Jayant Pankaj

Statsguru: Sugar tastes bitter as retail prices surge amid tighter supply

India's sugar prices have surged 39% year-on-year as lower output and rising demand narrow the trade surplus, while ethanol production diversifies beyond sugarcane

Datanomics: Share of flood spending declines in vulnerable states

India's disaster count has risen over three decades, while storms are gaining pace and spending on flood and irrigation management in vulnerable states is falling

Datanomics: Submarine push highlights India's missed naval deadlines

This development highlights India's long-delayed naval projects and its spending patterns on naval fleets and infrastructure.

Number of schools shrinks by over 84,000 in India in eight years

Government schools' share declined from 69.8 per cent in 2018-19 to 68.54 per cent in 2025-26; and government-aided schools fell from 5.46 per cent to 5.4 per cent

Statsguru: Cracks in aviation oversight as safety concerns mount

India's plan for an independent civil aviation authority seeks to address regulatory constraints, strengthen safety oversight and equip the sector for rapid growth

Datanomics: AI hiring rises in India, legislative mentions remain limited

India's AI hiring share has risen steadily, but limited legislative engagement and a market-driven talent ecosystem highlight gaps in policy and research

India finds favour in Europe; America remains sceptical: Pew survey

Pew Research Center survey across 36 countries shows India's global image tilting slightly positive, with sentiment improving across several European countries

Datanomics: Jharkhand student protests expose deep socio-economic fractures

Jharkhand's student protests over exam paper leaks have renewed questions about the state's education spending, unemployment and persistent poverty levels

Datanomics: With 21% ad violations, influencers under FSSAI radar

FSSAI has asked food influencers to carefully vet brand endorsements as ASCI data showed a sharp rise in non-compliant ads and modifications required.

Datanomics: Small increase in number of judges may not be enough

India's judicial strength has risen since 2019, but pending cases have grown faster, leaving the country with a severe shortage of judges relative to its population and workload

Datanomics: Substandard products dominate FSSAI safety violations

Court grants interim relief to Dabur while food regulator's data points to persistent non-compliance across the industry

Incumbent parties won 53% of state by-elections since 2009, shows data

Data from 709 by-elections since 2009 shows incumbent parties won 53% of contests, while opposition parties secured 47%, reflecting a closely contested political landscape

Datanomics: Only 4% of UPI transactions to merchants may draw fee

Only about 4% of UPI merchant transactions may attract an MDR under the proposed law, while all person-to-person UPI payments will remain free

The Himalayan crisis that mountaineer Nirmal Purja captured on camera

Nirmal Purja's iconic Everest 'traffic jam' image foreshadowed a growing Himalayan crisis of overcrowding, environmental degradation and mounting safety risks

Statsguru: Gen Z's rage fuelled by joblessness, paper leaks and corruption

The anti-paper leak law highlights deeper challenges as India misses education spending targets, youth unemployment remains high, and Gen Z protests gain momentum

Datanomics: Crime rises despite expansion of police force since 2014

India's police strength has risen since 2014, yet crime rates have increased, highlighting gaps in policing, public safety and internal security outcomes

Datanomics: Isro's attrition spikes as its salary spend declines

The Department of Space has tightened exit rules for ISRO scientists as the agency grapples with a shrinking workforce and concerns over declining salary expenditure

Fast-track courts face mounting backlogs amid push for quicker justice

As of December 2025, India had 880 FTCs, which disposed of 1.33 million cases during the year

Datanomics: Acquisition of surveillance equipment by police on the rise

Delhi Police defends protest videography in court as data shows rising surveillance technology and growing public support for security monitoring

Datanomics: Social media platforms acting tougher on suicide content

Despite prominent incidents like the abuse targeted at Judge Khan, cases of bullying and harassment actually fell from 2 per cent to 1 per cent over the same period