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What are the prospects for the Indian economy in 2020. Given the sharp slow-down in the growth rates, the liquidation of the largest non-banking financial company which clogged up credit flows to major housing and other projects, the questions about the bulging NPAs of public sector banks, among many other episodes, had generated a sense of drift.

THE fortnight since the adoption of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill by parliament has been witness to one of the significant moments in recent political history in India. It has revealed two facets which are interrelated but opposite in nature. The first facet is that the Modi government has emerged as a full-fledged authoritarian regime. The second is that the widespread protests against the CAA and the NRC countrywide, have established the gathering resistance to the onslaughts on secular democracy and the constitution.

While Hemant Soren the chief minister of Jharkhand just after assuming the office decided to withdraw the Pathalgadi sedition case in the maiden cabinet decision, the Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray even after being in office for some time has not so far initiated the process to withdraw the Koregaon sedition case.

In the midst of a severe downturn of the economy and the GDP growth rate touching a new low, Modi government has launched a large scale privatisation of the public sector companies expecting one lakh crore rupees as proceeds to cover up shortfall in revenue and deficits. It has been termed as the largest privatisation drive in the country. Though the government has phrased it a part of economic reform to overcome serious slowdown of the economy, there are no takers of this overt statement primarily due to its time and manner of implementation. People are apprehensive of the real intention of the government which has a track record of putting national assets into private pockets in the name of nationalism.

The year 2019 is ending with the continuing agitation by the students, academicians, civil society and the opposition parties against the imposition of CAA by the BJP government on the one hand and the definite shift in the power balance of the country by the loss of power by the saffrons successively in two states at the fag end of the year - Maharashtra and Jharkhand. It was only seven months ago in May end 2019 that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi got the massive mandate and became PM for the second time in succession exuding confidence that the BJP was invincible. That was the scenario at that time.

As the New Year is round the corner all eyes are on Delhi where Assembly polls are likely to be held in February 2020. The present Aam Admi Party government’s term ends on February 22. The fight for Delhi is going to be fierce as it is crucial for all the players. They have already sounded the Poll bugle though polling dates are yet to be announced.

'After Porn Ends' is an important documentary exploring what happens to sex workers once they retire from the “adult entertainment” industry. It raises important issues that viewers can use to inform their thinking and analysis of the role played by pornography, and sex work in general, in the context of present-day capitalism.

Guwahati: Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal and the officials of the Khelo India Youth Games launched the torch relay of the competition here on Sunday. The multi discipline games will be held here from 10th to 22nd January 2020.

Bemetara: Maharashtra fell short of glory in the finals as Railways clinched the men’s final title while Airport won the women's title at the 53rd Senior National Kho Kho Championships at Allons Public School Ground here on Monday.

New Delhi: Closing the year on a conciliatory note, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Monday called off its boycott threat saying that it will take part in the 2022 Commonwealth Games.