Retrospective environmental approvals refer to the practice of granting environmental clearances to projects after they have already commenced construction or operations. This approach has been a subject of debate in India due to its potential negative impacts on environmental governance and legal accountability. Undermines Environmental Protection: Granting approvals after a project has started can lead to irreversible environmental damage, as harmful activities may already have taken place before any safeguards are enforced. Weakens Reg ...more

Local communities play a crucial role in the protection and conservation of forests and hills in India. Their traditional knowledge, close relationship with nature, and direct dependence on these ecosystems make them key stakeholders in conservation efforts. Communities living near forests and hills often act as the first line of defense against threats like encroachment, illegal logging, and mining. Traditional Knowledge and Sustainable Practices: Local people use their indigenous knowledge to manage forest resources sustainably. They prac ...more

Political leaders' visits to states before elections are common in India and can have significant impacts on both local governance and public perception. These visits are often highly publicized and serve multiple strategic purposes for political parties. Influence on Local Governance: Administrative Disruption: Such visits often require extensive security arrangements and logistical support from the local administration, which can temporarily divert resources and attention from regular governance activities. Policy Announc ...more

The government of India has made provisions to reserve 10%-25% of jobs in various government sectors for ex-servicemen, aiming to provide them with post-retirement employment. However, the actual employment rate of ex-servicemen in these jobs remains very low, around 1.9%. This gap can be attributed to several administrative, structural, and social reasons. Mismatch in Skill Sets: Skills acquired in the armed forces often do not align with the requirements of most civilian government jobs, making it difficult for ex-servicemen to compete fo ...more

Coercive loan recovery practices involve the use of threats, harassment, or forceful tactics by lenders or their agents to recover dues from borrowers. These unethical methods have far-reaching consequences on the relationship between citizens and financial institutions, as well as on the broader financial ecosystem. Erosion of Trust: When borrowers face harassment, they lose faith in the fairness and safety of dealing with financial institutions. This can deter people from accessing formal credit channels. Reluctance to Borrow: Fear of c ...more