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Oil prices have hit their lowest since October and by all indications the downward move is far from over. Brent has already dipped below 70 dollars per barrel as the market is feeling the weight of a supply overhang, with OPEC+ barrels set to flood an already well-supplied system, keeping a lid on any meaningful price recovery.

On a business-as-usual basis, achieving gender equality in employment rate will take another two centuries, says the new brief given by the International Labour Organization, which was released on March 8, International Women’s Day. The brief, which also marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action, noted that progress has been uneven and insufficient with the global gender employment gap narrowing by only 4 percent in the last three decades. Women remain underrepresented in employment, overrepresented in informal work, and face persistent pay gaps.

A huge campaign is going on across the country about India aspiring to become a developed country in 2047. There is nothing wrong in targeting something big with the hope that even if it fails, we could still reach somewhere near to what had been the goal. The goal, however, should not be so unrealistic that people think it infeasible to begin with. India is currently the fastest growing economy in the world and there is a possibility of maintaining the relatively high growth in the coming years compared to global average.

Nobody can claim that the rate of growth of agricultural production, especially of foodgrain, has been higher in the neoliberal period than during the years of dirigiste development that preceded it. It may have been somewhat lower but let us agree that it was certainly not higher. On the other hand, the rate of growth of Gross Domestic Product was estimated to be significantly higher and several economists argued that this growth rate was exaggerated. Then again, let us agree that taking the period as a whole it has been noticeably higher.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah have both opposed the delimitation exercise due in 2029. Census 2021 has to be completed by then. COVID-19 and the government’s attitude to the caste census, had held up the census. Delimitation process was needed because of the rise in population.

Just in the nick of time! Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta saved Prime Minister Narendra Modi more than embarrassment. She didn't let "Modi's Guarantee" go waste like it has occasionally before. Prime Minister Modi had underwritten the BJP's 'Mahila Samriddhi Yojana', which it had promised for women voters of Delhi if they voted the BJP to power and sent Arvind Kejriwal packing!

A shift to the far right, democratic decay, and a crisis of constitutional beliefs have created a near perfect storm for backlash against rights of minorities, whether they be marginalised along caste, class, gender or sexuality. For long, the language of the law has been that of men. For example, the standard of reasonableness is that of the man on a Clapham omnibus. In that way, as Catharine MacKinon reminds us, the testifying of a witness is so brutal that it resembles ‘re-raping’ the victim. Much has already been written about the backlash in courts, against rights of transgender persons and women, and much more will be written on.

New Delhi: India’s vibrant and diversified craft heritage was highlighted at an exhibition that the ministry of Textile and handicraft had organized here at the Craft Museum to boost Prime Minister’s Vishvakarma Yojna that is aimed at showcasing the contribution of the artisans in the making of India over the years on Monday, March 3, 2025.

There has been a hardening of postures of the two warring sides in Manipur since Union home minister Amit Shah issued certain strongly-worded directives after a security situation review meeting on March 1. This meeting was attended, among others, by Governor Ajay Bhalla, who is in command since the state was brought under President’s rule on February 13 and the Assembly was kept under suspended animation. Perhaps, the toughest of the directives was that people must move freely on all Manipur roads from March 8, Saturday. Recovery of looted arms and ammunition by the extended deadline of March 6 and expeditious fencing of entry points from Myanmar too were part of Shah’s fiat list.

Three things must not be allowed to represent Hinduism. First, “Sarva dosh hare Laxmi”, an old Sanskrit phrase which means “Goddess Laxmi conceals all faults”. Second, “Ram naamki loot hai, loot sako so loot; Ant samay pachhtayega jab pran jayega chhoot” which means “anyone who has capacity must loot Ram’s name put on for loot, or else repent when dead”. And the third, “Heaven is secured by a mere dip into the Ganges”.