#india economy

[rightnewshindi]

जापान बढ़ा सकता है भारत का इंतजार, तीसरे नंबर की इकोनॉमी बनने में बनेगा समस्या; जानें कैसे

Indian Economy: प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी ने स्वतंत्रता दिवस के मौके पर आज लाल किले की प्राचीर से देश को संबोधित किया। इस दौरान उन्होंने देश की इकॉनमी का भी जिक्र किया। उन्होंने कहा कि भारत जल्दी से जल्दी दुनिया की तीसरी बड़ी इकॉनमी बनने की राह पर अग्रसर है। लेकिन भारत के इस मुकाम पर पहुंचने का इंतजार लंबा हो सकता है। इसकी वजह यह है कि जापान की इकॉनमी ने दूसरी तिमाही में उम्मीद से कहीं बेहतर…

[gazetteweekly]

Wholesale Inflation Rises for Fourth Straight Month in June to 3.36% Due to Costlier Vegetables

Wholesale inflation in India has increased for the fourth consecutive month, reaching 3.36% in June. This rise is primarily attributed to the soaring prices of food articles, especially vegetables, along with manufactured items.

The wholesale price index (WPI)-based inflation stood at 2.61% in May, marking a significant increase from the -4.18% recorded in June 2023.

According to the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, "The positive rate of inflation in June 2024 is primarily due to the increase in prices of food articles, manufacture of food products, crude petroleum & natural gas, mineral oils, other manufacturing, etc."

Key Highlights from the Data:

Food Articles Inflation: Increased to 10.87% in June from 9.82% in May.

Vegetables Inflation: Jumped to 38.76% in June from 32.42% in May.

Onion Inflation: Surged to 93.35%.

Potato Inflation: Rose to 66.37%.

Pulses Inflation: Climbed to 21.64%.

Fuel and Power Basket Inflation: Slightly decreased to 1.03% in June from 1.35% in May.

Manufactured Products Inflation: Increased to 1.43% in June from 0.78% in May.

The rise in wholesale inflation aligns with the retail inflation data for June, which saw retail inflation climb to a four-month high of 5.1%.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) primarily considers retail inflation when framing its monetary policy, indicating that the increasing inflation rates could influence future policy decisions.

[currentmediasstuff]

GST Collection Rises 7.7% to Rs 1.74 Lakh Crore in June: Slowest Growth Rate in 3 Years

This past Monday marked a significant moment in India’s tax history. Coinciding with the seventh anniversary of the GST rollout, the government announced that Gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections have risen by 7.7% year-on-year, reaching Rs 1.74 lakh crore in June. However, this growth represents the slowest rate in three years, with the last similar slow pace recorded in June 2021.

End of an Era: No More Monthly Announcements

In a surprising turn of events, the government has decided to cease the regular monthly announcements of GST collections. Traditionally, these figures were released on the first day of each month, providing a detailed state-wise revenue breakup and insights into economic and consumption activities. This change means there will no longer be official statements regarding GST collections moving forward.

The Numbers Game: Breaking Down the Figures

Despite the slower growth rate, the overall GST collection numbers for the financial year (April-June) have reached Rs 5.57 lakh crore. In May 2024, the collection was Rs 1.73 lakh crore, while in June 2023, it stood at Rs 1.61 lakh crore. The Integrated GST (IGST) settlement included Rs 39,586 crore towards Central GST (CGST) and Rs 33,548 crore towards State GST (SGST). Notably, GST collections hit a record high of Rs 2.1 lakh crore in April 2024.

Celebrating Seven Years of GST

On the occasion of the seventh anniversary of GST, the Finance Ministry took to social media platform X to highlight the benefits brought by this indirect tax regime. The Ministry emphasized how reduced tax rates on household goods have positively impacted every home, making household appliances and mobile phones more affordable.

Growing GST Taxpayer Base

Since the implementation of GST, the taxpayer base has expanded significantly. From 1.05 crore taxpayers in April 2018, the number has grown to 1.46 crore by April 2024. The Ministry shared comparative charts showcasing pre- and post-GST tax rates on household goods, underscoring how GST has facilitated easier living and reduced expenditure on essential items.

Conclusion

While the latest GST figures show a slower growth rate, the overall impact of the GST regime over the past seven years highlights its role in transforming India’s tax landscape. As we move forward without monthly GST collection announcements, the long-term benefits of GST continue to reflect in reduced household costs and an expanding taxpayer base.

[foxnangelseo]

The Evolving Landscape of Indian Investments

India, with its dynamic economy, diverse market opportunities, and favorable regulatory environment, continues to attract attention from investors worldwide. As one of the fastest-growing major economies globally, India offers a compelling investment proposition for those looking to capitalize on its growth potential and vibrant market dynamics. In this blog post, we'll explore the evolving landscape of Indian investments, highlighting key trends, sectors of opportunity, regulatory developments, and tips for investors looking to invest in India.

Understanding the Investment Climate in India:

1. Robust Economic Growth: India's economy has maintained a strong growth trajectory, driven by factors such as rising consumption, infrastructure development, and government-led initiatives to promote investment and entrepreneurship. Despite global economic challenges, India remains a beacon of growth and opportunity for investors seeking attractive returns.

2. Demographic Dividend: With a young and growing population, India possesses a demographic dividend that fuels consumption, innovation, and productivity. The rising middle class and increasing urbanization present vast market opportunities for investors across various sectors, including consumer goods, retail, healthcare, and technology.

3. Diverse Market Opportunities: India's economy is diverse and offers investment opportunities across a wide range of sectors, including:

- Information Technology (IT) and Software Services

- E-commerce and Digital Payments

- Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals

- Renewable Energy and Clean Technology

- Infrastructure and Real Estate

- Manufacturing and Automotive

- Agriculture and Agribusiness

4. Favorable Regulatory Environment: The Indian government has implemented several reforms to liberalize its economy and improve the ease of doing business for investors. Initiatives such as Make in India, Startup India, and Digital India aim to attract investment, foster innovation, and create a conducive environment for entrepreneurship.

Evolving Trends in Indian Investments:

1. Rise of Technology and Innovation: India's technology sector, including IT services, software development, and startups, continues to attract significant investment and attention from global investors. With a large pool of skilled talent, a thriving startup ecosystem, and supportive government policies, India has emerged as a hub for technology and innovation.

2. Focus on Renewable Energy: India's commitment to renewable energy and sustainability has led to increased investment in sectors such as solar power, wind energy, and electric vehicles. The government's ambitious targets for renewable energy capacity expansion and incentives for clean technology investments create opportunities for investors in this space.

3. Infrastructure Development: Infrastructure development remains a priority for the Indian government, with investments in transportation, energy, urban infrastructure, and digital connectivity. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) and foreign direct investment (FDI) are driving infrastructure projects across the country, offering opportunities for investors in sectors such as roads, ports, airports, and smart cities.

4. Rise of E-commerce and Digital Payments: The proliferation of smartphones, internet penetration, and digital adoption has fueled the growth of e-commerce and digital payments in India. Investors are increasingly betting on companies operating in the e-commerce, fintech, and digital payments space, driven by the rapid expansion of online retail and the government's push towards a cashless economy.

Regulatory Developments and Policy Initiatives:

1. Liberalization of FDI Policies: The Indian government has liberalized foreign direct investment (FDI) policies across various sectors, allowing greater foreign participation in the Indian economy. Key sectors such as retail, defense, insurance, and aviation have witnessed reforms aimed at attracting foreign investment and technology transfer.

2. Tax Reforms and Incentives: Recent tax reforms, including the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and corporate tax cuts, have enhanced the ease of doing business in India and improved the overall tax environment for investors. Additionally, tax incentives and exemptions are offered to specific sectors and projects to encourage investment and economic growth.

3. Simplification of Regulatory Processes: Efforts to simplify regulatory processes, reduce bureaucratic red tape, and enhance transparency have made it easier for investors to navigate the regulatory landscape in India. The introduction of online portals, single-window clearances, and expedited approvals has streamlined procedures for setting up businesses and executing investment projects.

Tips for Investing in India:

1. Conduct Thorough Due Diligence: Before making investment decisions, conduct thorough due diligence on the target sector, company, and regulatory environment. Evaluate market trends, competitive dynamics, and potential risks to make informed investment choices.

2. Diversify Your Portfolio: Diversification is key to managing risk and maximizing returns in the Indian market. Allocate your investments across different asset classes, sectors, and geographic regions to mitigate concentration risk and capture diverse growth opportunities.

3. Stay Informed About Market Trends: Stay updated on market developments, regulatory changes, and economic trends affecting the Indian investment landscape. Follow reputable financial news sources, attend industry conferences, and engage with local experts to stay informed and make timely investment decisions.

4. Leverage Local Expertise: Partner with local investment advisors, legal experts, and business consultants who have in-depth knowledge of the Indian market and regulatory landscape. Local expertise can help you navigate complexities, identify investment opportunities, and mitigate risks effectively.

5. Adopt a Long-Term Perspective: India offers attractive long-term growth prospects, but investments may require patience and a long-term perspective. Avoid short-term speculation and focus on investing in quality businesses with sustainable growth potential over the long term.

6. Monitor Your Investments: Regularly monitor your investments, track performance metrics, and review your investment strategy to ensure alignment with your financial goals and risk tolerance. Stay agile and adapt your portfolio as market conditions evolve.

India's evolving investment landscape presents a multitude of opportunities for investors seeking growth, diversification, and long-term returns. With its robust economic growth, diverse market opportunities, and favorable regulatory environment, India continues to attract attention from investors worldwide. By understanding the key trends, sectors of opportunity, regulatory developments, and tips outlined in this blog post, investors can navigate the Indian investment landscape effectively and capitalize on its growth potential. As India marches towards becoming a global economic powerhouse, investing in India offers the promise of prosperity and success for investors willing to seize the opportunity.

This post was originally published on: Foxnangel

[knongwledgeinbox]

Tata Technologies Limited IPO is all set to open from 22nd November to 24th November 2023. The company is engaged in the business of providing engineering services. The IPO comprises an offer for sale (OFS) of 60,850,278 equity shares worth approximately ₹3042.51 crore. The share allotment date is November 30 and the IPO will be listed on the stock exchanges on December 5. The price range is ₹475 to ₹500 per share and the lot size is 30 shares.

[pallavirajput74]

Indiabulls IPO: Empowering Investors in India's Financial Landscape

[ximpex]

India to be the fastest growing economy again in 2023: IMF data

[bharatiyaarthatantra]

Mahakal Mandir Ujjain and Economic Development

Mahakal mandir ujjain में महाकाल लोक के निर्माण के साथ ही स्थानीय स्तर पर बहुत बड़ा economic सुधार आने वाला है। economic नजरिये से देखा जाए तो तो पाएंगे कि जब भी किसी तीर्थ स्थल पर मूलभूत सुविधाओं को ध्यान में रखते हुए विकास के काम किए गए है। तब उस तीर्थ पर श्रद्धालुओं और पर्यटकों की संख्या में अभूतपूर्व वृद्धि देखने के लिए मिली है। तीर्थ स्थानों के विकास के चलते स्थानीय स्तर पर भी बड़े economic सुधार देखने के लिए मिल रहें है। mahakal mandir ujjain में महाकाल लोक कॉरिडोर का निर्माण किया गया है। 

Mahakal mandir और economics - महाकाल मंदिर कॉरिडोर के निर्माण के साथ ही मंदिर में आने वाले दर्शनार्थियों की संख्या में लगातार बढ़ोतरी देखने के लिए मिल रही है। जिसके चलते महाकाल मंदिर परिक्षेत्र में आर्थिक गतिविधियां तेज हो गई है। बढ़ती economic गतिविधियों का अनुमान इसी बात से लगाया जा सकता है कि रेलवे स्टेशन से महाकाल मंदिर की ओर आने वाले सार्वजनिक वाहन ऑटो रिक्शा ई-रिक्शा निजी टैक्सी आदि सभी की संख्या में लगातार बढ़ोतरी हो रही है। उज्जैन शहर में महाकाल मंदिर परिक्षेत्र के अलावा भी ऐसे अनेक क्षेत्र है। जिन पर इसका सकारात्मक प्रभाव देखने के लिए मिल रहा है। रेलवे स्टेशन के सामने की ओर एवं उसके आसपास स्थित लॉज, होटल, धर्मशाला, भोजनालय, स्वल्पाहार केंद्र आदि सभी स्थानों पर कभी ना होने वाली भीड़ देखी जाने लगी है।

महाकाल लोक कॉरिडोर के निर्माण के साथ ही उज्जैन की स्थानीय अर्थव्यवस्था में बड़ा economic सुधार देखा जा रहा है, जो कि पहले के मुकाबले कहीं अधिक है। महाकाल मंदिर परिक्षेत्र के आसपास भक्ति भंडार से संबंधित वस्तुओं की दुकाने, स्टॉल आदि सभी कुछ अधिक मात्रा में बढ़ गए हैं। इसके अलावा प्रसाद, फूल, हार, मालाएं, लड़ी आदि की दुकानों में भी अभूतपूर्व वृद्धि देखी जाने लगी है। महाकाल मंदिर परिक्षेत्र में लोगों की आय में भी लगातार वृद्धि हो रही है। मंदिर के आसपास रहने वाले लोगों ने अपने घरों को धर्मशालाएं एवं लॉज में परिवर्तित कर दिया है। जिसके चलते बाहर से आने वाले श्रद्धालुओं को ठहरने एवं रुकने, भोजन आदि की व्यवस्था सुलभ हो गई है। स्थानीय लोगों को रोजगार का साधन उपलब्ध होने लगा है। स्थानीय लोगों के द्वारा सभी प्रकार के स्वरोजगार के उपाय किए जाने लगे हैं। किसी के द्वारा भक्ति भंडार के सामान की दुकान लगाई जा रही है तो किसी के द्वारा धर्मशाला हो और लॉज का निर्माण कर यात्री निवास बनाने का काम किया गया है।

किसी के द्वारा स्वरोजगार के लिए भोजनालय का निर्माण किया गया है, तो किसी के द्वारा ई रिक्शा, ऑटो रिक्शा, निजी टैक्सी से महाकाल मंदिर और उसके आसपास के देव स्थानों के दर्शन हेतु यात्रा का कार्य किया जा रहा है। जिसके कारण स्थानीय लोगों को रोजगार के साथ-साथ उनकी आय में भी लगातार वृद्धि हो रही है। महाकाल मंदिर के अलावा शिप्रा नदी के तट से लगे हुए अनेकों मंदिर स्थित है। जिनके दर्शन आदि के लिए बाहर से आने वाले श्रद्धालु समूह में या अकेले दर्शन यात्रा करते हैं। उनके लिए उज्जैन दर्शन की सरकारी बस भी प्रशासन के द्वारा चलाई जाती है। जिसके माध्यम से बाहर से आने वाले श्रद्धालु उज्जैन के सभी धार्मिक स्थलों का भ्रमण और दर्शन कर सकते हैं।

महाकाल लोग कॉरिडोर के निर्माण के पूर्व महाकालेश्वर ज्योतिर्लिंग में लगभग 18 से 20 हजार श्रद्धालु प्रतिदिन दर्शन के लिए मंदिर में आते थे, किंतु महाकाल कॉरिडोर के निर्माण के बाद यहां लगभग 50 से 60 हजार श्रद्धालु प्रतिदिन आने का अनुमान है। जिनकी सुख सुविधाओं के लिए प्रशासन के साथ-साथ स्थानीय स्तर पर भी निजी सुविधाओं को बढ़ाना आवश्यक होगा। महाकाल मंदिर परिक्षेत्र में सामान्य लोगों के द्वारा अनेकों होटल, गेस्ट हाउस ,धर्मशालाओं का निर्माण तेजी से हो रहा है। जो कम से कम खर्च में अधिक से अधिक सुविधाएं उपलब्ध कराने के लिए बाध्य होंगे। कम खर्च में भोजन उपलब्ध कराना एवं ठहरने और रुकने की व्यवस्था आदि सभी कुछ निजी क्षेत्र के द्वारा भी किया जाएगा। जिसके चलते स्थानीय स्तर पर economic गतिविधियों में तेजी आएगी और उज्जैन एवं उसके आसपास के क्षेत्र में रोजगार के साधनों में बढ़ोतरी होगी। जिसका लाभ उज्जैन के स्थानीय लोगों को तो होगा ही साथ ही उज्जैन के आसपास जितने भी शहर एवं गांव स्थित है। उनको भी इसका लाभ प्रत्यक्ष मिलता दिखाई देने लगेगा।

जिस प्रकार केदारनाथ धाम एवं काशी विश्वनाथ मंदिर में विकास के काम होने के कारण एवं जन सुविधाओं में वृद्धि होने के कारण वहां पर श्रद्धालुओं की संख्या में लगातार वृद्धि देखी जा रही है। उसी प्रकार आने वाले समय में उज्जैन के महाकालेश्वर ज्योतिर्लिंग में भी श्रद्धालुओं की संख्या में वृद्धि होना तय माना जा रहा है। आने वाला समय उज्जैन नगर और उसके आसपास के क्षेत्र को महाकाल मंदिर में होने वाले निर्माण कार्य आदि के कारण आर्थिक ��ूप से मजबूती मिलने के साथ ही स्थानीय स्तर पर रोजगार की सुविधा मिलने की भी पूरी संभावना दिखाई देने लगी है। 

[boneym1962]

[reasonsforhope]

"India’s announcement that it aims to reach net zero emissions by 2070 and to meet fifty percent of its electricity requirements from renewable energy sources by 2030 is a hugely significant moment for the global fight against climate change. India is pioneering a new model of economic development that could avoid the carbon-intensive approaches that many countries have pursued in the past – and provide a blueprint for other developing economies.

The scale of transformation in India is stunning. Its economic growth has been among the highest in the world over the past two decades, lifting of millions of people out of poverty. Every year, India adds a city the size of London to its urban population, involving vast construction of new buildings, factories and transportation networks. Coal and oil have so far served as bedrocks of India’s industrial growth and modernisation, giving a rising number of Indian people access to modern energy services. This includes adding new electricity connections for 50 million citizens each year over the past decade. 

The rapid growth in fossil energy consumption has also meant India’s annual CO2 emissions have risen to become the third highest in the world. However, India’s CO2 emissions per person put it near the bottom of the world’s emitters, and they are lower still if you consider historical emissions per person. The same is true of energy consumption: the average household in India consumes a tenth as much electricity as the average household in the United States.  

India’s sheer size and its huge scope for growth means that its energy demand is set to grow by more than that of any other country in the coming decades. In a pathway to net zero emissions by 2070, we estimate that most of the growth in energy demand this decade would already have to be met with low-carbon energy sources. It therefore makes sense that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced more ambitious targets for 2030, including installing 500 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity, reducing the emissions intensity of its economy by 45%, and reducing a billion tonnes of CO2. 

These targets are formidable, but the good news is that the clean energy transition in India is already well underway. It has overachieved its commitment made at COP 21- Paris Summit [a.k.a. 2015, at the same conference that produced the Paris Agreement] by already meeting 40% of its power capacity from non-fossil fuels- almost nine years ahead of its commitment, and the share of solar and wind in India’s energy mix have grown phenomenally. Owing to technological developments, steady policy support, and a vibrant private sector, solar power plants are cheaper to build than coal ones. Renewable electricity is growing at a faster rate in India than any other major economy, with new capacity additions on track to double by 2026...

Subsidies for petrol and diesel were removed in the early 2010s, and subsidies for electric vehicles were introduced in 2019. India’s robust energy efficiency programme has been successful in reducing energy use and emissions from buildings, transport and major industries. Government efforts to provide millions of households with fuel gas for cooking and heating are enabling a steady transition away from the use of traditional biomass such as burning wood. India is also laying the groundwork to scale up important emerging technologies such as hydrogen, battery storage, and low-carbon steel, cement and fertilisers..."

-via IEA (International Energy Agency), January 10, 2022

Note: And since that's a little old, here's an update to show that progress is still going strong:

-via Economic Times: EnergyWorld, March 10, 2023

[cognitivejustice]

a Delhi ice cream truck ‘Mahalakshmi’ has equipped its roof with solar panels to maintain the frozen treats’ freshness.

Traditionally, ice cream vendors used to rely on energy-intensive Glycol freezers. The Glycol freezer is not only heavy but also demands a comparatively large amount of power. This is when solar panels have to come to the rescue for these vendors. This sustainable technology is a cooling solution during the sweltering summer months that helps in keeping the ice creams solid.

[dailyanarchistposts]

Histories of colonisation ought to be remembered, including the horrors and atrocities, but also the endurance and empowerment found in trenchant resistance and the fight for sovereignty, writes Radhika Reddy.

India and Aotearoa are both grappling with decolonisation. In this ongoing struggle to wrest free from the legacies of colonialism, each society can learn from the other.

A recent piece published by The Spinoff uncovered some of these lessons, but in my view gave a rather disempowering view of both Māori and Indian experiences. It emphasised tragedy, brutality and suffering, but overlooked trenchant resistance efforts seeking sovereignty, where we might find the most useful stories to exchange.

Common ground

The previous article began with common ground, but only focused on Māori and Hindu ecological values, so let’s broaden the picture with some Indian traditions beyond Hinduism, and decolonising Māori values.

Papatūānuku and Kaitiakitanga: Khalifa, Amana (from Islam)

An “ethos of living in harmony in nature” is found in Islam, India’s second-largest religion. The Quranic approach is based on Khalifa and Amana (trusteeship of nature) in which humans have guardianship over nature, to appreciate and care for it, pass it unspoiled to future generations, and manage sustainably.

Manaakitanga: Seva (from Sikhism)

A spirit of hospitality pointedly appears in the centuries-old Sikh tradition of Guru Ka Langar (communal meal), an act of Seva (selfless service). Langar serves food freely and equally to all-comers, regardless of religion, caste, wealth, gender or age, overcoming divisions exploited by colonialism.

Tino rangatiratanga: Swaraj (from secularism)

Māori notions of self-government and Gandhi’s credo of Swaraj (self-rule) share an essence of seeking self-determination, with social structures and values separate from colonial interference.

Besides principles, there are common experiences and episodes of resistance shared in history:

Parihaka

The events of Parihaka came long before India’s independence movement gained momentum, but the spirit of non-violent resistance echoes across centuries, possibly having influenced Gandhi.

Redcoats

British regiments frequently rotated through India and New Zealand. Waves of veterans, after plundering India or suppressing its rebellions, came to fight the New Zealand Wars, or left to police India. British statues as well as town, street and suburb names across Aotearoa are familiar to students of Indian history — Empress Victoria, Governor-General Auckland, Colonel then Commander-in-Chief Wellesley (later Duke of Wellington), and places like Bombay or Khyber Pass. These are connected histories.

Lessons India has to offer for Māori

Among decolonisation projects, India’s imperfect story of independence still has interesting lessons.

Non-violent resistance works

Māori have led non-violent resistance in Aotearoa for generations, from Parihaka to Ihumātao, and may find the example of India’s liberation a hopeful landmark victory in global history.

The practice of Indian non-violent resistance continues to this day, as protests rage against likely unconstitutional policies such as the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens, with assemblies, marches, sit-ins, and art, despite state violence.

Coexistence

Although India ejected British occupation and suffers internal divisions, there is still a firm thread running through the ages demonstrating coexistence between different cultures.

Look to chapters in history like the peaceful inclusion of Muslims in South India since the seventh century, the religious tolerance of Akbar in the 16th century, the joint Hindu-Muslim Indian Rebellion of 1857, and the secular Indian constitution. They contrast with divisive ideologies like Hindutva founder V.D Savarkar’s two-nation theory that promoted a dominant Hindu nation. The daily lives of many Indians today embody inter-cultural acceptance, the norm across much of the country, most of the time.

Whereas Aotearoa may not return its settler society for a full refund, multicultural coexistence is possible.

Overcoming divide-and-rule

Whether it was the East India Companies or the British Raj, a small minority of power brokers ran the show — infamously, 35 staff in an East India Company office. They relied on divide-and-rule, recruiting vast numbers of Indian foot soldiers (Sepoys) to do the hard work. But a highly-leveraged organisational arrangement is weak to united resistance (like Kotahitanga). Today it appears in gig economies or the criminal justice industry, which pit marginalised people against each other.

Self-government is not always good government

Today’s India shows how things can get wobbly even 70 years after independence, as a homegrown blood-and-soil movement undermines equality and reproduces colonial hierarchies atop a diverse society.

Take the word “decolonisation”. It probably looks straightforward, but it is a co-opted term in India. In the name of decolonisation, the Hindutva movement promotes discriminatory reforms, such as ending affirmative action for lower-caste people, and passing the exclusionary Citizenship Amendment Act.

There are regions under Indian rule seeking greater autonomy or Azaadi (freedom) today – resisting occupation by a central Indian state, as Assam endures detention centres, and Kashmir a militarised siege.

It takes eternal vigilance to protect hard-won sovereignty from sabotage.

What India can learn from Māori

Colonialism is now

It is tempting to think colonialism must belong only to museums and history books. But settler-colonial societies still persist. In Aotearoa, settlers may have settled but the nation remains unsettled. As Treaty negotiations, claims and protests unfold, Indians can reflect on how the colonial legacy is fed by continuous re-colonisation – a risk India is prone to, not from Britain, but from, say, supremacists within.

Indians in Aotearoa can also respond by allying with Māori in decolonisation efforts.

Overcoming casteism and anti-indigeneity

While there is no comparing two complex societies, there are still parallels between the institutional discrimination that Māori have endured, and the discrimination against Dalit, Other Backward Class, Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Adivasi (indigenous) people. As Indians in Aotearoa can find solidarity with Māori in undoing colonial oppression, so too can India find equality for its systematically disadvantaged classes.

Protecting taonga like language

While India is blessed with a diversity of cultures, a tendency to homogenise society with one language and identity sometimes rears its head. Whether under well-meaning secularism, or Hindutva rule, language imposition threatens diversity. South Indian languages like Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada are spoken by large minorities but are often in tension with a Hindi regime pushed by central governments. The experience of Te Reo Māori shows the value in preserving languages, and the perils of erasure.

Common struggles

Supremacism

Whether it is white supremacy or Hindu supremacy (sharing traits like Islamophobia), countering dangerous ideologies is vital to fulfill the egalitarian promise of the constitutions of both Aotearoa and India.

Climate change

A global challenge like climate change demands a variety of solutions, but most importantly by centering indigenous people in decision-making — something Aotearoa has yet to fully embrace. For all the “harmony with nature” embedded in dominant Indian cultures such as Hinduism, the ruling BJP government has much to answer for when it comes to emissions, environmental degradation and deregulation.

Feminism, LGBT and disability equality

Achieving equality for women, non-binary, LGBT and disabled people in India and Aotearoa is an ongoing struggle. Threats like sexual abuse, domestic violence, inadequate healthcare, colourism, repressive gender roles, limited autonomy, inaccessiblity, and economic inequality, are common concerns.

Patriarchal British norms echo in Indian laws, as with Section 377 that criminalised homosexuality until recently. Despite decriminalisation in 2018, there is not yet recognition of same-sex or gender-diverse marriage, protection against discrimination, or adequate healthcare. Trans Indians are targeted by the new Transgender Persons Act which sanctions second-class treatment — for instance, it provides for lower sentences in cases of violent crimes against trans women. The new Citizenship Amendment Act and National Register of Citizens especially threaten women, non-binary, LGBT and disabled people.

In Aotearoa, amendments to laws like the Birth, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Bill, letting trans people more easily update birth certificates, still face transphobic opposition. Abortion decriminalisation remains under consideration. Māori may be worst affected by settler-colonial sexism, homophobia, transphobia and ableism.

These are signs that our societies have a long way to go, to enact systemic reforms, and to lift the veil of everyday shame and silence surrounding marginalised lives in our cultures.

Remembering

Histories of colonisation ought to be remembered, including the horrors and atrocities, but also the endurance and empowerment found in resistance. The previous Spinoff article proposed a museum dedicated to New Zealand colonisation, and praised changes to the curriculum teaching New Zealand history in all schools.

Both of these are laudable goals, but must be conducted with care to avoid the kind of revisionism seen in India under Hindutva rule. Any museum of New Zealand colonisation should seek to share with all New Zealanders the narratives Māori have learned and developed, to centre Māori self-determination and agency, and to emphasise coexistence under a Treaty framework that respects Tino Rangatiratanga.

[da-riya]

I'll try out Vic3 again I think I didn't give it a fair shot on it's own terms