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In contradiction to the claim of the Modi government of improvement in the labour market, latest Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) data pertaining to the formal sector shows a downturn. Quality jobs generation declined sharply by 16.7 percent in October 2023 compared to the September figure, a 7-month low. The number of new monthly subscribers of EPF declined to 772,084 in October from 926,934 in September, and 757,792 in March 2023.

The vaulting ambition of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to overturn existing structures is the hallmark of his nearly 10 years at the helm. Take the case of the three new laws that have replaced three colonial-era laws and the authoritarian streak in Modi sticks out like a sore thumb.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government in Kerala has upped the ante against Governor Arif Mohammed Khan by seeking President Droupadi Murmu’s intervention in the crisis involving the Governor and the State government, at the root of which are Khan’s alleged gubernatorial excesses; the Governor is not even sparing varsities and students as he goes about settling scores with the state government.

There are not too many leaders who are looked upto by his/her followers and political opponents even when they are no more. Late prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee belongs to this distinguished group. A great consensus builder whose 99th birth anniversary is being observed today, December 23, he cobbled together a coalition of divergent political ideologies into a winning combination. It did not matter whether he was wielding the seals of office or was sitting in the Opposition benches, whenever Vajpayee stood up to speak, parliamentarians cutting across the political divide listened.

Maharashtra boasts a seemingly healthy tiger population, but the numbers hide a troubling reality: a significant number of these magnificent creatures are dying, with a third of the deaths attributed to unnatural causes. Since 2018, Maharashtra has lost 151 tigers. Poaching and electrocution were responsible for 42 tiger deaths. Drowning incidents and rail/road accidents killed another 16. Tiger habitats should be kept free of road/rail intrusions.

Passing legislation by resorting to suspensions is a kind of authoritarianism’. Knocking down the March 2 directive of the Supreme Court that said that the panel which picks election commissioners and their chief “shall” include the Chief Justice of India was clear manifestation of the autocratic mindset of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who wanted to send the message that the judiciary, one of the pillars of democracy, was subservient to “him” and the Chief Justice was to take directives from the executive.

Prices of vehicles on-road vary vastly across the states in India, which not only encourages evasion of taxes but also makes the process of compliance cumbersome. Varied taxes imposed by the states is the main reason for this distortion and it must be replaced by a uniform road tax regime in the country. This is all the more important because India has the second largest road network in the world – 63.32 lakh kilometres.

Despite four rounds of prolonged talks, unity eludes, even on basic issues, potential partners in the much-hyped opposition alliance – famously christened INDIA – in east and northeast India. Major opposition parties of Assam and Bihar have rejected two proposals, one on seat-sharing and the other on projecting a “PM face” for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi renamed his official residence Lok Kalyan Marg in 2016. The new name reflected Modi's populism and inclination to shed India's colonial past. Beyond a strict security checkpoint, "Seven LKM" features peacocks and inner courtyards adorned with intricate flower arrangements. The premises itself has a meeting room with ceiling frescoes depicting world maps. The cabinet room bears inscriptions of excerpts from the “Preamble”.

An unprecedented 146 Opposition Members of Parliament of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were suspended before the Winter Session of Parliament was cut short on December 21. This after the Modi government ensured the passage of several Bills including the one to replace the IPC and the CrPC with new criminal laws with the help of the “loyal” MPs belonging to parties like the BJD, YSRCP and the AIADMK.