India Last Week #24
India Last Week #24
A round-up of research & reportage on India across climate, energy, foreign policy, politics & more over the last week
Climate, Energy & Environment -
“The elusive caracal (Caracal Caracal Schmitzi), a medium-sized wild cat on the brink of extinction in India, was reportedly sighted at Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR). A camera trap in the reserve captured an image of the rare feline on Oct 22. These motion-sensor cameras photograph animals as they pass, providing crucial evidence of their presence… This sighting marks a nearly 12-year gap since the last confirmed presence of a caracal in Sariska. According to the recently published book “Caracal: An Intimate History of a Mysterious Cat,” the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) last recorded a camera trap image of the caracal in the reserve on June 5, 2012.” Read more: Ajay Singh, Times of India
“India’s steel production has grown since 2017, rising on average 6% per year, faster than global steel production and consumption… India is less efficient among major steel producing nations. Every ton of Indian steel uses more energy and emits more greenhouse gas emissions than steel produced in other major countries… While coal is a major input to make steel worldwide, India’s dependence on coal is especially large. Less than 10 percent of natural gas is used in steel processing, and a large share of the electricity used comes from coal. This coupled with the lack of scrap material to produce recycled steel increases emissions and energy use.” Read more: Shayak Sengupta, Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University
“At first glance, Hyner looks like just another company that makes and instals solar modules. And yet, what seems commonplace might sometimes be extraordinary. In this case, the firm, set up just last year, is a part of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living Foundation. This is not the only surprising name in the ranks of India’s solar panel manufacturers. Take a look at the latest ALMM (Approved List of Models and Manufacturers) sheet of solar module manufacturers and you will find myriad others — ceramic tile-makers from Morbi; bidi manufacturers from Raipur; textile-makers from Surat; cold storage firms from Ahmedabad; refined oil manufacturers from Haryana… Given ALMM, most manufacturers import cells from China, but assemble modules locally. Strangely, over the past two years, despite the drop in solar cell costs — which account for 60% of a module’s cost — the prices of Indian modules have climbed.” Read more: M. Rajshekhar, CarbonCopy
“In a key development for carbon capture and utilization, NTPC’s research wing NETRA, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), Dehradun, has developed an indigenous catalyst capable of converting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions into methanol. The process is seen as a critical solution to address CO2 mitigation challenges facing fossil-fuel based power plants globally. NTPC’s pilot program, utilizing this catalyst, aims to produce high-purity methanol, over 99%, by capturing and processing 10 kg of CO2 per day.” Read more: EnergyWorld
Economy -
“The average growth in employment considering all economic activities during 2017-18 and 2022-23 is close to four percent, with rural employment growth being higher. Manufacturing employment has grown at 5.2 percent in rural areas and 2.3 percent in urban areas, giving an overall growth of 3.5 percent. Employment appears to have recovered from the Covid-19 impact… If we consider the six-year period from 2011-12 to 2017-18, we find the employment growth negative for the rural sector and just one percent annual growth for the urban sector. It may be recalled that the first PLFS corresponding to 2017-18 had reported very high unemployment rate and an overall decline in the work participation rates, especially for women. Subsequent PLFS did show an improvement in the overall employment situation and a drastic improvement in the women’s work participation… The growth in manufacturing workers was 8.2 percent in 2021-22, possibly accounting for the resurgence after the pandemic. After very low growth during 2018-19 and 2019-20, growth in employment accelerated to 4.7 percent in 2020-21. One cannot discount the effect of Covid-19 as also the field issues in the surveys during this period. The most recent year (2022-23) has shown a decent growth of 4.4 percent, which is close to the employment growth in the economy as a whole.” Read more: P. C. Mohanan, Centre for Economic Data & Analysis, Ashoka University
“The Indian government is considering expanded measures to allow greater flexibility for strategic foreign investors to buy stakes in local companies after offshore investment slumped to a five-year low, three sources with knowledge of the matter said. Policymakers are looking at the option of foreign investments through a mix of equity and debt, which aren't permitted currently, the sources said, noting that a final decision is still pending… The plan to allow use of instruments that are a mix of equity and debt, often termed as "mezzanine instruments" in market parlance, are part of a government plan to shore up foreign direct investment into India, the sources said, declining to be identified as they are not allowed to speak to the media… Gross FDI, which includes reinvested earnings and equity inflows, fell to $71 billion in 2023-24, the lowest since 2018-19, from $71.4 billion in 2022-23 and $84.8 billion in 2021-22, according to data from the Reserve Bank of India.” Read more: Nikunj Ohri and Sarita Chaganti Singh, Reuters
“In recent years, significant growth has been observed in retail digital payments (RDP), which is the total digital payments except for payments through real-time gross settlement… Moreover, y-o-y growth in UPI exceeded that in RDP in volume and value from 2017-18. The growth in UPI in value was higher than that in volume during the period. However, from 2021-22 to 2023-24 (post COVID-19 period), the growth in UPI in volume was higher that that in value. Consequently, the average size of UPI transactions decreased from INR 1838 in 2020-21 to INR 1525 in 2023-24… The CIC [currency in circulation] to GDP ratio declined in pre-demonetization period (i.e. from 2011-12 to 2015-16). The ratio increase in the year 2016-17 mainly due to higher infusion of banknotes of lower denominations following demonetization. The ratio started declining again after 2016-17 until 2020-21, the COVID19 induced lockdown year (the ratio remained at same level in 2018-19 and 2019-20). In 2020-21 the ratio increased due to a fall in GDP and also higher precautionary holding of cash. The ratio however started declining again after 2020-21. Overall, although it increased marginally in 2023-24, the ratio was lower than that in 2020-21.” Read more: Pradip Bhuyan, Reserve Bank of India
Poverty in India: The Rangarajan Method and the 2022–23 Household Consumption and Expenditure Survey
“The release of the Household Consumption and Expenditure Survey 2022–23 (HCES 2022–23) data by the Government of India has led to fresh discussions on poverty in India. There has been no official estimate of consumption poverty in India for any year after 2011–12… This paper estimates a new poverty line from the HCES 2022–23 data by using the method proposed by Expert Group (2014) rather than by adjusting an earlier poverty line for inflation… Given the differences between the survey methods followed in CES 2011–12 (the last available official consumer expenditure survey until now) and HCES 2022–23, there are problems of comparability of data between the two, and we have not attempted an intertemporal study. Nevertheless, there is merit in estimating poverty levels and a head-count ratio of poverty using HCES 2022–23 data, if only to evaluate the recent claims that this data reveals a very low head-count ratio of poverty in India… Our first result is the construction of two new poverty lines for 2022–23: Rs 2,515 per capita per month for rural areas and Rs 3,639 for urban areas. The lower bounds of nutrition norms were met by the fifth fractile class in rural areas and the third fractile class in urban areas… Our results indicate that more than a quarter of all households in India have a monthly per capita expenditure that is below the poverty line in 2022–23. The head-count ratio of rural poverty (27.4 per cent) is higher than the head-count ratio of urban poverty (23.7 per cent).” Read more: C. A. Sethu, L. T. Abhinav Surya, and C. A. Ruthu, Review of Agrarian Studies
Foreign Policy & Security -
“Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced on October 21 that India and China had reached “an agreement… on patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control… leading to disengagement and a resolution of the issues that had arisen” following Chinese transgressions “in these areas in 2020”. The question that remains to be clarified is whether “disengagement” will cover all extant areas of dispute where patrolling has been blocked on both sides, including the so-called “legacy disputes” in eastern Ladakh at Demchok and Depsang or only those areas that came into contention in 2020… The patrolling agreement is certainly an achievement of Indian diplomacy, but it is also a limited one, for India has achieved no forward movement over the past four years — it has been devoted to the task only of reversing Chinese transgressions, not punishing them, let alone resolving the boundary dispute itself…. Or, that despite claims of multiple plans to counter Chinese moves, the Army was simply not equipped to execute them with the political leadership, preferring to focus on incremental measures, such as shoring up border infrastructure instead… Why did China do what it did? What might it do next? Why has Indian expertise been lacking in answering these questions? Or, if the expertise is available, why has it not found greater acknowledgement and public visibility? Equally important are questions of accountability surrounding the events of 2020 itself.” Read more: Jabin Jacob, Indian Express
“A senior official in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is alleged to have authorized a campaign to intimidate or kill Canadians, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs David Morrison told MPs Tuesday. Morrison joined other senior officials testifying before MPs on the public safety and national security committee. MPs on the committee are asking questions about the RCMP's shocking claim two weeks ago that agents of the Indian government were complicit in widespread crimes in Canada, including murder, extortion and intimidation… The newspaper reported that Canadian officials identified Indian Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah as one of the senior officials who authorized intelligence-gathering missions and attacks on Sikh separatists in Canada… RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme also testified Tuesday. He has said police evidence shows Indian diplomats and consular staff collected information for the Indian government, which was used to issue instructions to criminal organizations to carry out acts of violence in Canada.” Read more: Catharine Tunney, CBC News
“Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India after lakhs of anti-government protesters stormed her Dhaka residence on 5 August, has been living in a safe house in New Delhi’s Lutyens Bungalow Zone, arranged for her by the Government of India, for over two months, ThePrint has learnt. This is a high security area with houses of many former and serving Members of Parliament and senior officials. To protect her privacy and security, ThePrint has chosen not to disclose her exact address or street details… According to sources, Hasina and a few people close to her flew into the Hindon airbase aboard a Bangladesh Air Force aircraft late on 5 August, hours after she resigned following weeks of deadly anti-government protests that claimed over 400 lives. However, she left the airbase within two days. On the day of her arrival, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and senior military officials had met her at the airbase.” Read more: Ananya Bhardwaj, The Print
“The Indian and Chinese armies are scheduled to complete the disengagement process in eastern Ladakh’s Depsang and Demchok, by October 28-29. According to Indian Army sources, disengagement started on Tuesday, marking progress at the last two major friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The move is part of a mutual agreement to revert to the pre-April 2020 positions and prevent further escalation in these sensitive areas… "The latest agreements will be applicable only for Depsang and Demchok and not for other places. This agreement will not be applicable to other friction zones. Troops from both sides will fall back to positions they held pre-April 2020 and they will patrol areas where they patrolled till April 2020," the defence sources said. To ensure stability, regular ground commander meetings are planned to oversee the implementation of the agreement, with both sides informing each other about patrolling schedules to avoid misunderstandings. Confidence-building measures, including the removal of temporary infrastructure like tents and sheds, are also being implemented to solidify this progress.” Read more: CNBC TV18
People & Politics -
“On October 25, Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister and home minister Devendra Fadnavis filed his nomination from the Nagpur South West constituency for the upcoming state assembly election. This nomination was followed by a show-of-strength rally, with Fadnavis – who is a five-time MLA from the region – arriving at Samvidhan Chowk, located in the heart of the city. Fadnavis, along with other senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders Nitin Gadkari and Chandrashekhar Bawankule, sat on the podium with Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s statue at the back. Even before they began their speeches, their followers, gathered in the hundreds, started chanting “Jai Shri Ram,” a rallying cry for Hindutva parties which often also accompanies violence. Amidst this, Fadnavis and the others on the podium waved to their supporters, making no attempts to stop the chanting. The situation soon became unruly, resulting in damage to the railings around the chowk. Following the incident, at least 11 different anti-caste, Ambedkarite organisations from across Nagpur have approached the police seeking action. Police have not yet filed a first information report and have requested time to register a case.” Read more: Sukanya Shantha, The Wire
“The Mumbai metro project was to be completed by October 26 in a period of 15 years. There are to be around 16 lines spanning over 500 kms. The opening of the only underground metro has been celebrated as being quite singular… Metro lines everywhere in the world operate on the concept of inter-connectivity wherein there are easy transfers to other lines. This enables commuters to cross over across different zones which in Mumbai would mean the western, central and New Mumbai links. While there are only a few lines operational, introspection would call for ensuring there is this connectivity. In fact, there is a pressing need to have a connection to the existing railway lines operated as the Western, Central and Harbour lines by the Indian Railways so that these lines are effective… The present station which leads to the financial centre is way off and requires a 15-30 minutes’ walk to the offices which are sprawled across this region. There is no option of using public transport to reach the office nor a taxi-auto service given that the roads do not allow turns given the congestion. The larger question is whether this line will serve any purpose to ease travel. In fact, ideally the aqua line should be connected to what is called the red line or Line 7 which is operational and goes down the western express highway.” Read more: Madan Sabnavis, Free Press Journal
“Senior journalist Mahesh Langa, in judicial custody in a case of alleged Goods and Services Tax (GST) evasion, was booked again on Tuesday – this time by Gandhinagar Police in a case of alleged possession of confidential government documents. Langa, a senior assistant editor with The Hindu, was booked on charges of possession of documents related to the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB), said Ravi Teja Vasamsetty, Superintendent of Police (SP), Gandhinagar. Police said the documents were recovered from Langa’s possession during his arrest in the GST fraud case. The SP, however, declined to comment on the sections under which Langa had been booked in the fresh FIR.” Read more: Indian Express
“Chandrachud told the publication that heads of political executive do visit judges' houses in case of social occasions, and the judiciary's independence is so deeply entrenched that judicial matters are 'never ever discussed'. The outgoing CJI also said that PM and CMs visit the CJI's and HC judges' residences in case of festivities or children's marriage, but there has not been a single instance to the best of his memory where either the CJI or the judges of the Supreme Court have discussed judicial matters with executive heads of the Union or states. As per Chandrachud, whenever the CJI or other Chief Justices meet the head of the PM or CMs, the discussion circles around the inadequacy of infrastructure in the judiciary, where there is a massive backlog of cases.” Read more: Deccan Herald
“The parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting was postponed on Thursday (October 24) after Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch cited “personal exigencies” to not be present. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs accused PAC chairperson K.C. Venugopal of being politically motivated in deciding the subject matter of the meeting. Venugopal told reporters that the committee was informed this morning that she cannot travel to Delhi, due to which the meeting was postponed… The PAC was expected to focus on the conflict of interest charges levelled against Buch by the Congress as well as US-based shortseller Hindenburg Research. The agenda of the PAC meeting today included a briefing by audit, followed by oral evidence of the representatives of the Ministry of Finance (Department of Economic Affairs) and SEBI on the subject “Performance Review of Regulatory Bodies established by Act of Parliament”. The agenda also included oral evidence of the representatives of the Ministry of Communications, Department of Telecommunications and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on the same subject.” Read more: Sravasti Dasgupta, The Wire
Tech -
“Indians are likely to lose over ₹1.2 lakh crore over the next year due to cyber frauds, according to a projection made by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which runs under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). A senior government official said that according to a I4C study, mule bank accounts — which are used to facilitate illegal transactions and launder money — are one of the significant contributors to the online financial scams that could potentially siphon off 0.7% of the country’s GDP. “A majority of the defrauded money is being taken out of the country and most scams have origins in China or Chinese-linked entities. There are domestically run scams too, where money is withdrawn from ATMs after jumping through several accounts,” the official said. Around half of the cyber crimes for which complaints are received originate in China and in pockets of Cambodia and Myanmar, I4C chief executive Rajesh Kumar had said on January 3. According to a presentation by I4C, seen by The Hindu, investigating agency identify around 4,000 mule bank accounts each day.” Read more: Vijaita Singh, The Hindu
“Asia's richest man Mukesh Ambani is mimicking the strategy of popular Indian grocery startups to drastically change how his retail empire operates: from home deliveries that can take a day or two, his business is now targeting a 10-30 minute service. Quick commerce has reshaped how Indians shop as Zomato, SoftBank-backed Swiggy and Zepto now promise deliveries from their neighbourhood warehouses within 10 minutes, even beating Amazon. These multi-billion-dollar quick commerce businesses, though loss-making, have disrupted sales of mom-and-pop stores and supermarkets as people opt for quick deliveries of everything from milk and chocolates to Apple iPhones… Reliance plans to leverage its 3,000 supermarkets in 1,150 cities for quick deliveries by deploying small teams operating from dedicated kiosks inside, according to three people familiar with its strategy and Reuters' visits to outlets near Mumbai, where the service was launched this month.” Read more: Dhwani Pandya and Aditya Kalra, Reuters
“Cab and auto rickshaw drivers including those of Ola, Uber, delivery personnel working for firms including Swiggy, Zomato, Urban company in Maharashtra's Pune are observing a strike on Wednesday demanding organised labour laws in a bid to secure their rights. The demands, put forth by the committee ‘Indian Gig Workers Front’, include a demand from the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government to pass an act that protects gig workers from exploitation and provides them with social security and welfare benefits, HT reported earlier. Advocate Keshav Kshirsagar, one of the members of the committee, emphasised the need for Maharashtra to pass a law similar to the "Rajasthan Platform Based Gig Workers Act, 2023" and the Union government’s ‘Social Code 2020’ Labour Code, to protect workers from exploitation.” Read more: Shobhit Gupta, Hindustan Times
“When Shakil Khatri first heard about Amazon Karigar in 2018, he thought it might be what he had been looking for. Khatri, a sixth-generation artisan, is one of the few remaining batik craftspeople in western India’s handicraft-rich Kutch district… The program solicited Indian artisans to sell their wares through Amazon’s e-commerce platform by offering nine weeks of training, professional product photos, and marketing… Khatri said that Amazon failed to understand how to represent and promote his work. Several other artisans and organizations in Kutch who worked with Amazon told Rest of World that the program did not help them find any customers. Harsh Dave, co-founder of Kutch Ji Chapp, a handicrafts manufacturer in Kutch, said Amazon got in touch with him in 2020. He spent a lot of time preparing his products for the platform, but did not sell any.” Read more: Nipun Prabhakar, Rest of World
Watch/listen -
The Art They Called Vulgar | Prof. Shailaja Paik [MacArthur Genius Grant winner] on Dalit Women and the History of Dance in India | In Conversation with Anurag Minus Verma for the Culture Cafe