution problem?
The government's decision to recognise clean cooking as a public health necessity was a welcome first step. The results of Ujjwala’s first avatar were exemplary. Its second version could address severe health and gender challenges
POLITICS
Bihar Elections | Not just as voters, women deserve a seat at being elected too
Since biases decrease with the increasing number of women who run for office and party nominations, implementing reservations for women in assemblies and Parliament could be a critical first step
BUSINESS
Why government’s plan to bet big on induction cooking is likely to go up in smoke
Over the years, improved cook stoves have been hailed as a miracle technological innovation to handle a host of issues — climate, deforestation, health, women’s empowerment. Yet, it’s also true that more than three decades of effort of pushing these stoves among unwilling recipients has yielded sporadic success
BUSINESS
COVID-19 has reiterated the importance of India Post
If the humble postal service is serving the larger goal of sustaining democracy in the US, in India, where it works as a bank, pension fund, primary savings instrument and delivery service, it is doing the job of literally saving lives
POLITICS
Right time for a national urban livelihood guarantee scheme
Successive governments have continued to overlook the vulnerability of India’s informal urban workforce and the situation this workforce finds itself in. The current crisis, however, presents an opportunity to modernise India’s social safety net
BUSINESS
Independence Day | What freedom means for a young India
India’s youth may be hungry for change, economic independence, and the freedoms that come with it, but the majority of them fall in one of the three categories: uneducated, unemployed, or unemployable
BUSINESS
The changing dynamics of protests around the world
With the gradual lifting of lockdown measures and in the absence of tangible solutions, the frequency, scope and size of protests will likely surge, with more targeted and focused demonstrations expected in coming months
BUSINESS
Reopening Schools | Reform education and change the outlook towards schools
The ‘when’ of reopening schools matters, but it is also equally important to think about the ‘why’. If the ‘why’ involves opening schools to catch up with a syllabus, or to hold classes, then chances are we may miss the important steps that we need to reform education
WORLD
A trade war with China would hurt India more
Given the size and nature of trade, waging a trade war against China by boycotting its goods to avenge a border dispute is an idea that would likely hurt Indian interests far more than Chinese
TECHNOLOGY
The vogue world of online classes short-changes India’s underprivileged
In the mad rush to ‘go digital’, the needs of millions of India’s poor and rural students are overlooked. They are being deprived of their fundamental right to education
WORLD
Is China’s loss India’s gain? Maybe not
That China’s loss can translate into India’s gain is a thinking rooted more in wishful thinking and nationalist myopia than on the ground realities
WORLD
COVID-19 | That women leaders are faring better is simplistic and flawed thinking
Attributing the accomplishments of women leaders to just their sex detracts from the value of their contribution. It’s furthers the same sexist stereotypes that have historically held women back
POLITICS
COVID-19 | Why it was a bad idea to regulate sale of alcohol during lockdown
The ban cost states dearly in terms of revenue, depriving them of monetary resources at a time when they needed to increase spending on the social sector
