May 13, 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 124

🗓️ THE WEEK THAT WAS

Manipur’s Meitei groups demand ST status, but does it hold any water?

Daily | 8 May 2023

On May 3, violence erupted when a “Tribal Solidarity March” organised by the All Tribal Students’ Union of Manipur (ATSUM) in Churachandpur was wrapping up. The ATSUM was protesting the Meitei community’s inclusion in the list of the state’s Scheduled Tribes (ST). It’s a flashpoint in the relationship between Meiteis, the majority community, and the Kukis, a minority hill tribe. Read more on this here.

Can ONDC take a bite out of the Swiggy-Zomato duopoly?

Daily | 9 May 2023

The government’s Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is looking to take on the two behemoths. Being seemingly cheaper and with the support from restaurants, should Swiggy and Zomato be worried? Will ONDC have the legs to stay the course and go the distance? We discuss it here.

Will Biogas be India’s fuel of the future?

Daily | 10 May 2023

Experts often hail compressed biogas as a key pathway to a circular economy while authorities find ways to install more of these in cities. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in Mumbai is no exception, as it plans to set up a biogas plant to process 1,000 tons of wet waste daily. But there are some barriers to its large-scale expansion as a viable green energy source. We unpack this here.

Do Go First’s issues spell trouble for Indian aviation?

Daily | 11 May 2023

Go First is grounded as the company said it’s filing for bankruptcy. This isn’t the first Indian low-cost carrier, or any carrier, for that matter, to ground its fleet due to financial woes. The question is, what does this mean for the Indian aviation sector? Is there some turbulence ahead, or are things looking good? Find the debate here.

Does World Athletics’ ban on transgender women in the women’s category hold up?

Daily | 12 May 2023

In March, World Athletics (WA), the international governing body for track and field sports, banned transgender women who have gone through male puberty from competing in elite sports. WA president Sebastion Coe clarified it was a move to “protect the female category.” This claim raised several flags, especially about how the decision stands in the court of rights and science. More on this story here.