Centre clears oil exploration in disputed Assam-Nagaland border area of Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, Jorhat https://mokokchungtimes.com/centre-clears-oil-exploration-in-disputed-assam-nagaland-border-area-of-hoollongapar-gibbon-wildlife-sanctuary-jorhat/ 
According to the minutes of the NBWL meeting, a team comprising officials from the Union Environment Ministry, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), and the Assam Forest Department inspected the project site, located approximately 13 km from the sanctuary, on November 15. The inspection committee found that exploratory drilling would cause minimal damage but stated that commercial drilling would not be permitted. Vedanta Group provided written assurance that no commercial drilling will take place at the site.
However, a senior official from the ministry noted that exploratory drilling is a crucial first step in hydrocarbon extraction, which may eventually lead to commercial drilling. Another official added that the inspection committee’s report advised against any oil or gas extraction from within the ESZ, even if reserves are discovered.
Officials also confirmed that Vedanta Group has committed to using exploration solely for identifying hydrocarbon reserves, and any extraction, if reserves are found, will take place outside the
ESZ. The company further assured that no hazardous substances would be used during exploration. The Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary spans 20.98 sq km, while its ESZ extends to 264.92 sq km. This expansive ESZ ensures connectivity between the sanctuary, the Dissoi Valley Reserve Forest, and forested areas in Nagaland—vital for the seven primate species residing in the region. The sanctuary is already under strain from human activities, and a proposal to electrify a railway line passing through the sanctuary was recently recommended by the Standing Committee.
https://www.constructionworld.in/policy-updates-and-economic-news/centre-approves-drilling-in-assams-eco-sensitive-sanctuary/67565
Guardians of the Gibbons: can India save its only ape species from extinction? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwJWIecrx9o
The Guardian
Modi govt’s aversion to data: A decade of missing numbers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BuhnZp7Dnc
The News Minute Data is essential for effective governance—it informs decisions, tracks progress, and holds authorities accountable. But what happens when the government stops sharing data? From census delays since 2011 to missing statistics on crime, education, health, and more, an IndiaSpend’s investigation reveals that 16 critical datasets and 9 Union ministry annual reports are delayed, some for years.
Inside Modi Govt’s War Room to Whitewash Global Indices https://www.reporters-collective.in/trc/inside-modi-govts-war-room-to-whitewash-global-indices The Reporters’ Collective investigation has revealed that it is part of a “whole-of-government approach” devised by the Prime Minister’s Office to closely monitor 30 global indices and reach out to agencies that publish the indices to convince them to change their parameters – what they measure – if India is doing badly in their reports, which it often does. he ministry responsible for tracking the index began compiling all such arguments and then triggered the lobbying machinery. The government gets in touch with the publishing agency to force them to “course correct”. For that it could use Indian missions abroad to talk to the publishers. Documents show the missions talked to publishers of Global Gender Gap Index, Democracy Index and Global Competitiveness Index.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/eiu-not-sharing-info-on-democracy-index-govt-101629050360548.html The Union government tried to engage with the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) headquartered in London, following the latter’s “Democracy Index” ranking of India that categorised India as a “flawed democracy”,
Critical Data Remain Elusive, As 2024 Comes To A Close https://www.indiaspend.com/data-gaps/critical-data-remain-elusive-as-2024-comes-to-a-close-936492
16 critical datasets are delayed, nine ministries are yet to release their annual reports and the Census is now three years overdue, affecting policy-making and weakening transparency
https://infogram.com/crucial-datasets-in-india-1h1749w3ymknq2z table of crucial dataset
Suspension of IIPS director sparks allegations of government interference in academic sphere https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/suspension-of-iips-director-ks-james-part-of-a-larger-pattern/article67205268.ece
Academics fear the suspension is part of a government plan to silence K.S. James, who resisted political pressure to manipulate data.
Will you work for 90 hours? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkEWh8cRD9Q Ravish Kumar Official Jan 10, 2025 L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan Asks Employees To Work 90 Hours A Week A video of L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan is going viral in which he is saying that he regrets that he is not able to get people to work on Sundays. There are many memes going around on social media on his proposal to work for 90 hours a week. Actually, in the last several years, you have been reduced to sending only memes and good morning messages. There is either no job or it is low salary, inflation is at its peak and savings are going down. But you are pushing memes and blowing away every worry. All the questions have already disappeared from the media, the remaining work has been completed by the memes. Stop for a while and think how much space is there for you and your rights in such a proposal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po8vzTSTkmk | N18L CNN-News18 Dilip Cherian seem to be "normalising" it.. Saying that many people do work like that especially start-ups. After inviting sharp criticism for its chairman SN Subrahmanyan's idea of a 90-hour workweek, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) defended his remarks saying that 'extraordinary outcomes require extraordinary efforts'. 'We believe this is India’s decade, a time demanding collective dedication and effort to drive progress and realize our shared vision of becoming a developed nation. The Chairman’s remarks reflect this larger ambition,' the company said in a statement.