The heavy military presence and frequent communication blackouts in Jammu and Kashmir are taking a disproportionate toll on female education, reversing years of progress and driving up school dropout rates for girls, according to a recent analysis published in The Conversation . Writing for the publication, Shambhavi Siddhi , a PhD candidate in Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies at Western University , highlights that while the Indian government cited " women's empowerment " and the eradication of gender discrimination as key motivations for revoking Jammu and Kashmir's semi-autonomous status in August 2019, the reality on the ground has told a vastly different story for young women seeking an education. Rising Dropout Rates and Low Literacy According to data presented before the Indian parliament in March 2026, the secondary-level dropout rate for girls in the region peaked at 12.6% during the 2023–24 academic year—surpassing India’s national average of 9....
A shocking episode of mass fish death in East Delhi’s Sanjay Lake has sparked outrage among environmental groups and citizens. While initial reports attributed the incident to the ongoing heatwave and climate change, the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) has squarely blamed mismanagement and prolonged disruption of water supply as the primary cause.