India’s childcare workers, despite supporting 23 million children through 1.4 million Anganwadis, remain undervalued, poorly paid, and inadequately supported. With rising care needs due to migration, climate stress, and women’s workforce participation, India must professionalise its childcare workforce, expand infrastructure, increase investment to 1–1.5% of GDP, and strengthen ICDS and crèche schemes. Recognising childcare as a critical component of human development is essential for building an inclusive, gender-just nation.
Click to View MoreThe Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) aims to enhance livelihood security in rural India by guaranteeing at least 100 days of wage employment annually to rural households willing to perform unskilled manual work. The scheme emphasizes inclusion, with at least one-third of beneficiaries being women, and mandates timely wage payments with legal entitlements for unemployment allowances if work is not provided within 15 days of demand. MGNREGA supports sustainable rural development through asset creation such as water conservation, drought proofing, irrigation, and rural infrastructure. The Act strengthens decentralized planning through Panchayati Raj Institutions and encourages transparency via social audits.
Click to View MoreAnti-conversion laws, meant to curb forced conversions, face constitutional challenges, particularly violating Article 21 (Right to Privacy and Choice). Critics argue vague terms and the reversed burden of proof lead to misuse against inter-faith couples and minorities. The Supreme Court must now balance individual liberty with the state's interest in public order.
Click to View MoreThe press in India has played a pivotal role from the freedom struggle to the modern democratic era. During colonial times, newspapers shaped nationalist consciousness, mobilized masses, and exposed British policies despite severe censorship. After Independence, the press expanded with constitutional protections, institutional reforms like the PCI, and growing diversity across languages and mediums. Today, the media continues to be essential for transparency and accountability but faces challenges such as misinformation, political pressure, commercialization, and threats to journalist safety. A strong, ethical, and independent press remains vital for sustaining India’s democracy.
Click to View MoreZonal Councils, created under the 1956 Act, promote cooperative federalism by resolving inter-state disputes, coordinating security and supporting regional development. Their impact remains limited by irregular meetings and weak follow-up. Strengthening them through regular reviews and better implementation, as recommended by major commissions, can improve cooperation.
Click to View MoreStubble burning in India has multidimensional consequences. Environmentally, it releases particulate matter and greenhouse gases, reduces soil fertility, and harms biodiversity. Health-wise, it causes respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, eye irritation, and skin problems. Economically, while it saves farmers time and labor in the short term, it degrades soil, reduces crop yields, raises healthcare costs, and affects transport and tourism. Socially, it can trigger public health crises, farmer migration, and conflicts over legal penalties. Effective policy measures—including satellite monitoring, incentives for eco-friendly machinery, and balancing farmer livelihoods with environmental protection—are crucial to mitigate these impacts.
Click to View MoreThe Gorkhaland demand reflects India’s federal challenge—balancing Gorkha identity aspirations with West Bengal’s unity. Rooted in historical neglect and cultural assertion, it now moves toward dialogue, with an interlocutor mediating. Understanding the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) and Article 3 offers insight into reconciling regional autonomy with national integrity.
Click to View MoreThe Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), formed under the Sixth Schedule in 2003, governs the Bodoland Territorial Region in Assam. It provides autonomy to the Bodo people over areas like land, forests, and local development, promoting peace, identity, and regional self-governance.
Click to View MoreLadakh’s statehood and Sixth Schedule demand arises from lost representation post-2019. The Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance seek safeguards for its tribal population, fragile ecology, and land rights, but the constitutional amendment poses a federal challenge balancing autonomy with security.
Click to View MoreLadakh’s protests for statehood and Sixth Schedule inclusion reflect tensions between local democratic aspirations and strategic imperatives. Post-2019 UT status, residents fear loss of tribal identity, land, and jobs, highlighting the need for institutional reforms and empowered local governance.
Click to View MoreDefamation laws in India balance free speech and reputation. Article 19(1)(a) guarantees expression, while Article 19(2) allows restrictions, including defamation. The Supreme Court upheld criminal defamation under Article 21, but judges now urge decriminalization to curb misuse and protect dissent.
Click to View MoreThe Indian Constitution sets no fixed timelines for a Governor’s tenure or assent to bills, causing political friction. While the Supreme Court warns against judicially prescribing timelines, it holds that indefinite delays are unconstitutional and open to judicial scrutiny.
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