Mint Views Daily Dispatch

70: Sushant Singh Rajput Case

Sat, 22 Aug 2020 06:10:03 -0000

In this episode of Mint View Daily Dispatch, Aresh Shirali in conversation with Anant Vijay about the recent controversy surrounding the suicide of Sushant Singh Rajput, CBI taking over the case, the possibilty of murder and how media is handling the story. Tune in to find out..

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69: Arrival of the Rafale MMRCA

Tue, 28 Jul 2020 10:56:21 -0000

As the Rafale jets are set to land in Ambala on 29th July, in this episode of Mint View Daily dispatch Aresh Shirali in conversation with Anant Kala discussing the details of the Rafale deal and the implications of incorporating the new aircraft into the firepower of the Airforce.

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68: Congress Party Crisis

Wed, 15 Jul 2020 12:14:49 -0000

In this episode of Mint View Daily Dispatch, Aresh Shirali in conversation with Anand Vijay Kala talks about the crisis in Congress party caused by a rebellion by Sachin Pilot, questioning the leadership of power in Rajasthan. Tune in to know more about it in detail.

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67: Mistery Encounter of Vikas Dubey

Tue, 14 Jul 2020 08:09:29 -0000

A lot of suspicions is around the strange encounter of a gangster, Vikas Dubey and the story that has been told to the public seems to have a lot of loopholes.
In this episode of Mint Views Daily Dispatch, Aresh Shirali in conversation with Anand Vijay Kala tries to figure the story behind these loopholes, in an effort to fill up the gap in the encounter of Vikas Dubey.

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66: Urjit Patel Book, Overdraft: Saving the Indian Savers

Wed, 08 Jul 2020 09:30:14 -0000

Urjit Patel uses an interesting analogy the 'Checkhov's Gun' to answer questions like what is the banking sector and what are the core problems in it?

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65: Indian ban on 59 Chinese apps

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 17:27:21 -0000

In this episode of Mint Views Daily DIspatch, let's find out why exactly India banned these 59 Chinese apps and what could be the repercussions and implications of this decision. Tune in.

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64: China's objective around its activity on LAC.

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 13:39:37 -0000

What is China exactly up to? What is the objective of its actions around the LAC? Could it be to gain leverage in India? To find the answer to such questions, tune in to this episode of Mint Views Daily Dispatch.

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63: 'Coronavirus a pandemic’ How it affects business & the global economy

Thu, 12 Mar 2020 11:31:54 -0000

The World Health Organization has characterized the coronavirus outbreak as a ‘pandemic’. This holds grave implications for both business and the global economy. Of particular concern is the fate of contracts. Insurers, for example, may invoke force majeure provisions and refuse to honour claims given the unexpected turn of events that has affected a vast number of people.

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62: Russia-Saudi Arabia price war; implications for Indian market

Mon, 09 Mar 2020 13:21:45 -0000

Oil prices suffered a historic collapse after Saudi Arabia launched a price war against Russia. In general, lower oil prices are good for keeping inflation in check, but these gains could be outweighed by the impact of the demand slump taking place not only in India but globally.

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61: Delhi violence- Govt may issue fresh regulations for social media platforms

Thu, 05 Mar 2020 12:27:41 -0000

In the wake of the Delhi violence, the Union government is contemplating issuing fresh guidelines to social media platforms on stopping online hate content. The government reportedly is planning some “tangible” and “visible “steps to do so.

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60: US-Taliban sign peace deal- What are the implications for India?

Mon, 02 Mar 2020 12:11:18 -0000

A long-awaited peace deal was signed between the US and Taliban on Saturday. Conditions of the deal include a phased reduction of American troops in Afghanistan, prisoner swap and lifting of UN sanctions, among others. The question is will the Taliban to stick to the deal, and how would an eventual exit of US forces from Afghanistan affect India?

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59: Should army be called in to contain violence in Delhi?

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 13:06:31 -0000

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has suggested that the armed forces should be brought in to quell the violence. But shouldn’t matters related to maintenance of law and order be left to the police? The more pressing need is for all sides to step back so that the tempers are lowered and violence brought under control. This applies to all stakeholders, including protesters, the police, political leaders, and civil society at large.

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58: Trump’s extravaganza in India: What it means for politics in US?

Tue, 25 Feb 2020 05:17:50 -0000

US President Donald Trump is on a visit to India. Besides the broad continuity in the India-US ties, what does it mean for the domestic politics in the US? Trump, who recently came out of an impeachment trial, could use the visit to bolster his image in the run-up to the 2020 Presidential election, particularly among the Indian diaspora in the US. But could it also affect the bipartisan nature of India’s relationship with the American polity?

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57: SC orders Centre to give permanent commission to women in Army

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 13:14:12 -0000

The Supreme Court has ruled that all women officers shall be considered for permanent commission in the army and will be eligible for both ‘command’ and ‘criteria’ appointments. Technically, the order paves the way for India to have a woman general leading our army someday. On the ground, though, implementation may pose challenges due to sexist biases and prejudices prevalent among our people.

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56: Should other states replicate Arvind Kejriwal led AAP’s governance model?

Wed, 12 Feb 2020 15:05:35 -0000

Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) swept back to power for the third time in a row in Delhi. The triumph owes mostly to welfarism and effective governance that trumped the nationalistic campaign pitch of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Could this act as a template for other states to follow?

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55: Local Vs National issues: What will Delhi vote on in the upcoming polls?

Thu, 06 Feb 2020 16:11:13 -0000

Elections in Delhi is just round the corner. Both AAP and BJP has been quite robust in their campaigns. While the former confined their narrative to local issues and governance , the latter clearly put more emphasis on certain national issues. The point we discuss and analyse is whether it will be local or national issues that would determine the outcome of this election?

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54: Budget 2020: Is economic growth possible without push to the private sector?

Tue, 04 Feb 2020 16:04:07 -0000

Budget 2020 hasn’t done much to address concerns over economic slowdown. With a nominal growth of 10% GDP growth translates into 5.5%-6% real GDP growth rate. The question is should we accept this rate as the new normal? This budget has seen a massive push to social sector and infrastructure through government spending. But the point is can we experience growth without the private sector? According to the latest Purchasing Manufacturer’s Index (PMI) private sector investment has shown a surge in eight years. Here is a discussion on the concept of growth and the current economic scenario.

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52: As the Budget drumbeat rolls, what are our expectations?

Fri, 31 Jan 2020 05:34:58 -0000

All eyes are on finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman who will present the Union Budget on Saturday. A ramp-up in fiscal spending to revive growth seems likely. With key indicators including GDP, exports, investment showing poor numbers what can be done to increase consumption and revive growth? Greater infrastructure spending would help drive investment. On the other hand, a tax cut for the salaried could stimulate spending. Some argue it may be better to put money in the hands of the poor who have a greater tendency to spend. The choices are many, and Sitharaman has an unenviable task.

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51: Kunal Kamra banned by three airlines; is the action justified?

Thu, 30 Jan 2020 08:24:25 -0000

IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet have barred Kunal Kamra from flying with them after he heckled Republic TV anchor Arnab Goswami onboard a flight. Kamra reportedly confronted Goswami with multiple questions and mocked him even as Goswami chose to ignore him. Such behavior can be a nuisance for other passengers besides posing security risks. But is the ban too harsh a step?

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50: Will the EU resolutions on CAA & Art 370 affect ties with India?

Wed, 29 Jan 2020 04:43:14 -0000

The European Parliament is set to debate on resolutions that centre on India’s amended citizenship law and the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomy. The most critical of these resolutions is the one on the citizenship law, which an overwhelming number of members of the European parliament consider discriminatory. A European Union spokesperson has clarified that the resolutions do not reflect the official position of the 28-member bloc. But the question remains: Do these resolutions pose diplomatic challenges to India and can they impact India-EU ties?

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49: Will Modi govt’s sweet deal on Air India help attract bidders?

Mon, 27 Jan 2020 13:46:49 -0000

In a fresh effort to sell Air India, the government has invited bids for a 100% stake in the national carrier. Not only has the complete stake been put on the table, the government has also made other relaxations, such as significantly reducing the debt burden that the buyer will have to take on. The question is, will this be enough to attract buyers to the loss-making airline, and can the deal indeed be completed by March, as the government is targeting?

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48: Are we prepared to deal with the new coronavirus outbreak?

Fri, 24 Jan 2020 11:47:47 -0000

The coronavirus has claimed 17 lives and infected hundreds. In China, authorities have put the city of Wuhan, from where the outbreak originated, under lockdown. Several other countries, including India, are screening passengers coming from the city. Thankfully, no case has been detected in India so far, and there is no reason for us to be alarmed. But it would be advisable to stay on alert so that we are well-prepared was the outbreak to grow into a global health emergency.

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47: Is Rajinikanth on the verge of entering politics

Tue, 21 Jan 2020 14:44:33 -0000

Tamil superstar Rajinikanth is in the eye of a storm over his recent comments about Dravidian icon E.V. Ramasamy, fondly called Periyar. The veteran actor had claimed that Periyar at a rally in 1971 had desecrated images of Hindu deities. While his comments have upset Periyar supporters who deny any such thing happened, he has stuck to his claim. By bringing in Hindu deities, he seems to be playing the right-wing religion card. So, is he finally ready to take the political plunge?

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46: Should India replicate US post 9-11 war against terror

Thu, 16 Jan 2020 14:35:15 -0000

Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat has said that the only way for India to end terrorism is by acting against it in the same way as America did after the 9/11 attacks. The question is does India have the global or military heft needed to carry out such aggressive campaigns. Even if it did, is such a strategy really advisable considering the huge financial costs America had to incur?

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45: After palm oil, India set to impose new curbs on imports from Malaysia

Wed, 15 Jan 2020 11:35:15 -0000

India is reportedly planning to step up the heat on Malaysia by imposing fresh restrictions on the import of microprocessors and telecom equipment, as Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s repeated statements against some of India’s internal policies hurt bilateral ties. India has reportedly also privately signaled to palm oil traders not to import from Malaysia. The question is, should differences on the diplomatic front be allowed to spill over to trade relations? Mint Views Daily dispatch brings you scenes from the Mint edit table where ideas are mooted, discussed and debated before they make it to the coveted editorial page of the paper.

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44: Satya Nadella calls CAA sad; pitches for diversity

Tue, 14 Jan 2020 14:13:45 -0000

Microsoft boss Satya Nadella has spoken about India’s controversial citizenship law. The Indian-born executive has expressed dismay at it and mentioned that he would love to see, for example, a Bangladeshi immigrant succeed in the country’s technology industry. He has made a strong case for diversity. The question is whether CEOs should be commenting on political issues. Also, just how valuable diversity is for an economy?

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43: Does Walmart’s downsizing strategy reflect changing trend in retail market?

Mon, 13 Jan 2020 12:16:39 -0000

Walmart has reportedly downsized a sizeable chunk of its staff in India. The world’s largest retailer reportedly also plans to shut its Mumbai fulfillment center and halt new-store expansion in the country. Its piling up losses even after a decade of operations in India perhaps explain its decision. The question is, did it expect too much of the brick-and-mortar physical store business model when consumers are increasingly preferring to shop online? Mint Views Daily dispatch brings you scenes from the Mint edit table where ideas are mooted, discussed and debated before they make it to the coveted editorial page of the paper.

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42: Iran attacks US troops_ Will this lead to escalation of tension

Wed, 08 Jan 2020 13:26:49 -0000

Two airbases housing US troops in Iraq have been hit by more than a dozen ballistic missiles, according to the Pentagon. The attack, as stated by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, is an act of retribution for the killing of its commander Qassem Soleimani. Meanwhile, a Ukraine International Airlines flight with 176 people on board crashed in Iran soon after takeoff. The cause of the crash isn’t yet known although the circumstances raise suspicions if there is a link with Iran’s retaliatory action. With both the US and Iran taking hard positions, could the world be staring at a full-scale war in West Asia?

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41: JNU violence: How to make vulnerable students safe in Universities?

Mon, 06 Jan 2020 14:30:21 -0000

Violence erupted at the JNU campus on Sunday as masked men entered the university campus, attacked teachers and students and vandalised properties. This is condemnable as violence has no place in democratic societies, let alone places of learning. Unfortunately, there seem to be increasing instances of educational institutions coming under attack. We discuss what needs to be done to make our universities safer so that free exchange of ideas and public debates can take place. Mint Views Daily dispatch brings you scenes from the Mint edit table where ideas are mooted, discussed and debated before they make it to the coveted editorial page of the paper.

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40: PM Modi stern warning over CAA protests will it calm tempers

Thu, 26 Dec 2019 14:29:46 -0000

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condemned the violence that took place during the protests against the citizenship law changes. He reminded people that duties and rights go hand-in-hand, while also urging everyone to maintain peace. His message has both—a stern warning to rioters and a general appeal for peace. The question is would they help calm tempers or further polarize the debate? Expressing dissent is a fundamental right, but this must be done peacefully. The police too must not adopt a heavy-handed approach. For peace to be restored, all sides must exercise due restraint. Mint Views Daily dispatch brings you scenes from the Mint edit table where ideas are mooted, discussed and debated before they make it to the coveted editorial page of the paper.

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39: International migrant’s day: Is an open door policy pragmatic?

Wed, 18 Dec 2019 13:28:06 -0000

The United Nations International Migrants Day is observed every year on December 18 to recognize the efforts, contributions and rights of migrants worldwide. The issue of migration has always divided opinions, but the debate has sharpened in this era of protectionism. Sure, migrants have contributed immensely to the economies of their host nations. But migration has also raised concerns among the natives about their culture and identity getting swamped. An open-door policy worldwide would be ideal, can nations afford it without political consequences? Mint Views Daily dispatch brings you scenes from the Mint edit table where ideas are mooted, discussed and debated before they make it to the coveted editorial page of the paper.

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38: India slips to 112th position World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap report.

Tue, 17 Dec 2019 14:21:27 -0000

India slips to 112th position World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap report.

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37: UK votes as Brexit shadow looms is the ‘sun setting’ on the empire

Thu, 12 Dec 2019 14:53:28 -0000

Polling in the United Kingdom’s snap election is underway where millions of voters are expected to deliver their verdict on the Brexit crisis. The fight between two radically opposed camps, the Conservative Party and the Labour Party, has caused a sharp division in opinions among its people. The economy is also in poor health. Worryingly, it doesn’t look like conditions would improve anytime soon considering the UK may be staring at more uncertainty either due to a hard Brexit or a fresh referendum, depending on which way the elections go. Its ‘Greatness’ seems to be losing sheen.

Mint Views Daily dispatch brings you scenes from the Mint edit table where ideas are mooted, discussed and debated before they make it to the coveted editorial page of the paper.

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36: US body red-flags Citizenship Amendment Bill: Will it affect diplomacy?

Tue, 10 Dec 2019 16:07:18 -0000

Close on the heels of the Lok Sabha approving the Citizenship Amendment Bill, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), a human rights watchdog, has sought the US government to impose sanctions on home minister Amit Shah if the bill gets approved by the upper house as well. The bill, the body says, marks a “dangerous turn” as it violates India’s secular principles. Could this hurt India’s foreign relations? That seems unlikely given India’s strengthening ties with the US. But, our leadership needs to be mindful not to let negative perceptions build. If that happens, such moves could over a longer term lead to India’s overseas standing getting weakened.

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35: Citizenship Amendment Bill a violation of constitutional provisions

Mon, 09 Dec 2019 17:25:00 -0000

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday introduced the controversial Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) in the Lok Sabha. The bill seeks to grant citizenship to minorities of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan if they are persecuted there. Arguably, offering citizenship on the basis of religion runs contrary to India’s secular principles. It also appears to violate fundamental rights under Article 14 and 15 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality before the law and prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion. Mint Views Daily dispatch brings you scenes from the Mint edit table where ideas are mooted, discussed and debated before they make it to the coveted editorial page of the paper.

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34: Challenges for Google’s Sundar Pichai as he takes helm of Alphabet

Thu, 05 Dec 2019 08:22:32 -0000

Sundar Pichai is set to take over as CEO of Google’s holding company Alphabet Inc. He joins at a time when the company is buffeted by antitrust investigations into whether it has created monopoly conditions in the market. Formidable growth of a company alone should not be a reason for punishment. Its growth could be a result of better products or simply because it is more efficient than rivals. What needs to be considered is whether the company abused its monopoly? Evidence against it needs to be carefully examined before any action is contemplated. In general, use of harsh methods should be avoided. Mint Views Daily Dispatch brings you scenes from the Mint edit table where ideas are mooted, discussed and debated before they make it to the coveted editorial page of the paper.

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33: Row over India’s consul general in New York’s Kashmir-Israel analogy

Thu, 28 Nov 2019 17:55:22 -0000

India’s consul general in New York, Sandeep Chakravarty is in the news for wrong reasons. In a video that surfaced online, he linked the future of Kashmiri Pandits to that of Israel and Jews. By drawing an analogy between India and Israel traditionally, India has opposed any form of Israeli occupation in Palestinian territories. Though his statement has been made at a private event, such comments from an official functionary don’t bode well for India’s image, India needs to act to contain the damage. Mint Views Daily Dispatch brings you scenes from the Mint edit table where ideas are mooted, discussed and debated before they make it to the coveted editorial page of the paper.

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32: RBI names 30 major wilful defaulters; transparency or public shaming?

Thu, 21 Nov 2019 13:19:05 -0000

The Reserve Bank of India has released a list containing names of 30 major willful defaulters in response to a Right to Information application filed by online news publication The Wire. The Reserve Bank of India has released a list containing names of 30 major willful defaulters in response to a Right to Information application filed by online news publication The Wire. This may be in sync with the demands of greater transparency in matters of public interest. But it also effectively amounts to public shaming of the borrower, which could be a violation of a bank’s fiduciary duty to maintain privacy in third-party business dealings. After all, not all willful defaulters are guilty of financial wrongdoing. Some defaults may be due to genuine business failure. Such cases deserve a less harsh approach. Mint Views Daily Dispatch brings you scenes from the Mint edit table where ideas are mooted, discussed and debated before they make it to the coveted editorial page of the paper.

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31: Will Yogi govt’s bid to change Agra’s name impact its brand value?

Thu, 21 Nov 2019 13:16:56 -0000

The Uttar Pradesh government has asked the Bhim Rao Ambedkar University to find out if the city of Agra where the Taj Mahal resides has an ancient name. This suggests the government is planning to rename it, as it did in the case of other cities such as Allahabad, which is now called Prayagraj. We debate if there is merit in the move or is it another attempt to remove the symbols of India’s Mughal history. Mint Views Daily Dispatch brings you scenes from the Mint edit table where ideas are mooted, discussed and debated before they make it to the coveted editorial page of the paper.

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30: Impact of SC order on Air India pilot’s insolvency plea

Tue, 19 Nov 2019 15:01:14 -0000

The Supreme Court has directed the National Company Law Tribunal to consider afresh a plea filed by an Air India pilot to initiate insolvency proceedings against the company. Under Section 9 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, salaried employees can initiate insolvency proceedings against a corporate debtor. But allowing individual employees to do so could create hurdles and defeat the purpose of the IBC, which is to quickly resolve stressed assets. Mint Views Daily Dispatch brings you scenes from the Mint edit table where ideas are mooted, discussed and debated before they make it to the coveted editorial page of the paper.

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29: YouGov-Mint Millennial Survey: Indian millennials and their job worries?

Mon, 18 Nov 2019 14:17:30 -0000

According to the third round of YouGov-Mint Millennial Survey, pessimism grew among millennials (those aged between 23-38 years of age) between mid-September and mid-October. Surprisingly, millennials with higher educational qualifications were more pessimistic than those with lesser qualifications. Given that the economy is in a slowdown, the pessimism is perhaps understandable and maybe a temporary blip that would correct once the economy picks up pace. But could it be that there are deeper problems such as a lack of job skills or excessive mechanization that we may be ignoring? Mint Views Daily Dispatch brings you scenes from the Mint edit table where ideas are mooted, discussed and debated before they make it to the coveted editorial page of the paper.

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28: Sabarimala issue: gender equality vs freedom of religion

Thu, 14 Nov 2019 13:52:13 -0000

A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court has referred the review of its judgment in the Sabarimala case to a larger seven-judge bench. In its 2018 ruling, the top court had ordered that menstruating women must also be allowed to enter the temple. The petitioners, however, argue that this violates their freedom to religion. So are women being discriminated against or are religious practices being meddled with?

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27: Could the SC order dislodge Yediyurappa in Karnataka?

Thu, 14 Nov 2019 02:14:11 -0000

The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the disqualification of 17 rebel Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) legislators in Karnataka and to allow them to contest polls raises the question if the B.S. Yediyurappa government would survive. The by-polls are scheduled to be held in 15 assembly seats in the state on 5 December. For the BJP government to retain power, it must win a minimum of 6 seats. Will the voters re-elect these candidates? That could hold the key to the Karnataka government’s survival.
Mint Views Daily Dispatch brings you clips from the Mint edit table where ideas are mooted, discussed and debated before they make it to the coveted editorial page of the paper.

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26: Is the Hindutva ideology past its political prime?

Wed, 13 Nov 2019 03:50:17 -0000

Hindutva as an ideology has aided the ruling party on its path to power, with issues such as the revocation of Article 370 of the Constitution and the Ram temple construction in Ayodhya serving as the cornerstones of the ideology. But with some of these issues now having been settled, the question is whether the political dividends of Hindutva politics are now past a peak?

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25: Millennials spending on sin goods, shift in their psychographic profile

Thu, 07 Nov 2019 14:17:16 -0000

According to an analysis done by American Express, millennials account for a third of all the luxury spending done by its Indian customers, and this proportion is rising sharply. Does this suggest that the 19-39 year olds of the present times think differently from those in the previous generation? One might argue that there isn’t anything new in the upwardly mobile spending on luxuries regardless of the generation. But it may also be true that peer pressure to flaunt a certain lifestyle is driving a shift in their behaviour?

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24: Will a shift to other messaging platforms shield people from a spyware attack

Wed, 06 Nov 2019 13:14:52 -0000

WhatsApp downloads in India reportedly fell by a dramatic 80% to 1.8 million between October 26 and November 3 from the previous nine-day period. At the same time, rivals such as Telegram and Signal witnessed a considerable jump in their number of users. This shift could most likely have been a result of the spyware row involving WhatsApp, but do users really need to be this alarmed? Considering all messaging platforms can be vulnerable to spyware attacks, the shift might be an overreaction.

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23: Microsoft‘s experiment, a four-day work week

Tue, 05 Nov 2019 13:52:15 -0000

Microsoft tested out a four-day work week in Japan and found a significant rise in the productivity of its workers by 40%. Similar studies also echo along the same lines where employees reported better work-life balance, improved focus in office among others. Sure, this has its perks but is it viable in an Indian office space is the question? Plus, there could be adverse effects too of such a practice, for instance workers might develop a more casual attitude. Perhaps this idea requires more experimentation before it can become a reality.

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22: No political ads on Twitter, violation of free speech

Fri, 01 Nov 2019 11:13:23 -0000

Jack Dorsey, CEO of Twitter Inc, in a series of tweets announced that political advertising on the platform would be banned. The reach of the political messages, he said, should be “earned“ and not “bought”. The move is of significance given the misuse of social media to spread fake news that can influence public opinion. But it also raises the question if such a ban is justified in a democracy that swears by the principles of free speech. A middle ground is perhaps what is required.

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21: Is there a case for dividend distribution tax

Thu, 31 Oct 2019 09:24:16 -0000

According to reports, the government is planning to scrap the dividend distribution tax paid by companies. One argument is that taxing dividends amounts to double taxation since the profits of the company, from which dividends are distributed, are already subjected to tax. In addition, we need more people to buy shares to expand our capital markets, and such disincentives can place hurdles. But in a country like India where there is wide inequality in the distribution of wealth, such a move might be seen as favouring capitalists, or the rich, at the cost of the middle class, which pays high income tax.

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20: The tussle between BJP-Shiv Sena is bad for governance

Wed, 30 Oct 2019 10:20:10 -0000

The Shiv Sena is acting tough with its alliance partner Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Maharashtra. It wants the post of chief minister to be shared by the two parties for half of the assembly’s term each. The BJP, having emerged the largest party in the just-concluded state election, wants its leader to occupy that position all through. Some of the Sena’s posturing may be an effort to negotiate a better deal, but it may also reflect a growing concern within the party over its diminishing role in the state as the BJP expands its presence there. If the bickering continues, governance would take a hit. That is not something the electorate would want.

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19: Does Baghdadi’s killing mean the end of ISIS threat

Tue, 29 Oct 2019 09:34:12 -0000

US President Donald Trump has announced that ISIS leader Abu Bakr-Al Baghdadi died in a military raid. Baghdadi’s death, who inspired followers to take up violent acts in the pursuit of establishing a global caliphate, would deliver a significant blow to the organization. However, this should not bring complacency since the ideology it represents can still sway people. Although there isn’t clear evidence that ISIS has operatives in India, prudence requires that we stay cautious until there is proof to say with certainty that its influence doesn’t exist. Lowering the guard prematurely could be potentially dangerous.

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18: Sebi conducts probe into huge derivates position in Infosys

Thu, 24 Oct 2019 11:11:27 -0000

Markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India is probing the huge build up of derivates positions in the Infosys stock. This comes amid whistleblower allegations of governance lapses made by a group claiming to be Infosys employees. Reportedly, put options for 1.8 million shares of the company were bought at a strike price of ₹740 per share just prior to the public disclosure of the whistleblower allegations. The stock fell below ₹640 on Tuesday, providing a potential gain of about ₹100 per share. This has raised doubts of insider trading. To clear the suspicions, it is important that a thorough probe be conducted so that investor confidence can be restored.

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17: Draft Social Security code for gig workers- What are the challenges?

Thu, 24 Oct 2019 11:06:05 -0000

The government has in the Code on Social Security Bill 2019 proposed to extend certain social security benefits to so-called gig workers—those who work for various aggregators mostly on contract. This is an important step towards ensuring that such workers, who typically don’t get the benefits of regular employees, are also provided with some minimum social security benefits. For businesses, though, this would mean higher costs, which could discourage them from hiring freely. Perhaps a middle path is needed so that workers aren’t denied some essential benefits while the impositions don’t impede future hiring.

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16: What does Trump’s apparent admission of US nuclear weapons in Turkey imply?

Thu, 24 Oct 2019 11:00:44 -0000

President Trump appears to have inadvertently confirmed the presence of US nuclear weapons in Turkey, making this possibly the first time the country has publicly acknowledged what has been considered an open secret for years. This may revive concerns about the safety of these weapons in the wake of Turkey’s offensive in Syria. But was Trump’s accidental admission indeed accidental? Could not have Trump’s statement been deliberate to signal the US’s dominance in the region, particularly to China with whom it has been experiencing increasing geo-strategic conflicts? That is a point worth pondering.

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15: Banerjee-Duflo show demand is crucial for education

Thu, 24 Oct 2019 10:58:24 -0000

Nobel laureates Abhijeet Banerjee and Esther Duflo picked education as a critical social sector to examine whether people are in a poverty trap or not. Through a study, the economists found that it is critical for demand to exist that could spur the need for education. While governments often focus on the supply of education through providing incentives and infrastructure, demand generation still remains critical.

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14: Does IRCTC share price surge signal market sentiment upturn?

Thu, 24 Oct 2019 10:54:02 -0000

Shares of state-run IRCTC more than doubled on market debut on the BSE and NSE on Monday. The railway services provider’s IPO was subscribed more than 112 times. Though its early to say if market sentiment has turned a corner, the strong demand does suggest that New Delhi needs to work out its pricing strategy in future share sales better so that the issues aren’t underpriced, especially given the tall disinvestment target it has set out to achieve.

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13: Is China’s economic growth model worth emulating?

Thu, 24 Oct 2019 10:49:54 -0000

China’s Communist Party (CCP) today marks the 70th anniversary of its 1949 revolution. The journey from an undeveloped economy to becoming the second-largest economy in the world is no mean feat, especially considering the millions of people it has been able to lift out of poverty. But this rapid expansion has come at a cost: those of democratic values. Its record on upholding them is far less impressive. Its growth model, therefore, can provide lessons to other countries, although it’s not without fault.

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12: Why are millennials steering away from buying houses?

Thu, 24 Oct 2019 10:45:17 -0000

Data from various surveys suggests that millennials are shying away from buying houses. This could be because of a shift in their investment choices, as more attractive asset classes like mutual funds gain their attention. It could also be because of expectations of change in jobs, which could take them to a different city. If these are indeed the reasons, it would suggest a change in investment behaviour of millennials. However builders, who have been relying on this age group to drive sales, would be hoping that there diminishing interest be simply a result of the slump in the real estate sector. If that is true, demand from this key consumer segment should bounce back once the sector revives.

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11: Will opting out early with a B.Sc degree dilute brand IIT?

Thu, 24 Oct 2019 10:43:16 -0000

The human resources development ministry has proposed that IIT students who are unable to cope up with the rigour of the institute’s four-year B.Tech course be given an option to pursue a three-year B.Sc ( Engineering) instead. If implemented, the move would help students opt for a more suitable course midway in their studies so that time already devoted doesn’t go waste. On the downside, though, such a move could result in segregation of students and cause stigmatization of the weaker ones. Brand IIT may also get diluted as those opting out of the main engineering course get branded differently.

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10: Is Nitin Gadkari right in not allowing driverless cars in India?

Thu, 24 Oct 2019 10:36:21 -0000

Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said on Tuesday that he won’t allow driverless cars in India since these could take away lakhs of jobs. While there are still many questions about the practicality of introducing such vehicles, an outright ban might not be justified. Consumers should not be denied choice and technology advancement should not be hindered. If such cars lead to enhanced road safety and fewer accidents, any plans to introduce them may be worth examining in detail.

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9: Will multi-purpose ID cards expose citizens to privacy risks?

Thu, 24 Oct 2019 10:27:11 -0000

Home minister Amit Shah has pitched for the creation of a multipurpose identity card that will subsume information such as from the Aadhar card, passport, PAN card, among others. This makes one wonder how it would differ from Aadhar, which was also conceived on the same ground? What’s noteworthy, though, is the merging of multiple databases, including that of Census 2021 (which is going to be a digital exercise) and of National Population Register (NPR), with the new card. For a nation where data protection laws and systems are weak, this exercise could expose citizens to privacy risks. It may have its benefits in policymaking, but policymakers ought to be mindful of them.

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8: Should SC live-stream the Ayodhya case?

Thu, 24 Oct 2019 10:19:50 -0000

The Supreme Court is reviewing if live-streaming of the ongoing Ayodhya case may be done. Given the case is of immense public interest, broadcasting the proceedings live may not be bad idea. This would enhance transparency of the process. But there is also concern that it could end up becoming a television spectacle, and the spotlight may even influence the conduct of the court. There are both pros and cons. However, which way the Supreme Court decides, we will have to wait and see.

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7: Should states hit the brakes on high traffic fines?

Wed, 23 Oct 2019 02:16:41 -0000

Some states have decided not to implement the steep fines prescribed by the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act recently approved by Parliament. Under the law, states have the right to formulate their own law given that the subject falls in the Concurrent list of the Constitution. But the broader objective of reducing road fatalities should not be lost sight of. The new rules should be tested for some time to see if they bring greater discipline among road users and lead to lower accidents. Prematurely diluting them would detrimental to the safety concerns of road users.

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6: Can Singapore-style road pricing resolve India's traffic woes?

Wed, 23 Oct 2019 02:15:06 -0000

Mint has analyzed 300 arterial road in India’s six largest metropolitan regions and ranked them according to their vehicular traffic speeds. The findings show traffic movement in our cities is significantly slower than in some international metropolitans. This calls for remedial measures. Places such as Stockholm and Singapore have introduced road pricing to reduce congestion. Perhaps India also ought to explore such measures. The bigger question however is whether such a move will be feasible considering the space constraints and diversity of traffic in our country?

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5: What explains Pakistan’s U-turn on nuclear policy?

Wed, 23 Oct 2019 02:13:23 -0000

Prime Minister Imran Khan said that Pakistan will not be the first to attack were tensions with India over Kashmir to boil over and lead to a war. For a nation that has indulged in nuclear sabre-rattling, some could read this as a softening of stance. Yet, the clarification by the country’s foreign ministry that there is no change in Pakistan’s nuclear policy shows such an interpretation would be a mistake. All that Khan appears to be doing is to strike the right postures ahead of the United Nations general assembly session this month, perhaps as a face-saver after the war hysteria it created failed to draw international support. New Delhi should tread cautiously, lest it ends up misreading the situation.

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4: Could the NRC process have been more compassionate?

Wed, 23 Oct 2019 02:07:33 -0000

The final list of the National Register of Citizens published on Saturday almost saw nearly two million people being excluded from it. Concerns have been raised over genuine Indian citizens who have been living for decades in Assam being left out. Their future now hangs in the balance. What’s a relief, though, is that they can appeal in the Foreigners tribunal to get their names included. It’s important to have a system that takes a compassionate view towards such cases so that no genuine citizen gets left out.

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3: How is work from home different in private and public sectors?

Tue, 22 Oct 2019 03:49:09 -0000

State-run power producer NTPC Ltd. has directed 18 senior level officers to work from home for the first time, according to the Hindu BusinessLine. A work-from home culture is well accepted in the private sector due to the numerous benefits it offers, but it is yet to gain popularity in the public sector, which is not yet accustomed to the concept. In the case of NTPC, one key suspicion among employees is that this could be an effort to sideline them from the main work stream. To alleviate their concerns, the company should communicate its objective more clearly.

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2: What explains the rush for gold?

Tue, 22 Oct 2019 03:44:05 -0000

Gold prices have hit a six-year high, and there could be much more room for them to rise. Veteran investor Mark Mobius gave a blanket endorsement to buying gold because of the prospect of a rise in money supply as global central banks ease monetary policy to support growth. With fears of a recession looming large, investors are getting drawn by the safe-haven appeal of gold. However, could gold’s rise also be a signal of an end to the US's strong dollar policy? The views of Mobius may reflect the deep anxieties of such a shift in the world’s financial architecture.

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1: Will RBI Guv's talking up the economy prove effective?

Tue, 22 Oct 2019 03:36:04 -0000

RBI governor Shaktikanta Das outlines that growth for RBI is a matter of highest priority. Given there are sectoral issues and external global headwinds , it is advisable to look ahead in terms of opportunities. The point he makes that it isn't necessary to be overtly optimistic for the sake of optimism. Here he mentions the famous Panglossian countenance which translates into excessive optimism. But the million dollar question is , where there exists evidence of real slowdown how much of an impact will his statement make?

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