All Indians Matter

Unjustified denial of bail and continuous postponement of related hearings are a serious threat to individual liberty. Bail is a critical component of the criminal justice system, so decisions about it should aim to harmonise protection of individual liberties with the demands of justice. The Supreme Court has in the past issued directives to ensure ‘bail, not jail’ as a guiding principle. However, this is not practised consistently by courts. So, India needs comprehensive bail reform that does not leave out disadvantaged groups. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

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Recently, the transition of Citibank’s retail business to Axis Bank was completed. Like Citi, several other foreign banks have shrunk operations in India or exited altogether. They have set the standard in customer service but increasing competition, rising bad loans, and complicated and costly compliance requirements have all been a deterrent. What does this mean for you, the customer?

Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

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Domicile-based job reservations in the private sector don’t work. They only raise the cost of compliance and force businesses out of the states that introduce such laws. Besides, courts have often said that they come in the way of economic freedoms. Karnataka, which was forced to backtrack on such a law, and other states contemplating such reservations, are better off investing in skilling, the ease of doing business and infrastructure. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

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Over the past decade, Indian politics has seen systemic changes with the changing nature of the electorate, the expansion of political competition in one sense and its shrinking in the other, the use of tools like social media and the decline of old political constants. As India approached another general election, we took a look at how Indian politics is changing and what lies ahead. This episode was recorded before the election and may, therefore, seem out of sync with the present in some parts. However, the insights Abhimanyu Bhatiya, co-founder of the School Of Politics and veteran campaign strategist, offered to All Indians Matter are very relevant even today.

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The unemployment rate was a worrying 9.2% in June. Never mind what the government says, unemployment is now at crisis proportions and most estimates say India will struggle to create enough jobs in the foreseeable future. One study says that even average growth of 7% will produce fewer jobs than needed over the next decade. It’s not just the lack of jobs either – female workforce participation is falling and the quality of jobs that are being generated isn’t satisfactory. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

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The Hathras stampede, which claimed 121 lives has brought into focus again the lack of safety measures at religious gatherings. A study showed that between 2001 and 2014 more than 2,421 people died in over 3,000 stampedes in India, most of them at religious events. Another said that 79% of all stampedes in India occur at places of worship. Several studies have blamed the tragedies on lack of crowd control systems and poor planning. How can we make religious gatherings safer in India?

Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

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The latest controversy over the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate), or NEET, shows how broken India’s entrance exam system is. Paper leaks and corruption are common, calling into question the effectiveness of the process and where it leaves aspirants. So routine is the leak of papers and release of incorrect results that they have been connected to several student suicides. What’s wrong with India’s entrance examination system and how do we fix it? Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

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Birsa Munda, the legendary tribal rebel who died more than 120 years ago, is at the center of a heated political battle. Sangh Parivar outfits are using his memory to co-opt Adivasi identities into the saffron fold while demanding that tribals who have converted to ‘non-indigenous’ religions, such as Christianity, be excluded from the Scheduled Tribes list. Adivasis maintain that they are distinct from Hindus with their own religious and cultural identity. Central to this battle is Birsa Munda’s legacy. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

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Impact investing, which aims to achieve positive social or environmental results alongside financial returns, is considered a big opportunity in India. Impact funds usually earn a market rate of return, which flies in the face of the belief that investing in social or environmental priorities is important but not profitable. Avishek Gupta, MD and CEO of Caspian Debt, speaks to All Indians Matter about the impact investment landscape.

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There are several structural problems with the way exit polls are conducted in India – from inadequate sample sizes to the blending of irrelevant historical data into the projection, an improper understanding of the demographics, voters withholding their true choices from researchers and many more. Also, inadequate budgets mean pollsters cut corners.

It’s a flawed exercise and even harmful at times, as we saw with the stock market surge based at least partly on exit poll results and the subsequent crash on counting day.

Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

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