Narendra Modi

Basics
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Cashless economy not happening in India yet but the groundwork is laid

Nearly eight months after India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi shocked the economy by banning 86 percent of the country’s currency, business has more or less returned to usual. On the one hand, that’s a testament to the Indian economy’s resilience. On the other, it also means that Modi’s hopes of creating a cashless economy will not be immediately realized.

Basics
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Five farmers killed in India during protests about debt and crop prices

Five farmers were killed today in Madhya Pradesh, India, during violent protests against what they contend are unfair pricing and debt obligations. Demonstrations by Indian farmers over allegations of excessive debt and improper financing that began last Thursday in the neighboring state of Maharashtra have escalated as they also spread to other regions.

Basics
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India’s ‘successful’ toilet campaign may be missing its mark

India’s campaign to end open defecation has been widely celebrated by officials as an innovative and aggressive success. Even Bill Gates recently declared that the country is “winning its war on human waste” with a 360-degree video. But independent surveys and investigations have come to a vastly different conclusion – that victory, unfortunately, is not in sight.

World Politics
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India blocks foreign funding for health group backed by Gates Foundation

In its latest bid to crack down on foreign funding of civil society, the Indian government has revoked the license of one of the country’s largest public health organizations to accept foreign contributions. Largely funded by the government and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Delhi-based Public Health Foundation of India is a public-private partnership launched by the government in 2006.

Basics
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Chaos continues a month after PM bans 86 percent of India’s currency

Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked India for 50 days of patience when he pulled the 500- and 1,000-rupee notes – the two largest denominations that comprise 86 percent of the country’s currency – out of circulation on four hours’ notice last month. “Punish me if I do not deliver,” he said, according to India Today. Now 37 days in, things have yet to settle down.