Innholdsfortegnelse for June 3, 2024 i India Today

Unlike the previous two general elections, the seven-phase, 44-day-long 2024 general election has not had one overarching narrative. There have been a smattering of themes, but none that gained dominating traction. The one that finally did, somewhat inadvertently, is the matter of reservations. It all started with Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would go “char sau paar” this time. After all, he was riding on a grand narrative. His party also neutralised the caste reservation threat by co-opting the JD(U) patriarch and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, who was the architect of the caste reservation issue. There was also the recent inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, signalling a renewed consecration of Hindutva. Mixed with that was the ambitious and attractive idea of…

BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY ↘ Increase in the minimum support price (MSP) of major crops from time to time ↘ Strengthen PM Kisan, under which farmers are getting annual financial assistance of ₹6,000 ↘ Self-sufficiency in producing key pulses and oilseeds; greater focus on natural farming and crop diversification ↘ Clusters for production of tomatoes, onions and potatoes with storage and logistics facilities ↘ Access to robust agri-infrastructure, including commitment to launch a dedicated indigenous Bharat Krishi Satellite CONGRESS ↘ A legal guarantee to the MSP in line with the Swaminathan report ↘ Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices, which recommends the MSP, will be made a statutory body ↘ A permanent commission on agricultural finance to monitor farm credit and address loan-related issues ↘ Regulated markets under the APMC Act;…

↘ ‘Adivasi Nyay’ guarantees the protection of water, forests, land rights of tribals ↘ All amendments made to the Forest Conservation Act and Land Acquisition Act by the BJP government to be rescinded ↘ Dedicated forest rights division, separate budget to implement Forest Rights Act. All FRA claims to be settled ↘ Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act or PESA will have state laws to protect gram sabhas ↘ MSP for minor forest produce to get legal status…

↘ Integral to the Indian army, around 32,000 Gorkhas (39 battalions) are currently part of seven Gorkha regiments, and 60 per cent are from Nepal ↘ The pay/pension they receive from India is crucial for Nepal’s economy ↘ But the pandemic and Nepal’s objection to the Agnipath scheme for enlisting soldiers have stalled recruitment for four years ↘ Nepal says the scheme violates the 1947 agreement that provides for Nepali citizens to serve in the Indian army ↘ The depleting ranks of Nepali Gorkhas is a blow to the army and to India’s strategic reach in Nepal ↘ With Nepali youths fighting for Russia in Ukraine, some fear they are ripe for recruitment by China…

Architectural photographer Randhir Singh’s three books—part of a nine-volume series—celebrating modern architecture in South Asia are odes to three landmark architectural projects (and their celebrated architects) that are exemplary specimens of modernist expression in India and assertions of the country’s robust nation-building process. The first book is a visual exploration of the iconic Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, a masterpiece designed by a visionary of modern Indian architecture, Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi. Through the lens of the photographer, we get to experience the architect’s interpretation of the spatial language of traditional Indian courtyard houses and temples into an inspired contemporary structural vocabulary. Our gaze walks into climatically responsive passageways, rhythmic paths and stairways that have been deliberately ‘taken over’ by nature and light. The photographer’s eyes eschew all hierarchy of built…

This is the latest addition to the considerable body of work—some objective, the bulk adulatory and hagiographic—on the Hindu nationalist icon V.D. Savarkar. Janaki Bakhle’s endeavour is scholarly and source-based and under-written by her fundamental disagreement with the basic thrust of Savarkar’s thought. The book seeks a comprehensive picture of his political and social philosophy, looking at the entire corpus of his writings in Marathi—including a great deal of poetry—and English, which encompasses literature, history, social commentary and, of course, politics and polemics. The book, therefore, seeks to bring “the Marathi and the English sources in conversation with each other”. This examination reveals a poet, a historian, a social reformer and anti-Muslim ideologue and polemicist—and how “each of these Savarkars was connected to the other”. The milestones of Savarkar’s life…

After the China Masters in November last year, Lakshya Sen felt the need to hit pause. Since August, he had won just two matches in eight tournaments on the BWF World Tour, making it past the opening round only once. His qualification hopes for the Paris Olympics were hanging by a thread. That’s when he had a detailed discussion with coach Prakash Padukone to understand his short-comings. That conversation seems to have done wonders for Sen, who made the cut for the Olympics in April. “He asked me to change my mindset, to look at winning a few matches every week rather than qualification on the whole,” says the 22-year-old Sen. The relentless tournament schedule until then had given Sen little time to focus on training; his recovery wasn’t complete…

Q. Which way is the wind blowing in Maharashtra? A. The response for the Mahayuti is palpable. Our government has made pro-people decisions over the past two years. We have restarted projects that the MVA had shut down. We have launched schemes like Shasan Aplya Dari, and skill development programmes, loans, the CM self-employment scheme for women, youth, farmers and start-ups. Regardless of what the Opposition might say, these decisions have led to a sense of positivity among the people. The work done by Modiji, our government and the direct benefit transfer schemes have led to people realising that this government works for them. The impact will be seen in the polls. Q. There seems to be a perception that the NDA may face some losses in Maharashtra. A. Uddhav…

Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s advice to BJP leaders? Oil your machine. Of course, the erudite Biju Janata Dal (BJD) veteran did not say so in so many words. But in a video circulated on his social media accounts on May 18, he hit out at his BJP counterparts who during their campaign promised to make Odisha the best state in India. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma came in for a special mention, even as Naveen babu claimed that Assam’s per capita deficit is double Odisha’s and that BJP CMs have become a laughing stock among his people. A day earlier, he had dubbed BJP wallahs ‘political tourists’, sighted in Odisha only during elections. Well, at a time Odia asmita is a key plank and he the state chief…

NDA BJP: Party manifesto claims 60 per cent of current ministers are from OBC, SC/ST communities ↘ Instituted 10 per cent reservation for EWS (economically weaker sections) ↘ Home minister Amit Shah says the BJP will not remove reservations for SCs, STs and OBCs, calling it a “Modi guarantee” ↘ On April 28, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, who has in the past reflected the parent organisation’s old stand on reservation, clarified that it now favours reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs as long as there is discrimination JD(U): Bihar CM and JD(U) boss Nitish Kumar clinched a major win in November last year when the state assembly unanimously passed a Bill raising the quantum of reservation for SCs, EBCs, BCs and STs, based on the findings of the caste census…

↘ That the Constitution will be modified to remove reservations for STs ↘ Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will take away their privileges ↘ Displacement and forced migration due to loss of land to infrastructure/industrial projects, resultant loss of identity and way of life, culture ↘ Access to affordable education in their habitats ↘ ‘Converted’ Christian tribals being excluded from the government quota ↘ Pastoral nomadic tribes in Maharashtra, Gujarat getting ST status ↘ Slow implementation of Forest Rights Act…

LOGIN Search for Colleges, Courses, Exams, Jobs in Demand & more Hitting the stands soon INDIA TODAY BEST COLLEGES ISSUE COLLEGE & RANK PREDICTOR >>> JEE Main College Predictor >>> NEET College Predictor >>> JEE Main Rank Predictor Website: https://bestcolleges.indiatoday.in/ INSTITUTE RANKINGS 2,000-plus colleges in 14 major streams, and 160 universities in over 4 streams ↘ Arts ↘ Science↘ Commerce ↘ Medical↘ Dental Sciences↘ Engineering↘ Architecture↘ Law↘ Mass Comm.↘ Hotel Mgmt↘ BBA ↘ BCA↘ Social Work↘ Fashion COLLEGE VS COLLEGE Find a suitable college on the basis of… ↘ 6-year results (2018-2023) ↘ National rankings ↘ By state↘ By city↘ Government vs private↘ Best emerging colleges KEY PARAMETERS College performance rated according to… ↘ Academic Excellence↘ Intake Quality & Governance↘ Infrastructure & Living Experience ↘ Personality and Leadership Development ↘ Career…

On March 3, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee appeared on the immensely popular television game show for women, Didi No. 1. As millions watched, the Trinamool Congress chief read out her poems, painted, danced with tribal women and participated in games. Why this surprise appearance, many wondered. They got the answer a week later, when Didi No. 1 host Rachana Banerjee—a former icon of Odia cinema who has also acted in Bengali, Hindi and South Indian films—was named the TMC candidate from the Hooghly constituency, which went to vote on May 20. Rachana took on incumbent BJP MP Locket Chatterjee, herself an actor-turned-politician. A popular entertainer, Mamata must have reasoned, has a better chance to take down a former TV star. If the TMC hit upon this tactic to…

STRENGTHS ↘ Known as the architect of Bihar’s turnaround story, the ‘Sushasan Babu’ who built roads, delivered electricity, and established the rule of law ↘ Has a strong following among women, who credit him for their empowerment with 35% quota in jobs and 50% in panchayat and local bodies ↘ Nitish’s committed constituency of a large section of EBCs, Kurmis and Mahadalits has never deserted him ↘ A section of voters who shy away from the RJD invariably votes for Nitish and the BJP WEAKNESSES ↘ Frequent switchovers have eroded Nitish’s political capital ↘ For the first time in the BJP’s company, Nitish is contesting fewer seats than the saffron party in this Lok Sabha election ↘ Nitish’s image—of someone who relinquished power after his party’s poor performance in the…

↘ ST component in budget hiked from Rs 21,525 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 78,256 crore in 2021-22 ↘ No. of minor forest produce items covered under MSP up from 12 in 2014 to 87 in 2021 ↘ Scholarship budgets up from Rs 978 crore to Rs 2,546 crore (2021-22) ↘ 500-odd Eklavya schools sanctioned in past 10 years ↘ Ten tribal museums set up across the country; tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda birth anniversary, Nov. 15, celebrated as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas…

AMONG ETHNIC COMMUNITIES WITH A GLOBAL REPUTATION FOR THEIR QUALITIES as soldiers, the Gorkhas of Nepal occupy the highest rank. Like the Highlanders of Scotland, Gorkha soldiers are celebrated for their exemplary courage under fire, devotion to duty and fierce loyalty. Ever since the Gorkhas started being recruited over 200 years ago into the East India Company’s army, the British Indian Army, and then, after 1947, into the Indian and British armies, they have won battle honours and gallantry awards practically everywhere they were deployed, including in the two world wars and in each war independent India has fought. A pillar of the Indian army, around 32,000 Gorkhas (39 battalions) are currently part of the seven Gorkha regiments of the Indian army. They include both Nepal-domiciled Gorkhas as well as…

This exhibition at the V&A, one of the few dealing with architecture held there in recent years, looks at Britain’s unique contribution to international modernism in the mid-20th century, not at home, but in Ghana and India, where projects were selected, as the exhibition’s principal curator Christopher Turner has written in the V&A Magazine, “that came to symbolise the utopian possibility of the transitional moment, a break with the colonial past articulated through art and architecture.” This should be part of a wider examination of how European modernism responded to tropical climates, as there is no mention of countries such as Mexico, Brazil and Ethiopia, which did not have a mid-20th century disengagement from colonialism, nor of countries that did, such as Malaysia and, most significantly, Sri Lanka. But that…

Rapper Ankit Singh Patyal, better known as IKKA, can easily be called the ‘poster boy’ of Indian hiphop. Whether it was his last two albums Nishu or I, or popular chartbusters in Bollywood films like Badrinath ki Dulhania, the artiste has cracked the code to success. While hip-hop remains his forte, he has attempted to offer his audiences a new flavour with his third album Only Love Gets Reply with T-Series. “This time around, I have tried to maintain a balance between commercial and hip-hop through my art. There is something for everyone,” he shares. What’s more, IKKA has collaborated with big names like Diljit Dosanjh, Guru Randhawa, Badshah, Sunidhi Chauhan and Karan Aujla, among others, on this album. “I am so thankful that all the artistes who have contributed…

Six years ago, Tejas Mahajan made the switch from badminton to pickleball. He made rapid progress and went on to win multiple medals at the national and international level. The 26-year-old’s latest triumph came at the Asia Pickleball Open in Thailand in February, where he picked up two golds and a bronze. More importantly, pickleball gave him an identity and means to earn a livelihood through which he has been able to pay off his home loan in Jalgaon and buy a shiny new motorcycle. For the likes of Mahajan, there’s more in store now with the announcement of the World Pickleball League that will start in a few months. Former Davis Cupper Gaurav Natekar’s firm, Natekar Sports and Gaming, will be launching the enterprise in the country backed by…

Q. How does it feel to be back after a long hiatus, both as an actor and a director? What took you so long? Premiering a movie like Tipppsy after a long hiatus can be a mix of excitement and anticipation. It’s a chance to showcase new work and reconnect with audiences in a different capacity. Sometimes life takes unexpected turns, and filmmakers may need time to explore new ideas, recharge, or focus on personal priorities. Q. What was the biggest challenge in making Tipppsy? Tipppsy is a thriller that unfolds during a bachelorette party. The story revolves around Tanya, Iris, Pony, Selene and Yami (abbreviated as ‘Tipppsy’), who find themselves entangled in a dangerous situation after a drug is slipped into their drinks. The most challenging part was bringing together…