Rakesh Dubbudu
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Articles by Rakesh Dubbudu
How many Indians die of heat? Depends on who you ask
Every summer, for weeks on end, we see red splotches on many weather apps, weather advisories, half-day schools & holidays, and sometimes, a number, that of heat-related deaths. That number is then cited by anchors, lifted into op-eds, and compared against the previous year or earlier ones. It is almost always wrong, not because someone or some agency lies, but because India does not have a single authority, a single definition, or a single process for counting a heat-related death.
LPG Shortage Fears: Why the Iran–Israel–USA Conflict Could Reach Indian Kitchens
TL;DR India consumed about 31 million tonnes of LPG in 2024–25 but produced only about 12.8 million tonnes domestically. The remaining two-thirds is imported, and most of those shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes. About 92% of India’s LPG imports come from four Gulf countries: the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, whose exports depend on the Hormuz route.
AI can help fact-checking. We’ve already seen it
This commentary was published in commemoration of International Fact-Checking Day 2024, held April 2 each year to recognize the work of fact-checkers worldwide. Factly is a fact-checking organization based in Hyderabad, India In nations such as India, the fight against misinformation is magnified by its sheer volume, exacerbated by over 850 million internet users on social media platforms and private messaging apps.
Needed: full disclosure on electoral bonds
The Supreme Court’s suggestion to ‘match the following’ on political donations is impractical and incorrect In 2014, the Delhi High Court held that both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were guilty of illegally accepting donations from two companies registered in India but whose controlling shareholder was Vedanta, a foreign company.
Combating vaccine hesitancy
A storm of misinformation around COVID-19 vaccines may seriously dent the fight against the pandemic After a year of unprecedented changes, chaos and panic, COVID-19 vaccines are the most awaited products of 2021. But though mass vaccination drives have begun, the response has been lukewarm despite the availability, affordability, and accessibility of the jabs to healthcare, sanitation, and frontline workers.
Promised free vehicles, funds? It’s all fake
Here’s an exercise: Log onto any social media or technology platform, whether Google, YouTube, Facebook or Twitter. Type the name of any of these “schemes” — Free Laptop Scheme, PM Scooty Yojana, PM Kisan Tractor Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Solar Panel Yojana, and PM Kanya Aashirwad Yojana. You will be promised anything from free vehicles to free funds to fake employment offers.
Major powers in UNSC must put aside differences to adopt COVID-19 resolution: Germany
Major powers in UNSC must put aside differences to adopt COVID-19 resolution: Germany In an apparent reference to the US and China, Germany has said “major powers” in the UN Security Council must put aside differences that have so far prevented the adoption of a resolution on the COVID-19 pandemic. Led by Germany, nine of the Security Council's 10 non-permanent members had requested a meeting to discuss the coronavirus crisis last week.
Lok Sabha elections: Here's how votes are counted to arrive at results
Pic: Pixabay The counting of votes for the 17th Lok Sabha elections is just days away. But how does such a mammoth counting exercise take place? Here is a guide. Preparations for the Counting Day The Returning Officer (RO) fixes the time & place of counting at least one week before the date of polling. The place is decided in consultation with the police. The selected place should be spacious enough with adequate lighting and other facilities to accommodate the officials and agents.
Video explainer: How effective is the Model Code of Conduct, really? |
Our work is to empower citizens, made possible by your donation. Click to Donate A guide to FAQs for voters exercising their right this Lok Sabha elections.
Draft Constitution never mentioned political parties; why, then, are they so crucial today? |
Our work is to empower citizens, made possible by your donation. Click to Donate Samajwadi (Socialist) Party rally in Mumbai. Pic: Wikimedia Commons This election season, Factly.in has put together a series of videos that seeks to deconstruct various aspects of the massive democratic exercise to make every citizen aware of its history, processes, rules and other relevant information.
VIDEO: The most important things to know about registration and voting |
Our work is to empower citizens, made possible by your donation. Click to Donate This election season, Factly.in has put together a series of videos that seeks to deconstruct various aspects of the massive democratic exercise to make every citizen aware of its history, processes, rules and other relevant information. The second episode breaks down the most important election procedures of voter registration and voting. This is no rocket science and yet it may seem confusing.
From ballot papers to EVM and NOTA, a brief history of Lok Sabha elections |
Representational image. Pic: Wikimedia Commons This election season, Factly.in has put together a series of videos that seeks to deconstruct various aspects of the massive democratic exercise to make every citizen aware of its history, processes, rules and other relevant information.
2014 Vs 2019: Andhra Pradesh is the only state where the number of Voters has decreased
There has been an increase of 6.37 crores in the number of registered voters in India between 2014 & 2019, an increase of 7.6%. Andhra Pradesh happens to be the only state where the total number of registered voters has actually decreased between 2014 & 2019. During the announcement of the elections to the 17th Lok Sabha, the Election Commission of India (ECI) noted that the total electorate in the country as of 01st January 2019 was around 90 crores.
Electoral Bonds Worth Rs 1,056 Cr Bought in 2018,1% Not Encashed
Electoral Bonds Worth Rs 1,056 Cr Bought in 2018,1% Not Encashed SHARE, SAVE, COMMENT The Electoral Bonds were first announced in the 2017-18 budget and the scheme was subsequently notified in January 2018.(Photo: The Quint/Arnica Kala) Rakesh DubbuduFactly00H 02M AGO The Electoral Bonds were first announced in the 2017-18 budget and the scheme was subsequently notified in January 2018. Factly had earlier written about the bonds, their impact on transparency etc.
Will watching your favourite TV serial become costlier this February? |
Following the complete digitization of the cable TV network, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the regulatory body for broadcasting notified a regulatory framework for broadcasting and cable TV services in March 2017. The framework is applicable to services provided through Direct to Home (DTH) Systems, Cable TV Systems provided through Digital Addressable Systems (DAS), Head-end in the Sky (HITS) and Internet Protocol TV (IPTV).
Even as we enter 2019, data on Accidents, Suicides & Prisons not available from 2016 onwards
The NCRB releases multiple reports annually that provide crime & accident related statistics. Out of the 3 reports published by NCRB annually, two reports for the year 2016 have not been released yet, even as we enter 2019. The delay in the publication of these reports defeat the very purpose of compiling them. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) is an organization under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). It releases annual reports on varied subjects related to crime, accidents, prisons etc.
NOTA share in ST seats is more than double the share in General seats
The Curious Case of NOTA Vote in Reserved Constituencies SHARE, SAVE, COMMENT Image used for representational purposes. (Photo: Reuters) In an earlier story, Factly had written about how NOTA is losing sheen over the years. Further analysis of the data also reveals a trend where NOTA has polled a greater percentage of votes in reserved constituencies (SC/ST) as compared to general constituencies.
95% of Electoral Bonds Purchased in 2017-18 Went to BJP
95% of Electoral Bonds Purchased in 2017-18 Went to BJP SHARE, SAVE, COMMENT BJP was the beneficiary of 95% of the electoral bonds purchased in 2017-18.(Photo: Wikimedia Commons) Data from the annual audit report submitted by the BJP substantiates the assumption that the ruling party at the center would be the biggest beneficiary of the anonymous donations through electoral bonds. BJP was the beneficiary of 95% of the electoral bonds purchased in 2017-18.
95% of the Electoral Bonds purchased in 2017-18 went to the BJP
Data from the annual audit report submitted by the BJP substantiates the assumption that the ruling party at the center would be the biggest beneficiary of the anonymous donations through electoral bonds. BJP was the beneficiary of 95% of the electoral bonds purchased in 2017-18. The Electoral Bonds were first announced in the 2017-18 budget and the scheme was subsequently notified in January 2018. Factly had earlier written about the bonds, their impact on transparency etc.
Electoral Bonds Worth Rs 400 Crore Bought in The First 10 Days of October Cycle
Data for October 2018 indicates that the bonds of lower denomination were hardly in demand like in the other cycles, an indication that citizens may not be purchasing these bonds. Of the lower denominations, only 5 bonds of Rs 1,000 and two bonds of Rs 10,000 were purchased in the October cycle. Out of the 733 bonds purchased in October, 43 were of Rs 1 lakh denomination, 313 were of Rs 10 lakh denomination and the remaining 370 were of Rs 1 crore denomination.
Electoral Bonds worth more than ₹ 400 crores purchased in just 10 days of the October cycle
Electoral Bonds worth more than ₹ 400 crores purchased in just 10 days of the October cycle Data obtained from SBI indicates heavy purchase of electoral bonds in the fifth cycle that was open between 01st & 10th October 2018. Bonds worth more than ₹ 400 crores were purchased in 11 cities in the ten days of October cycle. Bonds in the denomination of ₹ 10 lakh & ₹ 1 crore accounted for 99.89% of the bonds purchased in terms of value.
Fact Check: PM Modi’s Claim on Houses Built by UPA is False
As per the information available on the government’s housing website, public housing programme in India started with the rehabilitation of refugees immediately after independence and since then, it has been a major focus area of the government as an instrument of poverty alleviation. Rural housing program, as an independent programme, started with Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) in 1996.
India Seeks Mallya's Extradition, Success Rate Only 36 Percent
The government has sought to extradite liquor baron Vijay Mallya from the United Kingdom, but India’s extradition success rate for the past 15 years is 36 percent, according to a report by Factly.in, a data journalism portal. This means India had managed to extradite one of every three people sought.While 62 fugitives were extradited to India between 2002 and 2016, 110 fugitives have yet to be sent back, despite formal requests made by India, according to an answer to the Lok Sabha Dec.
Why Are Some States Not Part Of ‘Ayushman Bharat’?
‘Ayushman Bharat’ or the ‘Prime Minister’s Jan Aarogya Yojana’ (PM JAY) was launched recently by the Government of India. This health insurance scheme aims to cover 10 crore families based on Socio Economic & Caste Census (SECC) data. PM JAY is a centrally sponsored sheme, where the Center and States will share the expenditure in the ratio of 60:40 for all normal states. This is as per the new guidelines issued by the Ministry of Finance in 2015 for all centrally sponsored schemes.
Conviction Rate of Sec 498-A Cases Among the Lowest of IPC Crimes
Further to its decision in 2014, ruling out automatic arrests in Sec 498-A cases, the Supreme Court had issued important directions in dealing with cases registered under Sec 498-A of the IPC. The Supreme Court had also directed in 2017, that Family Welfare Committees be constituted by the District Legal Services Authority. The committees are expected to look into all such cases filed under Sec 498-A and submit a report within one month.
A Dummy’s Guide To The New Customs Baggage Rules, Changed From April 1st
The Union Finance Minister announced changes to the Customs Baggage Rules during his recent budget speech. According to the new rules, only those international passengers who are carrying goods beyond the free allowance are required to fill the declaration form. The Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley in his budget speech for 2016-17 had announced that the customs Baggage Rules for international passengers will be simplified to increase the free baggage allowance.
Not One Electoral Bond of Rs 1000 and Rs 10,000 Was Sold Even in July
The Electoral Bonds were first announced in the 2017-18 budget and the scheme was subsequently notified in January 2018. Factly had earlier written about the bonds, their impact on transparency etc. Factly had also analysed the data obtained from the State Bank of India (SBI), the authorised bank to issue electoral bonds, about bonds purchased in the first three sale cycles in March, April and May 2018, to conclude that there was hardly any demand for electoral bonds of lower denomination.
Electoral Bonds: Not a single bond of Rs 1000 & Rs 10000 sold even in July
Data obtained from SBI reveals that there was hardly any demand for electoral bonds of lower denomination even during the 4th cycle in July. Not a single bond in the denomination Rs 1000 & Rs 10000 was purchased in July. The Electoral Bonds were first announced in the 2017-18 budget and the scheme was subsequently notified in January 2018. Factly had earlier written about the bonds, their impact on transparency etc.
Government says the EMMC website is down because 'there is no Programmer'
The Electronic Media Monitoring Centre (EMMC) under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting is tasked with identifying program code violations of private TV channels. For the last many months, the EMMC website is down. Now the government says that it is down because there is no programmer. The Electronic Media Monitoring Centre (EMMC) website is down for many months now.
Even in May, no demand for Electoral Bonds worth Rs 1000 and Rs 10000
There was an intense debate around the introduction of electoral bonds by the government. Data obtained from SBI reveals that there is hardly any demand for electoral bonds of lower denomination even in the month of May. Not a single bond in the denomination Rs 1000 & Rs 10000 was purchased in May, while 99.7% of bonds purchased in terms of value were in Rs 10 lakh & Rs 1 crore denomination.
No demand for Electoral Bonds of smaller denomination
There was an intense debate around the introduction of electoral bonds by the government. Data obtained from SBI reveals that there is hardly any demand for electoral bonds of smaller denomination while 99.9% of bonds sold in terms of amount are of Rs 10 lakh & Rs 1 crore denomination. The Electoral Bonds were first announced in the 2017-18 budget and the scheme was subsequently notified in January 2018.
Is the NCRB delaying the release of its Reports?
The NCRB releases multiple reports annually that provide crime related statistics. Out of the 3 reports published by NCRB annually, two reports for the year 2016 have not yet been released. The delay in the publication of these reports defeat the purpose of compiling them.The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) is an organization under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). It releases data based annual reports on varied subjects related to crime, accidents, prisons etc.
How many communal riots took place in 2016? NCRB & Home Ministry differ
In 2016, 478 cases “offences promoting enmity between different groups” were reported by NCRB, of which 447 were offences promoting enmity between groups based–among other things–on religion and race. If the number of cases and cases of promoting enmity between groups from the NCRB report are added, then the difference between the NCRB data & MHA data widens further.
In 2016, NCRB Recorded 869 Communal Riots; Home Ministry Says 703
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Tackling fake news
Indians and the ‘Indian National Anthem’ being adjudged the best by UNESCO is probably the most common fake news going around the Internet. While this false information may have been innocuous, it captures the larger menace we face today. With the advent of new age digital and social media, fake news has pervaded all spheres of life, political and social.
How is the Vice President of India Elected?
For ascertaining whether there is a winner after the first round of counting, the value of votes received by each contesting candidate in the first round of counting is added up to determine the total value of valid votes polled at the election.This total value is divided by two and one is added to the quotient to determine the required quota for victory. If any of the candidates receives this number of votes in the first round, he is declared a winner.
A Dummy’s Guide to the Election of President of India
The winning candidate has to secure the required quota of votes to be declared elected, ie, 50% of valid first preferential votes polled +1. After the valid ballot papers are segregated from the invalid ones, the valid ballot papers are distributed among the contesting candidates on the basis of first preference marked on each of them for those candidates.
Sorry Mr Shah, Manmohan Singh`s foreign visits did not exceed
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made more foreign trips than Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah said recently in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh. Shah’s statement is wrong on all counts, according to this report by Factly.in, a data journalism portal, based on ministry of external affairs data.
Waiting for Mallya: Only 36% of India’s extradition pleas have been successful
The government seeks custody of liquor baron Vijay Mallya from the UK, but India’s success rate at extradition has been no more than 36% over 15 years, according to this report by Factly.in, a data journalism portal. This means India managed one extradition of every three sought.
As Mallya's custody sought, India's extradition success rate is 36 per cent
The government has sought custody of liquor baron Vijay Mallya from the UK, but Indias success rate at extradition has been no more than 36 per cent over 15 years, according to a report by Factly.in, a data journalism portal. This means India managed one extradition of every three sought.
As Mallya Custody Sought, India’s Extradition Success Rate Is 36%
Select a date Select month June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014...
Vijay Mallya custody sought: India's extradition rate 36% in last 15 years
The government seeks custody of liquor baron from the UK, but India’s success rate at has been no more than 36% over 15 years, according to this report by Factly.in, a data journalism portal. This means India managed one of every three sought.
Tendulkar, Rekha worst in attendance among 12 nominated Rajya Sabha MPs
Former India cricketer and yesteryear actress are the worst performers in attendance in the Rajya Sabha (upper house of Parliament) among the 12 nominated members, according to an analysis by Factly.in, a data journalism portal. While Tendulkar has attended 23 of the 348 days since his nomination in 2012, has attended 18. Further, has not attended more than a single day in any session since her nomination in 2012.
Tendulkar, Rekha worst in attendance among 12 nominated Rajya Sabha
Former India cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and yesteryear actress Rekha are the worst performers in attendance in the Rajya Sabha (upper house of Parliament) among the 12 nominated members, according to an analysis by Factly.in, a data journalism portal. While Tendulkar has attended 23 of the 348 days since his nomination in 2012, Rekha has attended 18. Further, Rekha has not attended more than a single day in any session since her nomination in 2012.
25 out of 33 Patanjali Ads Were False & Misleading: ASCI
Misleading advertisements are a common thing these days in both print & electronic media. Even the Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA), Government of India has information on a large number of instances of misleading advertisements in various media. The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), a voluntary self-regulatory body of Advertisement Industry has been appointed by the government as their executive arm to process complaints received about misleading advertisements.
25 Out Of 33 Patanjali Ads Were False & Misleading: ASCI
Misleading advertisements are a common thing these days in both print & electronic media. Even the Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA), Government of India has information on a large number of instances of misleading advertisements in various media. The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), a voluntary self-regulatory body of Advertisement Industry has been appointed by the government as their executive arm to process complaints received about misleading advertisements.
Ramdev’s Patanjali Ads Found to be Misleading in 25 Instances
Section 2 (1) (r) of the existing Consumer Protection Act 1986 states that the practice of making any statement, whether orally or in writing or by visible representation which falsely represents that the goods are of a particular standard, quality, quantity, grade, composition style or model; falsely represents that the services are of a particular standard, quality or grade, falls under unfair trade practices.
TBI Blogs: What the Govt’s New “Voluntary” Label on Service Charges Really Means for You
The government has issued a clarification, stating that paying ‘service charge’ levied by hotels/restaurants is purely voluntary, and that consumers dissatisfied with services can have it waived off. But its implementation on the ground may not be easy. Rakesh Dubbudu from Factly digs deeper for answers.The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Government of India, recently issued a press release clarifying its stand on ‘Service Charge’ collected by many hotels & restaurants.
TBI Blogs: This Is What Will Happen If You Hold More Than 10 Old Notes after the Grace Period
The President of India has approved the promulgation of Specified Bank Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Ordinance, 2016. People holding more than 10 old notes will now face a penalty of Rs. 10,000, or five times the amount in excess of the allowance. Rakesh Dubbudu from Factly explores more.The President of India has approved the promulgation of Specified Bank Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Ordinance, 2016.
TBI Blogs: Don’t Have a Passport? The Government’s New Rules Make This the Perfect Time to Get One!
The Ministry of External Affairs has announced various modifications to the passport rules, aimed at easing the process of issue of passport. Many new rules for various sections of society have also been announced. Rakesh Dubbudu from Factly takes a closer look.The Government has announced new passport rules aimed at simplifying and easing the process of issue of passport. The new passport rules also simplify the process of application for single parents, orphaned children, sadhus, etc.
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