Namaste Democracy

India’s Census, and Why it Matters 📌 India missed its Census schedule for the first time in 2021 since 1881 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Although an official announcement from the Centre is awaited, media reports (Hindustan Times, Indian Express) have cited that Census will likely begin in 2025, and a completion is expected by 2026. 🔗 Delimitation, which has been suspended since 1976 due to political disagreements, is also expected to take place in 2028 after the completion of the Census. Delimitation is a Constitutional mandate that is supposed to happen after every Census. It adjusts the number of constituencies of Parliament and state Assemblies in accordance with the latest population figures, to ensure fair representation. This will also enable the implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act, 2023 in the parliament. 📜 It is also expected that the upcoming Census may collect caste data as well to eliminate the need for a separate caste census, which has been demanded by some political parties in recent years. The practice was discontinued from the 1951 Census onwards, and only data on Scheduled Castes or Tribes has been collected since then. Data on sects, which had not been collected earlier, may make an appearance on the enumeration forms. Census 2021 will be the first digital census, giving citizens an opportunity to self-enumerate. The NPR has been made compulsory for citizens who want to exercise the right to fill the census form on their own rather than through government enumerators. A self-enumeration portal is yet to be launched for the same. Will a digital census be a step forward, or will it cause a gap in India’s digital divide? Comment below. #namastedemocracy #census2021 #census #castecensus

Indian cities are “breathtaking,” quite literally in today’s climate. With cities breathing in a world of trouble, seven states have imposed bans on crackers on various levels, with Delhi imposing a complete ban till January 1st, 2025. What are your thoughts? Comment and vote on the poll! . . . #delhiairpollution #airqualityindex #crackerban #diwali #crackers💥

As the festive season has approached us, Indian Railways has run more than 5,975 special trains to transport one crore plus passengers for Durga Puja, Diwali & Chhath Puja. Further, 108 trains will be supplemented with extra general coaches, while 12,500 new coaches have been authorised to meet increased needs. The data shows that this year’s special trains are 4,043 and above those of the total special trains of 4,429 for the previous year, as pointed out by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. . . . #diwali #indianrailways #ashwinivaishnaw #namasteinformed

What do you think India needs a caste census for? 📌 India’s last caste census was conducted in 1931. The Brits began this exercise in 1881, being the big believers of divide and rule they were, as the caste census had brought in further divisions in the society. Why is the demand for a caste census loud in 2024 all of a sudden, then? 🗞️ In 2023, Bihar’s Caste Census came into the limelight as its CM Nitish Kumar remarked, “The survey has not only considered one’s caste but also one’s economic status, which would help us devise further policies and plans for the development of all classes.” As the caste census has been called a “social x-ray” by Rahul Gandhi, LoP, its demand has been an outcry for social justice by the opposition. 📋 While this controversial counting survey in India could propel representation of marginalised communities and affect reservation quotas, it faces the risk of being used by political parties to tap into vote banks and make vote bank-centric policies. Does India need a caste census or an economic survey to achieve the measure of representation and resource distribution? Comment down below! . . #namastedemocracy #caste #castecensus #biharcastecensus #rahulgandhi

📌 Sociologist M.N. Srinivas first coined the term in the 1950s to describe how certain communities acted as “vote banks” by consistently backing particular parties due to promises of material benefits or political representation. 📋 While some political parties may form a culture of appeasing specific groups of people within a society, others may encourage the development of polarised sentiment in order to rally people from a similar background behind them. This strategy is one of electioneering where the main emphasis is placed on the actual polls rather than engendering societal progression or working out solutions to social problems such as the economy, education, and health. 🗞️ Vote bank politics not only strengthens these cleavages but also creates new lines of cleavages with identity as opposed to the nation as a whole. 🔗 Elected leaders can be more concerned with making sure they get things accomplished, thus catering to certain groups’ needs, than necessarily being concerned about the developmental needs of the country. . . #votebankpolitics #elections #indiaelects #voters #namasteinformed

Tax Tweaks Ahead? ❓The 54th meeting was held by the GST Council with a Group of Ministers (GoM) under the convenorship of Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary was held on 19th October 2024, where GST reforms were discussed. The panel included ministers from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Meghalaya, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana. 📌 As per the panel, term life insurance policies and health insurance premiums for senior citizens are likely to be exempted from GST. Moreover, there were recommendations to revisit GST on various items. A loss of Rs 2,200 crore is expected from exemption on GST for senior citizen’s health insurance, and a loss of Rs 200 crore from exemption on term life insurance. 🔗 If these recommendations are approved, GST on packaged drinking water of 20 litres and above will drop from 18% to 5%. GST for bicycles priced under Rs 10,000 and exercise notebooks can be expected to reduce from 12% to 5%. 📜However, shoes costing over Rs 15,000 and wristwatches above Rs 25,000 can expect an increased GST from 18% to 28%. 📋 The GoM also considered raising tax rates on certain items like aerated beverages to compensate for the expected revenue loss from lowering GST rates on common goods. The need for rationalisation has been invoked as the average GST rate is around 12.2%, below the revenue-neutral rate of 15.3%. 🔗 Experts have cited that this move could potentially lead to an additional revenue surplus of Rs 22,000 crore as common items will become more affordable while prices will be hiked on luxury goods (Business Standard, 2024). The GoM is expected to submit its report by the end of October. The GST Council will meet in November 2024 to decide on the rate recommendations. #gst #financeindia #namastedemocracy

📜The Jeevan Rekha Express was a joint initiative of Indian Railways, the Health Ministry and Impact India Foundation. This organisation was founded by Zelma Lazarus in 1983 with active support from the United Nations Development Program, the World Health Organisation, the United Nations Children’s Fund, and most prominently, the Tata group. 📌 There is a medical car fitted with an ophthalmologic testing room, dental unit, laboratory, X-ray unit, and an auditorium. It also has two operation theatres and five tables, three dental chairs, a gynaecology clinic and a pathology lab. The train is fully air-conditioned and has constant CCTV monitoring. It was impactful during the Covid-19 period when Indian Railways had turned sleeper cars into isolation wards for rural people. 🔗 Train rolls frequently in rural India and performs medical camps for the needy society. This train also moves all over the rural part of India to offer medical health to the needy populations. It has been involved in projects in over one hundred and sixty districts across twenty-six Indian states. The train receives financial support from IIF, international charitable organisations, Indian companies and other contributors. 🗞️ The Lifeline Express has had a major impact on the rest of the world, such that other countries have replicated this idea. China now has four such trains, South Africa has two, and Bangladesh and Cambodia each have a riverboat hospital. . . . #LifelineExpress #IndianRailways #HealthcareOnWheels #ImpactIndia #ZelmaLazarus

What are Special Investigation Teams? 📌Ever encountered the term SIT while reading about a high-profile case on the news? Well, a Special Investigation Team is a specialised unit within the law enforcement framework of India that is constituted to handle complex and high-profile criminal cases that require intense scrutiny and investigation. 📜SITs conduct in-depth investigations in cases assigned to them, gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and analysing forensic reports. SITs often handle cases related to corruption, terrorism, organised crime, human trafficking, and other serious offences. 💡The team, led by an officer of the rank of Superintendent of Police or above, consists of senior police officers, forensic experts, legal advisors, and technical specialists. SITs are formed when the existing investigative agencies are not perceived to be able to conduct a proper investigation into the matter. 🖇️Both SITs and the CBI are empowered to investigate criminal cases, but the CBI has wider jurisdiction and can take up cases independently, whereas SITs are usually formed for specific incidents or cases based on orders from the authorities. 📋In the past, one of the most famous cases handled by a SIT was the Delhi riots of 1984. In other instances, SITs have proven their efficiency in cases like the Mumbai terror attacks and the Vyapam scam. However, SITs also face significant challenges and have failed in the past, too, as there have been at least ten failed cases out of the 12 during 2011-16 when SITs were given charge. . . #SpecialInvestigationTeam #SIT #LawEnforcement #CriminalJustice #namastedemocracy

“No one can destroy iron, but its own rust can.” 📌 The former Chairman of Tata Sons, Ratan Tata, was one of India’s most influential businessmen. He led a remarkable life, driven by vision, ethics and an unwavering commitment to transform India and the global society. 🗞️ Operating in over 100 countries, Tata’s influence spans across industries, from fashion and automotive to consultancy and hospitality. The group comprises 30 companies, with Tata Sons serving as the principal investment holding firm. As of March, 2024, the Tata Group includes 26 publicly listed firms with a combined market capitalization exceeding $365 billion. 📋 Ratan Tata’s philanthropic efforts are much admired, as he has invested in education, healthcare, digital innovations and social welfare. He has backed over 50 startups, including Paytm and Ola Electric, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tata Trusts committed substantial resources of about 500 crore rupees in monetary assistance to support healthcare initiatives. The 86-year-old industrialist, business icon and humanitarian breathed his last on 9th October, 2024. He once said, “”If you want to walk fast, walk alone. But if you want to walk far, walk together”. Tata will be remembered for driving purpose with profits and for reaching every nook of the Indian society while marking his legacy on the globe. . . . #ratantata #ratantataquote #tatagroup #namastedemocracy

What is a Show Cause Notice? 📜 A show cause notice is a legal notice used to seek an explanation from an individual or an organisation regarding any misconduct, non-compliance, or untoward incidents. In such a case, the recipient of the notice must respond with in writing to the notice, explaining their side of the situation and providing any evidence or arguments to support their case. ⭕A show cause notice also warns that disciplinary action may be taken if either party fails to provide an adequate explanation based on the seriousness of the offence. The recipient typically has 7 days [as per Section 148A(b)] to respond to a show cause notice. 📌A show cause notice can be issued in the contexts of employment, contractual breaches, government agencies and officials, educational institutions, and legal proceedings. 📋These notices serve as a means for regulatory bodies and authorities to enforce compliance with legal requirements and standards. The issuance of a show cause notice also signifies a formal acknowledgement of the recipient’s rights to due process. Individuals or entities should be allowed to be heard and defend themselves before any adverse actions are taken against them. . . #ShowCauseNotice #LegalNotice #LegalProceedings