Articles

December 5, 2020

Is Metro the solution to the public transport issues of Kochi city?

An in-depth analysis of the financial situation of Kochi Metro is called for, where on one side huge losses have accrued while on the other extensions are being planned. Amidst the pandemic, phase 1 of Kochi Metro became fully operational […]
December 4, 2020

Private Buses: A Major Mode of Public Transportation in Kerala

Private buses have played a very crucial role in the social and economic development of Kerala. The State had, in the past, a unique and enterprising model in providing public transport services. But unfavourable policy decisions taken by the government […]
November 28, 2020

Dissecting Madhya Pradesh’s Political Climate Part II – The Election Narrative

With the Congress being completely dominated by the BJP in most of the 28 constituencies that went to by-polls in Madhya Pradesh, hopes of the party returning to power in the next Assembly elections have certainly diminished by a large […]
November 27, 2020

Dissecting Madhya Pradesh’s Political Climate Part I – The Defection Narrative

Madhya Pradesh’s political crisis has been at its peak since early 2020 with the dramatic political defection by Jyotiraditya Scindia and 25 MLAs from the Indian National Congress (INC) to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that led to the fall […]
November 25, 2020

ആശങ്കയുണർത്തി കേരളത്തിന്‍റെ പൊതുകടം

ആശങ്കയുണർത്തി കേരളത്തിന്‍റെ പൊതുകടം (Kerala’s Public Debt a Serious Concern) വർധിപ്പിക്കേണ്ടത് പൊതുവിഭവ സമാഹരണം (State should increase public resource mobilisation) This two part article published in Deepika Malayalam Newspaper, written by Dr Jose Sebastian Senior Fellow (Finance), CPPR; highlights the issue of […]
November 21, 2020

Afghanistan’s Stability Hinges on Regional Consensus on Peace Process

The article gives a brief introduction about the Afghan peace talks held in Doha and the resultant Intra-Afghan dialogue and the agreement over withdrawal of the US troops by April 2021. It also discusses the potential obstacles to peace due to […]
November 18, 2020

Winds of Change: Pakistan’s Play with Fire

Pakistan’s democratic institutions have been historically intertwined with its military. With the recent political unrest, inflation and economic crisis, Pakistan is witnessing a milestone in its history as a democratic republic. Political rivals have now become allies to rescue democracy […]
November 18, 2020

Amendment to Kerala Police Act and its Implications on Free Speech

This article comments on the proposed amendment to the Kerala Police Act, 2011 which seeks to penalise threatening or defamatory speech. The broad and vague wording of the provision  makes it susceptible to be used for muzzling dissent and free […]
November 17, 2020

Production Linked Scheme | The objectives and objections

Nissy Solomon and Dr D Dhanuraj Ahead of the festival season, the Union Finance Minister announced the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme worth Rs 1.45 lakh-crore to 10 key sectors with the objective to attract investments, drive domestic manufacturing, create […]
November 9, 2020

മുതൽ മുടക്കാൻ വെറും 5 ലക്ഷത്തിൽ താഴെ മതി, വരൂ നാനോ സംരംഭം തുടങ്ങാം

മഹാമാരി സൃഷ്ടിച്ച പ്രതിസന്ധി അവസരമാക്കി മുന്നോട്ടു പോകുകയാണ് വേണ്ടത്. വരും നാളുകൾ കൂടുതൽ കഠിനമാകാനാണ് സാധ്യത. തൊഴിൽ നഷ്ടപ്പെട്ടവരും വരുമാനം കുറഞ്ഞവരും പുതിയ മേച്ചിൽ പുറങ്ങൾ അന്വേഷിക്കേണ്ടിവരും. എന്നാലും പുതിയ തൊഴിൽ അനാകർഷകമായ ശമ്പളമായിരിക്കും നൽകുക. ജീവിതത്തിന്റെ രണ്ടറ്റവും കൂട്ടിമുട്ടിക്കാൻ പാടുപെടേണ്ടി വരുമെന്നർത്ഥം. ഈ സാഹചര്യത്തിൽ ‘സ്വയം തൊഴിൽ’ (Self employment) നൽകുന്ന അനന്ത സാദ്ധ്യതകൾ […]
November 5, 2020

Lack of Socio-Economic Data Disrupts Public Policy Making in Tamil Nadu

The article analyses the existing structural lacunae in the Tamil Nadu economy for decades. It also attempts to show how independent academic debates and discussions become impossible without comprehensive socio-economic data, not putting it in the public domain and its […]
October 29, 2020

കേരള കോൺഗ്രസ്(എം)ന്‍റെ മുന്നണിമാറ്റം എൽഡിഎഫിന് ഗുണകരമാകുമോ?

by ഡി. ധനുരാജ് & ഗൗതം കെ.എ. അനിശ്ചിതത്വങ്ങൾക്കും അഭ്യൂഹങ്ങൾക്കുമൊടുവിൽ കേരള കോൺഗ്രസ്(എം) തങ്ങളുടെ ഏറ്റവും പുതിയ രാഷ്ട്രീയനിലപാട് പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു. നാല് പതിറ്റാണ്ടുകൾക്ക് ശേഷം വീണ്ടും ഇടതുപക്ഷത്തേക്ക്. 2016 നിയമസഭാ തിരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പിന് ശേഷം തുടങ്ങിയ അഞ്ചുവർഷം നീണ്ട രാഷ്ട്രീയനാടകത്തിന് ഒരു  പരിസമാപ്തിയും. ജോസ് കെ. മാണിയുടെ നേതൃത്വത്തിലുള്ള കേരള കോൺഗ്രസ്(എം)ന്‍റെ മുന്നണി പ്രവേശനത്തോടുകൂടി  മധ്യതിരുവിതാംകൂറിലെ രാഷ്ട്രീയ […]
October 27, 2020

Foreign Contributions: Myth, Realities and Challenges

Analysing the various aspects of the FCRA Act, its procedures, enforcement mechanisms and challenges faced by the enforcement agencies, the article underlines the need for effective enforcement of the Act in letter and spirit so that foreign contributions are not […]
October 19, 2020

India Needs Dynamic Ecosystems for Making Smart Cities Work

The article looks at the current trend of deep apathy towards sound reasoning as well as principled approach to making public policy processes work. It highlights the need to give City-Level Advisory Forums more space to make interventions in smart […]
October 15, 2020

Caucasus on the Boil: Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict

As the world wrestles with COVID-19, a long dormant conflict in the Caucasus is unfolding having long-term consequences for the region. In the midst of COVID-19 pandemic, which has already taken a heavy toll on all aspects of human life, […]