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Showing posts from March, 2020

Water Conservation and Agricultural Policies

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Image source: Forbes India Anandhakrishnan S The agriculture sector in our nation has always enjoyed the privilege of being a vital part of our economic structure and with almost 160 million hectare of land under cultivation, the sector employs the majority of our population. Though the GDP contribution of agriculture is only 14 per cent, with the sheer number of people it employs and its importance in maintaining food security and controlling inflation rate, the sector holds a significant position while formulating the policies concerning our nation. While talking about the different elements which control the sector, the availability of water holds primary position in influencing the outcome and impact concerning agriculture. It has been estimated that, of the total water used in our nation, more than 80 per cent goes into agricultural activities. Almost 65 per cent of the total water is drawn from the ground and we are dependent on rainfall and other sources such as ri

Social Media Shaping Political Opinion and Impacting Poll Campaigns

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Dipika Mohinani, Image source: Boston University Diminishing readership of the print media and the entry of smartphones have strengthened social media’s role in shaping political narratives. In a way, it has become a linkage between the governing body and those who are governed, with people feeling increasingly that they can connect on an individual basis with their chosen representatives. In recent years, many politicians have taken to social media to connect with the general masses. Sites like twitter and Facebook have managed to change the political culture setting new trends in politics and also being used as spaces for open debates. Agendas are progressively being mobilised through tweets, posts and visual effects that are designed specifically to diverge a person’s attention to a specific narrative. The activities on social media, despite being engaging and informative, are unregulated. There is close to negligible surveillance of the information spread over the