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Best of BS Opinion: Crashes, voter rolls, and fear of digital control
The preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on the Air India Dreamliner crash that killed 260 people last month has been met with criticism for being vague and speculative. The June 12 crash, which occurred just 30 seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad, led to a deadly collision with a doctors' hostel. The AAIB suggests a fuel-control switch may have moved from 'run' to 'cut-off,' shutting down the engine, but fails to explain whether this was pilot error or a technical flaw. One pilot is heard questioning the other about the switch, but voices remain unidentified. Experts say the report's timeline is murky and that referencing a 2018 FAA alert without new technical data only fuels unverified theories. Despite international oversight and ministerial caution, the report raises more questions than it answers, notes our first editorial.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India is considering taking its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, currently under way in Bihar, to other states. This follows the Supreme Court's initial approval of the SIR as constitutionally valid. But civil society groups have warned that its execution may exclude marginalised voters. The ECI claims to have identified many individuals of foreign origin, but critics question how booth-level officers are making such determinations. The requirement of up to 11 documents for verification is a challenge in a state with high migration and low literacy, highlights our second editorial. The ECI says it has already covered 80 per cent of voters, but doubts persist over inclusivity. The top court will hear further petitions on July 28.
Ajit Balakrishnan reflects on India's digital journey, praising Aadhaar and UPI but also questioning their implications in light of Rahul Bhatia's The Identity Project. While Aadhaar and UPI revolutionised access, critics warn they also enable surveillance. Globally, consent norms are tightening as seen in Google's $314 million fine in California. The column asks whether India should move towards stricter data ownership and opt-in systems.
Meanwhile, Debashis Basu critiques Sebi's crackdown on Jane Street, linking it to deeper flaws in India's derivatives market. He argues the current system benefits governments, exchanges, and even regulators more than investors, while 90 per cent of retail traders lose money. The piece questions the legitimacy of India's oversized derivatives market.
Finally, Sam Adler-Bell reviews, a book chronicling Biden's failed re-election bid and Trump's resurgent campaign. The book recounts internal dysfunction, missed warnings, and the slow unraveling of Democratic strategy, even as Kamala Harris tried to pick up the pieces. Stay tuned!
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Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
AI 171 crash: Aviation minister rebuts foreign media claims
PTI photo NEW DELHI: Union aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Sunday urged western media to avoid speculation and appreciated AAIB for decoding black box data in India. 'AAIB has made an appeal to all, especially western media houses, which may have a vested interest in the kind of articles they are trying to publish. I believe in AAIB. I believe in the work that they are doing. They have done a wonderful job in decoding the whole black box and getting the data out in India itself,' he said. He reiterated govt will await the final report before drawing any conclusions. Govt has been firefighting over the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's (AAIB) slammed-by-most preliminary probe into the deadly June 12 Air India AI 171 crash. While the report did not reveal cockpit voice recorder (CVR) transcript of the critical seconds, the western media started giving out those alleged details regularly a full 44 hours before the AAIB report was released on July 12 — which are yet to be denied by AAIB. The western reports have blamed AI 171 captain for the crash. The solitary selective indirect CVR quote in AAIB report also has one pilot asking the other why he switched off the fuel supply to engines. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Global Indices Are on the Move — Time to Trade! IC Markets Learn More Undo Naidu termed this decoding a major achievement as earlier black boxes had to be sent abroad to retrieve data. 'But this is the first time that successfully AAIB has decoded everything. The preliminary report has also been seen,' he said and urged against coming to conclusions before the final report is out.
New Indian Express
3 hours ago
- New Indian Express
'Opposition reduced itself to opposing everything for political reasons'
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences; Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office; and Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy, and Department of Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, criticised the Opposition for creating confusion over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. In a free-wheeling interview with Rajesh Kumar Thakur, he accused them of misleading the public out of fear of losing ineligible votes. Excerpts Opposition parties are united against the SIR exercise being carried out in poll-bound Bihar, accusing your government of using it to drop voters from other parties. What do you have to say? These are totally untrue and baseless allegations made by the Opposition out of fear and frustration over losing the support of undeserving voters. The SIR, which is now being carried out successfully in Bihar, is not intended to remove people from voting lists but to ensure that voting rights are upheld for genuine voters. The Opposition currently has no agenda other than opposing initiatives that are in the larger interest of the nation or individual states. Will the removal of voter names under SIR hurt the NDA's poll chances in Bihar? Absolutely not. It is not designed to prevent anyone from exercising their voting rights but to ensure that only genuine voters participate. The people of Bihar are highly aware and understand the benefits of such an exercise, and they will not be misled by the Opposition. The NDA will not face any negative electoral consequences; in fact, it is the Opposition—which has been exploiting the inclusion of ineligible voters without proper documentation—that is alarmed by SIR. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has accused your government of 'snatching and stealing' votes through SIR. What is your response? Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is known for making baseless allegations simply to distract the public. In fact, he was the one who previously advocated for electoral roll revisions after his party's defeat in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. Rahul Gandhi's intention is only to create confusion among the public about every initiative. But the people of Bihar are wise and understand his motives well. How is the Modi-led NDA gearing up to counter the Opposition in the Monsoon Session starting Monday? The NDA is fully prepared. Since the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi works for 'Sabka Saath', 'Sabka Vikas' and through 'Sabka Prayas', there is no issue on which the government is not in the right. The Opposition, which has reduced itself to opposing everything purely for political reasons, will gain nothing by creating an uproar. Rather, we urge them to offer constructive support to the government. Do you think women voters in Bihar are leaning towards the NDA this time? Yes, not only women voters but every voter who has witnessed the development and positive changes under NDA rule in Bihar will vote for the NDA. Prime Minister Narendra Modi represents trust for them. The 'Modi Guarantee', under the state leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar—who, along with BJP and other allied parties, has made visible changes in Bihar—is widely trusted. Bihar has become a model of women-led development. Will there be a discussion on Operation Sindoor in Parliament? What our leaders have said stands true. The government has been transparent about Operation Sindoor's success. The Opposition is simply trying to manufacture an issue where none exists. Did US President Trump actually mediate between India and Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, as the Opposition claims? I'm not able to officially comment on such matters. The Opposition's stance is mere political posturing without any basis. They should stop creating unnecessary uproar and focus on being constructive rather than just opposing for opposition's sake. Since you oversee the Department of Atomic Energy, how is India tackling emerging challenges in the sector? India is on track to meet the target of generating 100 GW of nuclear power by 2047, and we are taking all necessary steps toward this goal. In addition to progressing in the civil nuclear energy sector, we are considering converting ten decommissioned thermal power plant sites into nuclear power sites for civilian use, aligning with India's ambition to reach 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047. Are private sector players being actively supported in the nuclear energy sector? Yes, significant changes are planned through updated regulations and legislation. The government, as announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, aims to amend key laws like the Atomic Energy Act and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act to encourage private sector participation. Organizations such as NPCIL, BHAVINI, and ASHVINI are actively planning new nuclear plants. Indian scientists are developing Bharat Small Modular Reactors (50–300 MW) for retired thermal plants. Under PM Modi's leadership, India strives for self-reliance and global leadership in nuclear energy, aiming to become a developed nation by 2047 with strong private sector growth opportunities. How is India advancing its space program, and what is the status of key missions like Chandrayaan? India has become a global space leader with cost-effective, precise missions. Chandrayaan-3's historic South Pole landing and astronaut Shukla's record experiments highlight this progress. Chandrayaan-4 is slated for 2027, reinforcing India's position in space exploration and scientific innovation. When will India be able to launch its first human space mission, Gaganyaan? Gaganyaan is now in its final phase, and we are optimistic about launching the crewed mission in 2027. We consider it a historic mission that goes beyond scientific accomplishment—it symbolises our emergence as a global space power built on indigenous technology and fiscal prudence under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. How committed is India to promoting research, innovation, and science for the future? Since PM Narendra Modi took office, India has significantly boosted funding for R&D, allocating over Rs 20,000 crore for private sector innovation. This has transformed India into a global leader in science, technology, and startups. The government's focus on fostering a strong ecosystem has driven scientific progress, improving everyday life and showcasing successes like Operation Sindoor.
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
Tejashwi seeks support from Opposition and ruling parties over SIR in Bihar
Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday (July 20, 2025) shared letters he had written to 35 leaders seeking their support in the fight against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar, alleging large-scale disenfranchisement. The Rashtriya Janata Dal leader has posted the letter on X. Along with Opposition leaders at the national level, Mr. Yadav has also written letters to ruling coalition leaders at the Centre and the State, including Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Lok Janshakti Party (RV) national president Chirag Paswan, Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) founder Jitan Ram Manjhi, Telugu Desam Party national president N. Chandrababu Naidu, All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) president Sudhesh Mahto, and Apna Dal (Soneylal) party president Anupriya Patel. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and CPI-(ML) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya were also among those who received the letters. In the letter, Mr. Yadav said that he was writing the letter with a deep sense of anguish and urgency. 'The farce and tragedy of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) going on in Bihar has shaken the very foundation of democracy through large-scale disenfranchisement. It is a clear indication of how the independent institution of the Election Commission is adamant on eroding public trust in the integrity of our electoral process,' Mr. Yadav said in the letter. He further wrote that every person in the country, irrespective of their background or status, is proud of their vote and the ability to participate in the governance of the country is deeply empowering. Expressing apprehension, Mr. Yadav said that lakhs of voters, for no fault of their own, are being disempowered and humiliated. 'According to the EC press note dated July 16, 2025, around 4.5% of the population has already been left out because they were not 'not found at their addresses'. This is in addition to the 4% who 'probably' passed away or have permanently shifted. Going by these numbers, journalists on the ground and political scientists closely observing the exercise put the disenfranchisement figure at a whopping 12% to 15%. This is unprecedented in the history of our country,' Mr. Yadav said. Raising questions on the timing of revision, Mr. Yadav pointed out that even the Supreme Court had hinted at suspicion. He added that the EC had not done itself any favours by announcing and carrying out the exercise in a haphazard and high-handed manner. Mr. Yadav alleged that the poll body has not been transparent and it is making and breaking its own rules on the fly. 'Worse, they are targeting anyone and everyone who demands transparency and accountability,' Mr. Yadav said. The former Deputy Chief Minister said the experience of the Maharashtra Assembly elections are still fresh in the memory, and he was still waiting for a proper response from the EC. 'Now it is Bihar's turn. This needs to be resisted in the strongest terms possible. Because, if we do not raise our voices and register our strong protest, the same will be carried out in other States as well. The Constitution demands that we defend the republic. We should not be found wanting at this historical juncture,' Mr. Yadav said.
