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Sixteen per cent of the <keyword id="6370132" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="candidates">candidates</keyword> contesting in the first phase of Assam assembly elections have declared criminal cases against themselves, according to a report by poll rights group <keyword id="404563" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Association-for-Democratic-Reforms">Association for Democratic Reforms</keyword> (ADR). The <keyword id="602518" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Assam-Election-Watch">Assam Election Watch</keyword> and ADR have analysed the sworn affidavits of 259 out of the 264 candidates in the first phase. Out of 259 candidates analysed, 41 (16 per cent) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves and 34 (13 per cent) have declared serious criminal cases against themselves, the ADR said. The report said out of 259 candidates, 101 (39 per cent) are crorepatis. Giving educational background, the report said 97 (37 per cent) candidates have declared their educational qualifications to be between 5th and 12th standard, while 157 (61 per cent) candidates have declared having an educational qualification of graduate or above. Four candidates are diploma holders and one candidate is just literate. The report said 67 (26 per cent) candidates have declared their age to be between 25 and 40 years, while 153 (59 per cent) candidates have declared their age to be between 41 and 60 years. "There are 38 (15 per cent) candidates who have declared their age to be between 61 and 70 years. One candidate has declared his age 85 years," the report said. Giving gender details of the candidates, the report said 25 (10 per cent) women candidates are contesting in the first phase. Among the major parties, 10 (23 per cent) out of 43 candidates analysed from the Congress, eight (20 per cent) out of 41 candidates analysed from the Assam Jatiya Parishad, three (8 per cent) out of 39 candidates analysed from the BJP and one candidate each from the NCP, AGP and the SUCI(C) have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits. Among the major parties, nine (21 per cent) out of 43 candidates analysed from the Congress, six (15 per cent) out of 41 candidates analysed from the Assam Jatiya Parishad, three (8 per cent) out of 39 candidates analysed from the BJP and one candidate each from the NCP, AGP and the SUCI(C) have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits. Serious criminal cases are non-bailable offences with over five years of imprisonment. Five candidates have declared cases related to crime against women. "Out of five candidates, one candidate has declared cases related to rape (IPC Section-376)," the report said. Two candidates have declared cases related to murder (IPC Section-302) against themselves and four candidates have declared cases related to attempt to murder (IPC Section-307) against themselves. "Three (6 per cent) out of 47 constituencies are Red alert constituencies. Red alert constituencies are those where three or more contesting candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves," the report said. "The directions of the Supreme Court have had no effect on the political parties in selection of candidates in Phase 1 of the Assam Assembly Elections 2021 as they have again followed their old practice of giving tickets to around 16 per cent candidates with criminal cases," the report said. Giving financial background of the candidates, the report said among the major parties nine (90 per cent) out of 10 candidates analysed from the AGP, 31(72 per cent) out of 43 candidates analysed from the Congress, 28 (72 per cent) out of 39 candidates analysed from the BJP and 15 (37 per cent) out of 41 candidates analysed from the Assam Jatiya Parishad have declared assets valued more than ₹1 crore. "The average of assets per candidate contesting in the Assam Assembly Elections 2021 Phase I is ₹1.84 crore," the report said. Elections to the 126-member Assam assembly will be held in three phases on March 27, April 1 and April 6. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/nazara-technologies-ipo-opens-today-should-you-subscribe/articleshow/81542657.cms">Nazara Technologies will be the first pure-play gaming company to debut on the Indian public markets – analysts are all in for it</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/suryoday-small-finance-bank-initial-public-offer-ipo-worth-581-crore-live-should-you-subscribe/articleshow/81543610.cms">Suryoday Small Finance Bank IPO worth ₹581 crore opens today – should you subscribe?</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/elon-musk-turns-down-1-million-for-the-tweet-he-was-selling-as-an-nft/articleshow/81546434.cms">Elon Musk turns down $1 million for the tweet he was selling as an NFT</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/how-to-check-easemytrip-ipo-allotment-and-listing-date/articleshow/81548106.cms">EaseMyTrip IPO allotment live – how to check allotment, listing date and more</a>

Around 16% candidates contesting in Phase-1 of Assam assembly polls have criminal backgrounds, says an NGO report

<keyword id="19897034" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ayodhya" source="keywords">Ayodhya</keyword> (Uttar Pradesh) [India], April 17 (ANI): The <keyword id="19922118" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ram-Temple" source="keywords">Ram Temple</keyword> in Ayodhya witnessed a unique event as the forehead of the <keyword id="19904197" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ram-Lalla" source="keywords">Ram Lalla</keyword> idol was anointed with a ray of sunlight, known as '<keyword id="20229592" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Surya-Tilak" source="keywords">Surya Tilak</keyword>' on the occasion of <keyword id="19984921" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ram-Navami" source="keywords">Ram Navami</keyword> on Wednesday. The "Surya Tilak" of Ram Lalla was done at noon through an elaborate system connected with mirrors and lenses in the Ram Temple. <div type="twitter" handle="ANI" handlename="ANI" favoritecount="0" retweetcount="0" id="1780488839871844360"></div> The temple trust had commissioned a team of scientists to make this occasion possible. Using scientific expertise, a beam of light illuminated Ram Lala's forehead. To achieve this phenomenon, sunlight was precisely directed onto the statue's forehead using a combination of mirrors and lenses. This was carried out precisely at 12 noon for about 3 minutes. Even as Ram Lala was to be anointed with the Surya Tilak, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a reference to the historic occasion in his election rally at Nalbari Assam. With a chant of Jai Siyawar Ram the PM said "Today is the historic occasion of Ram Navami. After waiting for 500 years, Lord Ram has been seated in his grand temple. Now after a few minutes, by applying Surya Tilak to Lord Ram, his birth anniversary will be celebrated in the holy city of Ayodhya, in the Ram Temple." The moment of the Surya Tilak had devotees in raptures as chants of <keyword id="19971030" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jai-Shri-Ram" source="keywords">Jai Shri Ram</keyword> were heard across Ayodhya and even in temples across the country. Devotees broke out into song and dance outside the Ram Janambhoomi Mandir. This is the first Ram Navami after the Pran Pratishtha of the idol of Lord Ram by PM Modi on January 22 in Ayodhya. Ram Navami is being celebrated with great pomp at Ram Janambhoomi Mandir with offerings of 56 types of bhog, prasad and panjiri. Earlier, Acharya Satyendra Das, Chief Priest of Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, informed that everything has been decorated and the idol of Lord Ram has been specially dressed for the day, "He is dressed in yellow clothes, and after this he is bathed with Panchamrit. Four-five types of panjiris are made and along with that, 56 types of offerings are made to the Lord." A large number of devotees thronged <keyword id="42499" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ram-Mandir" source="Orion">Ram Mandir</keyword> on Wednesday morning in a vibrant display of faith and celebration. Before visiting the temple, devotees took a dip in the holy waters of the Saryu River. The darshan at the temple had started at 3:30 am. The celebration was broadcast on about 100 LED screens throughout the city. It was also broadcasts on the trust's social media accounts.

Watch: Lord Ram Lalla's forehead illuminates with 'Surya Tilak' on the occasion of Ram Navami

As the second phase of the <keyword id="43573" type="EVENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="General-Election">general election</keyword> takes off in India, voters in 11 states and 1 union territory— West Bengal, Odisha, <keyword id="20154" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="tamil-nadu">Tamil Nadu</keyword>, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Manipur and Puducherry — were up early queuing up at the election booths. Nearly 5 million people are eligible to vote in the state of West Bengal with a nearly equal distribution between men and women, albeit there are only 87 registered third-gender voters in the three constituencies going to vote in the state today today. And Puducherry, while being a union territory, is home to nearly one million voters who have been facing <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/india/puducherry-congress-tries-to-win-back-sole-mp-seat/articleshow/68899027.cms">increasing</a> debt and a fall in social initiatives due to lower devolution of taxes from the central government. A lot of voters and politicians are wondering if the second phase of polling will be marred with problems of EVM malfunctions and poll booth violence like evidenced during the first phase of the general election in India. Two incidents of poll booth violence have already been reported in West Bengal. In Uttar Pradesh, four of the contesting politicians — Samajwadi Party’s Azam Khan, Union Minister Maneka Gandhi, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Bahujan Samaj Party’s Mayawati — have been <a href="https://www.businesstoday.in/top-story/up-election-2019-after-yogi-mayawati-ec-bans-azam-maneka-from-campaigning/story/337566.html">banned</a> from campaigning by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for issuing controversial comments. For Tamil Nadu, the days leading up to the election were a little chaotic after the Income Tax (IT) department seized over 1,350 kilograms of gold and nearly ₹14.8 million which was allegedly stashed to bribe voters. Elections in Vellore, one of Tamil Nadu’s most-watched constituencies, were cancelled altogether after ₹1.05 million was found at Durai Murugan’s house, the father of Kathir Anand — a DMK candidate in the district. Another ₹115.3 was also found at Poonjolai Srinivasan’s cement godown, a known associate of Murugan. Even Maharashtra hasn’t had an easy go of it with over 15,000 cases of alleged Model Code of Conduct violations <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/lok-sabha-elections/lok-sabha-elections-2019-over-15-000-code-of-conduct-cases-filed-in-maharashtra/story-luAZtetS7fq6EUDRsYztmI.html">registered</a> since March 10.The Additional Chief Electoral Officer, Dilip Shinde, has stated that over 700,000 officers and employees of the states are involved in keeping elections in Maharashtra peaceful and efficient for the 10 seats of the state going to the polls today. <div type="ExtQuote" text="The enforcing departments (Income Tax and Police) also lodged total 15,095 FIRs against the offenders for violating the model code of conduct, with most of the cases pertaining to storage and distribution of illicit liquor, followed by possession of firearms." auname="Additional Chief Electoral Officer Dilip Shinde"></div>

 If voters aren’t being bribed, then they’re being threatened. Kawasi Lakhma, a Congress minister from Chhattisgarh, has been <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/general-elections-2019-chhattisgarh-congress-mla-kawasi-lakhma-threatens-voters-with-electric-shocks-2024279">telling</a> voters that they vote against his party, the EVM machine will deliver an electric shock. While Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu struggle with voter bribery issues, Bihar and Karnataka are more concerned with voter turnout. The city of Bengaluru — the Silicon Valley of India — in particular, has issues of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/election-2019-gold-confiscated-in-tamil-nadu-ahead-of-second-phase/articleshow/68933494.cms">voter turnout</a> while Bihar’s <a href="https://www.livemint.com/elections/lok-sabha-elections/bihar-elections-2019-patna-is-missing-a-whole-generation-of-millennials-1555350536677.html">brain drain</a> means that a lot of its eligible millennial voters don’t actually live in the state anymore. As Manipur goes to polls again, the Returning Officer (RO)The Returning Officer (RO) of the Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency, Haobam Rosita, has <a href="https://www.newsclick.in/returning-officer-recommends-re-poll-19-polling-stations-manipur">recommended</a> that re-polling needs to take place at 19 of the polling stations from the first phase of the general elections in the state. Among the many reasons that Rosita cites for repolling, the most disturbing is probably one of the constituencies showed that voter turnout in excess of 100% and that the polling booth for the Najang Village was put up at a non-designated location. In order to keep disruptive elements from affecting the polls similarly, the west Indian states of West Bengal and Assam are <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/2nd-phase-tight-security-in-five-election-bound-districts/articleshow/68868180.cms">increasing</a> security in constituencies along the border — especially in districts classified as ‘vulnerable’ and ‘critical’. And unfortunately, for Jammu and Kashmir, none of the contesting political parties are talking about the environmental issues which have a heavy bearing on the state’s water supply as well as its tourism industry, which has been suffering as more and more of the state’s green capital is being destroyed. The third phase of the general election will kick off on April 23 covering 14 states — Assam, Goa, Karnataka, Odisha, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Bihar, Gujarat, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Daman and Diu, Chhattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra and West Bengal. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/election-2019-gold-confiscated-in-tamil-nadu-ahead-of-second-phase/articleshow/68933494.cms">Over a ton of gold seized a day ahead of polls shows the depth of the rot in Tamil Nadu</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/job-losses-will-haunt-bengaluru-indias-silicon-valley-as-it-goes-to-polls-today/articleshow/68930893.cms">Job losses will haunt Bengaluru, India’s Silicon Valley, as it goes to polls today</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/lok-sabha-elections-2019-second-phase-of-polling-in-tamil-nadu-voters-issues/articleshow/68930595.cms">Tamil Nadu’s angry voters have a small oil field, a big highway, a medical entrance test, and a police shootout in mind</a>

Here’s what the second phase of the Indian general election has in store for the 11 states polling today

142 million voters go to polls today in 20 states—  here’s a look at the key issues in every state

The <keyword id="499463" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Ministry-of-Road-Transport-and-Highways" source="Orion">Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways</keyword> (<keyword id="375113" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="morth" source="Orion">MoRTH</keyword>) is all set to roll out a new ₹7,270 crore <keyword id="12179033" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="State-Support-Programme" source="Orion">State Support Programme</keyword> for Strengthening <keyword id="87280" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Road-Safety" source="Orion">Road Safety</keyword> to help realise the vision of 'Zero road fatalities on Indian roads.' The centrally-sponsored six-year programme will be implemented in 14 states that are now contributing to 85 per cent of the total road fatalities in the country. While MoRTH will lend a budgetary support of Rs 3,635 crore, an amount of Rs 1,818 crore will be secured as loan each from the World Bank and the <keyword id="50190" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Asian-Development-Bank" source="Orion">Asian Development Bank</keyword>. Of the total cost, Rs 6,725 crore will be disbursed to the 14 states based on their performance while MoRTH will use Rs 545 crore for capacity building activities. The scheme will incentivise state governments to drive road safety interventions at the grassroots level with the main objective of curbing road accidents and achieving a reduction in fatalities, the MoRTH said in a concept note circulated to the target states. The target states under the scheme are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar, Telangana, West Bengal, Odisha, Haryana and Assam. "This is an output and outcome-driven scheme wherein the performance of the states will be assessed on 11 mandatory and three elective indicators (road safety interventions). The grants will be distributed to the states based on the Key Performance Indicators," top official sources told PTI. The preliminary project report prepared by MoRTH says the Motor Vehicle Amendment Act (2019) was brought in as an important intervention to achieve the fatality reduction target. "To leverage the strengthened law, it is necessary to have focused interventions in the related areas of road safety like road engineering, enforcement, road safety advocacy and media campaigns and efficient emergency response systems. The states need to be supported to act on result-oriented strategies. Hence the new scheme," the sources said. India reported about 1.51 lakh road deaths in 4.49 lakh accidents in the year 2019. Of the total deaths, the 14 identified states accounted for 1,27,379. The number of fatalities remained consistent over the last five years. In 2020, 1.32 lakh road deaths were recorded across the country, with the Covid-19-induced lockdown resulting in the reduction in number. The new scheme targets to reduce the fatality rate by 30 per cent by March 2027. Cyclists, two and three-wheeler riders and pedestrians have been identified as 'vulnerable road users' who comprised about 54 per cent of road traffic deaths in India. Under the new scheme, performance-based indicators have been proposed with the aim of reducing the impact of road accidents on these vulnerable users. An Integrated Road Accident Database (IRAD) will be rolled out in all states by 2022-23 and applied for identifying and rectifying all black spots on state highways and major district roads. Road safety audit will be made mandatory on state highways and urban roads by the end of the scheme period. From 2022-23, MoRTH will launch a 'Challenge Round' every year to provide incentives to states on additional road safety interventions and also to promote competition among states. "The grant of Rs 7,270 crore will only meet partial fund requirement for the scheme. States are expected to make their own budgetary allocations and also implement projects in Public-Private Partnership mode," MoRTH told the states. Independent Verification Agencies will scrutinise the states' achievements, based on which the Central grant will be released. Some of the other major interventions mooted under the scheme are: Installation of speed management devices on urban roads in cities with a population of over four lakh, state highways and national highways for increased enforcement, a unique number for reporting accidents, development of dedicated lanes for two-wheelers on state highways and urban roads and identification of priority corridors. State Education Boards will be required to introduce a chapter on road safety for classes 6-9 in 2022-23 and up to class-12 the next year on. Deployment of Advance Traffic Management System, campaigns on vehicle safety and driver training, establishment of a Command and Control (Data) Centre for ambulances, establishment of automated vehicle fitness centres are some of the other initiatives planned under the scheme. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/highlights-of-prime-minister-narendra-modis-speech-at-the-unga-today/articleshow/86510462.cms">Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes his points on China, Afghanistan and Pakistan at the United Nations General Assembly</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/personalities/freshworks-ceo-girish-mathrubootham-shares-someone-said-i-will-be-nothing-but-a-rickshaw-puller/articleshow/86507840.cms">WATCH: "Someone said I am good enough to be a rickshaw puller," shares Freshworks CEO Girish Mathrubootham in a candid chat</a>

Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to roll out ₹7,270 crore support programme for 14 states

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">REUTERS/Jayanta DeyA school boy holds an INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) assault rifle on display during a programme organized by Assam Rifles, a paramilitary force, to attract youth in joining the force at their headquarters in Agartala, India, October 27, 2016.</div></div></div>Hello! Here's what you need to know on Friday.1. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/hillary-clinton-joe-biden-secretary-of-state-2016-10">US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton may be eyeing Vice President Joe Biden as her secretary of state if she wins</a>. The vice president previously chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.2. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/twitter-shutting-vine-down-2016-10">Twitter is shutting down video-sharing service Vine</a>. While Vine was a pioneer in short-form video, and popularized the 6-second loop, it failed to innovate on top of this core offering and protect itself from rivals.3. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-macbook-pro-2016-release-date-price-specs-2016-10">Apple announced a new line of MacBook Pro laptops</a>. The most important feature on these redesigned computers is a new kind of keyboard with an integrated touch screen strip that replaces the traditional function keys, called Touch Bar.4. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/philippines-rodrigo-duterte-drug-violence-vigilante-killings-2016-10">The body count in the Philippines' "war on drugs" is mounting</a>. The number of "suspected drug personalities" killed by police had reached 1,725 since Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte took office.5. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/iran-sending-houthi-rebels-yemen-weapons-2016-10">US Navy officials think Iran is behind attacks launched from Houthi-controlled Yemen</a>. The US has intercepted many shipments of weapons from Iran to the Houthi militants.6. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/googles-cfo-defends-alphabet-2016-10">Google's transformation into the Alphabet holding company has had a rocky first year</a>. Alphabet CFO Ruth Porat's efforts to justify the various "moonshot" projects on the company's Q3 earnings call struck a discordant note.7. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-earnings-q3-2016-2016-10">Amazon reported a big miss on profits in Q3, but was nearly in-line with revenue expectations</a>. Amazon stock was down as much as 7% after hours.8. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-two-senior-chinese-officers-expelled-from-communist-party-2016-10">China's ruling Communist Party has expelled two senior military officers for corruption</a>, part of President Xi Jinping's sweeping campaign against graft in all sectors of the government.9. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-pro-eu-pro-russia-forces-head-to-head-in-moldova-vote-2016-10">Moldova will cast ballots this weekend in a presidential election viewed as a tug-of-war between supporters of European integration and advocates of closer relations with former master Russia</a>. The crisis-hit country will for the first time since 1997 elect a president by national vote instead of having parliament select the head of state.10. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-venezuelas-maduro-pledges-to-crush-looming-strike-2016-10">Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro sought to outflank his opponents in their bid to drive him from power, vowing to crush a threatened general strike</a>. "If a company stops, it will be taken over," he said.And finally ...<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/things-uber-and-lyft-drivers-wish-passengers-would-stop-doing-2016-10">Uber drivers share the 17 things they wish passengers would stop doing</a>. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/what-happens-when-interest-rates-go-negative-ken-rogoff-2016-10">Here's what happens when interest rates go negative</a></h3> <div> <div> <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="M2c3ZwNjE6GPPIfI9mJGscYp5wQYmgrZ" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div> </div> </div> </div>

The 10 most important things in the world right now

Life is divided into three terms - that which was, which is, and which will be. Let us learn from the past to profit by the present, and from the present, to live better in the future. 
 

	- William Wordsworth
 The year 2015 had some fascinating developments as far as India's political <keyword id="34412" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="economy">economy</keyword> and social sectors are concerned. The country had its share of ups and downs in different spheres. In the domain of external affairs and foreign policy, it had many ups and some downs. The ups included the country breaking new ground with the prime minister leading from the front. The year included the PM's many successful visits abroad and inviting state guests to India. These included hosting President <keyword id="15962" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Barack-Obama">Barack Obama</keyword> for the Republic Day celebrations, hosting Chancellor <keyword id="76" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Angela-Merkel">Angela Merkel</keyword> in October followed by the visits of heads of state and leaders of Africa in the third Indo-Africa Forum Summit, and hosting Prime Minister <keyword id="590894" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shinzo-Abe">Shinzo Abe</keyword> for the Ganga Aarti in Varanasi. On the negative side, there was continued dominance of domestic politics trumping talks with some leaders in the South Asian region and the continuing border issues with some of India's neighboring countries. 

	On the political economy front, several things changed. Some for the good others for the worse. The brute majority force and especially the insensitive remarks post the communal violence incidents were checked by the people voting in Bihar. Before this too a setback in Delhi sent a clear signal of focusing on development and governance, the two things for which the government was chosen. Also, the election results in Delhi and Bihar reflected that the honeymoon period for the government seemed to be over. 
 On the economic front, several positives emerged which show the signs of a recovery albeit a slow one. The relatively high <keyword id="35050" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="gdp">GDP</keyword> growth, low <keyword id="22195" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Inflation">inflation</keyword>, a surge in private consumption and increased government investment, substantial investment in highway sector, positive developments in railways and power sector performance seem to be a positive for the government. The negatives seemed to be stalled private investment due to massive debt/ leverage, rising NPA's of banks, spiraling pulse prices, and falling exports. The decision of greater decentralization and acceptance of <keyword id="25455" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="finance">Finance</keyword> Commissions recommendations is a welcome institutional step for strengthening the federal structure of the country. 

	On the legislative reforms agenda, people had expected much more legislative action but various sessions were rendered unproductive due to stalling of key reforms by the opposition. In spite of this, the government seemed to have been able to maneuver in particular areas where reforms could have been done without legislative action, most notably in the roads, railways and power sectors. 
 

	In the sphere of education, healthcare and law and order some activity was observed but much more remains to be done. The ASER report pointed to the alarming statistics of children's learning outcomes at the primary level. Similarly, the healthcare debates continued to be around spending and increasing access to healthcare especially in rural areas. In law and order much has remained the same, as there is a pendency of 30 million cases. The landmark judgement on NJAC showcased that the Judiciary will retain the right to appoint judges. 
 An important question now to ask is where does India go from here. In the next year, i.e., 2016 on the external front, foreign policy calibration is likely to continue expected lines. No significant breakthroughs in the neighborhood but increased engagement in the international arena and use of geopolitics and geo-economics to drive <keyword id="6362476" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="investments">investments</keyword> into India. 

	On the political economy, front state elections are expected in the southern and eastern belt. Assam, West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the UT of Pondicherry will most likely see elections in 2016. Will this tip the balance in favor of the incumbent government or away from it only time can tell.
 

	On the economic front, things are looking good for India as commodity prices are expected to stay low amid global glut caused due to falling Chinese demand. India's exports will be an area to look out for on the negative side. Another area to watch out for is the monetary tightening speed of the Federal Reserve. This could have consequences of a weaker rupee against the dollar and chances of capital flight. But overall the country seems well poised for growth amidst stumbling BRICS. 
 

	Some positive news is expected in the legislative arena. Members of opposition in Rajya Sabha may just tip the balance closer where the opposition may just become irrelevant as quite some incumbents are will retire. This may just help see some legislative action in the year ahead. The pace of legislative reforms could help India's internal economy as well will have a crucial bearing on India's trade relationships.
 

	In the social spheres namely education, healthcare and law and order much is thought to be expected lines. The crucial problems will persist; the government and the institutions of the state must focus on improving outcomes in all these spheres. 
 

	Overall what will 2016 hold for India only time can tell? It is in a better position than other BRICS economies to be an engine of global growth
 

	(The article is co-authored with Sankalp Sharma, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Competitiveness, India. Amit Kapoor is Chair, Institute for Competitiveness &amp; Editor of Thinkers. The views expressed are personal. Amit can be reached at amit.kapoor@competitiveness.in and tweets @kautiliya)

	 
	 
	Image credits: indiatimes

You Searched For "Assam Election Watch" and got 9 results

Around 16% candidates contesting in Phase-1 of Assam assembly polls have criminal backgrounds, says an NGO report

PTI

Watch: Lord Ram Lalla's forehead illuminates with 'Surya Tilak' on the occasion of Ram Navami

ANI

Here’s what the second phase of the Indian general election has in store for the 11 states polling today

Prabhjote Gill

142 million voters go to polls today in 20 states— here’s a look at the key issues in every state

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