Among its closest neighbours, India leads in income levels or overall economic empowerment. However, it also leads in terms of income inequality, due to which the inequality-adjusted HDI suffers a bigger fall.
'Our study finds that only about 20% of Indians are vegetarians and the rest of the 80% are non-vegetarians or meat-eaters.'
Rather than a blind reproduction of the government template, a more productive way of enforcing affirmative action in the private sector could be to emulate an American model, suggests Kanika Datta.
Had Finance Minister Sitharaman thought a little more about the middle class, disadvantaged sections, and the poor who are struggling, it would have been an inclusive Budget that would have made history, notes Ramesh Menon.
The Human Development Index in the country rose by 21 per cent, according to a report which cautions that health, nutrition and sanitation remain the key challenges for India.
Philanthropic activities tend to be confined by the limitations of a corporation's location and capabilities.
'The Sena can quickly reduce most solutions to violence.' 'When in power, it will revert to this gene which is coded into it and we will no doubt produce entertaining and frightening moments,' says Aakar Patel.
However, 63 per cent Indians were "satisfied" with their standard of living
'While the poor have little say in shaping India's intellectual or public discourse, they do have a significant role in deciding political outcomes,' points out Roshan Kishore.
A shocking fact revealed by a pan-India survey that was flagged at a seminar of Dalit intellectuals
India's human development indicators show that deprivation extends well beyond the 22 per cent of population who live below the official poverty line.
While India's human development index has improved, absolute performance levels aren't satisfactory, says T N Ninan.
De-scaling of businesses, job losses and subsequent impact on disposable incomes has created negative sentiment among traders, business owners and workers alike, says Abhishek Waghmare.
At its peak five years ago, it was a lifeline for 5.5 crore, or one in every three rural homes
Agricultural incomes can be taxed without hurting farmers, as a substantial section - the small and marginal ones - will remain outside the tax net simply because their incomes are likely to be below the basic exemption limit of Rs 250,000 per annum that is extended to all taxpayers in India, finds out Ishan Bakshi.
It, however, lags other states on crucial parameters such as health care and rural poverty.
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