December 9, 2023

Good morning. Every Saturday, we publish the results of polls from feature stories that were published the past week. We also give a brief overview of the topics that were discussed.

🗳️ POLL RESULTS – Week 154

🗓️ THE WEEK THAT WAS

Should India sign the agreement on nuclear fusion strategy?

Daily | 4 December 2023

The US is expected to announce a strategy of international partnerships to commercialise nuclear fusion power. Since it’s considered a better alternative than nuclear fission, this could pay dividends. The question is, given some public opposition to anything nuclear, should India sign on? Read more on this here.

Can cash transfer schemes fix economic distress?

Daily | 5 December 2023

Cash transfers have become the go-to for political parties, with several trying to outdo the other. It sounds simple enough – the government gives people a fixed amount of money to help increase their purchasing power. While it may reap political and electoral dividends, does it actually help alleviate economic distress on a broader scale? We discuss it here.

Do the assembly election results spell doom for the INDIA bloc?

Daily | 6 December 2023

As the campaigning began, it was the first real test for the INDIA bloc across several states. As results came in, it was clear that the BJP would secure multiple victories. The BJP took Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, with Congress taking Telangana. The question now is – what happens in 2024? Is it all but sewn up for the BJP? We unpack this here.

Should quotas/reservations apply to the private sector?

Daily | 7 December 2023

In the public sector, one answer to the question of equality has been reservations and quotas. They’ve not been without their fair share of controversies. The private sector is another ball game altogether. Given we’re entering an election year, there’s bound to be a lot of debate and discussion on whether reservations are needed in the private sector. Should we just emulate what’s being done in the government/public sector? Would that be too disruptive? Find the debate here.

Are India’s guidelines on dark patterns too strict?

Daily | 8 December 2023

Dark patterns are designs that manipulate or influence users to make certain choices. It can range from ticking boxes on sites for privacy settings to making purchases online. Companies want you to spend as much time as possible on their sites. That’s money in their bank accounts. But the question is – is any of this legal/ethical? The Indian government has released guidelines on the prevention and regulation of dark patterns. While it may protect consumers, does it go too far? More on this story here.