Why Gujarat Isn’t The Financially Perfect State In India?

Many claims that Gujarat is the financially perfect state. But reality differs. 

On top of the list of India’s financially best managed states is an unlikely winner—Chhattisgarh, an underdeveloped but resource-rich state that has outperformed some of the country’s most industrialised provinces.

“The relatively new and small mineral-rich state in the eastern part of the country—Chhattisgarh—stands out as the financially most well-managed state in India, because of a revenue surplus budget and low interest payment burden,” said a research report by securities firm, Nomura, which analysed budgets of 18 states in India.

Special Report: Is The BJP Truly Concerned Or Playing 'Communal Politics' In Assam Political Scenario?

In an attempt to paint the seven sisters saffron, Amit Shah announced the BJP’s agenda to give Indian citizenship to Hindu refugees from Bangladesh as a part of their pre-poll promises, while simultaneously removing illegal Bangladeshi immigrants from India.

“Next elections will be fought on this issue. Assam poll will be for freeing the state of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. Assam polls will also be for development of Assam and North-East,” said Amit Shah at a rally in Guwahati.

Special Report: Rising AIMIM On India Map, Owaisi's Facing Undemocratic Attitude And 'Hinduvta Hurdles'

It is one thing to critique a political leader, quite another to endorse the denial of democratic rights to him or her. There is no denying that the democratic right of Owaisi has been trampled upon. 

You only have to look at the manner in which the Uttar Pradesh government of Akhilesh Yadav has been refusing permission to him to address the AIMIM rallies in the state.

Himalayan Tragedy: A Catastrophe Waiting To Happen?

EDITORIAL: Nepal earthquake should jolt India into robust disaster mitigation measures. The 7.9 magnitude earthquake that hammered Nepal, killing at least 6,000 and reducing to rubble hundreds of buildings and human dwellings, is the worst the country has suffered in 81 years. 

Nepalese Premier Sushil Koirala's impassioned appeal for international humanitarian aid has been heard by Prime Minister Narendra Modi ­ who acted swiftly to despatch an Indian emergency aid and rescue team ­ as well as other global leaders.

Focus: AIMIM's Maharashtra Victory To Echo All Over India

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Mus limeen (AIMIM) popularly known as MIM, fought a high-octane Aurangabad Municipal election and with vigour that is not generally associated with civic polls. 

The party entered the fray against the backdrop of a defeat of its Bandra East Raja Rahbar candidate in a by-election where he received only about 15,000 votes, around 8,000 less than his tally in the previous contest. It was observed that the Muslims in Bandra had largely voted for the Congress candidate Narayan Rane, who lost to BJP.

Nepal Earthquake Disaster: Above 3500 Killed, Fresh Tremors Rattles India, Nepal, Relief Operations In Full Swing, Himalayan Avalanche Killed 300, Many Missing

SPECIAL REPORT: Fresh strong aftershock hit Nepal and parts of north India, a day after the Himalayan nation was hit by an earthquake of magnitude of 7.9. It triggered another avalanche in the HImalayas.

The United States Geological Survey said the tremor was 6.7 magnitude, less than the 7.9 quake that struck the region killing at least 3,500 people. Parts of north and east India too experienced the tremors. Experts have said that more aftershocks may follow for a few days. A total fo 35 aftershocks have hit the Himalayan region so far.

Jai Ho! Democracy: A Chicken, Indo-Pak Enmity, Buffoonery

FILM REVIEW: Jai Ho! Democracy is the kind of film that’s considered an outlier in Bollywood. It doesn’t feature a central character, songs or a popular mainstream A-lister, although the film’s ensemble cast features well-known, fine actors. 

Directors Ranjit Kapoor and Bikramjeet Singh Bhullar bore the brunt of this unlikely casting choice — Jai Ho! Democracy has been lying unreleased for around a year and a half, until Bhullar stepped in as a producer.

Special Report: Global Brands Drive More Than 6,000 Crore In India’s Active Sportswear Market

If there is one market segment that is clearly marked by the dominion of global brands in India – it’s active sportswear. 

From a segment driven by a collection of largely unorganized and homegrown SMEs two decades ago, today these international icons have not just made the market much more organised but have bolstered its overall size to over Rs. 6,000 crores. Many pure-play brands today are also into sports accessories, gear & equipment, while others have expanded their offerings to include sports-inspired product lines.

Analysis: Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi Or Sitaram Yechury - Who Can Claim To Speak For The Poorest?

One was being launched, another was being re-launched and a third was simply re-calibrating.

One was being launched, another was being re-launched and a third was simply re-calibrating. A political Sunday saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and new Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury all take to the stage to insist that they represent the people – putting in very different performances.

Fashion: Latest Trends In Gold Jewellery Designs In India

Jewelery in India has drawn upon the many facets of its people, and has in turn been inspiration and solace to both wearer and beholder. Sculptors and painters transgressed boundaries between the real, the ideal and the imaginary, profusely embellishing their images with ornaments. 

To the many classical writers, gold was a source of enchanting visual metaphors. Rulers used jewels as statements of power and prestige. But to the Indian woman particularly, gold holds special significance to her life.

Special Report: 'Bird Flu Scare' Makes Huge Loss To Telangana And Andhra Pradesh Poultry Industry

The bird flu outbreak in Telangana has the Rs 20,000 crore turnover poultry industry in the two states of Andhra Pradesh and T running scared as it comes at a time when the sector has been bleeding due to adverse market conditions.

While the Telangana government's decision to initiate the process to cull around 1.45 lakh birds in Ranga Reddy district will strike an immediate Rs 30 crore blow to the industry, poultry players are worried that the bird flu alert will scare consumers off poultry products for at least 7-10 days, resulting in further losses for the industry on which lakhs of farmers are dependent in the two states.

The Plight Of The 10,000 Sex Workers In Kolkata Red Area

The muggy midday heat pervades everything, mixing with the stench of car fumes and summer-fatigued bodies. I venture into a web of dusty alleyways, pock-marked with holes, and rickshaw-wallahs taking refuge in the shade of ramshackle buildings. 

The occasional honk of a horn is the only sound that breaks the murmuring quiet that has settled over this sleepy pocket of town. Beside the gateway to an abandoned rubbish pit, a young woman rocks a baby on her knees.

The Politics Of Fiscal Federalism: Rs.1,85,000 Crore Bonanza To States Shouldn't Result In Regional Cronyism

The NDA government has sought to fundamentally alter the Centre-State funding patterns as part of its idea of "cooperative federalism" which is so close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's heart. 

For instance Central assistance for critical developmental programmes being implemented by states relating to health, child development, education, rural drinking water, housing etc has been reduced drastically by about Rs 75,000 crore in finance minister Arun Jaitley's budget for 2015-16.

Why People Avoid Grains, Wheat While Navaratri Fasting?

Navratri is one of the most important festivals of Hindus, celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm and excitement all across the country. Traditionally associated with Goddess Durga and worshipping her nine incarnations, the festival holds significance in north India, West Bengal, as well as the central and western regions of the country.

While some strictly believe in holding fast for all nine days, most people fast only on the first and the last days, and a few just abstain from consuming alcohol, onion, garlic or non-vegetarian items.

The Horror of Indian Jails: Dark Sub-Culture Dominated By Murky Underworld Of Organized Gangs And Criminals Supported By Poor Legal Aid And Careless Machinery

Right to Justice bill: Helplessness, psychological disorders torture Indian prisoners. An extensive investigation by INNLIVE reporters across the country has exposed a dark sub-culture thriving in jails across the country, not very different from the murky underworld of organised gangs and criminals. In the absence of proper legal aid, the poor and the vulnerable, especially women and youngsters, unwittingly become part of the sordid system.

Any discussion on prisoners in a sympathetic manner evokes a sharp response: "Why should you worry about these people? They are dangerous criminals, murderers and rapists, why complain if they are ill treated ? They deserve it." 

Special Report: The Shrinking Islands Of The World’s Largest Mangroves Have Triggered A Refugee Crisis

India is drastically losing land in the Sundarbans—a cluster of 54 islands in West Bengal—to climate change.

Recent satellite analysis by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) shows that in the last ten years, 3.7% of the mangrove and other forests in the Sundarbans have disappeared, along with 9,990 hectares of landmass, due to erosion.

The Sundarbans—a vast mangrove delta shared between India’s West Bengal and Bangladesh—is an immensely fragile ecosystem. One of the biggest threats, as it has turned out, is sea-level rise driven by climate change.

'Bindi' A Fashion Symbol, A Mark Or A 'Marriage Status'?

Is the bindi a fashion statement, a caste mark or a marriage symbol? It is all three. Placed within contemporary perspectives, it is debatable whether it is popular television that has resurrected the bindi as a cosmetic to enhance the feminine image of woman. 

History shows that men of royalty, priestly families and high caste men in India sported a mark at the centre of their foreheads as a mandatory cultural custom.

Sunday Interview: 'Confident To Expand MIM's National Footprint To Become A 'National Party': Asaduddin Owaisi

All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen chief insists that he isn't a 'coolie of secularism' either.

As the leader of a small Hyderabad-based party, Asaduddin Owaisi has been punching above his weight. He is the sole representative in the Lok Sabha of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen, better known as MIM, but that hasn't stopped him from presuming to speak on behalf of Indian Muslims both within and outside Parliament.

Over the last year, Owaisi has risen in prominence, partly due to his combative opposition to Hindutva rhetoric, but also because of electoral victories in Maharashtra.

Is Most Wanted Don 'Dawood Ibrahim' Is Behind The 4,000 Cr Lottery Scam Backed By Pak Based Crime Syndicate?

As confidence tricks go, this one is not novel. But the sheer amount of money involved and the trail leading to Pakistan - possibly to a certain Dawood Ibrahim - make it a thriller. 

The Intelligence Bureau (IB) has alerted the government about fraudulent lottery schemes run across India by an organised syndicate in Pakistan, which employs Indian agents to suck huge amounts of money from the gullible.

#BeefBan: What Are The Cows Really Getting Out Of It?

Animal lovers, are you overjoyed at the passing of the new Act that bans slaughter of bulls, bullocks and cows in Maharashtra? Do you believe that the Act serves to preserve and protect cows from horrendous cruelty, misery and loss of life? 

I am an animal lover by all definitions and I decided to take a closer look at this piece of state legislation that finds its roots in a 2000-year-old history of religion, spirituality and economics.