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How we can progress towards smarter food systems

Food needs to be smart too We live in a world of smart phones, smart cities and smart manufacturing, so why not Smart Food! On World Food Day, it`s time to reflect on how our food system—from farm to table—has evolved and the urgent need to make it smarter. Our food systems face numerous challenges. Ironically, some of the poorest and most food

Maha Mumbai Metro launches WhatsApp-based ticketing

Maha Mumbai Metro Operations Corporation Ltd (MMMOCL) has launched a WhatsApp-based ticketing service. The service, available on Metro Lines 2A and 7, allows commuters to purchase tickets directly through WhatsApp, eliminating the need for paper tickets and providing a seamless, user-friendly experience. Commuters can simply send a `Hi` to the dedicated WhatsApp number (86526 355

Polling concludes for J&K assembly

The polling for the Jammu & Kashmir legislative assembly elections concluded on Tuesday in a peaceful and celebratory atmosphere. Scenes of voters patiently waiting in lines at polling stations, set against the scenic backdrop of the region, highlighted the people`s strong faith in democracy. The festive mood and enthusiastic participation were evident across all districts that went for pol

Advancing green growth via bio-manufacturing and bio-foundry initiative

In the ongoing problem of facing environmental challenges, the call for sustainable practices has become more pressing than ever. Nations have started to strive to reduce their carbon footprint and mitigate the adverse effects of industrialization, innovative solutions are imperative. Unfortunately, due to human activities to aim for a developed environment, nature is slowly giving up on humans

How India can offer data protection to SMEs

Cyberattacks have become a daily phenomenon around the globe, especially in India. In the first half of 2024 alone, India has witnessed 593 cyber incidents, comprising of 388 data breaches, 107 data leaks, and 39 ransomware attacks. With an average of 3,201 cyberattacks per week in Q2 2024, a 46% increase from last year, India is now the second-most targeted country in the Asia-P

What does the Net Zero policy mean for India?

The United Nations Framework Classification for resources (UNFC) – also known as the Paris Agreement, which was adopted in December 2015, aims to mitigate climate change by holding global warming to two degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial levels, with a target of limiting it to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Currently, major economies like the United States, South Korea, Japan and China have a

Envisioning a better future of facility management

Among the various aspects of sustainable facility management, green cleaning has emerged as a pivotal strategy. By adopting green cleaning practices, facility managers can significantly reduce environmental impact, enhance operational efficiency, and drive cost savings, all while meeting stringent Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards. The Growing Importan

How Bihar can revive its lost glory as hub of learning

No other state in India sees its government school teachers featured in viral videos as frequently as Bihar does. These videos, often amusing to outsiders, showcase reporters asking the simplest of questions — such as spelling a month’s name or naming the country’s president — only for the teachers to falter embarrassingly. For those of us who hail from Bihar, this is a

Bihar`s road to revival: Budget plans and promises

Bihar is a state brimming with potential, yet socio-economic challenges have long impeded its progress. Citing its economic backwardness, the state has long advocated for `special category` status from the centre, which would ensure 90% funding for the union government schemes, compared to 60%-80% for other states, along with various tax concessions. Despite widespread anticipation, this demand

Why job quota in India’s ‘Silicon Valley’ will be self-defeating

Shooting oneself in the foot with a regressive step for short term political gains is how I would define the Karnataka government’s recent decision to reserve jobs in the private sector for the state’s people. As per Nasscom, the tech sector alone contributes to 25% of the state’s GDP; the state has attracted a fourth of the country’s tech talent and more

Budget expectations, from job creation to tax reforms…

With the return of the NDA to power in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, all eyes are now on finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s full budget for the FY 2024-25. The interim budget presented in February was a typical vote-on-accounts, allowing the outgoing government to manage expenses in the period leading up to the general elections. The return of the old regime to power, alb

Listening to tomorrow: The imperative for youth-driven data in India

Over a decade and a half ago when I was still a student, millennials felt the burning need to break down the barriers of gatekeeping in traditional media. Young voices, brimming with ideas and opinions, were often sidelined, their perspectives deemed too marginal or unrefined for mainstream discourse. This led to the start of my own journey with the founding of Youth Ki Awaaz in 2008, which was

Coalition politics not expected to impact India’s foreign policy

Prime minister Narendra Modi has strived incessantly to bring laurels and much needed recognition for the nation since May 2014 when he was sworn in as the head of state. The poser which can be deliberated upon is this: What will be the consequential impact of the new era of coalition politics which confronts us after two terms of the Modi denomination? It’s a well benowest and establishe

How CSR can empower educators

Globally there is a shortage of teachers, according to the World Economic Forum, which is a significant roadblock in achieving UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 (free and quality education for every child by 2030). Not only does it impact the individual attention each child receives, but it also leaves educators overworked and has an additional financial burden on already strained education sys

Kerala’s Industrial and Commercial Policy: A case for collaboration, consultation

In 2014, the Ministry of Law and Justice published India’s ‘Pre-Legislative Consultation Policy’ or PLCP, a landmark policy that outlined a process and recommendations for lawmaking, through the incorporation of public participation and opinion. In 2024, we mark a decade of this policy, which the Ministry put out with the intention of “responding to the legitimate and gr

Women move forward, one step at a time

“Women’s rights are not a privilege but a fundamental aspect of human rights.” —Savitribai Phule In India, where almost two-thirds of the population resides in rural areas, women’s empowerment initiatives are extremely critical for intensifying local development. Women in rural India are particularly disadvantaged due to low literacy

Why you should vote

What are the direct tangible benefits that you want from the government coming in power? The manifestos of various parties set a host of agendas which many times falls back in materialising the intended gains. Governance failures, policy lapses, implementation gaps, leadership crisis and cultural blockages could lead to pessimist tendencies among the citizens from exercising their voting right.

What EU’s AI Act means for the world

The recent European Union (EU) policy on artificial intelligence (AI) will be a game-changer and likely to become the de-facto standard not only for the conduct of businesses but also for the way consumers think about AI tools. Governments across the globe have been grappling with the rapid rise of AI tools and the potential risks they pose, ranging from misinformation to fraud, and data privac

Is Nano-DAP a Catalyst for India’s Green Growth?

Nano Diammonium Phosphate, or Nano-DAP, is a revolutionary agricultural input that holds immense potential for transforming farming practices across varied agro-climatic zones in India. This innovative product is a nanoparticle-based formulation of diammonium phosphate, a widely used fertilizer in the agricultural sector. With its unique properties and enhanced efficacy, Nano-DAP has the capabi

Electoral Bonds: Decoding democracy’s enigmatic currency

The Supreme Court declared the Electoral Bonds (EB) scheme unconstitutional on February 15 and ordered the Election Commission of India (ECI) to provide the names of individuals and business entities that have contributed the specified sum to political parties. This decision has sparked renewed discussions surrounding electoral bonds in India`s political and social spheres. The opponents point

Visionary Talk: Amitabh Gupta, Pune Police Commissioner with Kailashnath Adhikari, MD, Governance Now



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