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Are India’s Elections Free and Fair?  https://thewire.in/politics/are-indias-elections-free-and-fair M.G. Devasahayam  11-12-23

aggressive mind management and media manipulation in Indian elections. This perception, however, is not solely attributed to Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) doubts but also underscores deeper issues within India’s flawed electoral system, particularly the First Past the Post (FPTP) system

After the election, the Association for Democratic Reforms and Common Cause moved the Supreme Court, challenging the validity of the low mandate, alleging that there had been serious discrepancies between the number of voters in different constituencies and the number of votes counted. These discrepancies, totalling 739,104 votes, were in 347 out of 542 constituencies and range from one vote to 101,323 votes, amounting to 10.49% of the total votes. The case has not even been listed so far, and there has been no response from the Election Commission (EC) on the allegation of fraud in India’s electoral system.

The main issues :

The EVM issue

Integrity and inclusiveness of the electoral rolls

Electronic voting [EVM/VVPATs] and its compliance with democracy principles

Criminalisation, money power, and electoral bonds

Scheduling and processes of elections and compliance of Model Code of Conduct

The role of media

EC’s autonomy and its functioning before, during, and after elections

How Serious is India's Personal Loan Explosion? | Thomas Franco Dec 8, 2023

Thomas Franco, former general secretary of the All India Bank Officers Confederation (AIBOC), looks at the recent RBI circular asking banks to be cautious about personal loans. He also discusses other loans, and shares insights based on the loan break-up among industry, households and individuals.

Woman Jailed Over 'Maoist Links' Miscarries a Week After Court Dismisses Medical Bail Plea https://thewire.in/rights/anita-aazad-prabha-kushwaha-miscarriage-jail-medical-bail-maoist-link  The UP Anti-Terrorist Squad had on October 18 arrested Anita Aazad alias Prabha and her husband and fellow activist Brijesh Kushwaha, more than four years after the couple had been questioned for suspected Maoist links. While the police did not arrest the couple in 2019 for want of physical evidence, Kushwaha and Prabha were arrested in October on the basis of examination and data extraction of electronic devices seized from them four years ago.

Prabha alleged that the doctor treating her inside the prison did not show the required urgency to send her to the district hospital for treatment when she suffered abdomen pain. “It is entirely the doctor’s fault,” she said, adding that spotting (a term for vaginal bleeding) had started on Friday night but she was taken to the district hospital only on Saturday evening.