THE recent press release by the National Statistical Office on the provisional estimates of National Income quarterly estimates for the fourth quarter (January to March) together with the provisional estimates for the year 2022-23 deserves attention. It provides estimates for GDP and related figures of 2022-23 in current and constant 2011-12 prices with the corresponding figures of 2020-21 (2nd Revised estimates) and of 2021-22 (1st Revised Estimates).The crucial headlines of the statistics from the recent press release are the following.

HUNDREDS of disabled people from various states in India assembled at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, on June 10, protesting against the union government’s refusal to enhance disability pensions, provide other social security measures or Antayodaya Anna Yojana cards, or jobs under MNREGA, etc. The protest was organised by the National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD), an affiliating body of state-level disability rights organisations.A six-member delegation met the secretary of the department of empowerment of persons with disabilities (DEPwD) Rajesh Aggarwal, and submitted a detail

AFTER a relative lull, for some period, in the well planned united political initiatives by the Left and democratic parties in Maharashtra, winds are gathering speed in that direction. This was evident in the two-day statewide study camp conducted at Pune on July 9 and 10, 2023, organised by the progressive parties and attended by over 1200 main activists of these parties.Concerted efforts, in a steady and sure manner in this direction, were in offing for some time.

What’s happening in Manipur, coupled the deafening silence of the prime minister, indicates a lack of political will or plan to foster reconciliation among the warring communities. Instead of being a peacemaker, BJP chief minister Biren Singh is seen as an impediment to the process of rapprochement    MANIPUR has been on fire for over two months now, while our prime minister remains conspicuously silent.

AT a time when the private telecom companies are speedily rolling out their 5G service, BSNL has not even rolled out its 4G service. As the public sector telecom company is lagging behind in providing high speed data service, customers are leaving the company in large numbers. In 2022 alone, 77 lakh customers have left BSNL. It is at this juncture, two important announcements have been made by the government, regarding the future of the BSNL. The first one is regarding BSNL’s 4G and 5G services. The second one is about the third revival package to BSNL.