May 18, 2024

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 175

🗓️ THE WEEK THAT WAS

Is the AstraZeneca vaccine disclosure significant?

Daily | 13 May 2024

AstraZeneca is now in the news related to the vaccine but for the wrong reasons. It admitted that Covishield could cause a side effect called thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS). That’s left many people who took the vaccine worried. Is this news significant, or is it being blown out of proportion? Read more on this here.

Have India’s wildlife corridors been effective?

Daily | 14 May 2024

The country’s wildlife heritage is under threat as human-animal conflicts intensify. With increased urbanisation and encroachments, conservation efforts face immediate challenges. Wildlife corridors are seen as a saviour for many species, apart from tigers. Have they been successful in India? We discuss it here.

Will the RBI’s KYC regulations backfire?

Daily | 15 May 2024

Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) asked Payment Aggregators (PAs) to undertake due diligence of merchants when onboarding them. The RBI stated PAs should conduct Contact Point Verification (CPV) and verify the bank account in which the funds of these merchants are settled. The RBI wants to ensure the system is free of any malpractice. However, merchants are upset. We unpack this here.

Should the wilful defaulter tag be scrapped?

Daily | 16 May 2024

From time to time, the RBI has tried to streamline the definition of “wilful defaulter” and expand its scope. However, some have argued that this entire wilful defaulter mechanism and system should be scrapped. Is that a good idea? Find the debate here.

Will Andhra Pradesh be the BJP’s gateway to the South?

Daily | 17 May 2024

The BJP has previously boasted about its chances of getting 400+ seats this time. They’ll need to overperform in states like Andhra Pradesh to make that happen. It’s the YSR Congress on one side and the BJP, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Jana Sena Party (JSP) on the other. If they succeed in the state, could that pave the way for further inroads into the Southern states? More on this story here.