March 18, 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.

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🗳️ POLL RESULTS – Week 116

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🗓️ THE WEEK THAT WAS

The first digital census: Is India ready?

Daily | 13 March 2023

Can an app help count the number of people living in India? That’s the government’s hope. It has proposed India’s first digital census. No more door-to-door head counts. Has the government jumped the gun on such an ambitious task, or is this the right time for India to undertake something like this? Read more on this here.

Money laundering provisions on crypto: Is it the right decision?

Daily | 14 March 2023

India’s position on crypto is complicated. For a while, its prospects were murky. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) isn’t necessarily a fan. The government might be more accepting, but not without some regulation. The government’s latest move includes crypto within money laundering provisions. It’s a way for the government to tighten its grip on crypto. Is this a step in the right direction, or is a lighter touch needed? We discuss it here.

Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway: Is it adaptive or maladaptive?

Daily | 15 March 2023

On March 12, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway claiming that the 119 km expressway would fast-track India’s journey to prosperity and development. But does every new project boost development, or do they just help sell the development story without delivering it? We unpack this here.

The High Seas Treaty: Will it protect international waters?

Daily | 16 March 2023

The earth’s oceans are an incredible natural resource for all kinds of life forms. It provides more than half the oxygen for the planet. It’s not always been treated kindly. The United Nations (UN) and its members wanted to change that, and the High Seas Treaty could be a start. After years of negotiations, the treaty was agreed upon on March 4 and hailed as historic. Some aren’t convinced it goes far enough or is perhaps diluted. Find the debate here.

India’s aid to Afghanistan: A revival of old ties?

Daily | 17 March 2023

On March 7, India announced it would provide 20,000 metric tonnes (MT) of wheat to Afghanistan in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP). Some view these developments as reviving old ties, while others are more sceptical. Find the debate here.