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Election Freebies: Short-Term Gain, Long-Term Pain.

THE COST OF A VOTE: A CLOSER LOOK AT INDIA'S 'FREEBIE CULTURE'   By Lara Gaud Elections are among the most controversial periods for any country, and India is no exception. Why are elections particularly contentious in India? As the world's largest democracy, India is expected to conduct 'free and fair' elections. However, one must question whether this is truly the case. Political parties frequently distribute ‘freebies’ leading up to elections, with leaders spending millions to entice voters and build vote banks. Given this context, it is difficult to claim that India's elections are genuinely free and fair. Let's get into a detailed analysis. In 2019, a survey was conducted by the Association for Democratic Reforms, a Delhi-based NGO, across 543 parliamentary constituencies in India.  According to that survey, more than 42% of voters consider the distribution of cash, liquor, and freebies an essential factor behind voting for a particular cand...
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Reservation: Reform or Reaffirm?

Reservation in India: Outdated or Still Necessary? A Critical Examination of Social, Economic, and Educational Disparities. By Lara Gaud        In the last few years, the country has witnessed many protests like protests against rapists, protests by wrestlers, protests by farmers and protests for reservation. Reservation has been one of the major news in the newspaper and media and has to be talked about. The controversy is regarding the implementation of a creamy layer in the SC and ST communities.        Remembering the Landmark Judgment of Indra Sawhney (1992) SC, Hon’ble Justice P. B. Sawant observed that the concept of creamy layer has no relevance for SCs and STs as their backwardness stems not only from economic factors but also from social and educational disadvantages. The recent judgment seems to contradict this fundamental principle. It has been argued that the community has attained economic and educational upliftment but what about so...
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