November 11, 2024

Make Shared Mobility part of Sustainability Discussions

The recent announcement of the PM E-drive (Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement) scheme marks a step towards sustainable mobility in the country. With an outlay of ₹10,900 crore for two years for the PM E-Drive scheme, the Centre intends […]
September 9, 2024

Kerala’s Patriarchal Dominance and Low Female Workforce Participation

Though Kerala has witnessed and experienced various social reform movements starting from the latter half of the 19th century, there have not been any decisive movements attacking patriarchy at a larger scale The discussion around the Hema committee report on […]
July 31, 2024

India needs to focus on its senior care economy

In the Viksit Bharat 2047 timeline, India would have transitioned from the demographic dividend phase to an ageing society. So, it is imperative to plan on building an ecosystem for senior care to address all the challenges of an ageing […]
May 20, 2024

Thiruvananthapuram needs a suburban rail network, not a metro service

The potential of building a suburban railway network surpasses that of metro systems, offering a broader opportunity for integration and connectivity. Recent media reports hint at the potential introduction of a metro rail or light metro rail system in Kerala’s capital, […]
April 8, 2024

Make better public transport a poll promise

For many decades now, the bus transport sector in India has not received sufficient attention and support from the Union government As India gears up for another general election, political parties are actively engaged in releasing their manifestos. Despite being […]
April 5, 2024

Unlocking the Potential of Municipal Financing in India

With a substantial section of the population moving to cities in quest of better opportunities and higher living standards, urbanisation is drastically changing the landscape of India. Local governments in India face both opportunities and challenges as a result of […]
February 26, 2024

Kerala KHADI and the Way Forward

In the Kerala budget 2024, “an amount of ₹ 14.80 crore is earmarked for the various activities related to Khadi and Village industries, the traditional industry which provides direct employment to around 14,000 people in weaving and spinning sectors”. The […]
February 1, 2024

Interim budget focuses on capex. Will that address lacklustre demand?

The budget is not populist, but aims at fiscal consolidation and strengthening of the economy with a lot more fiscal prudence — something that is not expected in a budget so close to the general elections. The interim budget on February […]
January 15, 2024

Transit-oriented development is the way forward for Bengaluru

In a railway project like the circular rail system, it’s crucial to ask what equity and stake local governments have in regional development, which integrates land seamlessly with infrastructure and market forces. Indian cities serve as growth engines, contributing significantly […]
December 12, 2023

Chennai is a symbol and symptom of disasters our cities are facing

A city’s resilience is an important factor in ensuring its sustainability, the well-being of its citizens, and the security of investments made Locals retrieve their belongings at Kamatchi Amman Nagar area inundated with floodwater after heavy rainfall in the aftermath […]
November 29, 2023

Elections | How far is India from online ballots?

A decentralised blockchain technology with an immutable ledger could be explored to enhance the security and transparency of voting. Another set of five assembly elections are concluding this week. As expected, the elections often bring forth discussions around the voter’s […]
November 8, 2023

Can net neutrality survive market forces?

Enforcing and regulating net neutrality is not a straightforward task. Varying capacities to understand and adapt to technological changes make net neutrality a complex ecosystem to enforce. Recently, the Department of Telecoms tried to ease nerves by saying there was […]
October 19, 2023

Global Hunger Index a stark reminder to address hunger, poverty

The challenges in addressing hunger and poverty cannot be effectively met through general schemes devised solely at the central or state levels. India’s poor ranking in the recently published Global Hunger Index brought the focus back to discussions around poverty, […]
October 6, 2023

Robust Economic Growth Critical for India to Take Care of its Elderly

A development in India’s ‘care economy’ for the elderly will depend on the wealth growth of the younger generation in the next two decades. Key Points India is at the threshold of a demographic transition marked by a surging ageing […]
April 27, 2023

Modi’s visit | BJP is customising itself for Kerala

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kerala is seen as a strategic attempt to expand the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s presence in the state, which has been historically a hard carapace to crack for the national party. Modi’s two-day visit […]