ADR-NEW analysis of candidates in 21 elections since the passage of the women’s reservation bill exposes political parties’ duplicity. At 10.2 percent, women’s representation was dismal. Linking the implementation of reservation with delimitation was fallacious. Government should amend the law to delink them if it’s serious about its early implementation.
Bengal’s Budget is doing aspirational signalling, not structural reform
Bengal’s Budget is fiscally schizophrenic: populist transfers such as Annapurna Yojna, DA hikes, sit awkwardly alongside claimed fiscal consolidation. There’s a 38% debt-to-GSDP ratio and an annual interest burden of Rs 49,000 crore. ULCRA re-examination signals supply-side intent. But without credible revenue mobilisation, it’s more aspirational signalling, less structural reform.