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<ul><li><keyword id="22862470" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="iQOO-Z9s-Pro" source="keywords">iQOO Z9s Pro</keyword> comes with the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor with up to 12GB RAM.</li><li>The phone is ideal for gaming and multitasking, with 80W fast charging</li><li>iQOO Z9s Pro sports a sleek, contemporary design, offering a lightweight and comfortable grip.</li></ul> iQOO, over the years, has carved a niche for itself in the smartphone market and has various mid-range phones that promise the best performance at a relatively affordable price point. And the iQOO Z9s Pro also falls under this category. We, at Business Insider India, have been using the iQOO Z9s Pro for over a month and after our testing, we can confidently say that this is the smartphone that can give you good performance for under Rs 25,000. <div type="image" title="6" msid="115764952" hostid="261" sizebytes="904220"></div> In India, the iQOO Z9s Pro’s price starts at Rs 24,999 for the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage model. The 8GB RAM variant with 256GB storage is priced at Rs 26,999, while the top-end model with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage comes in at Rs 28,999. For our testing, we used the top-end model in white colour. So, should you go ahead and buy the iQOO Z9s Pro? Let’s find out. <h2>iQOO Z9s Pro: Design and display </h2> The iQOO Z9s Pro sports a sleek, contemporary design, offering a lightweight and comfortable grip. The phone features a sturdy glossy back panel with a marble feel to it which is visible when the lights are on. The phone, at a glance, looks quite stylish and will stand out in a crowd. I personally am not a fan of prints but the marble feel on the iQOO Z9s Pro looks quite elegant and not at all overdone. Then there is the familiar square camera module and the iQOO branding. The camera module is surrounded by a metallic finish border which elevates the whole look. <div type="image" title="10" msid="115764970" hostid="261" sizebytes="833759"></div> At the bottom is the USB Type C charging port and sim tray. The right edge houses the power and volume buttons that are quite easy to get to while holding the phone in one hand. The left edge is left completely free. The edges also sport a silver metallic finish and are worth noticing. The phone comes with a curved display which further enhances its look. During my usage, I didn’t see any fingerprints on the back panel which is a huge plus. The front, however, did form smudges and gathered dust quickly. <div type="image" title="3" msid="115764994" hostid="261" sizebytes="1688002"></div> Due to its curved display, rounded edges and glossy back, the phone is comfortable to hold and use with just one hand. However, it can also easily slide from your hand if you aren’t paying attention. Hence, it is best to always use it with the cover that comes packed with the phone. The phone’s display is a 6.78-inch FHD+ AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth scrolling and vivid colours, ideal for multimedia and gaming enthusiasts. This high refresh rate is excellent for gaming and general use, delivering a seamless experience. The phone can be used comfortably outdoors too, but a tad more brightness would have been even better. <div type="image" title="2" msid="115764963" hostid="261" sizebytes="1914142"></div> <h2>iQOO Z9s Pro: Performance </h2> Equipped with the <keyword id="21694334" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Qualcomm-Snapdragon-7-Gen-3" source="keywords">Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3</keyword> processor and up to 12GB of RAM, the Z9s Pro is a powerhouse in terms of performance. Everyday tasks and multitasking feel incredibly smooth, while gaming performance is also impressive. The phone could easily handle titles like Battlegrounds Mobile India and Call of Duty Mobile at high settings without a hitch. The cooling system helps prevent overheating during prolonged sessions, making it a reliable choice for gamers. The phone also includes virtual RAM expansion, giving it an edge in handling demanding applications. <div type="image" title="1" msid="115765018" hostid="261" sizebytes="1900985"></div> Talking about the software, even though the phone offers a clean experience with customisable themes and settings, it does come with pre-installed apps, which may be a slight drawback for those who prefer a streamlined interface. The good news is that most of these can be uninstalled, and the UI is generally responsive with minimal lag. <h2>iQOO Z9s Pro: Camera </h2> The Z9s Pro comes with a 50MP primary sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide lens in the back. The phone also sports a 16MP selfie camera. Overall, the camera performs well in good lighting conditions. Night-time photography too is decent for the price. In daylight, the primary camera captures crisp details and vibrant colours. <div type="image" title="12" msid="115765082" hostid="261" sizebytes="1558728"></div> The front camera too performs well and captures your selfies in style. However, the edge detection might feel tad off at times. But this isn't a dealbreaker considering the price of the smartphone. <div type="image" title="15" msid="115765094" hostid="261" sizebytes="833942"></div> The portrait shots from the rear camera are simply stunning. <div type="image" title="16" msid="115765109" hostid="261" sizebytes="1266524"></div> I also used the Master B/W mode and the Vintage film mode and loved the results. <div type="image" title="13" msid="115765126" hostid="261" sizebytes="2287590"></div> While the phone captures impressive detail and colours, the details start fizzling out when you zoom in. Even at 2x, the details start going a bit amiss and by 10x, the performance drop in camera is quite noticeable. But this isn’t a big concern. At night too, the phone can capture some decent shots for its price point. <h2>iQOO Z9s Pro: Battery and charging </h2> With a 5,500mAh battery, the iQOO Z9s Pro easily lasts a full day of moderate usage. For heavy users, 80W fast charging comes in handy, taking the battery from 0 to around 50% in just 20 minutes. This quick top-up time is a big plus for those who are always on the go. The phone also comes with a charger in the box so you don’t have to buy one separately. <h2>iQOO Z9s Pro: Final verdict </h2> <div type="image" title="5" msid="115765350" hostid="261" sizebytes="1316258"></div> The iQOO Z9s Pro stands out in the mid-range segment with its powerful processor, smooth display, and decent camera setup. However, minor improvements in low-light camera performance and UI polish could enhance it further. For users focused on performance and gaming, this phone delivers robust value and is a worthy option in its price bracket.

iQOO Z9s Pro review: Excellent performance in a budget

<ul><li>More than a day has passed since the New York Times report saying the Indian government bought the spyware from Israel and there is very little in terms of response from the government. </li><li>It shows that either the government doesn’t take lying as a serious charge or it has little material to defend itself and neither of the two is a good show on an elected government in a democracy. </li><li>Check out more stories from the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/bi-newsletter">Simply Put series</a>, Business Insider’s uniquely simple explainers on the hottest news topics every week and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/newsletters_signup.cms">sign up</a> for the weekly newsletter if you like.</li></ul>At first, about six months ago, the question was whether the spyware was used by the Narendra Modi government to trace and track the dissenters. Now, after the New York Times investigation, the first question to be answered is whether Modi's ministers lied to the Parliament. And, the government’s silence on the New York Times charge that it bought Pegasus spyware is eerie. The Prime Minister gave his frequent radio address, called the Mann ki Baat, on January 30, but there was no mention of the Pegasus issue. The opposition is likely to launch a high decibel protest, demanding a response from the Modi government in the Parliament when it opens for <a href="https://businessinsider.in/budget">the Budget session this week</a>. A minister of the Modi government, Ashwini Vaishnaw, had denied the snooping charge in Parliament saying India was not one of the buyers of the Pegasus spyware. The Ministry of Defence backed it up saying it didn’t do any transaction with the NSO Group that sells Pegasus. The government lawyer maintained a similar stance at the Supreme Court of India as well, but the court did not find it convincing. These were some of the court’s observations after the government’s response to the charge that it used national security as an excuse to illegally monitor its detractors: <ul><li>There has been no specific denial by the Centre. Thus, we have no option but to accept the submissions of the petitioner and appoint an expert committee whose function will be overseen by the Supreme Court.</li><li>There is no clear stand from the government. There is a serious concern of foreign agency involvement by surveilling Indians.</li><li>The Solicitor General had suggested that many such reports are motivated. However, such omnibus oral submissions cannot be accepted.</li></ul> Given the Modi administration’s response in the preceding months, the implication of the latest New York Times report is that the Modi administration lied both to the Parliament and the Supreme Court. It’s a charge similar to the Watergate scandal in the United States that toppled the Richard Nixon administration in the early 1970s. Even Subramanian Swamy, a member of Parliament from Modi’s own party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has raised a similar question. <div type="twitter" handle="Swamy39" handlename="Subramanian Swamy" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1326823978174910465/lBQbS0ZX_normal.jpg" favoritecount="15368" retweetcount="4437" status="Modi government must rebut New York Times revelations today that It did indeed subscribe by payment from tax payers… https://t.co/gBWw1J1jfV" createdat="1643424463000" id="1487256113187721217"></div> The New York Times report has alleged that the Indian government under Modi did buy the spyware from Israel as part of a $2 billion purchase of defence equipment. The report also connected this purchase with India supporting Israel at a United Nations (UN) forum ⁠— <a href="https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/politics/israel-palestine-conflict-here-is-how-india-has-voted-in-un-over-the-years-6956341.html">a shift from its long-standing support for the Palestinian cause</a> ⁠— to deny a Palestinian human rights organisation an ‘observer status’. More than a day has passed since the latest report and there is very little in terms of response from the government or the Prime Minister. So far, there is a tweet from a junior minister for civil aviation and road transport and highways, General VK Singh, who has called the New York Times ‘supari media’. Taking a Supari ⁠— the Hindi word for betel nut ⁠— is a colloquially used to describe a hit job. Syed Akbaruuddin, India’s former permanent representative to the UN, <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/utter-rubbish-ex-diplomat-syed-akbaruddin-on-nyt-pegasus-report-citing-indias-un-vote-2736819">has ‘rubbished’ the link</a> with India’s stance in support of Israel against Palestinians. Other than these, there isn’t another official word on the matter so far. Considering the seriousness of the charge, it would be fair to expect that the Prime Minister would have defended the government in his Mann ki baat address to the voters today. But he didn't. <div type="Youtube" id="WdprihSHmmQ" title="PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat with the Nation, January 2022" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WdprihSHmmQ/mqdefault.jpg"></div> There are two ways to look at it. Either team Modi doesn’t take the charge of ‘lying to Parliament’ seriously. It’s not a good show on an elected government in a democracy that it doesn’t take offence to being called a liar, especially in the Parliament. Or, it doesn’t have enough material to defend itself. An expert committee appointed by the Supreme Court, led by a former judge RV Raveendran, is already <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/supreme-court-of-india-verdict-on-pegasus-spying-case-appoints-a-retired-judge-committee-for-probe/articleshow/87299281.cms">looking into the snooping charges</a>. If the three-member panel arrives at a conclusion that there was illegal supervision, it could automatically imply that the tool i.e. Pegasus was purchased by the government. A clean chit from the Justice Raveendran panel would be a good thing for Modi and his government but it isn’t here, at least not yet. Meanwhile, ignoring the charge of lying, or wishing it away, is not an option. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/pegasus-google-reveals-how-the-sophisticated-spyware-hacked-into-iphones-without-users-knowledge/articleshow/88383175.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Google reveals how the sophisticated spyware Pegasus hacked into iPhones without user’s knowledge</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/rupee-is-likely-to-weaken-against-the-us-dollar-in-2022-as-per-experts/articleshow/89218673.cms">Experts say the rupee is likely to weaken against the US dollar this year</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/budget-2022-indian-government-can-help-zomato-swiggy-uber-and-ola-can-increase-salary-of-delivery-partners-and-drivers/articleshow/89180404.cms">There’s a way government can prod Zomato, Swiggy, Uber and Ola to increase salaries of delivery partners and drivers</a>

Simply put, the charge on the Modi government is that it lied to the Parliament about buying Pegasus spyware and it must respond

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Senate on Friday approved a budget measure paving the way for President Joe Biden's relief bill.</li><li>The vote was split along party lines, with Vice President <keyword id="180909" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Kamala-Harris">Kamala Harris</keyword> casting the tiebreaker. </li><li>The resolution means Biden could pass the spending package with no GOP support. </li></ul>The US Senate early Friday morning passed a <keyword id="1607456" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Budget-Resolution">budget resolution</keyword> that paves the way for Congress to approve President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion <keyword id="41832" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Stimulus-bill">stimulus bill</keyword>.The vote was split along party lines, with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the deciding vote for the resolution to be approved 51 votes to 50 at about 5:35 a.m.It was Harris' first tiebreaking Senate vote as vice president, with the Senate evenly split between Democrats and Republicans.The resolution allows Democrats to pass Biden's stimulus bill <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-democrats-negotiating-stimulus-check-income-thresholds-2021-2">with no GOP support</a>.With the tool, Democrats could pass the spending package with a simple majority, preventing Republicans from deploying tactics that would have required 60 votes to override.The resolution was passed as part of an all-night marathon of amendment <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-stimulus-senate-democrats-kick-off-votearama-without-gop-2021-2">votes known as a "vote-a-rama."</a>It will now be sent to the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives for ratification.Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-campaign-against-republicans-voted-for-impeachment-2021-2">Trump is plotting a campaign revenge tour targeting GOP defectors after Senate impeachment trial</a>The process by lawmakers and government officials of crafting Biden's relief bill can now begin in earnest. Biden is still <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-stimulus-plan-mcconnell-gop-prepare-budget-amendments-water-down-2021-2">seeking bipartisan backing</a> for the package meant to address the economic effects of the coronavirus.<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stimulus-senate-democrats-biden-rescue-plan-without-gop-votes-2021-2">Compromises could still be reached with GOP senators</a> that would allow the bill to be passed without a need for the resolution tool approved Friday.The size and scope of direct payments to Americans are among the issues under negotiation. Biden is pushing for $1,400 stimulus checks, but Republicans want the amount lowered to $1,000. Biden appears to be standing firm on the amount but is thought to be willing to tighten the eligibility for that amount based on income.Democrats are aiming to push through the bill by March 14, when special unemployment benefits expire unless Congress acts to renew them.

The Senate voted to progress Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus in an all-night session where VP Harris was the tiebreaker

Indians can expect a chaotic budget session of Parliament as both the government and the opposition are ready with fresh ammunition to accuse each other of corruption. The government auditor-- the Comptroller and Auditor General of India-- is <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/rafale-cag-report-budget-session-1442457-2019-01-30" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">reportedly</a> ready to table its report on the controversial deal to procure 36 Rafale aircraft from France. While the opposition parties were waiting to grasp an opportunity to tarnish the Narendra Modi government’s image, the latter has managed to turn the tables. News agencies <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/agustawestland-co-accused-rajeev-saxena-brought-to-india/articleshow/67761301.cms">reported</a> late on Wednesday that government investigators have managed to bring back key accused in older scandals, still under investigation, that would corner the opposition Congress back into the defensive. Rajiv Saxena, the <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/five-things-to-know-about-agustawestland-vvip-chopper-scam/articleshow/51992563.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">co-accused</a> in the ₹3600 crore AgustaWestland helicopter deal, has been extradited to India from United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday, news agency ANI reported. Media reports also claimed corporate lobbyist Deepak Talwar, an accused of money laundering, has also been extradited. Both are expected to reach India tonight (January 30). Both Saxena and Talwar are accused of receiving kickbacks and laundering money to enable corrupt deals, including those in the defence sector, during the regime led by Congress, preceding the current administration under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On the other hand, the incumbent government is battling charges of corruption in an airline deal of its own, the decision to buy Rafale aircraft from French company Dassault. The price for 36 aircraft purchased by the Modi government in 2016 was allegedly 40% higher per aircraft than what Dassault initially offered for 126 Rafales back in 2012, according <a href="https://ajaishukla.blogspot.com/2018/11/iafs-36-rafales-cost-40-per-cent-more.html" target="_blank">to a report published in Business Standard</a>. It's election year and both the government and its rivals have sensational scandals involving the country's defence to attack each other with. The result may be chaotic to say the least.

The chaos over two defence deals may derail India's budget session of Parliament

<ul class="summary-list"><li>An anonymous MP has said publishing their expenses is equivalent "to bullying".</li><li>They also complained "our rents exceed the amount allocated" in their accommodation expenses.</li></ul>MPs have complained that the publication of their expenses is equivalent "to bullying", that their accommodation budget is too small, and that they should have more control over how much money is available.The statements were made in anonymous submissions to the House of Commons Standards Committee, which is reviewing the Code of Conduct for MPs. It is not addressing expenses claims.MP pay and expenses are set, administered, and published by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (<keyword id="12298376" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ipsa" source="Orion">IPSA</keyword>), which is not run by or linked to the Commons Standards Committee. MP salaries are due to increase from £81,932 to £84,144 from April 1.One MP, who appears to have joined Parliament in 2019, said <a href="https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/107005/pdf/">the publication of their expenses claims</a> was equivalent "to bullying"."The manner in which these expenses are published is paramount to bullying," the MP said. They appear to have meant to use the word "tantamount.""We know every single thing we claim is in the public domain – which again seems excessive. And if we as an MP make an error we are punished – yet if IPSA makes an error – that is also our fault. The systems have got out of hand, cost far too much and assume guilt rather than innocence at every point."In fact, no details of MPs expenses claims have been published since September 2021, when details were published for April and May 2021. It is currently unclear when further expenses claims will be published, and what details will be provided.<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/parliament-expenses-watchdog-hides-details-mp-spending-transparency-fears-2021-10?r=US&amp;IR=T">The details of all expenses claims going back for more than a decade have been made unavailable by IPSA since October 2021</a> on security grounds following the killing of Sir David Amess.The same MP complained that "far too many of us are out of pocket every month because our rents exceed the amount allocated". MPs representing constituencies outside of London can claim accommodation costs for hotels or rental properties, with utility and council tax bills included in the expenses budget.From April 1, MPs claiming for a property in London will have an annual budget of £25,080, and for outside of London, £17,840. A further £5,720 can be claimed for each of up to three dependants per year.The MP said it was unreasonable their home broadband bill could not be claimed on expenses as they work "from home every weekend". They also suggested MPs are treated like "young offenders", making the job "nearly impossible"."The baseline assumption as a new MP seems to be that I am on the scrounge and should be treated like a child and punished at the first opportunity," they said. "If we were treated like adults we would be far more likely en masse to act like them."Another MP also used the committee's call for submissions to <a href="https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/107004/default/">anonymously complain about the expenses system</a>.They said that they should have "full control over job descriptions and salary bands for our staff" and their accommodation budgets."I had to buy furniture out of my own money because there were no furnished flats for rent in my constituency," the MP wrote."If I had control of an overall budget for the Parliamentary session, equivalent to the current accommodation budget, I could easily have covered both rent and purchase of furniture."The MP went to suggest the committee was not objective and was biased against Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his government.

MPs say publishing their expenses is like 'bullying' and demand more control over budgets

India’s main opposition party The Indian National Congress has raised the stakes for the incumbent Narendra Modi government. On Monday, Congress president <keyword id="5268" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rahul-Gandhi">Rahul Gandhi</keyword> promised a minimum income guarantee for every poor person if the party won the 2019 elections. The Modi administration is also reportedly preparing to unveil its own income support in the upcoming interim budget. What is the promise from Congress President Rahul Gandhi? Congress has promised to give the country’s poor a minimum amount of money from the government as monthly income, but hasn’t specified how much it will be. Is it the same as universal basic income (UBI)? It is unlikely to be the same as UBI, which by definition would mean an assured amount of money from the government to every citizen of the country. However, minimum income guarantee may only be available to people below a certain income threshold. How much will it cost the government? It is difficult to ascertain the cost without the details of the programme. India’s total population is 1.36 billion, of which 22% of people below poverty line. Assuming that the government supports only those below the poverty line, it will still have to pay nearly 300 million people a fixed sum of money every month. India Ratings estimates that the BJP's potential income support scheme, to be released in its budget, could end up costing at least ₹1.5 trillion a year - or 0.7% of GDP - in the absence of other support schemes. Separately, SBI’s Chief Economist Soumya Kanti Ghosh recently <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/what-if-interim-budget-2019-replaces-subsidy-with-cash-transfer/articleshow/67658379.cms">estimated</a> that about 143 million farmers get one kind of subsidy or another. Accounting for possible omissions for lack of proper identification of beneficiaries and for those who have no land or documentation, the report said that the cost of giving direct cash transfer in lieu of subsidy will be about ₹1.2 trillion a year. Meanwhile, Pranab Bardhan, professor of graduate school at the department of economics, University of California, Berkeley, estimated that if a scheme like the UBI were to be implemented, the government would have to pay ₹16,000 per household and it would cost ₹2.1 trillion a year, or 1.25% of the gross domestic product (GDP). Government has 940 centrally sponsored schemes, according to a <a href="http://www.iitd.ac.in/CEAIITD/pdfs/3/MOOC_Sub&amp;UBI_14Jun_v10.pdf">report </a>from former Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian in 2016. According to that estimate, the cost of giving every citizen some money every month would cost the exchequer about 4-5% of GDP. Who will bear the cost? If the central government raises taxes on the rich, the additional burden will be on the really well-off. However, it may affect the political donations that help parties fight elections. Raising the burden of middle-class taxpayer may have a political cost and won't win votes. If the government borrows money to fund additional expense, the burden will be on every taxpayer in the form of higher interest cost, weaker rupee and higher inflation. Can India afford such a huge burden? In theory, something like a minimum income guarantee can be funded by three ways: withdrawing or reducing existing subsidies or by raising taxes on richer sections of the people. So to give poor people given minimum income, would everyone else lose subsidies or pay more tax? Not necessarily. And certainly, no one will lose all subsidies. The subsidies available from the state governments will continue. If at all, only the central government subsidies may be withdrawn once it implements minimum income guarantee. So, if you live in Tamil Nadu or Punjab and get subsidised electricity, that will likely continue. Raising taxes will be a different matter. So which of the central government subsidies remain? As of now, the biggest subsidies that the central government offers are on food, fuel, fertilisers, liquified petroleum gas (LPG) cooking cylinders, as well as on tax and interest rates to specific sections of the population. One cannot say for sure how the government chooses to rationalise the existing subsidies. Can they withdraw food subsidy? Unlikely. Food subsidies are made available through the public distribution system, or ration shops, and are unlikely to be dismantled. 52.3% of all households purchased cereals from ration shops in 2011-12 compared to 27% in 2004-05, according to a Niti Aayog <a href="https://niti.gov.in/writereaddata/files/document_publication/Final%20PDS%20Report-new.pdf">report</a> from 2016. It won’t be a politically savvy move to increase the cost of food for half of the country’s households in one go. India also has a law that gives every citizen a right to affordable food, with the National Food Security Act 2013. So no government can withdraw food security without going back to the Parliament for permission. Do we still get fuel subsidy? While petrol and diesel prices have been deregulated, kerosene prices are subsidised as it is used mostly by the very poor and bought at ration shops. While the cost of kerosene subsidy was budgeted in February 2018 at about ₹4,500 crore, withdrawing the support will only hurt the poorest. What about the subsidy on cooking gas? The subsidy on LPG cooking cylinders is already transferred online to the eligible buyers. Current prime minister Narendra Modi pushed millions of Indians to adopt LPG cylinders instead of coal hearths. [hyperlink] Now, it will be a politically sensitive decision for any party to withdraw benefits on basic necessities like LPG, especially after literally forcing them to use it. What about fertilisers? Fertiliser subsidies are once again availed by farmers and the recent rural distress will make it difficult for the government to withdraw any farm subsidy. Moreover, India <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/india-to-continue-importing-fertiliser-in-medium-term-ind-ra-study/article24679053.ece">imports</a> 28% of all the fertilisers it needs, according to India Ratings and Research. On one hand the global prices of fertilisers have been rising, and the weaker rupee has made these imported fertilisers even more expensive. Withdrawing fertiliser subsidy will make farmers really angry. What about health and education subsidy? Ayushman Bharat, a scheme that was launched in 2018, is a centrally sponsored insurance programme targeting 10 crore families across India who are either poor and deprived or identified as urban workers' families. It covers hospitalisation cost up to ₹5 lakhs a year, and is likely to continue. Primary health centres are at funded by state governments. Central government subsidises higher education in places like IITs, IIMs, AIIMS, JNU etc, which are also likely to stay. What are interest subsidies? Often, the state-owned banks offer cheap loans to different sections of the population and the government bears the difference in interest rate. But don’t India’s farmers already get a lot of subsidies? Yes, India’s farmers are entitled to minimum support (MSP) price on their produce. Even if the market price of the crop is less than the MSP, the government is supposed to make for the difference. However, while many governments have either promised or increased the MSP, the <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/msp-kharif-crops-narendra-modi-minimum-support-price-gst-farmers-5270286/">net impact </a>on the farmers has been minimal. “No matter how hard the government tries, it cannot procure even 25% of the production of various kharif crops, except in paddy and cotton, as a robust procurement system does not exist for other crops,” experts at Indian Council For Research On International Economic Relations commented in July 2018. Therefore, withdrawing key subsidies, including those on fertilisers or interest on loans, will make the minimum income guarantee a zero-sum offer for the farmers. Will MGNREGA continue? Yes, it’s an employment guarantee scheme, not a subsidy. People are assured a certain number of days of work every year, for which they are paid. Is the Congress' promise a political gimmick? Minimum income guarantee will allow poor people to poor people to access basic necessities. Of course, this is assuming that the minimum amount given to the people is enough to cover their basic expenses. Further, the government will have to ensure that the infrastructure is in place to implement a massive programme like this in a complex country like India. The biggest problem in India is that it is very difficult to accurately identify those who need such a programme. So to analyse the merits of the promise, we will need more details. See more <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/Presidential-ego-or-a-dynasts-charm-what-Indian-voters-like-is-still-a-mystery-to-the-countrys-politicians/articleshow/67685811.cms">Presidential ego or a dynast’s charm — what Indian voters like is still a mystery to the country’s politicians</a>

Explained: What is minimum income guarantee and how it may work?

<ul><li>A leaked draft report from the <keyword id="159763" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Sample-Survey-Office">National Sample Survey Office</keyword> (NSSO) has found that unemployment in the world’s fastest growing economy is at its highest in 45 years. </li><li>“There is enough evidence to show that employment has increased,” Rajiv Kumar, the vice chairman of <keyword id="2665691" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Niti-Aayog">Niti Aayog</keyword>, a government think tank chaired by the country’s prime minister.</li><li>However, to quash the findings of the report, the government has only been able to offer data on a rise in call centre positions, taxi drivers, construction workers and employees working at startups. </li></ul> India’s Narendra Modi government is facing a moment of truth. A leaked draft report from the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) has found that unemployment in the world’s fastest growing economy is at its highest in 45 years, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/unemployment-in-india-is-at-its-highest-in-45-years-says-an-indian-daily-citing-an-undisclosed-jobs-survey/articleshow/67769020.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">reported</a> <keyword id="189015" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Business-Standard">Business Standard</keyword>. Obviously, the opposition parties wasted no time in using the news to corner the incumbent government. The defense took its time but what they put out is a different story altogether. While the defendants refused to comment on the undisclosed survey, still, a denial was probably in order . “There is enough evidence to show that employment has increased,” Rajiv Kumar, the vice chairman of Niti Aayog, a government think tank chaired by the country’s prime minister. Kumar went on to substantiate it, not with employment numbers, but something he thought was close enough. “That 11-12% (nominal GDP) growth cannot happen if employment hasn’t grown,” Kumar argued. The point did seem to stump the rather combative press, but not for more than a moment. Soon after the CEO, from the same think tank chipped in with more numbers. In the case of Ola, the number of registered drivers went up from 37,000 to near a million in four years, and Uber has over 1.2 million drivers now, Amitabh Kant said. “14 million jobs were created in the transport between 2014 and 2018,” Kant said. A lot of them are delivery boys and truck drivers working for the big e-commerce companies. Kant cited three million jobs created in road construction, 14.6 million jobs in tourism, and another 1.5 million in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry. “There are 19,000 startups in the country,” Kant roared right after. In India, numbers can be tricky. The website for Startup India, a dedicated government programme, says 15,649 startups recognised till date. 
	
 Then came the Mudra loans, a programme launched in April 2015 has been a big defence for the Modi government. The state offers loans without collateral for people to start micro and small businesses. Loans worth ₹7.43 trillion have been approved under the Mudra scheme to 154 million applicants, 74% of them are women, according to Kant. However, a recent <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/reality-check-how-mudra-missed-its-mark-1441995-2019-01-29">survey</a> India Today published on January 29, showed that many of these small unsecured loans are just waiting to turn sour for various reasons. Far from being a source of livelihood, or a job-creating investment, these loans are at best being used in unproductive ventures. But it remains a fact that the government has facilitated these loans, and may have even arm twisted unwilling bankers to lend more under the Mudra scheme, as found by the same India Today survey. It is a different matter that these loans have failed to produce profit or jobs. So, in 2019 India, it’s great if you have an idea for a startup. If not, there are jobs as drivers for Ola and Uber, vacancies in BPOs, placements in e-commerce deliveries, gigs in road construction and some openings, thanks to tourism. For everyone else, there are Mudra loans, which you may not have to return. The opposition may not have expected this defence from the government after a similar faux pas by none other than the prime minister himself. In an interview in 2018, Modi said, “If someone opens a 'pakoda' shop in front of your office, does that not count at employment? The person's daily earning of Rs 200 will never come into any books or accounts. The truth is massive people are being employed.” His trolls had a field day then. It’s unlikely his critics will miss another opportunity now.

Unless you want to be a street vendor, a cab driver, or a road construction worker, please start your own business -- because there are no high-paying jobs in India

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="15710" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="texas">Texas</keyword> Gov. <keyword id="1110279" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Greg-Abbott">Greg Abbott</keyword> released an agenda for an upcoming special legislative session on Wednesday. </li><li>The agenda features discussions on a number of right-wing causes during the session. </li><li>Issues on the agenda include voting restrictions, critical race theory, abortion rights, and anti-trans rules.</li></ul>Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's agenda for an upcoming special state legislative session lists nearly a dozen right-wing issues as topics of discussion.The agenda, <a href="https://gov.texas.gov/uploads/files/press/PROC_first_called_session_87th_legislature_IMAGE_07-07-21.pdf">published on the governor's website on Wednesday</a>, says officials will be considering legislation on voting restrictions, critical race theory, abortion rights, and regulations for transgender athletes, among a litany of other issues during the session.It also includes funding the state congress after Abbott <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/texas-gov-greg-abbott-defunded-the-entire-state-legislature-2021-6">vetoed all funding for the legislature</a> from the budget in May after Democrats staged a walkout and broke quorum.Abbott's special session agenda does not include anything related to the state's electrical grid that <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/texas-blackouts-millions-lost-power-in-storm-went-wrong-2021-2">froze over in February</a> and was further strained during a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/texas-ercot-heat-energy-usage-summer-blackouts-2021-6">June heatwave.</a> Lawmakers enacted <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2021/05/26/texas-power-grid-reform-legislature/">two new pieces</a> of legislation to "weatherize" the grid in the recent session, but the laws do not require grid upgrades until 2022 at the earliest.The special legislative session is set to start on Thursday morning. Texas' Constitution restricts special sessions to a <a href="https://lrl.texas.gov/sessions/specialSessions/FAQ.cfm">maximum of 30 days</a> where lawmakers are paid a per diem of $221. As <keyword id="130" type="POSITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Governor">governor</keyword>, Abbott can call the legislature back in for as many special sessions as he wants until the 88th legislative session begins in January 2023.<a href="https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-announces-special-session-agenda"></a>Abbott <a href="https://gov.texas.gov/es/news/post/governor-abbott-announces-special-session-agenda">said in a statement</a> that he has "unfinished business" to attend to in the upcoming special session."The 87th Legislative Session was a monumental success for the people of Texas, but we have unfinished business to ensure that Texas remains the most exceptional state in America," Abbott said. "These Special Session priority items put the people of Texas first and will keep the Lone Star State on a path to prosperity. I look forward to working with my partners in the Legislature to pass this legislation as we build a brighter future for all who call Texas home."

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