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Briefing

Fiscal crisis
A neoliberal blow
The fiscal crisis that the Central government is trapped in cannot be blamed on the COVID-19 pandemic, since the revenue shortfall is primarily a result of the government’s neoliberal measures such as business-friendly taxation stance and the GST regime.

COVID Strategy
Maze of numbers
In terms of COVID statistics, governments, both at the Centre and in the States, seem keen to hide more than what the numbers could otherwise reveal.

Politics
Crisis of leadership
If the June 19 all-party videoconference raised hopes that the government had come around to engaging opposition parties in the handling of the border crisis with China, the way in which the Prime Minister brushed aside questions raised by the opposition showed that nothing had changed.

The search for a vaccine
Vaccine scenarios
The strategy of targeting the Spike protein so as to prevent its binding and fusion with human cells is the cornerstone of almost all the 100-odd vaccine development proposals across the world that are in various stages of development.

Politics
Why ‘boycott China’ is not easy to implement
The inroads China has made into the Indian trade, commerce and industrial sectors over the past two decades are so deep and expansive that an Indian boycott or economic blockade of Chinese goods and investment is easier said than done.

COVID-19 drug research
A step towards recovery
In a significant breakthrough, the steroid dexamethasone has been found to reduce mortality in severe COVID-19 cases during a drug trial in the United Kingdom.

Madhya Pradesh
Rural spread
Even as the coronavirus infection moves rapidly across the villages of Madhya Pradesh, the BJP government pats itself on the back for its handling of the situation but continues to focus on consolidating its political power.

Tamil Nadu
Dying young
COVID deaths of people below 60 and with no other illnesses, especially in Chennai, pose significant concern to the authorities.

Uttar Pradesh
High on hype
The Yogi Adityanath government steps up its self-promotion campaign rather than mobilise resources to defeat the virus.

Maharashtra
Figures in dispute
The Maharashtra government claims an impressive recovery rate, but the opposition says confusion prevails even over the number of deaths.

Social media and democracy
The book is a primer on understanding the intersections between democracy, politics, deception and technological developments.

Bihar & Jharkhand
Contrasting tales
The stark difference in the manner in which Bihar and Jharkhand tackled the issue of migrant labourers struggling to reach home during the lockdown is noteworthy.

Punjab
Migrants back in farms, factories
The factories in Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana and Barnala and farms across Punjab are swinging back into action as workers return from their home towns and villages.

Gujarat
Unable to cope
There are 127 hospitals in the State with COVID treatment facilities, but the situation continues to be grim and private hospitals charge as they please.

West Bengal
Politics amid pandemic
Political parties focus on the 2021 Assembly election even as the COVID situation continues to deteriorate.

Delhi
In a mess
A sudden surge in the number of COVID-19 cases in June, the low levels of testing and the controversy over the non-availability of beds expose the ineptness of the Delhi government’s handling of the pandemic.

The search for a vaccine
Vaccine scenarios
The strategy of targeting the Spike protein so as to prevent its binding and fusion with human cells is the cornerstone of almost all the 100-odd vaccine development proposals across the world that are in various stages of development.

COVID-19 drug research
A step towards recovery
In a significant breakthrough, the steroid dexamethasone has been found to reduce mortality in severe COVID-19 cases during a drug trial in the United Kingdom.

Madhya Pradesh
Rural spread
Even as the coronavirus infection moves rapidly across the villages of Madhya Pradesh, the BJP government pats itself on the back for its handling of the situation but continues to focus on consolidating its political power.

Tamil Nadu
Dying young
COVID deaths of people below 60 and with no other illnesses, especially in Chennai, pose significant concern to the authorities.

Uttar Pradesh
High on hype
The Yogi Adityanath government steps up its self-promotion campaign rather than mobilise resources to defeat the virus.

Maharashtra
Figures in dispute
The Maharashtra government claims an impressive recovery rate, but the opposition says confusion prevails even over the number of deaths.

Bihar & Jharkhand
Contrasting tales
The stark difference in the manner in which Bihar and Jharkhand tackled the issue of migrant labourers struggling to reach home during the lockdown is noteworthy.

Punjab
Migrants back in farms, factories
The factories in Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana and Barnala and farms across Punjab are swinging back into action as workers return from their home towns and villages.

Gujarat
Unable to cope
There are 127 hospitals in the State with COVID treatment facilities, but the situation continues to be grim and private hospitals charge as they please.

West Bengal
Politics amid pandemic
Political parties focus on the 2021 Assembly election even as the COVID situation continues to deteriorate.

Delhi
In a mess
A sudden surge in the number of COVID-19 cases in June, the low levels of testing and the controversy over the non-availability of beds expose the ineptness of the Delhi government’s handling of the pandemic.