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Kerala Shows the Way: Says No to Centre’s Smart Meter Project

IN a historic move, on August 25, 2023, the Kerala government declared its decision to not implement the central government-imposed TOTEX model prepaid smart metering project. This notorious TOTEX model prepaid smart metering initiative, operating under the framework of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), is designed to generate profits for private corporations such as Adani and TATA.

How Modi Govt has Saffronised Education

WITH the formation of the RSS-BJP central government under the leadership of Narendra Modi in 2014, a national level saffronisation campaign in education began in right earnest. After returning with a huge majority in 2019, this campaign reached its pinnacle. In this second phase, the National Education Policy (NEP) was implemented in the entire country by bypassing the parliament amidst the calamity of Covid pandemic and ensuing lockdowns. The basic purpose of this National Education Policy-2020 is the policy of centralisation, commercialisation and communalisation.

Lunar Soft Landing Success: Future Tasks and Challenges

THE Chandrayaan-3 Mission to make a soft landing on the moon is already a success, whatever happens during the remainder of the lunar day, that is, the next 13 earth days starting yesterday, August 23. Both the Vikram Lander and the Pragyaan Rover, both powered by solar energy available during the lunar daytime this fortnight, will go about their science tasks, gathering data and information and relaying them back to Mission Control in Bengaluru.

Crying Need for Universal Pension in India

India has low pension coverage and the pension system is unable to fulfill its purpose. A non-contributory basic pension can guarantee a regular income in old age to all residents of the country, regardless of earning or occupation. A state convention organised by the Kerala unit of the All India Insurance Pensioners Association (AIIPA) at EMS Town Hall, Ernakulam, demanded introduction of non-contributory basic pension that will guarantee a regular income in old age to all residents.Prof.

Neoliberal Guidelines to Burden Urban People

THE union government issued two sets of guidelines on June 19 to all state governments, asking them to implement urban reforms. In order to ensure the implementation of these reforms, a carrot of monetary incentive is dangled before them. This initiative reflects the BJP-led central government's push towards the aggressive implementation of neoliberal reforms.Before delving into the current guidelines, it is important to recap the previous directives issued by the central government during the COVID lockdown.

Uniformity versus Equal Rights

SOCIAL reform movements for women’s rights have historically fought the uniformity of male privilege and each step forward has been in a specific socio-economic and political context. Admittedly in India, in the 75th year of our independence, the legal framework for women’s rights, though certainly vastly improved, is still ridden with discriminations, biases and cultural prejudice. There is little doubt that much needs to be done.

US-India Military Deals in PM’s US Visit

TWO major headline-grabbing defence equipment deals, the focus of this article, were signed during the PM’s recent State visit to the US.The US is to sell 31 unmanned armed Reaper MQ-9B drones to India, 15 for the navy and eight each for the army and air force. The drones, long sought by India, would provide a new and substantial intelligence-gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capability and, when necessary, the ability to strike at targets on land and on or under the sea-surface.

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