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Narendra Modi’s Rs 15 Lakh remark on Black Money - What did Arun Jaitley say?
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
March 11, 2015
During a debate in Rajya Sabha on 10 March, 2015 about the issue of Black Money, Digvijaya Singh (Congress MP & Former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh) raised the issue of assessment of black money. He once again referred to the remark made by Prime Minister Modi in the run up to the 2014 elections.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remark during an election rally in the run up to the 2014 general election has been one of the most discussed issues about black money. Modi had said that if all the black money stashed abroad is brought back, every poor man would get anywhere between 15 to 20 lakh rupees. Though this remark was made to explain the quantum of black money stashed abroad, it has been raised by the opposition time & again to question the logic behind such an estimate. It forced the BJP President Amit Shah  to clarify that Modi’s remark was a ‘Political Jumla’ and not to be taken on face value.
During the Rajya Sabha debate on 10 March, Digvijaya Singh asked, “There have been wild assessments made by different agencies about the quantum of money stashed abroad ranging from Rs.40,000 crores to Rs. 70,000 crores to Rs.4,00,000 crores to Rs.40,00,000 crores, which, of course, prompted the Prime Ministerial candidate of the BJP to promise Rs.15,00,000 to every citizen, once the black money comes back in hundred days. Sir, I just want to know from the hon. Minister whether the Government of India has made any assessment of the quantum of black money stashed abroad.”
Finance Minister & Leader of the house in the Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley had to clarify the government’s position both on the estimate of black money and also Modi’s statement. He said, “There are various assessments which are made but in the absence of any particular authenticity with regard to those assessments, since statements made in this House are sacrosanct, I am not going to commit myself only to a speculative figure”. He said that the total income which is evaded is to the extent of Rs.3,250 crores so far based on the HSBC list of 628 names.
At this stage, Samajwadi Party MP, Kiranmai Nanda asked the basis on which PM Modi made the 15 Lakh rupees statement. Arun Jaitley had to say that there are various versions of the quantum of moneys and that PM’s statement is only an illustrative statement. He said “It is an illustrative statement which indicates that if any of those versions are accepted which indicate a higher amount of black money lying outside India, then pro rata that is the benefit accrues to the citizens of India. It is a statement which has been made by several people in that context and it must be taken entirely in that context”.
Source: Debate in the Rajya Sabha on 10th March, 2015.


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‘158 Indian soldiers killed in a rocket launch attack by China’ is fake news - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
June 3, 2020
An image of burning army vehicles is doing rounds on social media with a claim that 158 Indian soldiers were killed in a disastrous rocket launch attack by China on Sikkim. The image is being shared in the context of recent border tensions between the two countries. Let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Image of a rocket launch attack by China in which 158 Indian soldiers were killed.
Fact: There are no news reports that 158 Indian soldiers were killed in a rocket launch attack by China in Sikkim during the recent border tensions between the two countries. Also, when the same image went viral in 2017 with the same claim, both Indian and Chinese governments had categorically denied those reports. So, the claim is FALSE.
When the image was subjected to reverse image search technique, it was found in an article published in 2017 with the title – ‘China Attacked India, 158 Indian Soldiers Lost Their Lives: Dunya TV Report’.  The image in this article was found to be a flipped version of the photo posted now. Dunya News is a 24-hour Urdu language news service in Pakistan. The article published by Dunya News is currently not available on their website but the archived version of their report can be seen here.
When searched for more reports about the death of 158 Indian soldiers in a Chinese rocket launcher attack in 2017, it was found that both the Indian and Chinese governments had categorically denied those reports. Several Indian media agencies have reported that the country’s External Affairs Ministry had denied the report of Dunya TV and called it ‘malicious propaganda’. Also, the Chinese media termed the Dunya TV report about the incident to be ‘baseless’.
Also, there is no recent incident in which 158 Indian soldiers were killed by China in a rocket attack on Sikkim.
To sum it up, an old image is being shared with a false narrative that 158 Indian soldiers were killed in a rocket launch attack by China on Sikkim.
Did you watch our new video?

source: news-factly

license: Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

author: Sai Krishna Muthyanolla


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(16 January 2023) Government Data: RBI’s Annual Report of Ombudsman
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
January 16, 2023
The twentieth edition of the fortnightly government data roundup covers data/reports released by RBI, MoSPI, CPCB, and the year-end reviews by various ministries.
In this twentieth edition of the Fortnightly Government Data Roundup,  we cover RBI’s Annual Report of Ombudsman Schemes (2020-21), MoSPI’s progress report on the Twenty Point Programme for April 2022 – September 2022 & First Advance Estimates of National Income for 2022-23, and Central Pollution Control Board’s report on Polluted River Stretches for Restoration of Water Quality- 2022. Apart from these, year-end reviews of various departments and ministries have also been discussed.
First Advance Estimates of National Income, 2022-23
About the report
The First Advance Estimates of GDP was introduced in 2016-17 to serve as essential inputs to the Budget exercise. It is based on limited data and compiled using the Benchmark-Indicator Method using the estimates available for the previous year. These are extrapolated using relevant indicators reflecting the performance of the sector.
Key Highlights
Annual Report of Ombudsman Schemes, 2021-22
Brief about the report
The Report is the first after the integration of three erstwhile Ombudsman Schemes i.e., the Banking Ombudsman Scheme, 2006 (BOS), the Ombudsman Scheme for Non-Banking Financial Companies, 2018 (OSNBFC), and the Ombudsman Scheme for Digital Transactions, 2019 (OSDT) in November 2021. The report also captures major developments during the year and the way forward in the area of consumer protection.
Key Highlights
Twenty Point Programme Progress Report (April 2022- Jun 2022)
Brief about the report
Twenty Point Programme was first initiated in 1975, and it underwent structural changes in 1982, 1986 and 2006. It is a combination of poverty alleviation programs, schemes for health and education, employment generation programs, and schemes impacting the environment and quality of life. The report consists of two parts: Part-I contains an analysis of the overall performance, whereas Part II deals with item-wise performance. The report is compiled based on data received from the Central Nodal Ministries and State Governments/UT Administrations. 14 parameters are taken for the performance analysis.
Key Highlights
Polluted River Stretches for Restoration of Water Quality- 2022
About the study
The study is based on the periodic analysis of water quality data generated. The data is generated by CPCB through the identification of polluted river stretches (PRS) using Bio-Chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) as a criteria parameter. Out of the 603 rivers assessed, there are 311 Polluted stretches in 279 rivers in 30 States & Union Territories. State-wise analysis has also been done in the study. Similar assessments were earlier presented in 2009, 2015 and 2018.
Key Highlights
Year-End Reviews for 2022
2022 – Air Quality Perspective in Delhi
In the first fortnight of 2023, the Ministries of Home Affairs, Road Transport & Highways, Housing & Urban Affairs, Cooperation, Parliamentary Affairs and the Departments of Atomic Energy & Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti released their year-end reviews. Highlights of these reviews have been given below:
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
Ministry of Cooperation
Ministry of Home Affairs
Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
Department of Atomic Energy
Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti

created: January 16, 2023


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1650 crore vehicles in India? No, there are only around 25 crore registered motor vehicles as of 2017 - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
December 26, 2019
A message is being widely shared on social media with a claim that there are around 1650 crore vehicles in India, which use highways and pay tolls. The post also claims that the government has made the FASTag registration compulsory so that the toll companies would earn lakhs of crores. Let’s try to analyze the claim made in the post.
In India, there are around 1650 crore vehicles using highway tolls.
Fact: According to the Minister of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), the total number of registered motor vehicles in India by March 2017 is around 25 crores. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
The information regarding the number of registered motor vehicles in India can be found in the reports published by the Ministtry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). In the Annual Report (2018-19) of MoRTH, it can be read that the total number of registered motor vehicles in India in 2016 is around 23 crores. Also, there is provisional data available for the year 2017 which shows that there are around 25.33 crore registered motor vehicles in India. So, the claim that there are around 1650 crore vehicles using highway tolls in India is false. More detailed reports regarding the number of registered motor vehicles in India can be seen here and here.
FACTLY has written a detailed explainer article about the FASTags. It can be read here.
To sum it up, there are only around 25 crore registered motor vehicles in India as of 2017.
Did you watch our new Episode of the DECODE series?

created: December 26, 2019


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Review: 166 million adolescents aged 10–19 live with a diagnosed mental disorder as per a recent UNICEF report - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
October 12, 2021
UNICEF’s State of World’s Children (SOWC) for 2021 is focused on Mental Health of children. Among other things, the report notes that 13% (166 million) adolescents aged 10–19 live with a diagnosed mental disorder. The report also states that the cost of inaction could be hundreds of billion dollars. Here is a review.
The State of World’s Children (SOWC) is UNICEF’s flagship report that is published bi-annually. Since its first report in 1980-81, SOWC provides comprehensive information on the trends and issues affecting children across the globe. SOWC acts as a guide in shaping up UNICEF’s priorities and helps to calibrate and implement effective programmes for children across countries.
The latest edition i.e., SOWC-2021 explores one such key issue affecting children worldwide – Mental Health. This report published recently is titled ‘On My Mind: Promoting, protecting and caring for children’s mental health’.
While SOWC – 2021 provides information on trends regarding the various parameters relating to Children’s wellness, we look specifically at the main theme i.e., the Mental Health of Children, in this story.
Estimates indicate that around 13% of adolescents in the world had a mental disorder
SOWC-2021 report states that Mental Health includes the human capacity to think, feel, learn, work, build meaningful relationships and contribute to communities and the world. It is an intrinsic part of individual health which has its bearing on building healthy communities.
The report stresses that Mental health is a right that must be promoted and protected. However, in many societies, Mental health mostly remains an afterthought for decision-makers in the family & society. The stigma & misunderstanding result in millions of children struggling in silence with mental health conditions including – depression, anxiety, conduct, and attention disorders, etc.
As per the estimates provided in SOWC-2021,
Among the geographical regions, ‘South Asia’ and ‘East Asia & Pacific’ had the highest number of adolescents with Mental disorders. However, in terms of prevalence rates – ‘Middle East & North Africa’, ‘North America’ and ‘Western Europe’ are ahead of the other regions.
As per a survey conducted by UNICEF and Gallup in 21 countries, during the first half of 2021, around 1 in every 5 young people (aged 15-24) on average, i.e., 19% are reported to often feeling depressed or showing little interest in doing things. African countries of Cameroon and Mali recorded the highest with 32% & 31% of its young population feeling depressed. Among the Asian countries, Indonesia is at the top with 29%.
India is better off among these 21 countries with 14% of its young population reported having feeling depressed. It has the 7 lowest proportion of its young population feeling depressed, with Japan & Ethiopia reporting only 10%.
In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, these numbers provide an important insight into the state of Mental Health of children who were away from schools for a long period. However, the lack of any comparable data from an earlier period makes it a challenge to assess the impact of COVID-19.
Anxiety & Depression make up about 40% of Mental disorders among adolescents
The report states that among adolescents (10-19 years), anxiety & depression disorders make up around 40% of the mental disorders included in the ‘Global Burden of Disease’ study by the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). The prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders is higher in girls at 56.3% compared to that of boys where it is 31.4%. The other disorders include conduct disorders, attention deficit, intellectual disability, etc. Attention deficit, conduct disorder, etc. find a higher prevalence among the boys compared to that of girls.
Meanwhile, as per the estimates of WHO (World Health Organization), around 45.8 thousand adolescents die of suicides every year. Among adolescents (10-19 years), it is the 5th most prevalent cause of death. It remains among the main causes of death across the different adolescent age groups for both genders.
Among the 15-19 age group, Suicide is the 4 main prevalent cause of death. In the case of girls, it is the 3rd main cause while in the case of boys, it is the 4 main cause of death in this age group. However, in terms of prevalence, more boys (6 per one lakh) die due to suicide every year compared to girls (5 per one lakh).
Suicide is a major cause of death among adolescents is prevalent across the geographies. It is the main cause of death in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Whereas in North America, Western Europe, and South Asia, it is the second most prevalent cause of death.
Annual loss in Human Capital due to Mental health conditions is around USD 340 billion
The SOWC-2021 states that the human cost of ignoring mental health can have a devastating effect on individuals, which further has an impact on families and communities.  Apart from this, it could also have a financial impact i.e., the cost of inaction due to mental health conditions.
UNICEF has relied on ‘Department of Health Policy’ of ‘London School of Economics & Political Science’ to come up with a Global estimate of cost of Mental health conditions, specifically for SOWC-2021. The estimate was made on the premise – the value of lost mental capital which children and young people would contribute if they were not impacted by mental health conditions.
It is further estimated that additionally around USD 47 billion is lost due to Intentional Self-harm. Therefore, the overall loss of Human capital is estimated to be around USD 387.2 billion (PPP).
Among the various regions, East Asia & Pacific, North America, and Western Europe have the highest loss in terms of absolute value. However, this could be due to the higher productivity in these regions driving the value of Human capital lost. The value of loss in less developed countries could be lower. To correct this, a global average of USD 16,951 is taken as average income and adjusted to PPP terms. As per this estimate, the global loss of Human capital is USD 393.2 billion PPP. The loss due to Self-harm has increased to USD 57.7 billion, increasing in the overall loss of human potential to USD 451 billion per year.
Identifying the factors contributing to Mental Health disorders and developing a framework for Action
The report has at length discussed the contributing factors which could impact the Mental health of the children. These factors range from interactions with the surroundings to the impact of larger events.  Three major Spheres of influence are identified:
The first two spheres of influence have a cascading effect on the child as they grow. The World of the child includes – Parents and caregivers. Nutrition, stable & safe homes, engaged caregivers, caring & enriching environments, etc. are essential and have an impact on the mental health of the child.
As the child grows, the world around the child also grows – pre-schools, schools, communities, etc. It is imperative that each of these places provide safety and security for the child.
Other larger factors also have a bearing on the Mental health conditions as the child grows up. These include large-scale influencing factors like – poverty, disasters, conflicts, discrimination, migration, pandemics, etc.
As part of the larger factors influencing the mental health of a child, the report tries to ascertain the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health of the children. The effects of pandemic including – loss of comfort & assurance of school routine, loss of parents & immediate kin, poverty & economic stress, vulnerability, etc., could have had a detrimental effect on the Mental health of children. The stress is observed more across economically vulnerable sections of society and across less developed countries. The lack of data pre-pandemic makes it a challenge to compare the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of children.
SOWC-21 advocates for a commitment that is backed up by:

created: October 12, 2021


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MPs of the 16th Lok Sabha take home an average of 20.5 Lakh Rupees in the first 10 months in Salary & Allowances
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
May 19, 2015
The 16th Lok Sabha seems to have done better than the 15th Lok Sabha in various parameters like questions asked, debates participated etc. It also has a better attendance record. The 16th Lok Sabha so far has a 85% attendance record while 43 MPs have a 100% attendance record. On an average, an MP of the 16th Lok Sabha took home 20.5 lakh rupees in salary & allowances.
This is the season of report cards. From the Prime Minister to the Government to Students, everyone’s performance is measured. So we wanted to do a quick check on the Members of Parliament (MPs) of the 16 Lok Sabha in terms of their performance on the floor of the house & the amount of Salary (including allowances) they took home.
(A similar analysis for the entire 15th Lok Sabha is available here)
Parliamentary Performance
The 16 Lok Sabha met for a total of 90 days till date in four different sessions. The average attendance of the entire house was at 85%. A total of 43 MPs made us proud with 100% attendance. These 43 MPs come from six different parties, the BJP, Congress, AIADMK, Shiv Sena, BJP & the TRS. President Pranab Mukherjee’s son, Abhijit Mukherjee also has a 100% attendance record.  25 MPs had an attendance of less than 50%.
(Note: Ministers of the Government are not required to sign and hence their attendance is not tracked in the Lok Sabha)
Questions, Debates & Private Member Bills
From the numbers, it is evident that the 16 Lok Sabha has done well in the first year compared to the 5 year average of the 15 Lok Sabha on each of these parameters. While a total of 34248 questions were asked by MPs of the 16 Lok Sabha till date, about 28051 questions were asked on average every year by the MPs of the 15 Lok Sabha. Similarly MPs of the 16 Lok Sabha participated in 8803 debates in total while the 5 year average for the 15 Lok Sabha stands at 4641. Similar trend is observed in the number of private member bills introduced by the MPs. A total of 258 private member bills were introduced by the members of the 16 Lok Sabha in the first year while the 5 year average of the 16 Lok Sabha stands at 131.
MP Salary & Allowances
Apart from the other facilities extended to MPs, each MP is entitled to the following every month. Ministers of the Government are not included in this list since they get their salaries from the Government, which is more or less similar to the MPs of the Lok Sabha. Ministers are entitled to a few extra benefits as compared to the MPs. The detailed information on salary & allowances to MPs can be found here.
The travel allowance is in addition to the travel benefits for MPs. Data for the 16 Lok Sabha is available only up to March 2015 i.e., first 10 months of the 16 Lok Sabha.  All the calculations & numbers below are excluding the office expenses allowance.
As per the available data, close to 112 crore rupees were spent on the 16 Lok Sabha MPs till date. In other words, the average take home of each MP is close to 20.5 Lakh rupees for these 10 months.
The MP from Andaman, Bishnu Pada Ray took the highest amount home (Rs 72.56 Lakh rupees). This could be because of the high air fares from Andaman to Delhi. More than half the MPs took home anywhere between 15 and 30 lakh while 9 MPs took home more than 50 lakh rupees.
Source:


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(17 July 2023) Government Data Roundup: Reports By RBI, MoE, MoSPI, Among Those Released Recently
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
July 17, 2023
The 33rd edition of the fortnightly roundup of government data covers the Performance Grading Index (PGI) by the Ministry of Education, the Financial Stability Report (FSR) by RBI and Report of the Inter-Departmental Group (IDG) on the internationalization of INR by RBI.
In this 33  edition of fortnightly government data roundup, we look at the Performance Grading Index (PGI) by the Ministry of Education, the Financial Stability Report (FSR) by RBI, and the Report of the Inter-Departmental Group (IDG) on the internationalization of INR by RBI.
Among the monthly reports, CPI for Urban, Rural, and Combined, and Index of Industrial Production were released. The explainer on key price indices can be read here.
Key statistics from these reports are as below.
Performance Grading Index (PGI-D)
Brief about the report:
The Performance Grading Index for Districts (PGI-D), released by the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSE&L), Ministry of Education, evaluates the effectiveness of the school education system at the District level by developing an index for thorough analysis.
This Report is based on data that the districts voluntarily uploaded in a reference year. The PGI-D structure includes 83 indicators with a combined weight of 600 points that are arranged into 6 categories: outcomes, effective classroom transactions, infrastructure facilities and student entitlements, school safety & child protection, digital learning, and governance process.
PGI-D assigns each district one of 10 grades, with Daksh—the highest grade being awarded to districts that receive more than 90% of the total points in a category or overall. Akanshi-3, which is for scores up to 10% of the total points, is the lowest grade in PGI-D.
Key findings of the report:
Financial Stability Report 2023
Brief about the report:
The Financial Stability Report (FSR) is a half-yearly publication with contributions from all the financial sector regulators. The FSR summarizes the findings of the Sub Committee of the Financial Stability and Development Council’s evaluation of current and potential vulnerabilities to the Indian financial system.
Key highlights of the report:
Report of Inter-Departmental Group (IDG) on Internationalization of INR
Brief about the report:
This report is drafted against the backdrop of India’s rising importance in the global economic landscape and, consequently, the potential for the Indian Rupee (INR) to emerge as an international currency. The Inter-departmental Group is tasked to review the extant position of INR as an international currency and to frame a road map for the internationalization of INR.
Key highlights:
The Group recognizes that the internationalization of INR is a process rather than an event, and thus to enable, track and monitor the progress, certain milestones for implementation have been recommended.
Short-term goals:
Medium-term goals:
Long-term goals:


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(18 December 2023) Government Data Roundup: Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment and State Finances (Budgets) Reports Among Those Released Recently - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
December 18, 2023
In this 44th edition of fortnightly government data roundup, we look at Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment Report and State Finances- A study of budgets 2023-23 by RBI. In addition, we also cover the regular monthly reports on IIP & CPI.
In this 44 edition of fortnightly government data roundup, we look at Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment Report and State Finances- A study of budgets 2023-23 by RBI.
Among the monthly and quarterly reports, the Index of Industrial Production for October 2023 and CPI for Rural, Urban, and Combined for November 2023 are released. In addition, the RBI’s annual Survey on International Trade in Banking Services, 2022-23 was also released this fortnight.
Brief about the report:
Periodic evaluations of Ground Water Resources Assessment are conducted collaboratively by State Ground Water Departments and the Central Ground Water Board. These assessments operate under the guidance of State Level Committees on Ground Water Assessment at the state level and are overseen by the Central Level Expert Group. These joint initiatives were previously undertaken in 1980, 1995, 2004, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2017, 2020, and 2022. The assessment process includes calculating the dynamic ground water resources or Annual Extractable Ground Water Resource, Total Current Annual Ground Water Extraction (utilization), and the percentage of utilization concerning the annual extractable resources (stage of Ground Water Extraction).
Key highlights of the report:
Brief about the report:
The yearly release by the Reserve Bank, named “State Finances: A Study of Budgets 2023-24,” presents insights and information on the fiscal status of State governments in India for 2021-22 (actuals), 2022-23 (revised estimates/provisional accounts), and 2023-24 (budget estimates). The focus of this year’s report revolves around ‘Revenue Dynamics and Fiscal Capacity of Indian States.’
Key Highlights:
Brief about the survey:
This yearly survey delves into international financial activities, examining fund-related banking services such as deposits and credit, alongside financial support services that carry visible or underlying charges or commissions. It scrutinizes these services offered by foreign branches, overseas subsidiaries (including joint ventures) of Indian banks, and foreign banks operating within India. The latest survey of 2022-23 encompasses 14 Indian banks with branches or subsidiaries abroad and 44 foreign banks with branches or subsidiaries within India.
Key Highlights:

created: December 18, 2023


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18% GST is applicable only for private coaching; Services provided by regular and vocational educational institutions are GST-free - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
September 26, 2022
A video is being widely shared on social media platforms claiming that the 18% GST is applicable on education in India. Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
Claim: 18% GST is applicable on education in India.
Fact: According to the GST rates available on the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs website, 18% GST is applicable only for private coaching institutes. However, services provided by both regular and vocational educational institutions are exempted from GST. Hence the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
Definition of an Education Institution:
According to the report “GST on educational services” available on the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs website, Educational Institution means an institution providing services by way of:
What is the meaning of ‘‘education as a part of curriculum for obtaining a qualification recognized by law’?
In other words, educational services that are related to delivery of education as ‘a part’ of the curriculum prescribed for obtaining a qualification prescribed by law are in the negative list, and do not attract any tax under GST. It is important to understand that to be in the negative list , the service should be delivered as part of curriculum for obtaining a qualification.  Conduct of degree courses by colleges, universities or institutions which lead to grant of qualifications recognized by law would be covered in this list. Training given by private coaching institutes would not be covered as such training does not lead to grant of a recognized qualification
An “approved vocational education course” means,
All this means that private coaching centres or other unrecognized institutions, though self-styled as educational institutions, would not be treated as educational institutions under GST and thus cannot avail exemptions available to an educational institution
Now, lets see the GST rates on each of the educational services based on CBIC-GST website (Heading 9992)
The following educational services are exempted from GST:
1.Services provided –
(a) by an educational institution to its students, faculty and staff;
(aa) by an educational institution by way of conduct of entrance examination against consideration in the form of entrance fee;
(b) to an educational institution, by way of,-
(i) transportation of students, faculty and staff;
(ii) catering, including any mid-day meals scheme sponsored by the Central Government, State Government or Union territory;
(iii) security or cleaning or house- keeping services performed in such educational institution;
(iv) services relating to admission to, or conduct of examination by, such institution;
(v) supply of online educational journals or periodicals; Provided that nothing contained in [sub-items (i), (ii) and (iii) of item (b) shall apply to an educational institution other than an institution providing  services   by  way  of  pre-school education and education up to higher secondary school or equivalent. Provided further that nothing contained in sub-item (v) of item (b) shall apply to an institution providing services by way of,-
(i) pre-school education and education up to higher secondary school or equivalent; or (ii)   education   as   a   part   of   an approved vocational education course.
2. Any services provided by
(a) the National Skill Development Corporation set up by the Government of India.
(b) a Sector Skill Council approved by the National Skill Development Corporation.
(c) an assessment agency approved by the Sector Skill Council or the National Skill Development Corporation.
(d) a training partner approved by the National Skill Development Corporation or the Sector Skill Council, in relation to-
(i) the National Skill Development Programme implemented by the National Skill Development Corporation; or (ii) a vocational skill development course under the National Skill Certification and Monetary Reward Scheme; or
(iii) any other Scheme implemented by the National Skill Development Corporation.
3.Services provide by-
Indian Institutes of Management, as per the guidelines of the Central Government, to their students, by way of the following educational programmes, except Executive Development Programme: –
(a) two year full time Post Graduate Programmes in Management for the Post Graduate Diploma in Management, to which admissions are made on the basis of Common Admission Test (CAT) conducted by the Indian Institute of Management;
(b) fellow programme in Management;
(c) five year integrated programme in Management
The following educational services are charged under GST:
To sum it up, there is no GST on services provided by both regular and vocational educational institutions, an 18% GST is applicable only for private coaching institutes

created: September 26, 2022


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18 months on, no info on beneficiaries of ₹ 3070 crores worth Electoral Bonds
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
December 19, 2020
Access here Comprehensive Data on Electoral Bonds (as of February 2024)
Electoral Bonds worth more than ₹ 3000 crores were purchased and redeemed in April & May 2019, coinciding with the Lok Sabha general elections. Even after 18 months, we still do not know who benefitted from these bonds as political parties are yet to submit their annual audit reports & contribution reports for 2019-20.
On 16 October 2020, Government of India announced the 14 Phase for sale of Electoral Bonds under Electoral Bond Scheme 2018.  As per the announcement, State Bank of India (SBI) is authorized to issue and redeem the electoral bonds through its 29 Authorized branches. The window period for the sale and redemption of the Electoral Bonda under the 14 phase was 19 October 2020 to 28 October 2020.  This is the second sale cycle for the year 2020, after the January 2020 sale cycle.
Value of Bonds purchased in the current phase nearly four times the previous phase
The total value of bonds purchased in the previous phase i.e. the 13 phase was the third lowest since the scheme was launched.  Compared to earlier this year, the value of bonds purchased in the most recent phase i.e. 14 phase is nearly 4 times higher with bonds worth ₹ 282.29 crores being purchased. When compared with all the earlier phases, this phase ranks 6 in terms of the value of bonds purchased.
The latest phase was just prior to the Bihar Assembly elections and a host of by-elections across the States, most of them in Madhya Pradesh. In fact, this is the highest in terms of value of bonds purchased in any phase after the General Elections of 2019.
Contrary to the trend observed in the last three phases where in all the purchased bonds were redeemed by the Political parties, there was one electoral bond worth ₹ 1000 not redeemed during the 14 phase. The equivalent amount was transferred to PMNRF as per the scheme guidelines.  However, going by overall trend in the last few phases, we can conclude that the political parties have not left behind any bonds.
By value, more than 98% of the bonds purchased were of ₹ 1 Crore denomination
A total of ₹ 282.29 crores worth of electoral bonds were purchased in the 14 phase. This is a total of 321 Electoral Bonds. Of these, 279 Electoral Bonds were of ₹ 1 crore denomination, 32 bonds of ₹ 10 lakh denomination and 9 bonds of ₹ 1 lakh denomination. The remaining one bond was of ₹ 1000 denomination. In all, more than 98% of the bonds by value were purchased in the denomination of ₹ 1 crore.
After the 10 Phase in May 2019, this was the first time that a bond of ₹ 1000 denomination was purchased. Factly had earlier written about how 99.9% of printed electoral bonds of ₹ 1000 and ₹10000 denomination remaining unsold.
Compared to the previous phase, the proportion of ₹1 crore denomination bonds out of the total bonds purchased is higher.
Most bonds purchased in Mumbai while the most were redeemed in Hyderabad
During the 14 Phase, electoral bonds were purchased in 9 different cities. Among them, the greatest purchase – both in terms of number as well as the value was in Mumbai. A total of 130 bonds were purchased in Mumbai which were worth ₹ 130 crores. It is followed by Chennai, where in 60 Bonds were purchased worth ₹ 60 crores. Unlike these two cities, the bonds purchased in Kolkata were of varying denominations. In Kolkata, 45 bonds of worth ₹ 36 crores were purchased. Patna, the capital of Bihar where the Assembly elections took place had purchases of only ₹ 80 lakhs.
Meanwhile, bonds worth ₹ 6 crores were redeemed in Patna. Although Mumbai is the city where the greatest purchase of electoral bonds during this 14 phase happened, none were redeemed in Mumbai.
Bonds were redeemed in 6 different cities during the 14 phase. Of these, the greatest both in terms of number & value were redeemed in Hyderabad. In Hyderabad, bonds worth ₹90 cores were redeemed through 90 Electoral bonds. Chennai and Bhubaneshwar occupy the next two positions with redemption of bonds worth ₹ 80 crores and ₹ 67 crores respectively.
The higher redemption of bonds in Hyderabad could have been due to an assembly bye-election and the Hyderabad corporation (GHMC) elections.
The beneficiaries of ₹ 3400 crores worth of electoral bonds during 2019-20 is yet unknown
As observed in the chart above, Chennai & Bhubaneshwar are among the cities where a higher number of electoral bonds were redeemed during the 14 phase. While Odisha had bye-elections for two assembly seats during November 2020, Tamil Nadu did not have any scheduled election during this period. In fact, the Tamil Nadu assembly general elections will take place only during April-May 2021.
However, ascertaining a link between the redemption of bonds and potential elections is only speculation based on earlier trends. The only authentic way of knowing which political parties benefitted from electoral bonds through the Audit & Contribution reports submitted by them.
In an earlier story, we had highlighted about the long periods one has to wait to know about the beneficiaries of these bonds.
While we have to wait for until late next year to know who benefitted from the higher redemption in Hyderabad, Bhubaneswar & Chennai during the 14 phase, we still do not know  about the beneficiaries of the bonds redeemed in 2019-20.
During the financial year 2019-20, a total about ₹ 3400 crores worth of electoral bonds were redeemed during 5 phases (Phase IX-XIII). Of this, a major chunk is ₹ 3.07 thousand crores belonging to Phase -IX (April’2019) & Phase-X (May’2019), during the Lok Sabha general elections in 2019.
Even after nearly 18 months, the information of the beneficiaries of these bonds is not yet available as the major political parties are yet to submit their Audit & Contributions reports for 2019-20. The waiting time only increases because political parties usually do not submit these reports on time. This lack of real time information is a major lacuna preventing common citizens from knowing the beneficiaries of these bonds.
While these reports are supposed to be submitted by end of October 2020, information available on the Election Commission of India  (ECI) website reveals that only 4 State parties (AIUDF, RLD, AIADMK & YSRCP) and none of the National Parties have submitted their Contribution reports for 2019-20.  Furthermore, none of the political parties have submitted the Audit reports for 2019-20.
As highlighted earlier, the delay in submission of contribution & audit reports hampers any efforts to analyse these bonds & their beneficiaries. While countries like the USA provide near real time information on political funding, the waiting time in India is more than 18 months going by the current trends.

created: December 19, 2020


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More than 180 Security Personnel lost their lives in Jammu & Kashmir since 2013
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
September 20, 2016
As per the data shared by the government in the Lok Sabha, there has been a spurt in the infiltration activity from across the border in Jammu & Kashmir in the recent times. More than 180 security personnel have lost their lives in Jammu & Kashmir in terrorist related incidents since 2013.
The gruesome terrorist attack on the Army Camp in Uri in Jammu & Kashmir resulted in the death of 17 security personnel. This is by far the worst attack in the last few years. As per the information shared by the government, more than 180 security personnel have lost their lives since 2013 in more than 700 terrorist incidents.
More than 670 infiltration attempts since 2013
As per the information shared by the Government in the Lok Sabha, there have more than 670 infiltration attempts in Jammu & Kashmir since 2013. There were 277 such incidents resulting in the killing of 38 terrorists in 2013 followed by 222 such incidents in 2014. 52 terrorists were killed in 2014 in these attempts.
While the number of such attempts has substantially decreased in 2015, the government acknowledges that there has been a spurt in infiltration attempts from across the border in the recent times.
More than 180 security personnel lost their lives since 2013
More than 180 security personnel lost their lives in terrorist incidents in Jammu & Kashmir since 2013. There have been two ghastly attacks on security personnel in Jammu & Kashmir this year, one on a CRPF convoy in June and the one in Uri in September.
On 25 June 2016, after completion of the Annual Range Classification Firing at Lethpora (approximately 23 Kms from Srinagar on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway), a convoy of CRPF consisting of 4 vehicles carrying 74 Personnel was returning towards their unit Headquarters in Srinagar at around 4pm. When the convoy was passing through Pampore town, 2 militants armed with AK-47 Rifles appeared all of a sudden and opened indiscriminate fire. In the encounter both the militants were neutralized. However, 8 CRPF personnel sacrificed their lives and 27 CRPF personnel were injured.
According to the statement by Director General of Military Operations, a group of heavily armed terrorists opened fire on an administrative base of one of the units of Indian Army at Uri in Kashmir at approximately 5.30am on 18 September. The firefight between the terrorists and Army Personnel continued till approximately 8.30am, during which four terrorists have been killed. There have been a total of 17 Army fatal casualties. Of these, 13 – 14 casualties have been due to the tents/ shelters having caught fire.
Featured Image: Army

created: September 20, 2016


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‘19 ఏళ్ల కిందటి ఫోన్...70% చార్జింగ్ తో స్విచ్చాఫ్ కాకుండా దొరికింది’ అని వస్తున్న వార్తల్లో నిజంలేదు - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
August 28, 2019
ఇంగ్లాండ్ లో ఒక వ్యక్తికి తను 19 ఏళ్ళ ముందు కొన్న ఫోన్ టేబుల్ డ్రాలో స్విచ్చాఫ్ కాకుండా దొరికిందని, విచిత్రం ఏమిటంటే ఆ ఫోన్ లో ఇంకా 70 శాతం ఛార్జింగ్ మిగిలి ఉందని చెప్తూ ఒక పోస్ట్ ని సోషల్ మీడియా లో చాల మంది షేర్ చేస్తున్నారు. ఆ పోస్ట్ లో ఎంతవరకు నిజముందో విశ్లేషిద్ధాం.
‘19 ఏళ్ల కిందటి ఫోన్…70% చార్జింగ్ తో స్విచ్చాఫ్ కాకుండా దొరికింది’.
వ్యంగ్యంగా వార్తలు రాసే వెబ్సైటు లో ప్రచురించిన వార్తని తీసుకొని నిజంగా జరిగినట్టు షేర్ చేస్తున్నారు. ఫోటోలోని వ్యక్తి 2017 లో ఒక వార్తాపత్రికతో మాట్లాడుతూ తను 17 ఏళ్ళ కింద ఆ ఫోన్ కొన్నానని, మధ్యలో కొన్ని ఏళ్ళు ఆ ఫోన్ వాడలేదని చెప్పాడు, కానీ పోస్ట్ లో చెప్పినట్టుగా తన ఫోన్ 70% ఛార్జింగ్ తో స్విచ్చాఫ్ కాకుండా దొరికిందని చెప్పలేదు. కావున పోస్ట్ లో చెప్పింది తప్పు.
ఈ విషయం గురించి వెతికినప్పుడు, సోషల్ మీడియాలోనే కాదు ప్రముఖ వార్తాసంస్థలు [HMTV (ఆర్కైవ్డ్ వెర్షన్) మరియు V6 వెలుగు (ఆర్కైవ్డ్ వెర్షన్)]  కూడా ఈ వార్తను ప్రచురించినట్టుగా చూడవచ్చు.
పోస్ట్ లోని ఫోటోని యాన్డెక్స్ రివర్స్ ఇమేజ్ సెర్చ్ లో వెతకగా, అదే ఫోటోతో 2017 లో ‘Express.co.uk’ వెబ్ సైట్ లో ప్రచురించిన ఒక ఆర్టికల్ దొరుకుతుంది. ఆ ఆర్టికల్ లో ఫోటోలోని వ్యక్తి పేరు ‘డేవ్ మిచెల్ ’ అని, 2000 లో కొన్న నోకియా 3310 ఫోన్ ని తను ఇంకా వాడుతున్నాడని ఉంటుంది. మధ్యలో కొన్ని ఏళ్ళు తను ఆ ఫోన్ వాడనట్టు ఆ ఆర్టికల్ లో ఉంటుంది. కానీ ఆ ఫోన్ కనబడకుండా పోయిందని, దొరకినప్పుడు అది స్విచ్చాఫ్ కాకుండా 70% చార్జింగ్ తో దొరికిందని తను చెప్పినట్టు ఆ ఆర్టికల్ లో ఉండదు. 2017 లో ఈ వార్తను ఇండియన్ వార్తాసంస్థలు కూడా ప్రచురించినట్టు ఇక్కడ, ఇక్కడ, మరియు ఇక్కడ చూడవచ్చు.
ఈ వార్త పై మరింత సమాచారం కోసం గూగుల్ లో వెతకగా, సోషల్ మీడియాలో వైరల్ వార్తను వ్యంగ్యంగా వార్తలు రాసే ‘Chester Bugle’ అనే వెబ్సైటు నుండి తీసుకున్నట్టుగా తెలుస్తుంది. సోషల్ మీడియా మరియు వార్తాపత్రికల్లో ఆ వ్యక్తీ పేరు ‘కెవిన్ మూడీ’ (అసలు పేరు – ‘డేవ్ మిచెల్’) అని ఉంటుంది, ఆ పేరును కూడా ఈ వెబ్ సైట్ లో చూడొచ్చు. కావున, వ్యంగ్యంగా రాసిన ఒక ఆర్టికల్ ని తీసుకొని నిజమైన వార్తగా షేర్ చేస్తున్నారు.
చివరగా, ‘19 ఏళ్ల కిందటి ఫోన్…70% చార్జింగ్ తో స్విచ్చాఫ్ కాకుండా దొరికింది’ అని వస్తున్న వార్తల్లో నిజంలేదు.
ఏది ఫేక్, ఏది నిజం సిరీస్ లో మా వీడియోస్ మీరు చూసారా?


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(19 December 2022) Government Data Roundup: Smuggling in India Report, TRAI Papers, Year-End Reviews Among the Data/Reports Released Recently.
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
December 19, 2022
The eighteenth edition of the fortnightly government data roundup covers reports released by TRAI, Department of Revenue Intelligence, RBI, and the year-end reviews by various ministries.
As 2022 draws to a close, different ministries have begun releasing their respective year-end reviews. This year-end review is an annual publication that highlights key initiatives and achievements of the department or ministry in the past year. Apart from these, papers and reports published by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and the Reserve Bank of India are covered in this 18 edition of Factly’s fortnightly government data roundup. Key publications in the last fortnight from 02 December 2022 to 15 December 2022 have been covered in this story.
Results of RBI’s Forward Looking Surveys that are carried out on a regular basis were released in the last fortnight. These include results of the Consumer Confidence Survey, Inflation Expectations Survey of Households, and Survey of Professional Forecasters on Macroeconomic Indicators- Round 79. The details of forward-looking surveys have been discussed in the previous editions of the data roundup. Here are the updates on what the bi-monthly surveys have identified in the latest rounds:
Monthly Data on India’s International Trade in Services for the Month of October 2022
Brief about data and findings:
The Reserve Bank of India releases monthly data on India’s international trade in services. The latest such data released is for the month of October 2022. The value of exports and imports of services in terms of million US dollars is provided for October 2022 and the three months prior to it. However, it should be noted that the monthly data is provisional and might be revised when the Balance of Payments (BoP) data is released on a quarterly basis. The provisional data may give insights about trends until the complete and more accurate final data is released. Growth rates over the corresponding month of the previous year which have been revised based on the balance of payments statistics are also presented in the data.
According to RBI, India’s services imports in October 2022 were worth USD 13,493 Million and the exports were worth USD 25,375 Million. Compared to October 2021, the imports have increased by 15.9% and the exports have gone up by 24.6% in October 2022.
Smuggling in India report 2021-22
Brief about the report:
The 2021-22 ‘Smuggling in India Report’ highlights the trends, areas of concern, and the challenges involved in securing the country’s economic frontiers. The report summarizes the cumulative efforts and experiences of DRI in countering the smuggling of contrabands like gold, narcotics, cigarettes, currency, flora and fauna, as well as the detection of commercial frauds. It also captures the international cooperation and engagements helmed by DRI under the aegis of various bilateral and multilateral agreements and treaties signed by Indian Customs with foreign Customs administrations.
Key Findings:
According to the report, the quantum of smuggling had gone up during the period in which the economic activities were gradually unlocked post-COVID-19 related lockdowns. Some statistics provided in the report are given below:
Consultation Paper on ‘Data Communication Services between Aircraft and Ground Stations provided by Organizations other than Airports Authority of India’
Brief about the paper:
Very High Frequency (VHF) is the International Telecommunication Union’s designation for the range of radio frequency electromagnetic waves (radio waves) from 30 MHz to 300 MHz. VHF data link services consist of the data for tracking the aircraft for the safety of flights.
Globally, there are two entities that provide data communications services between aircraft and ground stations- Société International de Télécommunications Aéronautique (SITA) & Collins Aerospace also known as Bird Consultancy Services in India.
Considering that VHF Data Link Services providing Aircraft Communication Addressing and Reporting (ACAR) service can be beneficial to track aircraft on a real-time basis and help investigations/search and rescue operations in the unfortunate event of an aviation disaster, the Department of Telecommunications has requested TRAI to provide recommendations on the following:
The consultation paper is seeking input from stakeholders in this regard. Written comments on the issues raised in the Consultation Paper are invited from stakeholders by 09January 2023 and counter comments by 23 January 2023.
Recommendations on ‘Improving Telecom Connectivity/ Infrastructure in far-flung areas of Himachal Pradesh’
About the document and recommendations put forth:
The non-uniform terrain of Himachal Pradesh has led to poor telecom connectivity situation in some parts of the hilly state of Himachal Pradesh. The report identified the districts of Lahaul & Spiti, Chamba, Kullu and Mandi of Himachal Pradesh to be the four worst affected revenue districts of the state. Based on the consultation with relevant stakeholders viz Department of Information Technology (DIT) of the Government of Himachal Pradesh, Local State Government Officials, Telecom Service Providers, Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) and local consumer representatives, the following are some of the recommendations for addressing the digital divide in the state:
Year-End Reviews for 2022
The Department of Food and Public Distribution under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Ministry of Electronics, and Information Technology (MeitY), & Ministry of Culture released the Year End Reviews so far.
Department of Food and Public Distribution
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
Ministry of Culture
Featured Image: (19 December 2022) Government Data Roundup

created: December 19, 2022


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(19 June 2023) Government Data Roundup: Reports by FSSAI, NHAI, NITI Aayog Among Those Released Recently
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
June 19, 2023
The 31st edition of the fortnightly government roundup covers reports released by FSSAI, NHAI, NITI Aayog along with updates from various monthly reports. We also look at two global reports published by international agencies.
In this 31 edition of the fortnightly roundup of government data, we look at some of the reports released by FSSAI, NHAI, NITI Aayog along with updates from various monthly reports. We also look at two global reports published by international agencies.
Among the periodical monthly reports, CPI, WPI & IIP were released. Key statistics from these reports are the following.
Further details about these reports are available in our earlier updates.
Here is a look at a few other reports and indices.
NHAI’s Sustainability Report 2021-22
About the report
The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) released its first “Sustainability Report” for the year 2021-22. This report underlines the effectiveness of various efforts made by NHAI for environment and energy conservation. The Sustainability Report follows the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines and has been externally assured by a third party adhering to international standards on assurance engagements. Through its sustainable practices, NHAI aims to attract “Green Finance” for infrastructure financing to ensure socially and environmentally responsible projects.
Key Highlights
5th State Food Safety Index
About the report
State Food Safety Index (SFSI) was launched in 2018-19 by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The latest report is the 5 edition. The index evaluates the performances of states and UTs across six different aspects of food safety – Human Resources and Institutional Data, Compliance, Food Testing Infrastructure, Training & Capacity Building, Consumer Empowerment, Improvement in SFSI rank. The index aims to foster healthy competition and bring about positive change in the food security ecosystem.
To ensure comparability among the States/UTs, they are grouped into three categories – Large States (20 states), Small States (8 States) and Union Territories (8).
Key Highlights
The Energy Progress Report 2023
About the report
Tracking SDG-7: The Energy Progress Report is an annual report developed by 5 custodian agencies – International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), the World Bank and the World Health Organization (WHO).
These agencies are responsible for tracking global progress towards SDG 7 i.e., “ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.” The report acts as a global reference point for information on the realization of SDG7.
Key Highlights
Hunger Hotspots: FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity | June-November 2023 Outlook
About the report
Hunger Hotspots: FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity reports published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and World Food Programme (WTP) provides the outlook on food security for the period June to November 2023.
This report provides an early warning by FAO & WFP highlighting the urgent need for humanitarian action in 18 hunger hotspots. These hotspots were identified through forward-looking analysis. This report is part of anticipatory actions, which are short-term disaster risk management interventions implemented during the critical time window. It includes recommendations for anticipatory actions and emergency responses tailored for the flagged risks.
Process
The selection of Hunger hotspots is based on consensus among food security experts and conflict, economic and natural hazards analysts from FAO and WFP. A set of quantitative and qualitative indicators are used to identify the hotspots – latest absolute figures, forward-looking risk analysis, ongoing or planned agricultural activities for the outlook period, existing or likely disruptions, aggravating factors, and constraints, etc.
Key Highlights
NITI Aayog’s reports related to LiFE campaign
Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE) was introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at COP26 in Glasgow, calling upon the global community of individuals and institutions to drive LiFE as an international mass movement towards mindful and deliberate utilization, instead of mindless and destructive consumption to protect and preserve the environment.
Recently NITI Aayog has published three reports related to LiFE. Here is a quick summary of these three reports.


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1951 to 2014 – How did the Lok Sabha election numbers change? - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
January 15, 2019
India has had 16 general elections to the Lok Sabha so far. The number of eligible voters went up from 17.3 crores in 1951 to 83.40 crores in 2014. While only 53 political parties contested the first Lok Sabha election in 1951, 465 political parties contested in 2014.
Much has changed in the country from the time of the first general election to the Lok Sabha in 1951 to the 16 general election in 2014. A lot of numbers related to elections have also changed, from voter turn out to polling booths to contesting political parties.
More Voters & Mixed Turnout
While the number of registered voters has increased continuously from the first general election in 1951, the voter turnout has been a mixed bag without a specific trend except the first two general elections. In the first ever general election to the Lok Sabha in 1951, there were only 17.3 crore registered voters and the voter turnout was 45.7%, the lowest ever turnout till date.  The voter turnout increased to 47.8% in 1957. These were the only two elections where the turnout was less than 50%.  Starting from 1962,  the voter turnout has fluctuated (increasing & decreasing alternatively) till 1989. In the elections that were held in 1991-92, the voter turnout further went down to 55.88%, the lowest in the last 25 years. After that, the voter turnout increased in both 1996 and 1998 elections only to drop again in both 1999 and 2004 elections. The voter turnout slightly improved in 2009 while the highest ever voter turnout in the India’s Lok Sabha election history was in the 2014 elections. A record 66.3% voters turned up at the polling booths in 2014. Of the 16 general elections to the Lok Sabha so far, the voter turnout was less than 60% on 10 different occasions and more than 60% on six other occasions.
Nine fold jump in the number of contesting Political Parties
In the 1951 election, a total of 53 political parties contested while this number was just 15 in the 1957 election. The number of contesting political parties remained more or less around 50 for most of the elections till 1984-85. In the 9 general election in 1989, the number of contesting political parties crossed 100 for the first time. Since then, this number has been on the rise.  This could be due to the emergence of strong regional and local parties in various parts of the country from the later half of 1980s. In 2009, 363 political parties contested elections while this number went up to 465 in 2014. By last count, there are more than 2000 registered political parties in the country. In other words, not more than 25% of the registered political parties contest elections. The trend of registering political parties without contesting elections has gone up in the last decade.
From an average of 3 Contestants per Constituency to 25 per Constituency
From about an average of three contestants per constituency in 1957, the average number of contestants went up to a maximum of 25.7 per constituency in 1996. The average number of contestants remained between 3 and 5 for the first six general elections up to 1977. In the 7 general election in 1980, the average went up to 8.8. After 1980, this increased continuously to reach 25.7 in 1996. The Election Commission of India increased the amount of the security deposit from a mere Rs. 500 to Rs. 10,000 after the 1996 elections. This was further increased to Rs. 25,000 in the year 2009. This move helped in bringing down the average number of contestants per constituency to 8.75 candidates in 1998 elections. Since 1999, the average has again been on the rise to reach 15.2 in 2014.
Regional Parties gain strength
The National parties won more than 80% of the seats in each of the first ten general elections from 1951 to 1991-92. It is only after 1992, the regional parties emerged stronger and have consistently won more than 20% of the seats in almost every election held after 1992. The regional/state parties won close to 1/3 of all the seats on offer in 2014 despite the BJP getting a majority on its own. This was also aided by the Congress’s worst ever performance in 2014. In 2014, National parties won 342 seats (282 by the BJP) and the regional/state parties won 176 seats.
Featured image: (Photo Courtesy: iaIGO; International Association International Gulf Organization)

created: January 15, 2019


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1963 image of actress Ursula Andress is shared as that of Sonia Gandhi - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
December 19, 2019
A post with a collage is being shared on Facebook with the claim that the person in the photo on the left is Sonia Gandhi. Let’s analyze the authenticity of the claim in the post.
Image of  Sonia Gandhi in a two-piece.
Fact: The image on the left is that of an actress ‘Ursula Andress’ in the movie ‘Dr. No’. So, the claim is FALSE.
When the left side image in the collage is cropped and subjected to reverse image search technique, many search results were obtained. The search result of ‘Getty Images’ had the complete photo of the left side image in the collage. The image had the following description: “1963: Actors Ursula Andress and Sean Connery in a scene from ‘Dr. No’ directed by Terence Young”. ‘Dr. No’ is a Hollywood movie released in 1963 and Sean Connery and Ursula Andress were the lead actor and actress respectively. So, the image on the left side in the college is that of the actress ‘Ursula Andress’.
To summarize, 1963 image of actress Ursula Andress is being falsely shared as that of Sonia Gandhi.
Did you watch our new Episode of the DECODE series?

created: December 19, 2019


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1970 video clip of Bruce Lee playing table tennis with Nunchucks? No, a Nokia ad from 2008. - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
November 7, 2019
A video is being shared widely on social media with a claim that it shows Bruce Lee playing table tennis with his nunchucks in 1970. Let’s try to analyze the claim made in the post.
A clip from 1970 showing Bruce Lee playing table tennis with nunchucks.
Fact: It is an ad created by an agency called ‘JWT Beijing’ for Nokia N96 Bruce Lee Limited Edition in 2008. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
When searched on Google with the keywords ‘Bruce Lee Table Tennis’, an article by ‘Contently’ with the title – ‘What Nokia’s Bruce Lee Ad Tells Us About Content Marketing’ is found in the search results. From the article, it can be understood that it is a Nokia ad. When searched further, another article with the title – ‘5 Brilliantly Faked Viral Ads That People Still Keep Thinking Are Real’ was found in the search results. In the article, it can be read that the video was created by ‘JWT Beijing’ for Nokia N96 Bruce Lee Limited Edition in 2008. JWT Beijing’s Polly Chu interview with ‘Agency.Asia’ regarding the Bruce Lee ad can be read here. Also, the full version of the video can be seen here.
To sum it up, Nokia ad video from 2008 still makes people believe that it is Bruce Lee in the video playing table tennis with nunchucks.
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created: November 7, 2019


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నిజ నిర్ధారణ: 1971 నుండి 2011 కి అస్సాంలో ముస్లిం జనాభా ఎంత పెరిగింది? - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
February 24, 2019
1971 నుండి కాంగ్రెస్ పార్టీ తీసుకున్న నిర్ణయాల వల్ల అస్సాంలో ముస్లిం జనాభా చాలా పెరిగిపోయిందని ఒక పోస్ట్ ని ఫేస్బుక్ లో చాలా మంది షేర్ చేస్తున్నారు. జనాభా పెరగడానికి ముఖ్య కారణం బంగ్లాదేశ్ నుండి చట్టవిరుద్ధంగా వలస వచ్చిన వాళ్ళను కాంగ్రెస్ ప్రభుత్వం అనుమతిచడమేనని ఆ పోస్ట్ ఉద్దేశం. ఆ పోస్ట్ లో నిజం ఎంత ఉందో విశ్లేషిద్దాం.
అస్సాంలో ముస్లిం జనాభా 1971 లో 12.4 శాతం నుండి 2011 లో 34.22 శాతానికి పెరిగింది.
2011 లో అస్సాంలో ముస్లిం జనాభా 34.22 శాతం ఉండడం నిజమే కానీ 1971 లో ముస్లిం జనాభా 12.4 శాతం ఉండడం మాత్రం నిజం కాదు. 1971 సెన్సస్ ప్రకారం 1971 లో అస్సాంలో ముస్లిం జనాభా 24.56 శాతం (పోస్ట్ లో ఇచ్చిన శాతానికి రెండింతలు).
బంగ్లాదేశ్ లో స్వాతంత్రం గురించి జరిగిన పోరాటాలు మరియు తర్వాత జరిగిన యుద్ధం వల్ల చాలా మంది మన దేశానికి వలస వచ్చారు. యుద్ధం నుండి తప్పించుకొని వస్తున్నారు కాబట్టి మన దేశ ప్రభుత్వం కూడా మనవంతు సహాయం చేసింది. పోస్ట్ లో చెప్పినట్టుగా చట్టవిరుద్ధంగా వచ్చేవాళ్ళకు కాకుండా యుద్ధపరిస్థితులను తప్పించుకొని వచ్చే శరణార్థులకు మన ప్రభుత్వం ఆశ్రయం ఇచ్చింది. దాని వల్ల కొన్ని సమస్యలు వచ్చాయనేది నిజమే కానీ పోస్ట్ లో చెప్పినట్టుగా 1971 నుండి 2011 కి 21.8 శాతం ముస్లిం జనాభా పెరగలేదు. కేవలం 9.7 శాతం పెరిగింది. కావున పోస్ట్ లో చెప్పింది అబద్ధం.

created: February 24, 2019


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1971 image from Bangladesh is shared as the situation of India in 1947 - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
June 18, 2020
A collage of images is being shared on social media, comparing the situation faced by the poor in 1947 with the present situation in the country. The image indicates that there has been no change in the hardships faced by the poor people in the country since Independence. Let’s check the authenticity of these images.
Image indicating that hardships faced by the poor in India has not changed from 1947 to 2020.
Fact:  The image shown as the situation in 1947, was captured during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971. The photo was shot by a famous Indian photojournalist – Raghu Rai, but, it is not related to India. The other image represents the hardships faced by the migrants during the lockdown in 2020. Hence the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
Photo 1:
On reverse image search of the photo on the top which is marked as from the year ‘1947’, it is found to have been captured during the ‘Liberation war of Bangladesh’ in 1971. This photo was captured by famous Indian photojournalist Raghu Rai. In his magnum photos collection, the same photo can be seen.  Also, ‘The Daily Star’, a leading Bangladesh newspaper, has published the interview of Raghu Rai with the same photo and description. So, the photo captioned ‘1947’ in the post is not related to India but is from a refugee camp in Bangladesh during 1971. More information can be read here and here.
Photo 2:
The part of the photo captioned ‘2020’ in the collage is related to the hardships faced by the migrant workers to reach their homes during the COVID-19 lockdown. On reverse image search, it is found that the photo was captured in Lucknow on 22 April 2020, by a ‘Reuters’ photographer in Lucknow. The same photo has been used by other publications by providing the photo credits to ‘Reuters’. These can be read here and here.
To sum it up, while one of the photos is related to the hardships faced by the migrant workers in India in 2020, the other photo that was shot in Bangladesh (1971) is being falsely shared as the situation of India in 1947.
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Only 2.4% of the Consumers gave up their LPG subsidy in Andhra Pradesh, the lowest in the country
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
February 7, 2017
According to the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, there are a total of 16.38  crore active domestic LPG consumers in the country making it 612 active consumers for every 1000 households. South India has the most number of active consumers which  is more than twice the number of active consumers in East India though the population of South is lower than that of East. Only 6.4% of the domestic LPG consumers gave up their subsidy across the country.
Subsidized Domestic LPG is one of the largest chunks of subsidy extended by the Government to the citizens. From 2011-12 to 2014-15, the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) had an average under recovery of more than 38,148 crore rupees per annum. This is close to 2% of the India’s annual budget. OMCs had an under recovery of 29997 crore rupees in 2011-12. This increased to 46458 crore rupees in 2013-14. This is a jump of more than 50% in 2 years. The under recovery reduced to Rs 36580 crore in 2014-15. The subsidy on LPG is now limited to only 12 cylinders per annum per domestic consumer.
Number of Active Domestic LPG Consumers
As of January 2016, there are a total of 16.38 crore active domestic LPG consumers in the country. This is about 612 connections for every 1000 households. (based on number of estimated households as of 2016). South India has the highest number of active LPG consumers with 5.3 crore followed by North India (4.87crore), West India (3.52 crore) & East India (2.68 crore).
What about individual States?
Only 6 states have more than a crore active domestic LPG consumers with Uttar Pradesh topping the chart with 1.96 crore active consumers. It is worth noting that Maharashtra has more or less similar number of active consumers (1.94 crore) as Uttar Pradesh though its population is substantially less than that of UP. The other states with more than a crore connections include Andhra Pradesh (1.03 crore), Tamil Nadu (1.61 crore), West Bengal (1.08 crore) and Karnataka (1.04 crore). Three of the six states in this list are from South India. Lakshadweep with just 4000 active consumers has the least number of active consumers in the entire country.
Number of Domestic LPG Connections per 1000 Households
Absolute number of connections could sometimes be misleading because of the sheer variation in the population & number of households in various states. Hence it is important to compare normalized figures to understand the penetration & spread of LPG connections. The number of active domestic LPG consumers in each state has been normalized with the estimated number of households in that state as of 2016.
As expected, South India leads the pack with 823 active consumers for every 1000 households while East India stands last with only 383 active consumers for every 1000 households. In other words, South India has more than twice the number of active LPG consumers compared to East India for every 1000 households. The national average stands at 613. North & South India are above the national average while East & West are below the average.
What about States?
A total of 22 States/UTs have more active domestic LPG consumers for every 1000 households compared to the National Average. Five States/UTs have more than 1000 active consumers for every 1000 households. Goa leads the pack with 1281 active consumers for every 1000 households followed by Delhi (1278), Punjab (1049), Mizoram (1041) & Chandigarh (1031) in the top five. Though Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of active consumers in the country, it has only 541 active consumers for every 1000 households. Meghalaya is at the bottom with just 221 active consumers for every 1000 households followed by Jharkhand (268), Odisha (300), Chhattisgarh (302) & Bihar (306) in the bottom five.
Only 2.4% of the consumers in Andhra Pradesh gave up their LPG subsidy
As of January 2017, 1.05 crore LPG consumers have opted out of LPG subsidy. This is 6.4% of all the active LPG domestic consumers. Nagaland leads with 17.2% of the active LPG consumers opting out of subsidy. More than 10% of the active LPG consumers opted out of LPG subsidy in 6 different States/UTs. Four out of these six states are from the North-East. Andhra Pradesh is at the bottom of the list with only 2.4% of the consumers opting out of LPG subsidy. Less than 5% of the active consumers opted out of LPG subsidy in ten (10) States/UTs.
Featured Image: By Krish Dulal [CC BY-SA 3.0]

created: February 7, 2017


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2-year-old video shared as recent physical scuffle between Indian and Chinese Army in Tawang sector - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
December 13, 2022
In the context of recent physical scuffle between Indian and Chinese soldiers across LAC near Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh, a video of soldiers punching each other is being widely shared on social media claiming that it shows the recent clash. Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
Claim: Video of physical scuffle between Indian and Chinese soldiers at the LAC near Tawang sector in December 2022.
Fact: The same video was uploaded on YouTube on 23 June 2020. As per video description, it shows a brawl between Indian and Chinese soldiers in May 2020. As per the Government of India, the Tawang Clash took place on 09 December 2022. Hence, the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
Reverse image search using relevant keywords led us to a similar video uploaded on YouTube on 23 June 2020. Title and the description of the video state it as visuals of brawl between Indian and Chinese soldiers during border dispute in May 2020.
Comparison of these two videos confirm that both the videos are same.
Talking about the recent physical scuffle in Parliament, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, “On 09 December 2022, PLA troops tried to transgress the LAC in Yangtse area of Tawang Sector and unilaterally change the status quo.  The Chinese attempt was contested by our troops in a firm and resolute manner. The ensuing face-off led to a physical scuffle in which the Indian Army bravely prevented the PLA from transgressing into our territory and compelled them to return to their posts. The scuffle led to injuries to a few personnel on both sides. Due to timely intervention of Indian military commanders, PLA soldiers went back to their locations. The Chinese side was asked to refrain from such actions and maintain peace and tranquility along the border”. Though we couldn’t independently verify the exact time and location of the incident, the viral video is older than 2 years and is not related to recent Tawang Clash between Indian Army and PLA.
To sum it up, 2-year-old video is shared as recent physical scuffle between Indian and Chinese Army in Tawang sector.

created: December 13, 2022


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2-year-old video of liquor mafia thrashing a cop during NDA’s rule in Bihar falsely shared as recent one - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
January 3, 2023
In the context of Bihar’s recent Hooch tragedy, where more than 70 people died after consuming spurious liquor, video of a group of people assaulting a police officer near a railway track is being shared on social media claiming it as recent incident during the current Mahagathbandhan’s rule in Bihar. Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
Claim: Recent visuals of liquor mafia gang assaulting a police officer during Mahagatbandhan’s rule in Bihar.
Fact: Video shows liquor mafia gang thrashing ASI Ashutosh Kumar on 05 September 2020 for obstructing their illegal liquor business. On receiving the information, Jakkanpur Police reached the spot with extra force and rescued the injured ASI. However, during this period, Nitish Kumar served as the CM of Bihar with support from the BJP. Hence the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
We searched the internet with relevant keywords and found that the same video has been uploaded on the YouTube channels of ABP LIVE, Mirror Now on 06 September 2020 reporting it as an incident of liquor mafia gang attacking a police officer in Patna.
As per the media reports, on 05 September 2020, when Jakkanpur police reached the spot over the information of illegal liquor dump near R-block of Patna, the mafia attacked the ASI Ashutosh Kumar. However, Jakkanpur police came with extra force and rescued the injured ASI. FIR lodged at Jakkanpur PS can be seen here. However, during this time, Nitish Kumar served Chief Minister of Bihar with support from the BJP.  The current Mahagathbandhan of RJD, JD(U) and other parties was formed in August 2022. A brief history of Nitish Kumar’s political alliances can be seen here.
To sum it up, an old video of liquor mafia assaulting a police officer during NDA’s rule in Bihar is shared as a recent incident during Mahagathbandhan’s rule.

created: January 3, 2023


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After 20 different elections, Congress party now opposes NOTA in RS elections
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
August 4, 2017
After 46 elections to 150 seats of the Rajya Sabha since 2014, the Congress is now protesting the use of NOTA in Rajya Sabha elections. Whether any of the voters preferred NOTA in these elections is not known since the ECI does not publish detailed results of the RS elections.
The Supreme Court refused to stay the notification of the Election Commission of India (ECI) allowing NOTA option in the Rajya Sabha (RS) biennial elections in Gujarat & West Bengal. The SC however agreed to look into the issue of the applicability of NOTA in RS and Legislative Council election that are based on the proportional representation system by means of STV. It has to be noted that the Congress party is opposing NOTA in RS elections after 20 different elections for the Rajya Sabha after 2014, the first time when NOTA was used in RS elections. It is intriguing to note that the Congress party is opposing the decision of the ECI that was first made in 2014.
NOTA in Rajya Sabha Elections
The Supreme Court in September 2013 directed the ECI to make the NOTA option available to the voters. Later in 2015, the ECI also issued instructions for a dedicated NOTA symbol on ballot papers. In January 2014, the ECI wrote to all the Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of states directing them to make the NOTA option available in ballot papers for Rajya Sabha elections also.
This was reiterated by the ECI again in 2015 with detailed illustrations on validity of markings made by voters in the light of the NOTA option in the ballot paper.
18 contested biennial elections to RS since 2014
As per the data compiled by the ECI,  a total of 46 biennial elections for 150 seats were held to the Rajya Sabha between 2014 and 2016. Out of these, 18 biennial elections were contested for 57 seats. For all these 57 seats, NOTA was used. NOTA was also used in 3 bye-elections between 2014 and 2017.
The Congress party did not oppose the use of NOTA in any of these elections during the 3-year period. But its legislator from Gujarat has now filed a writ in the SC contesting the use of NOTA in Rajya Sabha and legislative council elections.
Was NOTA preferred in any of these elections?
Unlike the detailed results published by the ECI for Lok Sabha & Assembly elections, detailed results for the Rajya Sabha & Legislative Council elections are not published by the ECI on its website. Hence there is no publicly available information on whether NOTA was preferred by any of the voters in these elections. It is high time the ECI proactively publishes the detailed results of these elections including the individual preference of voters on its website.

created: August 4, 2017


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(20 June 2022) Government Data Roundup: Annual PLFS, State Food Safety Index, report of ‘Regulations Review Authority 2.0’ are among the data & reports released recently - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
June 20, 2022
In the fifth edition of the ‘Government Data Roundup’, we cover Annual PLFS, State Food Safety Index, report of ‘Regulations Review Authority 2.0’, PLFS based migration report among others.
Factly’s fortnightly government data roundup  is a compilation of the data released by various ministries and departments of the ‘Government of India (GoI)’ in the previous fortnight. In this fifth edition, we look at some of the important reports released across the sectors of labour & employment, fisheries, food safety, and finance.
Compilation of President’s speeches
The Ministries of Education and I&B together released ‘Loktantra ke Swar’ and ‘The Republican Ethic’ which is a compilation of select speeches of the present President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, on a wide range of subjects such as public service, ethics, education, aspirations of our youth, contemporary global issues. The book is the fourth volume in the series featuring his fourth year of presidency. e-books of the same were also released.  A total of 38 speeches have been selected and categorized into eight sections, viz; Addressing the Nation; Educating India, Equipping India; Dharma of Public Service; Honouring Our Sentinels; Spirit of the Constitution and Law; Acknowledging Excellence; Moral Exemplars, Guiding Lights and Window to the World.
MIS Portal for PMMSY
The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying launched an MIS portal for the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), under the government’s flagship programme- Digital India. The PMMSY scheme of the fisheries department was launched in 2020 by the Prime Minister with an investment of Rs. 20,050 Crores for the holistic development of Fisheries sector in the country. The aim of the scheme is to drive ecologically health, economically viable, and socially inclusive growth that contributes meaningfully towards the economic prosperity and wellbeing of fishers and fish farmers as well as to the food and nutritional security of the country. The MIS portal of the scheme was launched on 07 June 2022 to ensure effective monitoring of the scheme activities & its progress in the participating states/UTs and use the information for informed decision making. The MIS application aggregates the data from all participating states/UTs, analyses and projects the data in form of a dashboard for sectoral insights.
Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) – Annual Report (July 2020 to June 2021)
Brief about the report
The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) is carried out on an annual basis to estimate key employment and unemployment indicators such as unemployment rate, labour force participation, worker population ratio, in urban and rural areas. The latest report covering the period from July 2020 to June 2021 is the fourth annual report of the survey which was launched in 2017 by the National Statistical Office to ensure that data pertaining to labour force is available at frequent time intervals. This edition of the survey is significant as it was carried out amidst the pandemic.
Key Highlights
Significance
Prior to the launching of PLFS, employment and unemployment surveys were earlier conducted only once in five years as part of the National Sample Surveys. But now, the data is available at both quarterly and annual basis. More details on the Quarterly Periodic Labour Force Survey was earlier published by Factly.
Migration in India (2020-2021)
Brief about the report
Based on the information collected during the Periodic Labour Force Survey, the National Statistical Office released the ‘Migration in India (2020-21)’ report which contains estimates of indicators related to migration and temporary visitors. During the PLFS exercise, additional information was collected on migration particulars of household members and on the temporary visitors in the household who arrived after March 2020 and stayed in the household continuously for a period of 15 days to less than 6 months.
Key Highlights
Report on State Food Safety Index (2021-22)
Brief about the report
Since 2018-19, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been releasing the State Food Safety Index (SFSI). This is the fourth edition of the SFSI. The index has been developed for measuring the performance of each state on various parameters related to Food Safety. Five significant parameters are considered- Human Resources and Institutional Data, Compliance, Food Testing – Infrastructure and Surveillance, Training & Capacity Building and Consumer Empowerment. Each parameter is given a different weightage. Further, States have been segregated into three categories namely large states, small states and UTs, and are assessed separately within their respective categories.
Key Highlights
Report of The Regulations Review Authority 2.0
Brief about the report
In 2021, the RBI set up the Regulations Review Authority (RRA 2.0) with a view to streamline regulatory instructions and rationalize reporting requirements. In the present report, the RRA has given its recommendations on ease of compliance, reducing regulatory burden, streamlining of reporting mechanism, and accessibility to regulatory instructions based on consultations with both internal and external stakeholders.
Key recommendations
Monthly indices, Consumer Confidence Survey were also released
Apart from these, the monthly indices of WPI- based inflation, Consumer Price Index, Index of Industrial Production, and the bi-monthly consumer confidence survey of RBI were also released.
The provisional annual rate of WPI-based inflation was 15.88% for May 2022 as compared to 13.11% in May 2021. This has been attributed to the rise in prices of mineral oils, crude petroleum & natural gas, food articles, basic metals, non-food articles, chemicals & chemical products and food products etc. as compared to the corresponding month of the previous year. According to RBI’s report, the consumer confidence index for May improved to 75.9 from 71.7 in March. The survey noted that the people perceived that the spending would only increase.


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(20 November 2023) Government Data Roundup: Monthly & Yearly Reports by RBI, Digital Advertisement Policy Among Those Released Recently
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
November 20, 2023
In this 42nd edition of fortnightly government data roundup, we look at RBI Bulletin for November 2023, Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2022-23 by RBI, Draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023 and Digital Advertisement Policy, 2023.
In this 42 edition of the fortnightly government data roundup, we look at RBI Bulletin for November 2023, Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2022-23 by RBI, Draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023, and Digital Advertisement Policy, 2023.
Among the monthly reports, quick estimates of industrial production and CPI for rural, urban, and combined are released.
RBI Bulletin November 2023
Brief about the report:
RBI releases a monthly bulletin consisting of research articles, speeches by RBI, and some current statistics. These are important as they provide different perspectives on the functioning of the economy. November Bulletin consists of four articles:
Key highlights of the bulletin:
RBI Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2022-23
Brief about the report:
The Reserve Bank of India unveiled the eighth edition of its statistical handbook named “Handbook of Statistics on Indian States, 2022-23”. This publication serves as a comprehensive source through which the Reserve Bank shares extensive data concerning the regional economies within India.
The handbook encompasses diverse statistics at the sub-national level, spanning socio-demographic aspects, health, state domestic product, agriculture, environmental factors, price and wage trends, industry, infrastructure, banking, and fiscal indicators across different Indian states. The data covers multiple timeframes, stretching from 1951 to 2022-23.
Key Highlights:
Draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023
Brief about the bill:
The increasing digitization of the broadcasting industry, particularly in cable TV, necessitates a more organized regulatory structure. This entails simplifying business processes and strengthening compliance with the Programme Code and Advertisement Code among broadcasters and Distribution Platform Operators. Acknowledging the necessity for a unified strategy, the current fragmented regulatory system needs replacement with new, all-encompassing legislation. The proposed Bill aims to establish a comprehensive framework to oversee broadcasting services in the nation, intending to supplant the existing Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act of 1995 and other prevailing Policy Guidelines governing the broadcasting sector.
Key Highlights:
Digital Advertisement Policy 2023
Brief about the policy:
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has given its approval to the “Digital Advertisement Policy, 2023.” This policy aims to empower the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC), the advertising arm of the Government of India, to conduct campaigns in the Digital Media Space. This decision represents a significant milestone in the CBC’s objective to communicate information and generate awareness about various government schemes, programs, and policies. The policy is a response to the changing media landscape and the growing trend of digital media consumption.
Key Highlights of the policy:

created: November 20, 2023


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2006 photo of Pakistani Muslims burning the Denmark flag is shared as Muslim refugees in Switzerland burning the Swiss flag - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
September 4, 2020
A photo is being shared on social media with a claim that Muslim refugees in Switzerland burned the Swiss flag last year during the protest to remove the cross symbol from on the flag of Switzerland. Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
Muslim refugees in Switzerland burned the Swiss flag in a protest to remove cross symbol on the Swiss flag.
Fact: Photo in the post shows Pakistani Muslims burning the Denmark flag during a demonstration in Karachi on ‘23 February 2006’. Massive protests swept across several Islam countries in early 2006 following the twelve cartoons published in a Danish newspaper depicting Prophet Mohammed. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
On reverse image search, we found the same photo on ‘getty images’ website. In the description of the photo, it is mentioned that Pakistani Muslims burned the Danish flag during a demonstration in Karachi on ‘23 February 2006’. It is mentioned that the hardline Islamic parties in Pakistan continued their countrywide protests denouncing the publication of cartoons depicting Prophet Mohammed in several European newspapers.
On comparing the flags of Denmark and Switzerland, we can conclude that the Muslims in the photo are burning the Denmark flag, not the flag of Switzerland.
We found the same photo in an article published by the ‘INDEPENDENT’ news website. In the article, it is mentioned that massive protests swept the Muslim world in early 2006 following the 12 cartoons of Prophet Mohammed published in a Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten. Twelve cartoon drawings of the Prophet Mohammed published by Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten had a huge impact around the world. Massive protests were held in several Islamic countries denouncing the cartoons depicting Prophet Mohammed.
To sum it up, old photo of Pakistani Muslims burning the Denmark flag is now falsely shared as Muslim refugees burning the Swiss flag in a protest to remove cross symbol on the flag.

created: September 4, 2020


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2006 video about Mayawati’s support to BJP to defeat a ‘Fundamentalist’ Muslim leader is shared as recent - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
February 9, 2022
In the wake of the upcoming 2022 elections in UP, a video through a post is being widely shared on social media claiming that Mayawati said, “Do not vote for radicals, rather transfer your vote to BJP”. Let us fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Recent video where Mayawati said, “Do not vote for radicals, rather transfer your vote to BJP”.
Fact: The video is taken from a press conference by Mayawati after the local body elections in UP in 2006. The video is missing context. To defeat a ‘fundamentalist’ Muslim leader who was previously in her party and fielded his wife in Meerut, Mayawati said that, as it turned into a Hindu-Muslim tussle, she asked her voters to transfer their votes to BJP. After the 2006 local body elections in Uttar Pradesh, the Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati held a press conference and spoke about the BSP’s tactical support to BJP and Congress, against the Samajwadi Party. Hence, the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
When reverse image search is done on the screenshots of the video, a similar video was found uploaded on YouTube in 2017. According to the title of the video, this YouTube video is from 10 November 2006, where Mayawati is seen telling her party workers to give their vote for BJP. In the full video, Mayawati spoke about defeating a ‘fundamentalist’ Muslim leader who was previously in her party and fielded his wife in Meerut. She said that as the seat turned into a Hindu-Muslim tussle, she asked her voters to transfer their votes to BJP.
After the 2006 local body elections in Uttar Pradesh, the Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati held a press conference and spoke about the BSP’s tactical support to BJP and Congress, against the Samajwadi Party. Mayawati referred to Muslims as ‘preferring fundamentalists.’ Her remarks later in the day triggered protests in UP. In a second press conference on the same day, Mayawati said, ‘Some channels have shown that I have called the Muslims fundamentalists. Such a twist to my statement is wrong.’ And she said that she never called Muslims fundamentalists.
To sum it up, the 2006 video about Mayawati’s support to BJP to defeat a ‘Fundamentalist’ Muslim leader is shared as recent.

created: February 9, 2022


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2006 video shared as the Mamata Banerjee’s reaction to Amit Shah's recent roadshows in West Bengal - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
December 22, 2020
A video is being shared on social media claiming it as the visuals of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s reaction to Home Minister Amit shah’s visit to Bengal. In the video, we can see Mamata Banerjee speaking furiously. Ahead of the next year’s Assembly elections in West Bengal, Amit Shah recently conducted roadshows in West Bengal. Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
Claim: Mamata Banerjee’s furious reaction to Amit Shah’s roadshows in West Bengal.
Fact: Video shared in the post is an old one. This video shows Mamata Banerjee protesting furiously inside the West Bengal Assembly on ‘30 November 2006’. Mamata Banerjee did this protest against West Bengal government for obstructing her visit to Singur. This video has nothing to do with the recent roadshows conducted by Amit Shah in West Bengal. Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE.
On reverse image search of screenshots shared in the post, similar visuals are found in the YouTube videos posted by a few users in the past. They can be seen here, here. One of the videos mentioned it as the visuals of Mamata Banerjee and TMC members destroying the West Bengal Assembly.
When we searched for other reliable sources using these keywords, similar visuals were found in a video posted by the ‘NDTV’ news channel on ‘30 November 2006’. This media report mentions it as the visuals of Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress party members protest inside the West Bengal Assembly on ‘30 November 2006’. In the video, it is reported as the furious protest of West Bengal opposition leader Mamata Banerjee for obstructing her visit to Singur town. It is reported that TMC party members went on a rampage in West Bengal Assembly against the arrest of Mamata Banerjee at Hooghli district.
In protest of the then Left Front government’s decision to allow farmland acquisition for a Tata Motors company project, Mamata Banerjee planned to visit Singur town on ‘30 November 2006’. Articles published about TMC members vandalizing West Bengal Assembly on ‘30 November 2006’ can be seen here, here and here.
To sum it up, 2006 video is falsely being shared as Mamata Banerjee’s reaction to the recent roadshows conducted by Amit Shah in West Bengal.

created: December 22, 2020


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2007 photo of Buddhist monks protesting against military rule in Myanmar is shared as recent - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
April 1, 2022
A photo through a post is being widely shared on social media claiming that  Buddha’s followers are protesting on the streets as they were being prevented to follow their religious practices. This is being shared as a recent protest. Let us fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Recent photo of Buddhist monks protesting on the streets.
Fact: The photo is not a recent one, it’s from 2007. The photo is from a protest by Buddhist monks who were marching in Yangon on 24 September 2007, against the military rule in Myanmar. In early 2021, there were few protests by Buddhist monks in Myanmar against the army coup, but the photo is not related to these recent protests. Hence, the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
When reverse image search is done on the photo, the same photo was found in an article. The article published on 26 September 2007 is about the Buddhist monks in Burma/ Myanmar who were protesting the then-military rule in Myanmar. The photo is of Buddhist monks marching in Yangon on 24 September 2007. According to news reports, what started as a protest against increasing prices slowly developed into a wider movement against military rule.
Buddhist monks in Myanmar came out in large numbers to protest the military rule in 2007. This was part of a series of economic and political protests which were then widely called the Saffron Revolution. Indian Buddhist monks also protested then as there were atrocities committed against the Buddhists in Myanmar, by the military rulers. There were also a few protests by Buddhist monks in Myanmar against the army coup, in early 2021.
To sum it up, a 2007 photo of Buddhist monks protesting military rule in Myanmar is shared as recent.


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2008 image of Muslims praying at a mosque in New Delhi is falsely being shared as ‘the last namaz offered at the Babri Masjid (Ayodhya)’ - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
November 15, 2019
An image of Muslims offering prayers at a dilapidated mosque is being shared on Facebook claiming that it shows Muslims offering the last namaz at the Babri Masjid before handing over that site to the Hindus. Let’s try to check the authenticity of the claim.
Image of Muslims offering their last namaz at the Babri Masjid site before handing over it to Hindus.
Fact: The image shows Muslims offering Eid al-Adha prayers at the Feroz Shah Kotla Mosque in New Delhi in 2008. Hence, the claim is FALSE.
From the article of ‘News18’ published on 10 November 2019, it was found that the Supreme Court in its Ayodhya verdict has directed the Central government to constitute a trust in three months to oversee the construction of a temple for Hindus on the 2.77-acre site in Ayodhya. In 1992, Babri Masjid, a four-century-old structure that existed at that site was destroyed.
When the image in the post is cropped and subjected to Google reverse image search technique, an archived article of ‘Indian Express’ was found in the search results. The article titled ‘Eid al-Adha celebrations’ had a gallery of seventeen pictures in it. The photo in the post can be seen as fourth among those pictures. The description seen along with the photo is ‘Muslims offer Eid al-Adha prayers at the Ferozshah Kotla Mosque in New Delhi’ and also, photo credits were given to ‘AP images’. When searched in ‘AP Images’ photo stock with relevant keywords, the same image was found. The information here regarding the image confirmed that it is related to Muslims offer Eid al-Adha prayers at the Ferozshah Kotla Mosque in New Delhi. From that description, it was also found that the image was taken in 2008.
To conclude, a 2008 image of Muslims praying at a mosque in New Delhi is falsely shared as ‘the last namaz offered at the Babri Masjid (Ayodhya)’.
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created: November 15, 2019