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On January 25, India observed National Voters’ Day, which aims to promote electoral awareness and encourage informed participation. Close on the heels of the moment, let us take a close look at how voter participation and political behaviour have evolved over the past decade. Lokniti-CSDS survey data offer important insights into the stability of electoral … Read more

Among the nearly 100 people who died during the U.S. military incursion in Venezuela that led to the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro, there were 32 Cubans who were part of Mr. Maduro’s security detail. Their presence reflects the intricate relations shared between Havana and Caracas. Ever since Venezuela has been ruled by the Bolivarians, … Read more

Telangana is the richest among major Indian States, with highest per capita income. In 2022-23, the latest year for which data for all States are available, the figure for Telangana stood at ₹3.54 lakh (at current prices). For Karnataka it was ₹3.44 lakh, Haryana ₹3.24 lakh, Gujarat ₹3.1 lakh, Tamil Nadu ₹3.09 lakh, Kerala ₹2.9 … Read more

The Ministry of Finance is set to scrap curbs on Chinese firms bidding for government contracts, which were introduced in 2020. The curbs were imposed following a deadly clash between the countries’ troops in the Galwan Valley. They required Chinese bidders to register with an Indian government committee and obtain political and security clearances. According … Read more

In 1946, the U.S. put a price on Greenland for the first time. The country’s then-president, Harry Truman, offered Denmark $100 million in gold, which Copenhagen refused. More than half a century later, Donald Trump, another U.S. president, has doubled down on his quest for U.S. control of Greenland. But this time, the stakes are … Read more

(1) BJP-Mahayuti clinches BMC, major civic bodies in Maharashtra The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its Mahayuti allies swept the Maharashtra civic elections, winning 25 of 29 municipal corporations, including the prestigious Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). This marks a significant power shift, ending the Thackeray family’s nearly three-decade dominance over the BMC. The Mahayuti alliance … Read more

Whenever voters hand a party or an alliance a big mandate, they also have very high expectations from the government. India’s electoral history shows that many parties or alliances have struggled to live up to that responsibility for long. Let us look at some of the examples where voters have given a party or an … Read more

The districts in Rajasthan, which host roughly 70% of the entire Aravalli range, are suffering from a disproportionately high volume of illegal mining, data show. While these Aravalli districts account for less than 45% of the State’s mining leases and contribute only 40% of its total mineral output, their share of illegal mining cases exceeds … Read more

On December 28th, traders in Tehran went on a strike following the Iranian rial crash, leading to sudden inflation and high commodity prices. In the two weeks since, the protests have spiralled into nationwide unrest–the largest demonstration Iran has seen since 2022–claiming more than 2,000 lives. While Iran has intensified its crackdown in its attempt … Read more

(1) Supreme Court denies bail to Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam The Supreme Court on January 5 declined to grant bail to activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case, notwithstanding their incarceration for nearly six years without the commencement of trial. A Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria, however, granted … Read more