Innholdsfortegnelse for December 6, 2021 i India Today

Grand Culmination of world’s biggest cultural Pride Prayagraj Kumbh 2019 with laurels from UNESCO. Participation from a record 230 million devotees. Beautification work of places related to Martyrs going on along with construction of zoo, water sports complex Ramgarh tal and beautification of Gorakhnath temple. Braj tirth Vikas Parishad has started development projects worth 346 crore rupees for Vrindavan and Mathura. Hali celebration at Vrindavan became famous at international level. The grandeur of Kashi Vishwanath temple has increased manifold with the construction of Kashi Vishwanath corridor in Varanasi. Now the temple is directly connected with the Ganga river. The subsidy for Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage has increased from 50 thousand rupees to I lakh rupees per person. Subsidy on Sindhu Darshan increased to 20 thousand rupees per person. Chauri Chaura Centennial…

PRADHANMANTRI KISAN SAMMAN NIDHI 37521 crore rupees has been transferred into account of 2 core 53 lakh 98 thousand farmers of the state. Uttar apradesh has been felicitated for best performance in th country in implementation of the scheme. PRADHANMANTRI MUDRA YOJANA Banks provide loans of 50 thousand to IO lakh rupees for small business and enterprises under the scheme. More than I crore 89 lakh entrepreneurs got the benefit of the scheme in UP. PRADHANMANTRI JAN DHAN YOJANA Under the scheme 7 crore 2 lakh accounts were opened in Uttar Pradesh. State became number one in the country in implementation of the scheme. ATAL PENSION SCHEME After reaching the age of 60, provision of I 000 to 5000 per month pension as per the contribution. Uttar Pradesh gave benefit…

• Pre-matric scholarships of more than Rs.153 crore have been provided to 9 lakh 98 thousand students of the state and post-matric scholarships worth more than Rs.381 crore to 2 lakh 48 thousand students.• Coaching facility was provided to 721 students under Akanksha Yojana, in which more than Rs.3 crore was spent. Through this scheme, 346 students of the state have got admission in prestigious courses like IIT, medical, law. This year 724 students are studying.• About 34 thousand claims have been validated so far by re-examination of families whose claims were earlier rejected under the Forest Rights Act.• Smart classes worth more than Rs.21 crore have been sanctioned in 370 schools of 8 tribal-dominated districts of the state.• 82 girls education complexes have been sanctioned to promote holistic education…

Chairman - Division of Ophthalmology, Medanta - The Medicity, Gurgaon, New Delhi. "A thing of beauty is a joy forever", is a famous line by the poet Keats. But what if our ability to visually perceive, that which brings us joy, starts waning with age? Cataract is a condition that will affect many of us sooner or later and which when not addressed can significantly impact daily activities. These small inconveniences in daily life cumulatively contribute to decline in the overall quality of life. Take the instance of Mrs. Anu Lal, wife of the famous Indian cricketer, Mr. Madan Lal who found that apart from daily activities, her social life was also being affected by visual disturbances. Even something as mundane as reading or applying makeup became a cumbersome task.…

With the COVID19 pandemic exerting enormous pressure on the healthcare infrastructure, the sector finds itself under the compulsion to step up. In this interview Dr. G.V. Sampath, Chairman, Naruvi Hospitals, Vellore addresses how India can make optimum use of its existing resources to meet the demands of the changing times. Chairman Naruvi Hospitals, Vellore Q What can be done to improve healthcare infrastructure, research and manpower in India? Private sector in health care delivery needs to be encouraged. Additionally, it is important for Government agencies to take cognizance of the lacunae in the state run facilities, and remove the hurdles that they put in the way of private agencies setting up good facilities. Statutory licenses and other approvals must be relaxed so that they don't act as deterrents. Centralising the…

Focus on 21st Century Skills Happiness Curriculum was introduced in Delhi Government Schools for students in nursery to grade 6 to enable them to build mindfulness through meditation, and healthy relationships with friends, family, and society. Entrepreneurship Mindset Curriculum for students in grades 9 to 12 so they would develop a problem solver's mindset, and to create job providers, not just job seekers. Nearly Blakh students take Happiness and EMC classes daily, across Delhi. Building The Foundation: Literacy and Numeracy Chunauti and Mission Buniyaad: Strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy of all students to ensure minimum learning, so they are better prepared to follow grade appropriate coursework. World Class Infrastructure Construction of new buildings and additional classrooms with high quality and modern facilities. Upgradation of amenities such as desks, blackboards, sanitation…

INDIAN POLITICS HAS BEEN seeing an encouraging trend in the past few years. Every chief minister who is freshly elected to the office makes an identical promise: to make his state among the five top-performing ones in the country. The assurance may or may not come to fruition, but the lofty goal itself is a sign of the changing socio-political ambitions of the people and their expectations from the ruling class. It fosters competition among chief ministers, making all-encompassing economic growth the centrepiece of any political narrative. And in an economy ravaged by a year and a half of the Covid-19 pandemic, this motivation and competition can come in particularly useful. The India Today Group can claim some of the credit for firing this competitive spirit. It was the first to…

TOP FIVE BIG STATES OVER THE YEARS *In 2003, big and small states were ranked together; ** In 2011, only most improved states were ranked #From 2018, states have been ranked under two categories—Best Performing (BP) and Most Improved (MI) TOP PERFORMERS IN THE BEST PERFORMING CATEGORY BIG STATES SMALL STATES TOP PERFORMERS IN THE MOST IMPROVED CATEGORY BIG STATES SMALL STATES TOP FIVE SMALL STATES OVER THE YEARS Small states were ranked separately from 2004, big and small states were ranked together earlier; ** In 2011, only most improved states were ranked #From 2018, states have been ranked under two categories—Best Performing (BP) and Most Improved (MI)…

For Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, development is not a destination but a journey. When he started the journey 16 years ago, his priorities were to restore the rule of law and pull Bihar out of poverty. He then went on to empower the state’s girls and women through education and employment. Now, hit by the pandemic, on Nitish’s to-do list is strengthening the rural economy, enhancing the skills of the youth and employment generation. The effort has shown results as Bihar emerges as the most improved big state overall this year. Its performance has been above average in 9 out of 12 parameters (see methodology), and it has topped the rankings in inclusive development, economy and education. According to the Bihar Economic Survey 2020-21, the state’s economy grew at…

On November 24, amongst the other bills to be tabled in the winter session of Parliament, the Union cabinet cleared the Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021, paving the way to nullify the three contentious farm laws, bringing joy to the state’s farmers who had vehemently opposed it. The fields of Punjab produce about 19 per cent of the nation’s wheat and 12 per cent of its paddy. The central agencies procure 85 per cent of the produce that comes to market, that too on the declared minimum support price (MSP). In the past few years, the cotton belt in the Malwa region has seen a surge in production after years of slack output. In 2020-21, the area under cotton production was more than 500,000 hectares. A major reason for this…

In 2020, Gujarat topped the states and Union territories in filing of chargesheets, 97.1 per cent cases, according to National Crime Re-cords Bureau (NCRB) data. The number of criminal cases registered increased to 381,000 from 139,000 in 2019, though around 227,000 cases were under IPC Section 188 (violation of notification issued by public servant), where people were booked for violating the norms of Covid lockdown. At 982, the number of murder cases shows a slight dip in 2020 from 993 in 2019. Using state-of-the-art technology as well as human intelligence has yielded good results in cracking crimes. The Gujarat Goonda and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act 2020 and the Gujarat Land Grabbing Prohibition Act 2020 have proved to be important tools in improving the law and order situation. ‘Operation Muskan’, launched…

For years, Haryana’s proximity to national capital Delhi counted as a huge advantage. The satellite towns to the capital, Faridabad and Gurugram, host sprawling towers housing the country headquarters to almost 300 Fortune 500 companies. But amid the pandemic and subsequent shutdowns, this almost became a huge headache for the state. Haryana had to loosen its purse strings to keep them and the auxiliary industries afloat. The state is also home to 216,115 MSMEs. Haryana started the ‘Vivaadon ka Samadhan’ initiative to help end disputes with the businesses. It is also working out sector-specific policies to boost agribusiness and food processing, textiles, warehousing and logistics, pharmaceuticals and MSMEs. According to Union ministry of commerce and industry rankings, Haryana improved from No. 14 in 2015 to No. 3 in 2017-18 in…

One example of Tripura’s success in agriculture has to do with pineapples. According to the state horticulture department, pineapples are cultivated on about 8,800 hectares in the state, with some 4,000 farmers directly involved. Tripura produces three varieties—Kew, Queen and Bombay—of which Queen pineapples are considered the most exotic and are in great demand. This has put the state on the global map—since 2019, Tripura has been exporting Queen pineapples to the UAE and other countries in the Middle East. This success is a result of the government’s focus on agriculture in recent years. With 8.64 tonnes of crop produced per hectare, Tripura’s agricultural pro ductivity is the highest among small states, and the third highest among all states in India. Agriculture accounts for 41 per cent of the sector’s…

In the first week of November, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh launched a public service delivery programme—‘Go to Village 2.0’—in the state’s Thoubal district. The objective of this programme is not just to take service delivery to people’s doorsteps but to make it more efficient as well. According to Singh, under this scheme, public service delivery camps will be organised in all the state’s 16 districts, covering Manipur’s 451,000 households in 50 days. The project will facilitate the delivery of benefits under various central and state level schemes, including PM-GKAY (the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana), PM-UY (the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana), the CM e-Support Scheme, MIDH (the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture), EDP, Startup Manipur, PM-JAY (Prad-han Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana) and CMHT (the Chief Minister-gi…

It is not very often that a state traditionally known as economically backward appears right at the top of three categories. Being adjudged the most improved state in economy, inclusive development and education reflects Bihar’s rapid strides towards all-round development. A key data that will be music to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s ears is the state’s gender parity index of 1.05, which means more girls are enrolled in school than boys. It indicates progress not only in education but inclusive development as well. Girls have outnumbered boys in enrolment for classes 6 to 10. To cite one example, in 2019, 3.33 million girls were enrolled in classes 6 to 8 in government schools as against 3.21 million boys. The number of girls taking the class 10 board examinations rose from…

In August, Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur earned praise for his state completing the first dose of Covid vaccination for all eligible citizens. The state has so far administ for all eligible citizenesred the second dose to over 85 per cent of its people. The pandemic has seen the state not only augment its healthcare facilities but also extend treatment to Covid patients from other states. Successive governments in the state have invested in extending health-care to the remote regions. In 2019, the Thakur government introduced bike and air ambulances for the rural and inaccessible areas, the cost being borne by the administration. This came in handy while shifting Covid patients for treatment and transporting vaccines. In 2018-19, Himachal had 35 doctors for every 100,000 people, up from…

West Bengal was ranked ninth by the Department of Indus-trial Policy and Promotion in ‘ease of doing business’ in 2019, but the state had begun making forays into e-governance way back in 2012. Digitisation of work has been completed in 238 of the 341 blocks. Be it land records, trade licences, building plans or welfare schemes, the delivery of government services at the municipal and panchayat levels has become simpler, faster and paperless. The achievements in governance won West Bengal five SKOCH Awards in 2021. Four of them, including the top two honours, were bagged by the MSME department for ‘Shilpa Sathi’, the single-window system that integrates clearances required from multiple departments for setting up businesses. West Bengal is one of the few states to have taken the lead in…

With more than 40 per cent of its land susceptible to flood damage—17 of 34 districts are severely affected by annual floods—drinking water and sanitation have always been a big challenge for the state. Recurring floods and erosion massively dam-age water and sanitation infrastructure. Floods in 2019 left 384 piped water supply sources, 1,733 spot sources (mostly hand tubewells) and 92,179 individual household latrines (IHHLs) damaged. Despite these setbacks, Assam has made significant success in supplying drinking water and maintaining sanitation. Around 86 per cent of households have access to improved drinking water sources. All households have IHHLs and 85 per cent of schools have toilets for girls. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s aim is to provide tap water to all households by 2024. When the Jal Jeevan Mission was…

Though agriculture has been the primary source of livelihood for people in all northeastern states, this sector has for decades been crippled by multiple challenges, including low productivity, small holdings, underutilisation of irrigation potential and inadequate infrastructure along the supply chain. Several northeastern state governments have sought to make agriculture productive and economically viable. The Manipur government, for instance, has planned for self-sustained agriculture through double cropping. This even though the state received the Union government’s Krishi Karman Award last year for being the best performing state in the overall foodgrain production category-III (production less than 1 million tonne). State chief minister N. Biren Singh hopes to almost double the production of rice—from 510,000 MT (million tonne) to 900,000 MT—over the next five years by increasing the seed replacement rate…

For the Puducherry administration and its residents, cleanliness is next to godliness. No effort is spared to ensure that the Union territory is kept clean and safe. All households use clean fuel for cooking. Another rare distinction is that all schools have toilets for girls. The UT, under the Union government’s flag-ship programme Jal Jeevan Mission, has been able to provide all homes with a tap connection and access to clean water. Puducherry is planning to get NABL accreditation/recognition for its water quality testing laboratories and to take up testing of all drinking water sources on a mission mode. It is also planning the effective treatment and reuse of grey water coming out of homes and is actively working towards water source sustain-ability. Despite the administration’s efforts, the UT is…

The Story of my Experiments with Truth (1927) by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi OM BOOKS ₹295; 568 pages The autobiography is an urtext for biographers and historians to plunder for insights into Gandhi. It dealt with his early years as a lawyer in South Africa and then the freedom struggle. My Truth (1980) by Indira Gandhi VISION BOOKS ₹195; 176 pages My Truth came out for the first time in 1980. Based on interviews, the book covers Gandhi’s life from childhood to her political highs and lows; both a memoir and a broad account of contemporary India. Twenty-One Poems (2001) by Atal Bihari Vajpayee; translated by Pavan K. Varma PENGUIN VIKING ₹299; 88 pages Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Twenty-One Poems deals with violence, power and inequality. His literary output…

Dil Bekaraar Disney+ Hotstar, Nov 26 Based on Anuja Chauhan’s popular novel Those Pricey Thakur Girls, the web series is set in 1980s Delhi. The rom-com, directed by Habib Faisal, revolves around a TV newsreader and a rebellious journalist. Hiccups & Hookups Lionsgate Play, Nov 26 The platform’s first Indian original series bills itself as “an irreverent family dramedy” with Lara Dutta and Prateik Babbar as a sibling duo who are seen negotiating the topsy-turvy world of dating. Inside Edge Season 3 Amazon Prime Video, Dec 3 India’s first major web series returns for another season of drama, conflict, power games, locker room and boardroom politics, highlighting the dark underbelly of Indian cricket.…

IT MAY SEEM A BIT REDUCTIVE, BUT LOOKING AT THE mountain of pandemic woes, if there was ever a need for life to imitate art then the past 20 months would have definitely benefitted from a Hollywoodesque superhero capable of outflanking Covid 19. In the absence of that possibility, Netflix’s new flick Red Notice pulled off quite the casting coup with three superheroes in one film: The Rock (Dwayne Johnson), Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) and Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot). While Red Notice saw the biggest opening weekend ever for a Netflix film with a massive 148,720,000 hours viewed around the world, we got the star of the film, Ryan Reynolds, to feature on our cover and an exclusive interview with Spice. For Reynolds, who is also a writer and producer, there…

Whimsical indulgence Imagine the dance of striped water colours with gold and platinum elements on a plate of cheese. Now that’s what you call a sensorial delight. Such is the visual glory of the Christian Lacroix collection by Vista Alegre. Dinner sets with handmade decorations in gold and platinum summon the luxury of fine things to your table even if the food isn’t that inspiring. Price on request; Availability The House of Things www.thehouseofthings.com Quaint Charm These Kilim cushions inspired by the flatweave tapestry traditionally made in Persia and Turkey are a gorgeous mix of geomety and earthy shades. GharGhar lends it a contemporary twist by using modern hues that make it dynamic. Price ₹1,300-1,500 per cushion; Availability https://www.gharghar.in Lights Unlimited Lamps are the easiest way to introduce drama in…

Hollywood has thrived on the disaster genre. A hero, often white, overcomes gargantuan odds to save the world from eternal doom. In the Covid-19 pandemic though, the industry faced a disaster of epic, unprecedented proportions. A one-man army was not enough to tackle it. The film industry the world over has had to adapt and innovate to survive. Professionals embraced streaming platforms as a viable medium to share their art. In 2021 alone, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Zendaya, Jake Gyllenhaal have all done a Netflix film. Ryan Reynolds jumped on to the streaming bandwagon back in 2019 with 6 Underground (also on Netflix). More recently, the actor appeared on the SVOD (special video-on-demand) service again alongside Dwayne Johnson and Gal Gadot in the heist thriller, Red Notice. If you want…

Cavalry Bar at Wild flower Hall, Shimla Fine spirits, quaint interiors with majestic views The Bar at The Oberoi Grand, Kolkata Brimming with nostalgic charm and memories of old Calcutta. The Bar at Delhi Gymkhana Club, New Delhi An old favourite with regulars and club patrons especially on Thursdays The Bar at the Tollygunge Club, Kolkata Business, political and social discussions over beer, whisky and old world gravitas. Leopold Café, Mumbai Still crowded every single day as has been the case for the last few decades. This famous cafe was established in 1871 and is a gathering ground for locals as well as tourists. It remains a favourite for the beer, gin and some great food.…

When haute horology and optical art join hands for a great cause, the union is always unique. In this case, Zenith and Felipe Pantone have collaborated to create a unique defy double tourbillon for the “Only Watch 2021” charity auction. The charity raises funds for duchenne muscular dystrophy through the Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies, by creating and donating a truly unique piece with friend of the brand and collaborator Felipe Pantone. The Manufacture’s most advanced and complex chronograph to date, the DEFY 21 Double Tourbillon, was chosen as the canvas for this unique piece. The result is a masterful feat of contemporary haute horlogerie as well as a dynamic work of kinetic art. The artist has translated his acclaimed design language onto the movement’s decoration as well as the…

The room where I cook is perhaps where I spend most of my time, more than what I spent at home or with anybody else. So the kitchen is my home. Actually, it’s my first home, not even my second home. It’s a space where like minded people collaborate to create something beautiful. Where there is compassion, there is love. There is a lot more than just the techniques and the standard recipes. But there is a lot of love that is there in the kitchen. Personal Paradise My home kitchen has a very basic and standard but effective set-up. It’s spaciously laid out. I have a separate pre-prep area and the cooking station is separately placed. I like to maintain a rhythm while cooking. It has to be a…

The Ashoka Chakra in the centre of India’s tricolour and at the base of the state emblem could well be a metaphor for its federal structure. The 24 spokes in the wheel are linked to and support the hub—the Centre. Neither can work without the other. Similarly, unless India’s states do well, the country cannot move forward. There is today perhaps a greater understanding of our federal structure. Seven and a half years back, a state chief minister, Narendra Modi, won the Lok Sabha election on the back of the development model for his state. Prime Minister Modi, interestingly, has five former chief ministers in his cabinet, some of whom have administered a few of India’s largest states. One of the PM’s principal challengers in the opposition today is another…

Build a shared vision and commitment • Dy. CM led an 8-day Jeevan Vidya Shivir workshop, where around fifty senior leaders spent time out of office discussing and reflecting on how to improve education. Devolve power to stakeholders best placed to act • Increased autonomy in school for Hos. • Increased financial powers of Secretary and Director Education, and HoS and SMCs of all schools, thereby enabling quicker decision-making and actions. Motivate the frontline through dignity, respect, and care • Increased salaries of guest teachers by 80-90% despite legal challenges. • Refurbished staffrooms for teachers. • Personalised letters and cards sent to parents and SMC members. Invite and amplify voices from the ground • Consultation and input sought from Hos and Mentor Teachers in the design of initiatives such as…

The India Today State of the States 2021 study was conducted by Delhibased premier research agency Marketing and Development Research Associates (MDRA). The robust methodology is designed to rank the states on the basis of most relevant and exhaustive data, covering aspects crucial to foster inter-state competition and uphold the true spirit of India’s federal structure. The states have been ranked under two broad groups: Best-performing states ↘ Based on a state’s latest performance in a category ↘ Based on most recent data across multiple parameters Most-improved states ↘ Measuring a state’s improvement in the past 5 years ↘ Based on positive changes (outcome-based) in the past 5 years States were further divided into big and small on the basis of geographical area and population. Big states have their own…

Inclusive growth and education have long been a priority of successive Tamil Nadu governments. It should come as no surprise therefore that Tamil Nadu is tied in third place with Himachal Pradesh on the Sustainable Development Goals dashboard. The health of the state is what stood it in good stead during the pandemic—Tamil Nadu was one of the few states that did not register negative growth in the period. With a gross state domestic product of $290 billion or Rs 21.6 lakh crore, Tamil Nadu is India’s second-largest economy. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s dream now is to make it a trillion dollar economy. In pursuit of that goal, the state has set up an economic advisory council with world-renowned economists on board. The state plans to identify specific sectors, analyse…

Manipur seems to be making a habit of excellence. The state has emerged as the most improved small state in the country for the second successive year. Since 2018, when new parameters were added, it has improved its performance in seven out of 12 categories—economy, infrastructure, agriculture, health, governance, entrepreneurship and cleanliness. And while it has topped the list of small states that have improved the most in agriculture, it is among the top three most improved small states in eight other categories. The state’s chief minister, N. Biren Singh, attributes Manipur’s success to the relative peaceful environment. Before he took over, economic road blockades had become an almost annual feature. People would have to shell out Rs 2,000 for an LPG cylinder and Rs 200 for a litre of…

Kerala continues to maintain a steady lead in its core sectors such as health, environment and tourism despite the Covid-19 challenges. The Left Democratic Front government headed by Pinarayi Vijayan designed strategies to offer the best medical care and social support during the pandemic. The state has the best health indicators with lowest infant mortality rate among the big states at seven per 1,000 live births and a life expectancy of 75 years. Kerala has been steadily increasing expenditure on public health and to improve infrastructure in government hospitals since the Aardram Mission was introduced in 2016. It currently has four government hospitals per one lakh people. “We are the best Covid vaccinated state with 95.5 per cent of the targeted population covered (above 18 years); among them 60.2 per…

Rajasthan has been winning the best performing big state in governance award for some years now. A desert state with low income and the largest geographical area, the state government has focused on issues at the ground level like special reservation for women and ‘e-mitra’ to improve governance. The state now boasts that 56 per cent of all panchayat members are women and e-governance links all 11,341 panchayats. The state provides 500 services at its private e-mitra centres, with 18 centres available per one lakh people. This has drastically reduced the time and effort to get an official service done. Besides, the 87,166 kiosks that provide such services have generated many jobs. However, the state still has much more to do in ease of doing business where it ranks No.…

When it comes to Sikkim’s eco-nomic health, a single data point is enough to show that it is a powerhouse—according to the state government, Sikkim’s per capita GSDP (gross state domestic product) is about Rs 4.86 lakh, roughly three times the national average. Sikkim is also one of the fastest-growing states in the country, with its GSDP expanding at a CAGR (combined annual growth rate) of 15.86 per cent between 2015 and 2020. The state’s recent economic development is partly a consequence of FDI inflows from the export of drug formulations and medical and scientific instruments. Sikkim is home to some 50-odd pharmaceutical companies—in this, the state government’s policies, which include excise and income tax benefits as well as freight and capital investment subsidies for the sector, have proved to…

With 71 registered government allopathic doctors for every 100,000 residents—more than in any other state or Union Territory in India—Puducherry has a durable healthcare network. All considered, the state spends Rs 3,354 on healthcare per person, next only to Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Sikkim and Mizoram, and has 108 beds per government hospital, higher than in any other state or Union Territory except Delhi, which has 254. This ensures a dependable disease management system and a reliable supply of medicines—a rarity in India’s public health system. Puducherry’s success is partly due to its small population—with 1.24 million people, the state has a population density of just 2,598 persons per sq. km, while Delhi’s is 11,297 per sq. km. As a consequence, the state’s performance on most health indices surpasses that of…

While Mizoram may be among the bottom ranked states in terms of per capita income, it has done well in keeping the share of its population below the poverty line under 12 per cent. Inclusive participation in the formal economy has been growing in recent times too—for every 1,000 people, 260 accounts have been opened under the Jan Dhan Yojana, the second highest among small states after Manipur. In terms of the ratio of domestic LPG and PNG consumers to total households, Mizoram, at 1.28, stands third among small states, following Delhi and Goa. It has done well on other indices as well—over 46 per cent of its households have at least one member covered by a health scheme, the third highest among small states. Only eight per cent of…

For Jharkhand, known for its natural beauty and gifted with almost 40 per cent of India’s mineral reserves, infrastructure was perhaps the only area where the state needed a push. And the Hemant Soren government is rightly credited for doing that. According to the Jharkhand Economic Survey 2020-21, the length of national highways in the state grew by 27 per cent between 2018 and 2020, from 2,649 km to 3,367 km; and that of state roads by about 9 per cent, from 11,709 km to 12,736 km. In additional thrust to infrastructure, electrification of railway tracks has been sanctioned across the state. To ramp up urban infrastructure, Jharkhand, in 2019, secured loans worth $147 million (Rs 1,095 crore) from the World Bank for its Municipal Development Project. The programme focuses…

Karnataka has scored well on several parameters to emerge as the most improved big state in law and order. For instance, in 2020, the number of murders was low at 2 per 100,000 people while one rape and three kidnappings were reported. The state has been effectively tackling the problem of molestation—seven incidences for every 100,000 people last year. The government has made policing impactful, especially in the cities and towns, by strengthening night patrolling and adopting technology. Riots have been curbed through interventional strategies at the local level. Seven cases of riots per 100,000 people were reported in 2020. The number of police personnel for every 100,000 people stood at 83, among the highest for big states. The government has introduced several initiatives to make policing people-centric. The number…

The pandemic wiped out almost two years of travel but economies globally are gradually opening up. Punjab too is eagerly waiting for its diaspora to come visiting to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo and Kesgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib—three of the holiest seats of Sikhism. In the past two years, the state government has refurbished the galiyara around the Golden Temple and the Virasat-e- Khalsa museum in Anandpur Sahib, and recently inaugurated a theme park at Chamkaur Sahib, known as the place of martyrdom of the two elder sons of Guru Gobind Singh. Punjab, home to places of religious significance, forts and palaces, archaeo-logical and heritage sites, and wetlands, attracted 47.3 million domestic and 1.1 million foreign tourists in 2019,…

For the past couple of years, the Mizoram government has been prioritising the implementation of the state’s flagship programme—SEDP, or the Socio-Economic Development Policy. The SEDP aims to bring sustainable development by accelerating progress in key sectors through exploration and judicious use of resources and by maintaining equality and equity among citizens. It also emphasises on political and administrative reforms. And it is producing results. Mizoram registered a growth of 14.07 per cent in its Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) during the fiscal 2019-2020, up from 13.04 per cent in 2018-2019 fiscal, according to the Economic Survey 2020-2021. Mizoram has also been a beneficiary of the Union government’s push for development of the north-eastern states. For instance, with the help of the fund al-located through the schemes of the MSME…

On November 6, the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya, the first private varsity in the northeastern region, was awarded the accreditation rating of “A Grade” by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). This is not surprising news for Meghalaya which has been home to some prestigious higher educational institutes, such as the IIM-Shillong and North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU). What is, however, more encouraging is that the state has done well in primary education as well. With 3,474 schools for every 100,000 children aged between 10 and 14, the state records the highest performance under this parameter among all states. At 1.06, the gender parity index (enrolment ratio of girls to boys) in Meghalaya is also the highest among small states. When it comes to parameters under inclusive development,…

Brooklyn-based guitarist and composer Shubh Saran has a rather interesting background. As the son of diplomats, he travelled around the world with his parents and grew up in countries like Bangladesh, Egypt and Switzer-land. “I think the way my upbringing has influenced my music is more based on the lack of ‘Indianness’ I feel sometimes, while at the same time feeling ‘too Indian’ in some situations,” says Saran. “When I’m outside India, I feel very much an Indian, but I didn’t have an Indian upbringing. So, when I moved back to India during my high school years, I felt very different from other Indians,” says Saran. On one level, visiting India doesn’t feel like coming back home for him, but on another, it does. He feels the same about New…

Bling Fling The frosty allure of well-cut diamonds is the perfect accessory for the winter months. These gorgeous Bi-Triangle Drop diamond earrings from Faith by ASM are the perfect statement piece to sport from boardroom to brunch. What’s more, the brand focusses on ethical sourcing of all their natural diamonds, so it promises to sate your conscience too. Price ₹1,97,691; Availability https://faithbyasm.com Shining Bright It’s rare when a 150-year old heritage luxury jewellery brand forays into the perfume market. No wonder then the fragrance portfolio is christened Rare Scents. Sample the Corundum from C. Krishniah Chetty, which invokes leafy, woody and musky notes. Price Corundum (100 ml) ₹,9999; Availability www.ckcjewellers.com/ (from November 15, 2021) The Good Life Tis that time of year when the season is spirited and the weather…

The Indian beverage industry has seen the most action since Independence just in this last decade. We have gone from being a shy consumer to an aggressive player internationally: world-class production facilities, local wines and spirits raking in the medals on a global stage, and indigenous labels conquering markets and categories worldwide. It started with wine when a spate of young brands decided to change the way wine was presented and consumed in India. The affordable-but-sippable revolution that Sula started was furthered by brands like York, Fratelli and even Grover’s (in its new incarnation) while, at the same time, boutique brands like KRSMA showed us that it is indeed possible to make world class wines on Indian soils. The Gin & Tonic Craze This was just the start for what…

History, hedonism and heritage don’t wrestle on the plate but blissfully co-exist in harmony at The Tangra Project. This is chef Vikramjit Roy’s newest engagement that finds fulfillment within a curated 3,100 sq. ft space tucked away in a cosy corner in ‘The DLF Commons’. As expected of Roy, playing within the bounds or thinking inside the box is not an option. As with their walk-in-bar, which has no doors or gated access (they don’t have a licence just yet), the dining area too plays into the hands of imagination, draws from memory and coasts on nostalgia. The space flows languorously around the kitchen, making the hearth, the heart of this matter. The floors hark back to the streets of Tangra in Kolkata, and even the uneven columns built with…

Uttar Pradesh effectively controlled the spread of COVID-19 with proper implementation of tracing, testing, treatment and vaccination policy. Not a single infection case in most of the districts of state. Till date more than 15 crore covid vaccine doses have been administered in the state. More than 4.5 crore people have got the security cover by getting both doses of covid vaccine. The target has been set to vaccinate 25 to 30 lakh people per day in the coming 2 months. Abolishing the rule of booking online slot for the first dose and by adopting the cluster 2.0 policy, the government is accelerating the vaccination drive. 170 National mobile medical units working in 53 districts of state have been alerted. A senior doctor along with a pharmacist, one lab technician…

“India celebrated the first 'Janjateeya Gaurav Diwas' in true sense after independence; building a self-reliant India is not possible without tribal participation”- Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi On the basis of the important decision of the Government of India, on 15th November, the First Janjateeya Gaurav Diwas (Tribal Pride Day) was celebrated on a large scale at Jamboori Maidan in Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh and the contribution of tribal society in 'Bharat Nirman' or building of the country was conveyed to the masses. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was present as the chief guest. Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Shri Modi on this occasion, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan said that "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has restored tribal pride in India. The decision to celebrate the birth…

“High quality education is not charity, it is a human right for any child born anywhere in India. And therefore, providing high quality education to all is the primary duty of any elected government”-Arvind Kejriwal Chief Minister of Delhi In a country where politics is plagued with empty promises, and divided along the lines of religion, caste, and creed, the city state of Delhi has witnessed education as a core issue in its policy agenda. In the last six years, this has resulted in significant reforms and progress in Delhi's public education system. The impact of Delhi's education reforms is probably understated when described through numbers and figures. The improvements in learning levels and pass percentages across year groups is highly commendable. However, Delhi's greatest success lies in the fact…

ECONOMY: Net per capita Income; % of population above poverty line; ratio of capital expenditure to population; GSVA for tertiary sector/population; GSVA for secondary sector/population; Consumer Price Index; unemployment rate; no. of banks per 1 lakh people; ratio of commercial bank credit per 1 lakh people; labour force participation (15-59 years) urban (per 1,000); FDI inflow; implemented IEM / proposed IEM; proportion of state FDI inflow to India’s total FDI; outstanding liabilities to population; Gross Capital Formation to population INFRASTRUCTURE: Ratio of (surfaced + unsurfaced) road length to total area; length of national highways and state highways to total area; ratio of road length to vehicles; average hours of power supply in a day to rural areas; % of households with access to drinking water/piped water; length of railway lines…

With a more educated population that demands better services, a responsive governance system overall with an efficient public distribution system and a focus on health, Puducherry has emerged ahead of other small states and Union territories. Farming and tourism are the two mainstays of its economy. Two out of every five residents rely on agriculture for a livelihood. Its beaches and French architecture make it an attractive destination for tourists. Chief Minister M. Rangasamy is looking at the Union government to fund Rs 225 crore to acquire 216 acres in Tamil Nadu’s Villipuram district and 54 acres in the Union Territory to expand the airport, an imperative to boost tourism. A Film City and a theme park are also slated to come up on a 100 acre site at Manapet…

Telangana’s economy has been resilient and shown remarkable growth. The net per capita income (PCI) of Rs 2,33,325 was the second highest among big states in 2019-20, and rose to Rs 2,37,632 in 2020-21 when the all-India national PCI was Rs 1,28,829. Telangana is the 11th largest state in geographical area and 12th in terms of population in the country. However, it stood fourth (Rs 8,10,503 crore in 2020-21) in contributing to the economy of the country, with only Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and West Bengal ahead of it. “Telangana, which came into being just seven years back, now contributes 5 per cent to the country’s GDP,” says the state minister for industries, IT and urban development K.T. Rama Rao. Despite the Covid-19 crisis, the state economy has taken impressive strides…

Himachal Pradesh, which currently has a literacy rate of nearly 88 per cent, is directing 16 per cent of its budget this fiscal (Rs 8,024 crore) to the education sector. “Every child born in the state should not only be healthy but also get access to good quality education so that by the time he joins the workforce, he is more than effective,” says Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur. While Himachal was among the first states to achieve universal enrolment of children till Class 8, truancy is a major issue. In the past two years, internet access while students were attending classes from home came as a big stress. Himachal has been trying to open up schools since September, but has not been too successful because of a surge in…

Under Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, welf-are-centric measures with a human touch have overriding priority over every other endeavour in governance. The state boasts offtake of 114.7 per cent in 202021 through the public distribution system (PDS), surpassing all other states. The PDS offering is symptomatic of what the Yuva jana Sramika Rythu Congress focuses on—a saturation concept offering a slew of all-encompassing welfare schemes targeting almost every disadvantaged group in society. Reddy’s goal is a higher score on the human development index than other states by the time he completes his first term in May 2024. Education, health and women’s empowerment are among the key focus areas. The direct benefit transfer (DBT) schemes now have 37,206,852 beneficiaries with an investment of Rs 28,854 crore in 202122 so far.…

On November 1, when Union trans-port minister Nitin Gadkari inaugu-rated a 7.32 km-long stretch of road between the villages of Loutolim and Verna, the travel distance between Ponda, one of Goa’s biggest cities, and Mormugao, the state’s major port, was reduced by 12 km, cutting travel time by half an hour. This is just one example of Goa’s steady infrastructure development over the past couple of years. With 17 km of road per 1,000 vehicles, Goa’s road network is one of the best in India. Three years ago, the state also got a new cable-stayed bridge across the Mandovi river, which helped reduce traffic congestion near Panaji. Another cable-stayed bridge on the Zuari river is under construction—when completed, it will cut travel time between Panaji and Dabolim airport by half.…

Earlier this year, the 87-year-old Kohima North police station in Nagaland became the first police station/government facility in the north-eastern region to receive an ISO (International Organization for Standardisation) 9001 certification for its quality management system. Located in the heart of the state capital, the station, manned by an inspector-rank officer and 88 police personnel, reflects the innovation and improvement seen in policing in the state, which is often in the limelight for insurgency-related activities. In fact, the state’s policing records are impressive overall. According to the NCRB’s (National Crime Records Bureau’s) 2020 report, Nagaland’s crime rate, at 46 incidents per 100,000 people, is the lowest among all states in the country (the national average is 314.3). The murder rate is just one per 100,000 people, the lowest in the…

In recent years, Delhi-NCR has earned a reputation as a hub for entrepreneur-ship and startups. Home to unicorns like Paytm, Zomato, MakeMyTrip and Naukri.com, the national capital region was home to ten unicorns as of the first half of 2019—with at least one added each year since 2013—compared with nine in Bengaluru and two in Mumbai, according to a report by TiE Delhi-NCR and consulting firm Zinnov. The cumulative market valuation of Delhi-NCR’s startups is in the region of $46-56 billion (Rs 3.4-4.1 lakh crore). According to the report, since 2009, around 7,000 startups have been founded in Delhi-NCR; in comparison, Benga-luru saw 5,234 and Mumbai, 3,829. The pace at which startups are being established in Delhi-NCR has accelerated in recent years thanks to the development of a supporting ecosystem,…

Agriculture in Madhya Pradesh has witnessed a remarkable turn-around. From negative growth over 15 years ago, the sector has been achieving over 10 per cent growth over the past decade; some years, it was more than 20 per cent. Agriculture’s contribution to the state’s Gross Value Added (GVA) jumped from 33.85 per cent in 2011-12 to 46.98 per cent in 2020-21. Till 2018, the focus was on improving production of agricultural commodities. This was accomplished through bonuses and MSP procurements. Efforts are now being made to maximise farm incomes by adding to the value chain. Consultancies hired for value chain analysis of seven prominent crops have suggested various interventions. The marketing strategy has undergone changes too. Last year, the state began procurement at the farm gate level, enabling farmers to…

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath declared in 2017 that criminals will have to give up crime or leave the state. The police got cracking soon after, preparing a list of notorious criminals in each district and forming special teams to nab them. The results have been impressive. In the past four and a half years, 137 criminals have been killed in police encounters. Close to 37,000 arrests have been made under the UP Gangster Act and 523 un-der the National Security Act. “Zero tolerance for crime has led to the arrest of 11,000 prized criminals,” says UP additional chief secretary (home) Awanish Kumar Awasthi. According to the State Crime Records Bureau, between 2016 and 2020, cases of murder fell by 25.7 per cent, of dacoity by 67 per cent…

Mining of mineral resources such as coal, iron ore and dolomite, of which Chhattisgarh is a leading producer, has given a big boost to mineral-based industries in the state and augmented people’s incomes. While this has worsened air and water pollution and thrown up solid waste management challenges, the Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board (CESB) has been at the forefront of battling the problem. The government has set up 18 ambient air quality stations. Raipur, Bhilai and Korba, three prominent municipal corporations most affected by air pollution, have drawn micro action plans under the National Clean Air Programme. The average daily sulphur dioxide (SO2) concentration in the air has dropped by 37 per cent, from 26.02 μg/m3 in 2016 to 16.34 μg/m3 in 2020. The daily nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentration reduced…

From speeding up work on new tunnels promising all-weather connectivity to building new roads and bridges, India has ramped up its infrastructure development projects in Arunachal Pradesh in recent years. As part of a mega plan, around 20 bridges, a number of tunnels, airbases and several key roads are being developed in strategically key areas. Though the objective is to counter an aggressive China, the central push has immensely benefitted the border state. With 210.5 km of roads available to every 1,000 vehicles, Arunachal Pradesh boasts the highest ratio of road length to vehicles among all states in the country. The state has also promised improved sources of drinking water to every household. At Rs 3.43 crore, the state ranks second among the small states in India in terms of…

Sikkim has increased its forest cover from 43 per cent to 47 per cent in the past two years. The state forest and environment secretary, M.L. Srivastava, gives the credit to the people of Sikkim who have suddenly become conscious of their carbon footprint and climate change. The state government is planning the fourth instalment of its programme—A Day for Mother Earth–which it observes on July 7 every year. The initiative, launched in 2019, encourages citizens of the state to shut down vehicular movement for seven minutes as a token gesture to reduce air and sound pollution. To keep track of its own department’s daily carbon footprint, the Sikkim government has opened a portal which calculates the daily emissions of 23 departments, like transport, industry, and municipal affairs. The idea…

Shortly after Maoists ambushed a CRPF convoy on April 6, 2010, killing 76 of its personnel, Smriti Zubin Irani was invited to discuss the violence on a 9 o’clock television news programme. Irani remembers the day well: “One of the panelists said, ‘When you get into the armed or paramilitary forces and wear its uniform, you know you have written a prescription for your own death.’ What if a family member of an officer was watching that debate? I was infuriated, and for a decade, that rage only kept building.” Anger—never an easy emotion to process—sometimes needs to be channelised, and for Irani, it was her writing desk that became a site of catharsis. “I wanted to manifest my rage somewhere, and I thought it could be expressed as part…

Q. Why did you choose to integrate self-help elements with your personal story in this book? It was the result of a lot of questions—parents and players would often ask about training; coaches would ask what they should teach. My co-author, Priya (Kumar), has a lot of experience with writing self-help books, so she could actually break it down into points, which made the book relevant for everyone. Q. You were quite aggressive as a player but are equally calm as a coach. Can you explain this transition? As a player, it is important to be aggressive—your body language is very critical. But as coach, it is important to do whatever is needed for the player. There is already so much pressure on them. Your mindset and body language should…

What’s in a name?” you may wonder, and be part of august company with the mighty bard. But when it comes to uncut emeralds, naming gems is a tradition reserved only for the most rare and remarkable ones. With Chipembele, the rhino emerald, Gemfields introduces its largest high-quality emerald yet, discovered at the Kagem emerald mine in Zambia. Although no official record exists, it is estimated that not more than a couple of dozen gemstones have ever been given their own names. Chipembele, which means ‘rhino’ in the local indigenous dialect of Bemba, weighs 7,525 carats (1,505g), and therefore earned a name to match its giant size. Kagem emerald mine, in Zambia, is the world’s single largest producing emerald mine and is owned by Gemfields in partnership with the Zambian…

Magic is a matrix that conflates timing, talent and skill. It’s an art well known to distillers who use time as a rite of passage to drum up magic in drams. Royal Salute is the ultimate gift of provenance and time-tested craftsmanship that delivers exceptionally aged Scotch whisky, starting where others end, at 21 years old. For all those who feel the urge to nudge their whisky experience up a notch need not look further. It’s also known as the ‘King of Gifts’ since it was created in 1953 as a gift for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Royal Salute 21-Year-Old Signature Blend comes not just with its signature taste but also with an enviable royal legacy. Imbued with a deep gold amber colour, the 21 YO brings rich,…

For evenings given over to the flow of soul and the wafting spirit of cocktails and dreams, nostalgia can be the perfect companion. More so when you’re nursing the amber smokiness of a Bowmore 12 YO at one of the most legendary bars in the country—The Bar, at The Oberoi Grand, Kolkata. Since I had visited the bar after almost a decade, it was a pleasant tumble down memory lane even though it has been refurbished. But memories of moments swirling in liquid gold and drams shared with old friends over new ideas are a joyful yet potent mix. Coasting on nostalgia, I found my mind wandering back to all the legendary bars across India, where luxury, legend and history bask in liquid glory. While some of these magnificent watering…

ENGINE 1,969cc, four-cylinder, turbo petrol GEARBOX 8-speed AT MAX TORQUE 350Nm TOP SPEED 180kmph MAX POWER 250bhp 0-100KMPH 6.9s LXWXH 4,708 x 1,902 x 1,653mm 0-100KMPH 6.9s WHEELBASE 2,865mm PRICE ₹61.90 lakh (ex-showroom, India) Swedish luxury car maker Volvo has rolled out an updated version of its XC60 SUV and the headline here is the introduction of a mild-hybrid powertrain as the company looks towards transitioning to a petrol-only portfolio. The list of revisions also includes updates to the exterior with restyled bumpers, new alloy wheel design and exterior colour options. Inside, the large portrait-style touchscreen incorporates an Android powered infotainment setup with Google apps, Google Assistant as well as Google Maps, making the experience of accessing services via the infotainment unit much more user friendly. Apart from the updated…

CRAFT DRIVEN Add colour to your space with GharGhar’s kilim cushions. The designs are printed on 100 per cent cotton chenille fabric, which has a fuzzy feel due to the pile. PRICE ₹1,300 to ₹1,500 AT www.gharghar.in HAUTE SEATS Inhabit has launched a new range of seating ensembles. You can expect rich hues such as sapphire, emerald, turquoise, ruby, quartz and opal that spell opulence. Featured here is the green sofa with a beautifully curved structure and brass details. PRICE on request AT www.neetakumar.com FROM THE TROPICS Bring a slice of Goa inside your homes with Beyond Dreams’ latest collection. The eclectic range showcases floral, architectural and historical diversity of the state. Invoking a sense of freshness and serenity, the collection is a timely reminder of the beauty this tropical…

INSIDE OUTSIDE The kitchen at Ksaraah, exemplifies a perfect balance between the Indian old and the new. Intended as a communal space for family and friends to gather, cook and eat together, the kitchen holds a long island that faces the lush green outdoors, enabling discussions and evoking inspiration. In an open kitchen format, the island was designed with a wooden base and a nice green terrazzo slab cast onsite with the washbasin. This adds a slight contrast to the interiors—bright yellow oxide flooring, a backdrop of Adobe brick wall, and display-focussed kitchen shelves showcase a collection of antique and modern cookware. AT A GLANCE Project Name Ksaraah Practice Taliesyn Area of the Kitchen 150 sq ft Project Location Bangalore Rural Principal Architects Shalini Chandrashekar and GS Mahaboob Basha Design…