N ITI Aayog’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index 2020-21 has ranked Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu ahead of other states in meeting welfare goals such as ending poverty and ensuring gender equality by 2030, while Assam, Jharkhand and Bihar are lagging behind. NITI Aayog launched t
With the country’s healthcare infrastructure reeling under the humungous pressure of the menacing second wave of Covid-19 cases, India Inc is joining forces in the fight against the pandemic. Companies such as the Tata Group, Reliance Industries Limited, JSW Group, Adani, ITC, and Jindal Steel and
India is in the grip of a deadly second wave of the Covid-19 epidemic, and efforts have been made by the governments in various states to mitigate the impact and avoid lockdowns as far as possible. It will take a Herculean effort on part of the government and the health sector to tide over the [&hel
A study published in The Lancet, a weekly peer-reviewed general medical journal, has stated that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is an airborne pathogen. The report is written by six experts from the US, the UK and Canada. The report goes against the predominant scientific view which say
There is an accelerated rise in chronic non-communicable ailments like diabetes and hypertension, and they dominate communicable diseases in the total disease burden of the country. A study of two lakh people in 21 states by The Thought Arbitrage Research Institute (published by The Times of India o
As the world celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8, a UN Women report points out some interesting findings. According to the report that examines global data, women are underrepresented at all levels of decision-making worldwide, and achieving gender parity in the political space is far
In an innovative move, Chandigarh becomes the first state or Union Territory in India to launch Carbon Watch, a mobile application that helps to calculate the carbon footprint of an individual. Carbon Watch will allow users to determine their carbon footprint and will suggest ways to reduce it. Carb
Human activity—especially ships, seismic surveys, air guns, pile drivers, dynamite fishing, drilling platforms, speedboats and surfing—have made the world’s oceans an unbearably noisy place for marine life, according to a review of the impact of anthropogenic ocean noise published in the journ
A new study published recently in The Lancet Digital Health journal points out that mask-wearing is associated with better control of COVID-19 transmission in the community. The study links data from a survey of more than 3,00,000 people in the US with localised estimates of virus transmission based
Instances of deaths of birds due to bird flu in Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, and Maharashtra have triggered a scare among people, and hatcheries have witnessed a 15-25 per cent impact on sales. Bird flu, or avian influenza, is a viral infection that is reporte
As the world prepares for the launch of vaccines to end the Covid-19 pandemic, cold chain companies in India are ramping up facilities to ensure an efficient supply and logistics network. The country faces the huge task of reaching the anti-Covid vaccine to a population of over 1.3 billion. Luckily,
In a historic achievement for the Tibetan government-in-exile, the US Senate on December 21, 2020, unanimously passed, the Tibetan Policy and Support Act (TPSA) of 2020, that had been stuck at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee since May, 2020. Describing it as a historic decision, Central Tibet
In ancient Ayurveda, honey is used for various beneficial purposes, boosting overall health and immunity. In the wake of Covid, the Ministry of AYUSH suggested various preventive measures including mixing of clove powder with natural honey to clear throat irritation. Natural honey has a lower glycem
Addressing a G-20 summit event “Safeguarding the Planet: The Circular Carbon Economy Approach”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “Climate change must be fought not in silos but in an integrated, comprehensive and holistic way.” PM Modi added that India is not only meeting its Paris Agreeme
The Covid-19 pandemic has tested the resilience of our healthcare system. Although budgetary allocations for healthcare have been increasing, a huge gap remains between demand and supply. Healthcare in India is a story of contrasts: conditions in remote areas leave much to be desired while swank hos
The age old typical “in office” environment of work changed overnight due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Organisations were forced to reorganise and give out options of work from home to employees, who were provided with hardware so the work could continue in spite of the challenges. Adapting to the
On September 18, the United States of America lost a fervent champion of gender equality: Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Despite the pandemic, scores of people gathered spontaneously outside the Marble Palace that houses the nine Supreme Court Justices, to mourn the loss of the eminent j
The unprecedented level of urbanisation witnessed all over the globe brings opportunities and problems to governments, businesses and the society at large. The pressure on urban spaces reinforces the need for smarter, more resilient cities. Under the government’s flagship Smart Cities Project, lau
Climate change concerns have been stoking an unfathomable fear: is this an irreversible meltdown? Environmental scientists have been assessing the damages and suggesting mitigation strategies. For India, tackling methane (CH4) is of vital importance as “India is among the top four emitters of CH4
The new National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, was unveiled by the Ministry of Education on July 30. The long-due changes proposed include an overhaul of the education system, teaching and assessment systems in schools, colleges as well as teacher’s professional-level training. The sweeping change
Online education has grown over the years and has recently gained mainstream acceptance globally, post the breakout of the Covid-19 pandemic. Digital education is flexible and cost-effective, however, access to electricity is crucial to the digital world. Given the number of hours, a majority of the
The recent suicide by acclaimed Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput has brought up the issue of mental health onto national spotlight. Despite living a highly gifted life marked by stupendous success, it has been reported that he was battling serious mental health issues (https://www.hindustantimes
Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to adapt to alternative methods of doing jobs. Disposal of justice is vital to a thriving democracy, and the courts have been adapting, by resorting to virtual trials, giving the option of e-filing of cases, and by taking up important matters through video-
The first COVID-19 vaccine to reach phase 1 clinical trial has been found to be safe, well-tolerated, and able to generate an immune response against SARS-CoV-2 in humans, according to new Chinese research published in the medical journal, The Lancet. The study involved trial among 108 healthy adult
Coronavirus and its impact are here to stay for long. Many nations are also fearing a second wave of the spread of the virus. In India, the number of Covid-19 cases has crossed 24,000, with 775-plus deaths so far. In a detailed feature, Mint Lounge examines the challenge from zoonotics with eye-open
Putting the word together again after Coronavirus is going to be a mammoth task, given that the crisis has challenged us over various levels—medical, economic, social and psychological, to list a few broad parameters. Hopefully, the learning lessons will help us move to a better world. Examining a
Dealing with the neocoronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is likely to become stressful for most people. Fear and anxiety about the invisible predator, and the inability to predict how long it will last, can be overwhelming, and trigger strong emotions in adults and children. The US-based Centers for Dise
In a video outreach effort, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, shared expert advice on how to avoid contracting COVID-19. Life is changing dramatically, he said. “Most severe situations can be turned around. Taking care of your physical and mental hea
The noecoronavirus outbreak is threatening to change our world, and our understanding of it, in many ways. The fight with the invisible enemy—the Covid-19 virus, its menacing fast spread, the breakdowns of reputed health systems, quarantines and lockdowns, the spine-chilling rising graphs of death
The new coronavirus outbreak has created an unprecedented situation around the world. This is the first viral outbreak of this scale that the world is witnessing. It’s important to break the chain of transmission and reduce the chances of spreading until a vaccine or some other reliable medical in
The novel coronavirus outbreak has wreaked havoc on the world’s second largest economy, and isolated its people. It has spread to over 27 countries. The Hindustan Times reported on February 23 that new cases have doubled in South Korea, Iran has reported 10 more infections, the second patient in I
Awareness camps will aid govt efforts battling cancer Cancer is the second leading cause of deaths globally, and was responsible for an estimated 9.6 million deaths in 2018, and globally, about 1 in 6 deaths occur due to cancer, mentions the World Health Organisation (WHO) factsheet. WHO also mentio
Dr SK Sarin with Lifetime Achievement Award The Gfiles Governance Awards, 2019, that were presented to 15 recipients, on December 12, 2019, in New Delhi, at a gathering of distinguished guests, highlighted the importance of innovation in governance, and in a break from tradition, the Lifetime Achiev
As Delhi’s air pollution spiked to unprecedented levels for days together, around Diwali, in yet another case of judicial activism, the Supreme Court intervened, and summoned officials from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Delhi is notorious for its reputation of turning into a gas chamber, ever
NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir made history on October 18, 2019, with the world’s first-ever all-women spacewalk. It was the first spacewalk for Meir, as she became the 15th woman overall and the 14th US woman to spacewalk, reports India Today. Marking the event as unprecedented i
There are studies that show that 70 percent of the health problems that require hospitalisation are preventable through basic hygiene, health education and awareness. Women folk, particularly in rural communities, are vulnerable as lack of awareness, poor hygiene and social taboos impact their overa
Menstruation perpetuates humanity and yet it is a taboo subject in most societies, with many myths surrounding it. Menstruating women and girls are subjected to religious, food-related, domestic and sexual prohibitions. For millions of women and girls of marginalised sections, there are no toilets,
It is ironic that though awareness of green concerns are high, implementation at the micro-level lags behind. Campaigns with emotional tags are likely to reach the target audience more effectively. Emotive messages help to steer the change. Many would recall Amitabh Bachchan’s effective polio ad t
Like many countries across the globe that are facing water crisis, India too is in the midst of water woes. A few months back there was a news report that the Chennai metro station had to close down one of its washrooms due to lack of water! The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has formed a […]
The revoking of Kashmir’s special status is going to be one of the most historic decisions taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On August 5, 2019, the Union government abrogated Article 370 of the Indian Constitution which had guaranteed special status to J&K, scrapped Article 35A that prot
Corporate Affairs Ministry will now be able to give directions to companies to ensure compliance with CSR norms The Parliament has passed amendments to the Companies Act, advocating for stricter laws governing corporate social responsibility (CSR). Violation of CSR norms will attract fines for both
In a recent study, published in the Economic Political Weekly, authors Dipti Gupta and others assessed the state of innovation in the Indian public administration, by analysing the 103 policies and initiatives by departments of central and state governments that secured the Prime Minister’s Awards
The delayed monsoon this year has severely affected many areas in the country, and especially Chennai, which has been reeling under severe water shortage. According to World Health Organization (WHO), by 2025, half of the global population will be living in “water-stressed areas”. According to t
Being in the rat race and meeting deadlines daily are sure causes of mental health disorders. Don’t we hear of dreadful mishaps relating to road rage every other day? However, this impact on health is increased manifold in conflict ridden areas of the world. According to an analysis of 129 studies
The sun’s blazing hot rays do untold damages to the skin. With summer at its peak, it is not recommended to go out without applying a sunscreen of at least 50 SPF on the exposed areas of face and body to ward off the dangers of the UV rays. A new study, reported in Down […]
The corporate social responsibility (CSR) movement began as a response to pave the way for corporations to play a role in ameliorating social problems due to their economic clout and overarching presence in daily life. CSR funds are channelised for eradicating hunger, poverty, malnutrition and promo
Increasing rates of alcohol use suggest that the world is not on track to achieve targets against harmful alcohol use, according to a study of 189 countries’ alcohol intake between 1990-2017 and estimated intake up to 2030, published in a study released on May 3, 2019, by the global prestigious me
Early this month, on April 10, NASA released the first-ever photograph of a black hole. The picture was captured by an international network of radio telescopes called the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT). The breakthrough heralded a revolution in our understanding of the universe’s most enigmatic ob
Counterfeit medicines in India are harming the most vulnerable populations. They were recently also found at a pediatric hospital in Kashmir and are suspected to have played a role in hundreds of infant deaths in the past few years. The Wire reports that globally the manufacture and distribution of
Australian activist Philip Wollen, former Vice-President of Citibank and General Manager at Citicorp, at 34 years, left the glamour of a high-profile corporate career, turned vegan, and has since been a leading star in global environment movements. He is a prominent member of the animal rights movem
World Water Day is celebrated around the world each year on March 22. The theme UN selected for 2019 is “Leaving no one behind”. It encourages people to consider marginalised groups as these are often overlooked and discriminated against, when they try to access safe water. A new report by globa
According to press reports on March 19, five years after the Lokpal Act was notified to probe corruption cases against public servants, the government appointed former Supreme Court judge Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose as the country’s first Lokpal or anti-corruption ombudsman. A Selection Committee
Essence of Holi …over the years For many Indians, Holi is synonymous with playing with the coloured powders of abeer and gulal, consumption of thandai, a milk-based drink spiked with bhang (cannabis) for the adventurous, and savouring gujjiyas (sweet deep-fried dumplings made with suji or maida an
In a first for India, the Rajasthan government is soon going to bring legislation on social accountability, which will ensure better delivery of goods and services, make officials accountable and enable free flow of information with public at large. The move follows a protracted campaign by civil ri
In today’s data-driven environment, it can be frustrating when you do not have data at your fingertips. A business dashboard is an information tool used to track performance relevant to a business, department, or a specific process. Through the use of data graphics, dashboards simplify complex dat
FSSAI’s helpful manual doles out tips to conduct tests at home It is common knowledge and any newspaper/Google search will tell you that adulteration in commonly consumed foods like milk, spices, sugar and others, is a huge health hazard. Even vegetables and fruit need to be thoroughly checked to
A WHO report released in May this year mentions that India has 14 out of the 15 most polluted cities of the world The WHO global air pollution database released in Geneva this year reveals that India has 14 out of the 15 most polluted cities of the world. WHO’s database comprises more than 4,000 [
Research authors caution against overuse of the life-saving intervention that is not without risk for mother and child, and is associated with complications in future births. The number of babies born in India through caesarean section doubled from 2005-6 to 2015-16, according to a series of three p
Pride won over prejudice when the Supreme Court recently decriminalized consensual homosexual activity. However, the battle to change over 100 years of old mindset has just begun. September 6, 2018 will go down as a red-letter day in the fight for choice, one more shibboleth broken in the pursuit of
As lakhs of Malyalis return to their homes now to retrieve the fragments of their broken lives, it is imperative to dwell on the reasons for this wrath that befell from the heavens. Environmentalists lament that warnings of history, geography and scientific evidence were ignored. Several government
AS political parties gear up for the general elections in 2019, what’s going to be crucial is the agriculture sector. To begin with, the promise of acche din literally caught the famers’ imagination, and it is believed that nearly half of the landowning farmers voted for the BJP in 2104. Howe
According to a first-of-its-kind World Bank study, soaring temperatures, changing monsoon and rainfall patterns arising from climate change could cost India 2.8 percent of GDP and severely impact the living standards of nearly half of the country’s population by 2050. Chhattisgarh and Madhya Prade
World Bank study says “climate migrants” will be moving from vulnerable areas to escape water scarcity, crop failure, sea-level rise and storm surges. Niti Singh Reports A recent World Bank study brings out the relationship between migration and climate change. The report “Groundswell—Prepa
Development does not always augur good tidings. At least 28 people have been lynched since May 2018 due to rumours circulated on social media. The messaging app WhatsApp has been used as a platform to spread hate and fake news. The less-privileged are targeted. What is startling in recent cases of l
