Legal & Policy Analysis

Brewing in Uncertainty: The Lives and Livelihoods of North Bengal’s Tea Plantation Workers

Sakshi Lama*, a tea garden worker in West Bengal’s Alipurduar District, is relatively at peace since it is now the peak season for harvesting...

Tracing Traceability: Why Weakening Encryption Threatens Privacy and Free Speech

Weakening encryption technology has serious implications on privacy and security. What are the workarounds to breaking end-to-end encryption?

The Dark Side of Google’s News Aggregation: A Look at CCI vs Google

The Competition Commission of India is of the opinion that Google has been abusing its dominant position as a news aggregator. How do we ensure that news publishers do not receive the short end of the stick?

How the Draft Data Protection Bill Bodes Ill For Social Media Platforms and Users

The Draft Data Protection Bill is holding social media platforms hostage by risking their safe harbour protections. It also risks the privacy and freedom of speech that users are entitled to.

Beyond Pegasus: The Story of State Surveillance in India

Not every citizen or institution is surveilled in the same manner, or for the same reasons. Categorising government surveillance into ‘Big Fish’, ‘Small Fish’, and ‘Dark Modes’ outlines how each type of surveillance seriously damages India's democracy.

BMLTA Beku, BMLTA Beda: Can A Transport Authority Fix Bengaluru’s Traffic Woes?

Bengaluru is the sixth most congested city in the world. Can a new transport authority step up to clear Bengaluru's roads?

Through The Looking Glass: The Hidden Costs of Linking Aadhaar and Voter IDs

Just because the government's proposal to link Aadhaar and voter IDs sees no allocation in the 2022-23 Union Budget doesn't mean that there are no costs to these plans.

How CRZ Violations Are Being Regularized Instead of Regulated Across India’s Shoreline

A combination of judicial and civic action is attempting to protect India's coasts from its own regulators.

Loopholes Inhibit the Enforcement of Tamil Nadu’s RTE Rules

There are too many children falling through the cracks of our education system. In principle and practice, Section 12(1)(c) needs to be reformed in the state to account for parents’ real-world situations

Why Isn’t Quality Primary Education Ever a Poll Promise?

India's learning crisis could gain political legitimacy if used as an electoral platform by political parties.