Not falling for the old con trick.

"For days the streets and parks in the center of India's capital have seethed with the biggest demonstrations it has seen in years," even as "they were met with police violence, struck with sticks and batons." CNN. If people in other parts of the world were unaware of Narendra Modi government's ferocity, they are now fully informed. "Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth! We have decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks," said Mr Modi. It is unbelievable that the prime minister is trying to con us with platitudes. Firstly, someone has to detect the leak of questions. "The PDF file containing the questions and answers for this year's medical entrance exam NEET" "was received via WhatsApp by the operator of a paying guest facility in Rajastan's Sikar. Subsequently, the complainant, Shashikant Sukhar, had the contents of this file cross-verified through an associate." NDTV. Was the file sent accidentally to Mr Sukhar? If so, undetected leaks could be occurring for every exam. "At least 21 students have committed suicide because of the pressure of having to take the exam again. Reddit. Will your fast-track courts bring these children back? "Delhi Police took over people, many of them listed as 'bad characters', into preventive custody," "including non-students from Punjab, UP, Rajasthan and Haryana, were being mobilized to travel to the capital." Why can't non-students support the protests? Millions of taxpayer rupees are spent to bus people in to hear Mr Modi's speeches. The Wire. Do all them understand what he is saying? "A steady stream of food delivery riders carrying meals, snacks and bottled water is helping sustain a youth-led movement that has sprung up in the heart of India's capital." "From Kerala to the USA, orders are coming from everywhere," said rider Suraj Kumar. Reuters. These could be coming from non-students. Horror! According to an advisory, all shops, offices and restaurants must shut by 6.30 pm and mobile internet has been blocked in central Delhi, (TOI) possibly to prevent protesters from communicating with each other. But, this generation grew up with computers and the internet. "Intercepting or tracing Bluetooth-aided mesh messaging, allegedly used by protesters...may prove to be an extremely difficult task for Delhi Police." TOI. Delhi Metro has shut 17 stations near the protest site to prevent protesters from getting there. nowsonair.gov.in. At least four students have been treated for injuries caused by pellets. After 12 hours of running from one hospital to another, Sahil had a pellet removed from his right eye at AIIMS, with only 1% chance of recovery of vision, while Irshad Shaikh had multiple pellets removed from different parts of his body. TOI. When the matter of alleged police brutality, with video evidence, was raised in the Supreme Court, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant said, "We are not interested in videos, we don't have time to watch..." "Don't waste our time We don't want to watch videos." ET. The CJI is not interested in evidence of criminal assault by the police causing grievous bodily harm on unarmed students. What, pray, is he interested in? The Supreme Court has just returned from its annual summer vacation stretching from 1 June to 12 July The Hindu. Who has the time to watch crucial evidence? The Supreme Court has 49,248 cases pending for over 1 year, 24,611 for over five years, 10,094 for over 10 years, 558 for over 20 years and 26 for over an incomprehensible 30 years. TIE. Because the court works for only 190-193 days a year. India Today. Mr Modi may feel that he can wait out the protesters. After all, people have to go to work. Not really, there is no work. According to the State of Working India report from the Azim Premji University, "Nearly 40% of graduates aged 15-25 - and 25% of those aged 25-29 - are jobless, far higher than the less educated." BBC. They have the education to understand Mr Modi's con trick. They are angry. And, they have time.

Talk to the Iranians directly.

"Iran yesterday warned that if Tehran is prevented from selling oil, no other country in the region would be able to do so either, signaling the possibility of a broader disruption to energy supplies." Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said, "the security of regional energy infrastructure and the Strait of Hormuz depends on the absence of US forces." ET. "On 8 April 2026, the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire in the 2026 Iran war, mediated by Pakistan." "On 21 April, President Trump extended the ceasefire indefinitely. On 8 July, Trump announced that the ceasefire is over." wikipedia. This was because, "Despite the memorandum of understanding (MoU) reached in June 2026," "Iran sought to assert hegemonic control over the strait and eventually collect fees on ships passing through." "It followed up on its threats by firing at multiple ships, including three commercial vessels on July 6-7." The US was forced to retaliate. Britannica. Iran may be overplaying its hand. "The Strait is valuable while the traffic through it increases day by day, not when it decreases," Ghalibaf said. Iran may cause problems in the short term but other Gulf states are already planning pipelines to bypass the strait. "Oil pipelines are straightforward engineering projects, and can be built at what feels like lightning speed compared with other infrastructure." "Abu Dhabi is already moving ahead; once its half-built new pipeline, with a capacity of about a 1.5 million barrels per day, enters operation by the end of 2027, it will reduce the amount of oil that needs to cross Hormuz to about 10.5 million barrels." ET. Despite Iran's efforts the international price of oil has not risen catastrophically. Because, "When the bombing began 41/2 months ago, the world was already awash in oil. Add to that the coordinated release of brimming reserves," and China staying on the sidelines. "Meanwhile, two major oil producers in the Middle East began to make more use of cross-desert pipelines that avoid the fraught strait altogether." ET. Iran's proxy, the Houthis, "who control areas near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait on the opposite end of the Arabian Peninsula from the Strait of Hormuz, said on 20 July they were imposing a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in what some analysts have viewed as a tactical move by Iran to seek leverage." Reuters. "At least seven oil tankers have made U-turns close to Yemen since the Iran-linked Houthi group announced a 'maritime embargo' against Saudi Arabia,...ship-tracking data show." BBC. The US has issued fresh sanctions targeting "Ali Ansari, an Iranian banker and businessman based in Dubai. "The Treasury said Ansari had diverted publicly funded wealth into an extensive overseas portfolio of real estate and commercial holdings to enrich himself, government elites and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)." Reuters. On 6 July, "Tens of millions of barrels of Iranian oil already on tankers have been left in limbo after the US walked back a waiver," and "There are around 63 million barrels of oil currently on the water, either in transit or idling, according to Bloomberg calculations based on Vortexa data." ET. Having killed over 30,000 civilian protesters in January 2026 (wikipedia), the hardliners in Iran might feel that they cannot afford to be seen to be yielding any advantage to the US. International pressure on the US will mount by the day, while they have nothing to lose. Has the US been talking to the Iranian people? If not, they should use a Persian Lord Haw-Haw, who was also an American (wikipedia) to tell Iranians over the radio how the hardliners are preventing peace and prosperity. The phrase Allahu Akbar means 'God is Greatest' (jibreel.app). When Mojtaba Khamenei claims to be Supreme Leader (wikipedia) he is making himself the equal to or greater than Allah. Which makes him an 'Al Murtadu' meaning an 'Apostate', and an apostate deserves the death punishment in Islam (islamqa.info). By killing Muslims the IRGC and Basij have become 'Takfiri'  (wikipedia) and also deserve to be punished. A few machine pistols and ammunition in the right hands could also help. The US should quickly win the war, instead of playing with firecrackers. Finish it. 

Drop the invitations.

"Indian activist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk, on hunger strike for the past 20 days in Delhi, has been forcibly removed from the protest site." "Videos from the protest site on Saturday showed chaos erupting just before 07.30 local time (02.00 GMT) when dozens of police and paramilitary personnel swooped in on the stage where the activist was lying down. Protesters who tried to stop them were pushed away." BBC. Indian police behaving like the Gestapo (wikipedia) at the behest of the government is common in India. Uttar Pradesh (UP) Police cremated the body of the Hathras gang rape victim in the middle of the night and beat up her family members, they alleged. BBC. Three of the four rapists have been found innocent while the fourth has been jailed on a lesser charge. NDTV. "Tribal families in Madhya Pradesh's (MP) Chhatarpur are protesting against the Ken-Betwa River Link Project through symbolic acts such as funeral pyre and noose protests, demanding justice." They fear for their livelihood. India Today. Needless to say the villagers have been removed forcibly by police, starting at 5 am.TOI. "Around a thousand Punjab farmers on their way to Delhi to take part in the Kisan Mahapanchayat protest against the proposed India-US trade deal were stopped at the Shambhu border yesterday as Haryana Police erected barricades." The Print. Yesterday, "Thousands have gathered again in the Indian capital Delhi a day after a police crackdown on supporters of India's Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth-led movement seeking education reforms and resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan." On 20 July, Police had used baton charges and tear gas to prevent protesters marching to the Parliament to present their grievances. BBC. Pictures by Reuters show the young students being brutally beaten, police firing tear gas and dragging away some by force, with blood pouring down the faces of the protesters. Some are lying unconscious on the ground. Reuters. Police claim 180 of their comrades have been injured. Sadly, most Indians do not trust or believe the police, civil servants or politicians any more. Most terrifying, a photo by The Wire shows security personnel, shielding behind an armored personnel carrier, while aiming automatic rifles at unarmed protesters. Does it mean that, given the order, they will have no hesitation in slaughtering young students protesting against their lives and careers being destroyed by leaks of question papers? The BJP governs UP, MP, Haryana, Delhi and the Centre. "In an unfortunate incident, Times Now reporter Dev Kotak was assaulted by a large group of protesters at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Tuesday, 21 July, amid ongoing demonstrations. Kotak claimed a mob of over 100 people attacked him." TN. Thankfully, Mr Kotak's photograph shows no injury or bruising, unlike what the protesters suffered. It could have been a false flag operation (Britannica) by Bhakts (devotees) who are the Basij Militia (Britannica) of the regime. On the other hand, Kanika Katiyar of NDTV was protected as the protesters formed a human wall around journalists, washed tear gas from their eyes and even provided face masks. India is classed as an electoral autocracy in a V-Dem report. The Wire. It is amazing that Western leaders preach sermons on democracy but keep inviting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to their countries, thereby legitimizing this corrupt, dictatorial regime. No need to say anything. Just drop him quietly. Say the time is not convenient. Hopefully, he will get the message. Once the tourism stops.  

A bagful of goodies.

The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) came into effect on 15 July. In 2025, India recorded a GDP of USD 3.96 trillion, while the UK economy stood at USD 3.84 trillion, reflecting the significance of both economies on global trade. pib.gov.in. To put it into perspective, the US GDP at current prices stood at $30.77 trillion in 2025, that of the European Union (EU) stood at $21.24 trillion, while that of China stood at $19.5 trillion. World Bank. At best this is an agreement of minnows. Still, "The real significance of the Britain-India CETA is not that tariffs are coming down. It is that two increasingly complementary economies are creating the certainty that businesses need to invest, expand and build for the long term," wrote PD Singh. "India's economy remains on a sustained growth path supported by strong macroeconomic fundamentals, government officials said." "The government has maintained its emphasis on capital expenditure," so that "In April and May 2026, capital expenditure stood at Rs 2.51 trillion compared to Rs 2.21 trillion during the same period last year, registering a 14% jump." "In June 2026, gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections rose 13.9% to Rs 1.95 trillion, compared to Rs 1.71 trillion in June 2025." HT. Since GST is a consumption tax, its rise hints at increasing consumer spending which could be a sign of increasing affluence. But it is causing financial problems for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). "Under Section 15 of the MSMED Act, 2006, buyers are legally obligated to settle vendor bills within 45 days if a written contract exists, or 15 days in its absence." Yet, "Large private entities and government bodies routinely stretch payment cycles to 90, 120 or 180 days." At the same time, "GST operates strictly on an accrual basis, not cash-flow basis. If an invoice is generated, the tax must be paid by the 20th of the next month," wrote Ajit Ranade. Naturally, this causes cash flow problems for MSMEs. Not surprising, "India has not featured among the world's 50 safest countries for investors in 2026, according to the Global Investment Risk and Resilience Score 2026 by Henley and Partners." BT. In 2025, India was ranked at an embarrassing 104th "showing moderate resilience but elevated risks. gktoday.in. The scary thing is that it is not just MSMEs that have cash problems, even the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) could get trapped in a problem of its own making. "Over the past two years, India's central bank built one of the world's largest bearish dollar bets to support a persistently weak rupee. It now faces the challenge of unwinding that position without destabilizing the currency market." "The book had ballooned to a record $106.7 billion in May, as per Bloomberg calculations based on RBI data." "To attract capital, the RBI has offered to fully cover hedging costs for banks raising three- to five-year foreign currency deposits from non-resident Indians (NRI)." ET. NRIs will have to be paid back in foreign currency. In 2013, the rupee fell from 55 to one dollar in May to near 69 in August. Known as the 'Taper Tantrum'. Then governor of the RBI Raghuram Rajan mobilized $30 billion through an FCNR scheme. ET.  According to veteran investor Shankar Sharma, "During FY2013-14, foreign portfolio investors bought nearly $14 billion worth of Indian equities despite the taper tantrum. In contrast, they have sold about $26.5 billion worth of Indian equities so far in FY2026-27." Today, the RBI's FCNR(B) scheme will only fund the exit of foreign investors. MC. Trade agreements are seductive, promising a wealth of goodies. But, what will we export if MSMEs are failing and if the RBI runs out of money? Risks are definitely elevated. Stratospheric.           

Insecurity from security agreement.

"US consumer prices declined in June for the first time in six years," and "US retail sales rose modestly in June," as "Cheaper gas offered households some breathing room for discretionary purchases last month." "US consumer confidence rose in early June to a five-month high." "China's economy slowed more than expected in the second quarter," as "Gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 4.3% from a year ago." ET. In the US, "The consumer price index (CPI) rose by 3.5% on a year-on-year basis, down from a 4.2% increase in May, said the Labor Department. ET. China's "Official GDP figures showed the world's second largest economy grew in the second quarter by 4.3%, below Beijing's annual target, and after a 5% rise in the first quarter." Exports jumped 27% year-on-year in June and new home prices contracted by 0.1%, BBC. After peaking in 2021, "China's share of global GDP has fallen in nominal terms from 18% to 16.5%, while the US share has risen to 26%." "In real terms, independent estimates now put China's growth closer to zero than to the official target of 4.5-5%," wrote Ruchir Sharma. China's total debt has risen to 350% of GDP, but is still pushing new debt into manufacturing industries, replacing the property bubble with a new one. "Net foreign direct investment is negative. Last year, a record $425 billion in capital flowed out of Chinese financial markets." And, "The number of Western expats living in China has fallen markedly." Beijing is dumping its manufactured goods on the rest of the world, so the backlash is growing. Perhaps to divert people's attention from a deteriorating economy, Beijing is resorting to threatening Taiwan. "Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence on Monday (today) detected two sorties by PLA aircraft, seven PLAN vessels and one official ship operating around its territory." "Meanwhile yesterday, the MND said that it detected 10 sorties of PLA aircraft, 9 PLAN vessels and 3 official ships operating around Taiwan." TOI. Apparently, Taiwan is preparing a "hellscape" strategy to stop  a Chinese invasion that seems to  concentrate on an attack by the Chinese Navy and occupation forces but how will it deal with an overwhelming aerial assault? mwi.westpoint.edu. "Taiwan must work together to protect its democracy and not become a part of China, President Lai Ching-Te said yesterday, calling on members of his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to oppose the 'red terror' coming from Beijing." Reuters. Bound to infuriate the Chinese barbarians. Meanwhile, China's "sweeter than honey" Iron Brother Pakistan (CIIS) is realizing that the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SDMA) with Saudi Arabia, signed on 17 September 2025 (wikipedia) may actually incur some action. "Attacks on Saudi Arabia by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis this week have frustrated Pakistan and threaten to draw Islamabad into the conflict, complicating any future role it may have as a mediator between the United States and Iran." "Pakistan's frustration appears rooted in growing concerns that Houthi involvement may be more likely to draw Pakistan into the conflict," as "Pakistani soldiers are deployed near the Saudi border with Yemen, two Pakistani officials said, increasing their direct exposure." Reuters. Couple of days back, "Saudi Arabia has renewed its condemnation of Iranian attacks targeting civilian and vital infrastructure, including a power generation facility and water desalination plant in Kuwait." Gulf News. What if Arab states decide enough is enough and declare an all out war against Iran? Pakistan has a 909 km (565 miles) border with Iran. wikipedia. Will it be forced to fight across its own border? Security agreement could lead to insecurity. Perhaps, the 'Iron Brothers' will rust away. Good for us.    

Promises must be kept.

On 2 July, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi held Annual Summit-level talks with his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi in New Delhi," which "provided an opportunity for both sides to review and strengthen the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation as well as exchange of views on regional and global issues of mutual interest." newsonair.gov.in. "Within hours of India and Japan unveiling a series of agreements on defence, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, energy security and economic resilience, Beijing cautioned that cooperation between countries should not target a third party," meaning "China's economic, strategic and military interests." ET. India-Nippon bhai (brother) bhai? Maybe not. In December 2015, "Japan will provide $12 billion of soft loans to build India's first bullet train, the two nations announced during a visit by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that also yielded deeper defence ties and a plan for civil nuclear cooperation." NDTV. Sadly, former Japan's vice minister of economy, trade and industry Hideki Makihara "alleged in a social media post on July 15 that the Indian side's 'sheer recklessness' stood out during meetings and negotiations on the project and New Delhi did not 'keep promises'." "The minister in charge was especially awful - if the top guy's like that, there's no way to have any decent dealings," he said. A Japanese engineer based in India, Isao Tsujimura "contended that India was opting for European-origin signalling equipment and a new Indian high-speed train to launch the first section," which will be incompatible and that "India's Shinkansen project will almost certainly end up being a pipe dream." HT. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said the Bullet Train Project is generating significant employment and will provide additional opportunities during operation." newsonair.gov.in. The hon'ble minister seems confused about what a train is for. The sole purpose of any train must be to transport passengers in complete safety, comfort and on time.  As is to be expected, India's External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "It is an individual opinion and at considerable variance with facts." Which means the Japanese minister is lying, but Hideki had already said, "They just don't keep promises, no matter what." Which means Indians lie habitually. NDTV. Seems that Mr Hideki 'got his retaliation in first' (wikipedia). "Sheer recklessness" can be very costly. "Barely a decade after abandoning the original deal for 126 twin-engine Dassault Rafale fighters under the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) tender, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is believed to have finalized a Letter of Request (LoR) to France for the acquisition of 114 of the same aircraft type for the IAF (Indian Air Force)." Incompetently, "Eight years after being scrapped by the BJP-led Union government in 2016," what was "a $10-12 billion contract MMRCA program for 126 Rafales, with extensive industrial participation and technology transfer to Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. for the local manufacture of 108 aircraft," will now cost $40 billion, nearly four times as much, "despite involving far fewer aircraft and a far less defined industrial framework." The Wire. Such haphazard work is common. After just 79 days, "The Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, built at a cost of Rs 120 billion, has developed large potholes,...with videos of the damaged road going viral on social media." ET. Good thing we have changed our delusion from 'Vishwaguru' (teacher to the world) to 'Vishwamitra' (friend of the world) (Lowy institute). But, does anyone want to be friends with us? Dicey.   

Playing with percentages.

"Global economic growth is expected to slow to 2.5% in 2026 before edging up to 2.8% in 2027, with India also set to 'lose a step' amid broader moderation in activity, according to a Moody's Analytics report." "The report said the artificial intelligence investment cycle has emerged as the biggest counterweight  to the global slowdown." But, it has created a " 'K-shaped world economy' where countries and industries integrated into the technology value chain continue to outperform those grappling with higher energy costs and weaker demand." ET. "According to China's GDP growth report,...the country's economy expanded by 4.3% in the April-June quarter." ABP. Whereas, India's GDP grew at 7.8% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 (January-March 2026) and by 7.7% in the full financial year 2025-2026. NDTV. India continues to remain one of the largest importers of Chinese goods. China's GDP at current prices was $19.5 trillion in 2025 (WB), so 4.3% of that comes to about $839 billion, while India's GDP at current prices was $4 trillion in 2025 (WB) and 7.8% of that would be $312 billion, less than half of what China added to its economy. India has helped generously. Our trade deficit with China was $116 billion in 2025-26 and will be higher this year. "In the first half of 2026, India's imports from China touched a record $79.41 billion." The Wire. The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) came into effect three days ago. "By granting zero-duty access on nearly 99% of India's exports, covering almost 100% of trade value, the CETA is expected to strengthen India's exports competitiveness." In 2025-26, India's merchandise exports to the UK was $13.44 billion, while imports were $11.68 billion giving a surplus of $1.765 billion. In services, India exported worth $21.66 billion and imported $13.78 billion, giving a surplus of $7.88 billion. pib.gov.in. Ajay Srivastava, founder of the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), argues that while "free trade agreements (FTAs) can enable market access, they are no substitute for a strong manufacturing base." "India must shift its focus from tariff negotiations to domestic competitiveness." Imports from our newer FTA partners, Australia, the United Arab Emirates and Switzerland are rising twice as fast as exports because developed economies already maintain low import tariffs. ET. "This decade, a net total of 6,75,000 people emigrated each year, up from 3,25,000 in the 2010s." "A chunk of this outflow from India is 'brain drain', including skilled workers and university students, exactly the talents India needs to compete in advanced fields." At the same time foreign direct investment (FDI) has been weak. FDI has surged to 4% of GDP in Vietnam, but "That figure never surpassed 1.5% in India, and it is now just 0.1%, which is one-sixth of the emerging market average," wrote Ruchir Sharma. In addition, "India's R&D expenditure remains structurally low. In 2023, it stood at 0.6% of GDP,...and has been stuck in a narrow 0.6-0.9% for more than three decades." South Korea and Israel spend 4% of GDP, the US spends 3.5% and China spends 2.6%. "India's industrial R&D expenditure in 2023 was $7.4 billion." Nvidia spends about that much while Alphabet spends five times as much, wrote Prof Saumitra Bhaduri. All of this means that the Indian economy is unable to create jobs. "The Union government had inherited a youth unemployment rate (UR) of 2.2% (2012 data). By 2017-18, this tripled to 6.1%, the highest in 45 years. The youth UR also tripled to 18% over that period." Shockingly, 40% of all youth (15-29 years) in the workforce are unpaid family labor," wrote Profs Santosh Mehrotra & Jajati Parida. GDP is growing and so are unemployment and trade deficits. Which to celebrate?    

Dust saves lives.

"As Europe grapples with intense summer heat waves and temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius in several countries," one Indian wondered why the fuss, when we see temperatures up to 48 Celsius. Climate policy expert Siddharth Singh explained that European cities such as Paris are situated at higher latitudes and summer days are longer than in India. Also, "India's atmosphere often contains higher levels of suspended particulate matter, which can scatter sunlight and alter how heat is experienced. However, Europe has clearer skies, which makes direct sunlight feel more intense." News 18. A study by Piyush Narang and Ashok Gadgil from the India Energy and Climate Center at the University of California Berkley, US found that, "One day of extreme heat causes about 3,400 excess deaths across India, while a five-day heat wave causes nearly 30,000." But, "granular spatial-temporal data data on how heat waves affect mortality in India's districts remain inaccessible to common researchers." NDTV. If it wasn't for dust in the air millions could die. So, more pollution could save more. According to the Delhi Jal Board, Delhi's drains contribute 76% more wastewater to the Yamuna River than previously estimated. "The estimate of wastewater flow in the 22 drains that enter Yamuna along the stretch between Wazirabad and Okhla has been revised from 750.4 million gallons per day (mgd) in May 2025 to 1324.4 mgd in May 2026." HT. "It is expected that AI infrastructure will consume water roughly equal to annual domestic needs of 1.3 billion people as well as 945 terawatt-hours of electric power by 2030." "Currently, almost 600 million Indians face high to extreme water stress, and more than 21 major cities face a threat of groundwater depletion." "In 2031-2032, the electricity demand from data centers alone will be 13.56 GW," wrote Prof Debulal Thakur. Less water, more dust, less heatstroke, it's for our good. "The just-released sixth National Family Health Survey shows that India's child malnutrition rate was at a substantial 32% in 2023-24," "far higher than sub-Saharan Africa's 20%-22% levels." Severe wasting (too thin for height) for children under five is at 19%. TNIE. Of course, water is essential for growing food. To save money on importing petroleum, 20% mixture with ethanol has been made mandatory in India. "It aims at improving energy security, supporting farmers, and reducing environmental impact through greater use of domestically produced renewable fuel." pib.gov.in. Righteous! And so, water and land are diverted from food to ethanol. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari "rejected allegations of a conflict of interest and personal gain over his push for the ethanol blending program." "He told TOI that his sons' business had a small share of ethanol and their contribution to the overall kitty was meager." TOI. The share may be meager now but the Minister "has officially approved the regulations for E100 fuel, paving the way for vehicles that can run on 100% ethanol." NDTV. From 20% to 100% is a jump of 500% in business. Clever. The dangers are multiplying. "Higher incentive for ethanol is reshaping cultivation and raising water stress. Food grains have overtaken sugarcane as ethanol feedstock, risking food security. Farmers are shifting to maize and away from pulses, oilseeds and other cereals." BT. In a little ray of hope, "In what could be a landmark decision, the Raipur District Consumer Redressal Commission has ruled in favor of a vehicle owner who alleged that the use of ethanol-blended petrol (E20) damaged his vehicle." DH. If it reaches the Supreme Court it will be definitely overturned. So, there it is. Indians may die from thirst or hunger, but dust will reduce deaths from heatstroke. Depend on the 'mai baap sarkar'.    

Factory in the UK.

 China's control over the supply of lithium is an opportunity for Offgrid Energy Labs whose "ZincGel platform is built on zinc-bromine chemistry, which the founders say offered the best balance of safety, longevity and commercial viability for stationery energy storage." "Today, its manufacturing facility is in the UK, while its technology - developed through years of R&D in India - is being stationed for applications ranging from AI data centers to renewable energy storage." ET. It is wonderful that the technology was invented in India but it is concerning that the company chose the UK for its manufacturing factory. One reason may be a lack of workers. "Every weekday morning at 6.30 am in India's factory clusters - Manesar, Noida, Dholera, Hosur and many more -" factory supervisors "reach out to the local labor contractors to round up as many workers as possible, depending on the day's shortage on the factory floor." But they do not get as many as they want. "Gig jobs offer faster earnings, more autonomy and daily payouts, even when the overall cost to the company is lower." Factory wages, when factored for inflation, have not increased in a decade, wrote Megha Mandavia. In April, "factory workers (in Noida, UP) blocked roads, demanding higher wages and better working conditions." "They earn between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000 a month - wages that have remained largely unchanged for years." They had almost nothing left after paying for rent and food and were upset after Haryana increased wages by 35%. BBC. "They were paying me Rs 15,000 a month. I was working 12 hours, six days a week." "I can make that same money by making and selling clay diyas in my village," said 20-year-old Raj Prajapati. In 2024, Russia granted 72,000 work permits to skilled workers from India. Despite the war with Ukraine, workers are drawn by wages of up to $700 (Rs 63,000) per month to work in Russia, wrote Devina Sengupta. "Romania has expressed its readiness to create a pathway to employ 30,000 skilled Indian professionals every year." newsonair.gov.in. Romania has a population estimated at 19 million and a GDP of $950.384 billion. wikipedia. India's GDP at current prices is $4.15 trillion (4,150 billion), but GDP per capita is a paltry $2,810. IMF. India is the fastest growing economy in the world. The IMF's World Economic Outlook Update projects India to grow at 7% in this calendar year and at 6.4% in the next. newsonair.gov.in. But, "During the 1990s, every percentage point of GDP growth yielded roughly 0.41% growth in formal employment. By early 2026, that employment elasticity had plummeted to 0.01%. In plain terms: economic growth is no longer a labor sponge." "This is the '0.01 trap' - a state where the economy can double in size while people's well-being does not improve," wrote Ejaz Ghani. "According to the latest World Bank report, India's PCI (per capita income) of $2,760 places it at 139th out of 182 countries, and firmly within the 47 lower-middle-income countries (LMICs, PCI between $1,136 and $4,495)." Bangladesh is $2,840, Bhutan $4,310 and the Maldives $12,950. Sri Lanka recently moved to the upper-middle-income group ($4,496-$13,935) and the Maldives will soon move into the high-income club. India fell from the 'lowest thirties' to the 'lowest forties' during the previous 10 years of the Manmohan Singh government and is stuck at the 'lowest forties' after 12 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, wrote Subhash Chandra Garg. And yet, OffGrid Energy Labs invented its new battery technology in India but set up its factory in the UK. Why? In 2024, a social media platform LocalCircles reported that 66% of businesses resorted to paying bribes in the previous 12 months to get their work done. 54% were forced to pay bribes and 46% did so voluntarily. TOI. Maybe, that's why they left. Our youth lost.