11: Decoding the RTI Journey

The exit of Jyotiraditya Scindia reflects the weaknesses in the Congress Party. It also shows the BJP’s ability to attract political players. To understand the significance of this moment, political scientist Gilles Verniers joins this edition of The Big Picture.

Domestic decisions taken by the current government have led to a degree of international concern. Retd. diplomat Deb Mukharji examines the fallout of the internal dynamics on diplomacy and evaluates the responses in Bangladesh, the Islamic world and western democracies.

On January 26, India marked the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution. The text represents the audaciousness of the drafters - for they dared to dream of a democracy with universal adult franchise and fundamental rights for citizens in a society which was deeply divided on identity lines and was marked by poverty and illiteracy. What drove them? How has the Constitution fared since? To discuss this, Madhav Khosla - who teaches at Columbia and Ashoka Universities and is the author of a remarkable new book, India’s Founding Moment: The Constitution of a Most Surprising Democracy - joins this edition of The Big Picture.

Eight months since Narendra Modi took over for the second time, India is at the crossroads. The government has used its legislative majority to push legislations integral to its core ideological beliefs. But this has also prompted opposition from a section of citizens. The economy remains in a difficult spot, with low growth and high inflation. And India has had to face difficult questions internationally. To discuss domestic politics, economy, and foreign policy, Milan Vaishnav - political scientist and director of the South Asia program at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington DC - joins this edition of The Big Picture.

JNU has witnessed a student agitation for over two months. On January 5, masked miscreants entered the university campus and assaulted both students and teachers. Ever since then, both JNU students and campuses across the country have intensified protests. Many have sought the resignation or dismissal of the vice-chancellor. To discuss the events in JNU, University professor Atul Sood joins this edition of The Big Picture.

The passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act has provoked the fiercest reaction in the Northeast. To understand the roots of resentment in the region, one of the foremost experts of the region, Sanjoy Hazarika joins this edition of The Big Picture.

This year has witnessed BJP’s greatest political triump in the form of its second consecutive Lok Sabha majority. But in recent weeks, the less than expected performance in Haryana, the failure to form the government in Maharashtra and the coming together of an alliance to keep it out, the loss in by poll elections in West Bengal, and a set of tough elections coming up in Jharkhand and Delhi have raised questions about its dominance. To discuss the current moment in Indian politics, political scientist Neelanjan Sircar joins this edition of The Big Picture.

The Right to Information Act has been in place for almost 15 years. A landmark legislation, it opened the doors for transparency in government. But it has also gone through an amendment, which has sparked concerns. Is the Act being diluted? What are the implications of the office of the Chief Justice coming under the ambit of the RTI? In this edition of The Big Picture, former Central Information commissioner, Yashovardhan Azad, discusses these issues.

The Supreme Court delivered a set of significant judgments last week. From enabling the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya to referring Sabarimala and issues related to gender equality in other faiths to a seven-judge bench to bringing the office of the Chief Justice under the Right to Information Act, the orders will have huge implications. This was also the last week of CJI Ranjan Gogoi’s term, a term marked by its share of controversies. To discuss the judgments and Mr. Gogoi’s legacy, advocate and legal scholar Rishad Chowdhury joins this edition of The Big Picture.

South Asia was seen as India’s exclusive preserve. Over the past decade, Chinese political and economic engagement has exponentially grown in the region. Where does this leave India? Should it be concerned? How is it responding? To discuss these themes, Brookings India foreign policy fellow, Constantino Xavier joins this edition of The Big Picture.