Sayani Chakraborty, Author at Alive

Press Freedom And Mysterious Disappearance Of ‘Hanuman Bhakt,’

Sayani ChakrabortyJuly 4, 20220

After India was rated 150th out of 180 nations in the World Press Freedom Index (WPFI) 2022, more sober friends asked the same issue. For comparison, China is at 175, Bangladesh is at 162, Russia is at 155, Afghanistan is at 156, and Pakistan is at 157. At 146, Sri Lanka outperforms India, whereas Bhutan (33) and Nepal (76) are both substantially poorer countries. Since 2016, when India was ranked 133rd, its position has steadily slipped. North Korea is ranked at the bottom of the ranking, which includes Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. The World Press Freedom Index (WPFI) is compiled using qualitative and quantitative criteria by a non-profit organisation named Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Authorities in India aren't happy with the technique, particularly the subjective nature of the q...

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Maha Politics: BJP’s Move To Make Shinde CM Is More Troubling To Uddhav Than His Resignation

Sayani ChakrabortyJuly 1, 20220

The BJP showed its tactical prowess by appointing Eknath Shinde as Maharashtra CM. The BJP's mistake in 2019 was to play the position of a big brother too aggressively, and that cost them, Shiv Sena, as a partner. With Devendra Fadnavis as Shinde's deputy, the larger Sena group has returned to the NDA with a courteous re-entry. Having a Maratha Sainik as the CM would lessen the sting of the charges of treachery levelled by Thackeray's father and son. Furthermore, deputy CM Shinde has a higher chance of wooing supporters of the Uddhav faction than CM Shinde. Shinde, in contrast to Uddhav, may be less difficult for BJP to deal with since he never forgave the party for lowering Sena to its junior partner. The CM is Shinde, although the BJP is expected to retain a large number of critic...

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India’s Rank Declines In Environmental Performance Index Despite Several Initiatives

Sayani ChakrabortyJuly 1, 20220

India was classified last in the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2022 despite implementing Sashakt Bharat, Swachh Bharat and Sanatan Bharat. India is the least environmentally sustainable of 180 nations surveyed. India has the lowest EPI at 18.9, according to the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy, Yale University, Columbia University, and the McCall MacBain Foundation. EPI is a data-driven perspective of global sustainability. It ranks 180 countries on climate change, environmental health and ecosystem vitality using 40 performance indicators in 11 domains. These measures demonstrate how close nations are to fulfilling national environmental targets. The EPI scorecard highlights environmental leaders and laggards and offers practical guidance for countries pursuing a m...

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Uddhav Thackeray Resigns: Shinde-BJP Wins This Round, Further Political Change Anticipated

Sayani ChakrabortyJune 30, 20220

After Maharashtra governor BS Koshyari ordered the MVA administration to establish its majority, it hurried to the Supreme Court yesterday. Uddhav Thackeray has been forced to resign as chief minister after the Supreme Court supported the integrity of the floor test and refused to allow any additional postponement. Disqualification notifications for Shiv Sena rebels should have been sent on July 12 to 16, rather than July 12 to 16. There had been concerns that the floor test might be delayed as a result. To cut through the haze of competing claims and counterclaims, the use of trust motions has proven effective throughout the years. Ten days have passed since the last episode of Shiv Sena's internal squabbles. Prolonging the chaos served no purpose for the general people. Delays would h...

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Punjab By-Election: S S Mann’s Victory Is Worrisome; Not Because AAP’s Losing Shine

Sayani ChakrabortyJune 28, 20220

The results of a single Lok Sabha by-election are seldom sufficient to draw broad generalisations. That being said, SS Mann's Sangrur triumph for Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is exceptional enough to be the outlier. Mann, a politician commonly regarded as "extreme", has beat the odds and defeated AAP with 35.6% of the vote share. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann has held the Sangrur constituency in the previous two Parliamentary elections. Candidates from the SAD, Congress and BJP, three long-time administrators of Punjab, all forfeited their deposits. Mann's success may be attributed to a growing dissatisfaction with the AAP. However, it is vital to situate his victory in the context of SAD's decline and the tumultuous nature of Punjab. Politics and Sikhism go hand in hand in the SAD. In 1996, ...

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India, Russia Works Together On Energy Cooperation As Major Oil Companies Suspend Operations

Sayani ChakrabortyJune 28, 20220

Many western oil and gas corporations have terminated collaborative Arctic energy projects with Russia because of the Ukraine situation. Russia's military intervention in Ukraine has fueled fears of Western economic penalties as well as resistance to Russia. Energy companies such as BP, Equinor, ExxonMobil and Shell are evaluating their options for exiting Russian operations. In the Russian Far East, the Sakhalin-1 multinational collaboration of oil and gas development corporations has seen similar patterns. As a result, ExxonMobil has already suspended activities in Sakhalin-1 and is anticipated to complete its withdrawal from the joint venture in the near future. Two ONGC Videsh Ltd. (India), Sakhalin Oil and Gas Development Co. Ltd. (Japan), Sakhalinmorneftegas-Shelf and RN...

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Maharashtra Diary: It’s Time To Dispel ‘Magic Number’, ‘Anti-Defection’ Misconceptions

Sayani ChakrabortyJune 27, 20220

A solution to the Shiv Sena's dissidence dilemma has yet to be found. Opposition lawmakers in the state and TV anchors parked outside the Radisson Blu hotel in Guwahati are ecstatic over the growing number of dissidents. However, amid all this drama, most politicians and the media have shattered the weak anti-defection rule, resulting in a great deal of uncertainty. Everyone is talking about the number 37 like it's some kind of mystical potion. It is assumed that the dissident group of Eknath Shinde may avoid disqualification if it can get the support of at least 37 MLAs, or two-thirds of the party's 55 lawmakers. When it comes to the initial legislation on defection, the Constitution's 10th Schedule, most individuals conveniently forget about things they should have known about. Def...

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Agnipath Row: Understanding Future Of Indian Armed Forces And Their Challenges

Sayani ChakrabortyJune 24, 20220

Agnipath has been baptised by fire and named a 'Agnipariksha' by the Indian government before its publication. Many worry that the proposal's 'out-of-the-box' nature would harm the military forces' culture. Enlistment policy revisions To understand what the future holds and whether the Agnipath is revolutionary, consider the military's past recruitment practises. Socioeconomically similar persons are widespread in the military. In 1977, the maximum number of years a soldier may serve was raised from seven to seventeen. Seven-year active-duty soldiers won all key army battles. In the past, warriors were recruited solely on physical ability. In the 1980s, a written test was created to examine reading and writing skills. Comparatively, the new recruits' literacy levels were inconsist...

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Uddhav Thackeray’s Plight Deteriorates As Shiv Sena-Maha Vikas Aghadi Situation Aggravates

Sayani ChakrabortyJune 23, 20220

Shiv Sena's and the Maharashtra MVA government's woes are exacerbated by the fact that both his party and the coalition's clever players seemed naive when Eknath Shinde's revolt became clear. It's worth noting that Maharashtra's home minister is an NCP member; given the way police and politics interact, one could wonder whether Sena was informed by NCP that some 20 or so MLAs were about to defect to BJP-ruled Gujarat. Sharad Pawar loves to remain on top of the game no matter what happens in Maharashtra politics, and he regularly does so. Pawar's involvement might be intriguing if the drama over the future of MVA begins to unfold and if the BJP makes a strong drive for government formation. The fact that Uddhav Thackeray had a strong track record as an administrator and that the M...

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Shiv Sena Alliance With NCP-Congress: Uddhav Thackeray In A Pivotal Role For Eknath Shinde’s Rebellion

Sayani ChakrabortyJune 23, 20220

Uddhav Thackeray's desperation to be Maharashtra's Chief Minister led to Saffron Shiv Sena becoming a supporter of the NCP-Congress, and he did so in order to raise his son as a potential rival to the dynamic Devendra Fadnavis, who had already proven his mettle as a leader and administrator during his time as Chief Minister from 2014 to 2019. During the 1992 riots, the Shiv Sena was popularly seen as a protector of Hindu interests since its members had been reared on the Hindutva ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray from infancy. Uddhav Thackeray, the leader of the NCP-Congress, suddenly begged the aggressive Shiv Sainik, who saw in his idols Shivaji Maharaj and Bal Thackeray the epitome of nationalism and Hindu cultural values, to support the NCP-Congress. Immediately, Shiv Sainiks f...