Category Insights

Insights, a blog published by IMPRI.

China’s Xi Challenge

The Chinese Communist Party would recognize that it would be prudent to revisit the policies but given how much of Xi’s personal prestige is invested in this policy, there won’t be any question of changing track completely, which actually is the need of the hour. Recent protests in China when thousands took to the streets in several cities calling for an end to Covid lockdowns, with some even demanding Xi Jinping’s resignation are remarkable not only for their boldness but also for what they say about the mood of the country’s citizens.

Persons of Integrity in Democracy & Independence of Institutions

The Supreme Court, by raising the issue of the appointment of the Election Commissioner, has also brought into question the integrity of the Prime Minister (‘PM’), who is key to the appointment. Thus, doubt has been raised about the country’s constitutional authorities, including the judiciary. The executive, in any case, does the bidding of the political masters. So, where are the people of integrity in the corridors of power in India?

Evidence-Driven GM Policies Needed to Burst Myths

Scientific policy-making should be solely based on valid evidence and scientific merit and not be driven by a stand either for or against GM crops. Foremost is the task of allaying the fears surrounding GM mustard so that everybody can be part of this revitalized ‘yellow revolution’ without any ambiguity.

Zero-COVID Unrest Exposes Chinese Model of Governance

There has been growing anger in China over a lack of receptivity to concerns being expressed by ordinary citizens about President Xi Jinping’s strict ‘zero covid’ policy. But after ten people were killed when a block of flats in the north-western city of Urumqi in Xinjiang province caught fire last week, this anger has come out into the open with protests in major Chinese cities from Shanghai and Beijing to Xinjiang and Tibet.

EWS Quota Creates Narrative: Politics Pitches Poverty Against Caste

It is crucial to critique the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) reservation scheme for what it intends to do—push out caste-based reservations and replace them with economic criteria. But one should approach this not the way BJP expects one to do it. There has been much-needed critique and large-scale reaction to how EWS questions settled Constitutional provisions for Social Justice, but there are other essential issues one needs to raise about the EWS that have gone missing.

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