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India ranked 103rd in WEF’s Global Human Capital Index, lowest among BRICS nations

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India ranked 103rd in WEF’s Global Human Capital Index, lowest among BRICS nations

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While Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks about capitalizing on India’s demographic dividend and bringing labour reforms, WEF report shows how country fails on most parameters

Prime Minister Narendra Modi may never fail to mention India’s massive demographic dividend and his efforts at capitalizing on it to boost the country’s economy, but a recent report by the World Economic Forum (WEF) shows how the country seems to be failing its teeming millions – a majority of them young, restless and in a continued search of employment prospects.

The new Global Human Capital Index released by the WEF on Wednesday places India at an appalling 103rd position among 130 countries – the lowest rank among the BRICS nations and the elite G20 grouping. India, with its massive population of over 1.2 billion, is only slightly ahead of its neighbours Bangladesh and Pakistan which have been placed at the 111th and 125th positions.

The Global Human Capital Index 2017 ranks countries on how they are developing their human capital on a scale from 0 (worst) to 100 (best). These rankings are calculated based on a country’s performance on four basic parameters – capacity, deployment, development, and know-how and takes into account five age groups for this computation – 0-14 years; 15-24 years; 25-54 years; 55-64 years; and 65 years and over.

India also ranks “among the lowest in the world” when it comes to the employment gender gap. However, what Prime Minister Modi and his government can take solace is in the fact that the country has fared well on the score of development of skills needed for the future, ranking 65 on the list of 130 countries surveyed.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Modi has been emphasising on the importance of skill development and only recently when he reshuffled his council of ministers, the Prime Minister had dropped Rajiv Pratap Rudy, who held the portfolio of skills development minister, apparently because of his poor performance. The portfolio was given to Piyush Goyal, a minister Modi seems to have great faith in. It is a different matter though that the WEF report would have been collated based on facts and figures that were from the time when Rudy was Union minister for Skills Development – the only parameter where the country seems to have performed mildly better in the Global Human Capital Index.

The Modi government may, however, claim that its stint hasn’t destroyed the country’s demographic dividend altogether – though it has evidently not done anything substantial to tap into it either – as India registered a two-slot rise this year, finishing at the 103rd rank in place of last year’s 105th.

The index is led by Scandinavian nations Norway, Finland and Switzerland, followed by large, developed economies such as the US and Germany. In South Asia, the race is led by Sri Lanka at rank 70 and Nepal at 98 – both ahead of India despite being smaller economies with lesser population.

Education – an area which seems to be getting the Centre’s attention only to the extent of re-writing history books with an aim of deleting references to the country’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru or the influence of Mughal/Muslim rulers of the country – is also where the country has performed abysmally. India ranks 110th in primary education attainment among 25-54 age group. The country also stood a poor 111th in vocation education enrolment rate and humiliating 120th in medium-skilled employment.

While the Modi government has been talking about labour reforms, the index places India at rank 118 on the score of labour force participation in the 25-54 age group. However, the most dubious distinction for the country is that it ranks dead last across all age groups in the employment gender gap.

Citing the factors because of which India failed to tap its human capital, WEF said, “India is held back by a number of factors, including low educational attainment and low deployment of its human capital, meaning the skills available are not getting put to good use.”

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India News

Abhishek Banerjee says will not bow to BJP after nearly 11 hours of ED questioning

After spending nearly 11 hours before the Enforcement Directorate, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee said he would not bow to the BJP and accused the ruling party of using investigative agencies for political purposes.

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Abhishek Banerjee

Trinamool Congress leader and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday said he would not bow to the BJP after spending nearly 11 hours being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an ongoing investigation.

Speaking after the questioning, Banerjee alleged that central agencies were being used to target opposition leaders and asserted that he would continue his political fight despite what he described as sustained pressure.

The TMC leader has repeatedly maintained that investigations involving him are politically motivated, a charge he has made on several previous occasions while appearing before central agencies.

His appearance before the ED comes amid a period of heightened political activity and multiple investigations involving leaders in West Bengal. Recent days have also seen Banerjee face summons and questioning in separate matters by state investigative agencies.

After leaving the ED office, Banerjee reiterated that he would not be intimidated and said he remained committed to his political responsibilities. He also accused the BJP of attempting to weaken opposition parties through investigative action, an allegation that the BJP has rejected in the past.

The Enforcement Directorate has not publicly commented on Banerjee’s remarks. The investigation related to the questioning remains ongoing.

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India News

DMK attacks Rahul Gandhi, accuses him of weakening opposition unity

DMK has intensified its criticism of Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the Congress leader’s actions have weakened opposition unity and strained relations within the INDIA bloc.

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Rahul-Gandhi

The war of words between the DMK and Congress has intensified, with the DMK launching a strong attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and accusing him of contributing to divisions within the opposition alliance. The criticism comes amid strained ties between the two parties following their political split in Tamil Nadu.

According to the DMK, Rahul Gandhi’s political approach has weakened unity among opposition parties. The party’s IT wing mocked the Congress leader on social media, while an editorial published in the DMK’s official mouthpiece Murasoli questioned his recent remarks on opposition solidarity.

DMK questions Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on opposition unity

In its editorial, Murasoli argued that Rahul Gandhi was speaking about opposition unity despite, according to the DMK, contributing to disagreements among alliance partners in several states. The publication cited criticism directed at Congress by various opposition parties and suggested that the party’s actions had often created tensions within the INDIA bloc.

The editorial also referred to past political disputes involving Congress and Left parties, particularly in Kerala, claiming such episodes had raised concerns among opposition allies about Congress’s approach toward its partners.

Tamil Nadu political fallout adds to tensions

The attack comes after a major political realignment in Tamil Nadu. Following the 2026 Assembly elections, Congress ended its alliance with the DMK and joined the government led by Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The move left the DMK in the opposition and significantly altered the political equation between the two former allies.

The DMK has alleged that Congress benefited from the alliance during the election and later abandoned its partner. The party’s editorial questioned whether assurances from Congress leadership would be trusted by alliance partners after the developments in Tamil Nadu.

Congress rejects allegations

Congress has not issued a detailed official response to the editorial, but party sources have rejected the allegations. According to the party, its decisions in Tamil Nadu were made in line with the mandate delivered by voters and were not intended to undermine either the DMK or the broader opposition alliance.

The latest exchange highlights growing strains between two key opposition parties even as leaders continue to stress cooperation on national issues. Just days earlier, Rahul Gandhi had said that the DMK remained aligned with the opposition on defending the “idea of India” despite political differences.

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Entertainment

Kumkum Bhagya actor Sanchita Ugale dies by suicide near Mumbai at 22

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, died by suicide at her residence near Mumbai. Police have launched an investigation.

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Sanchita Ugale

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for her appearances in Kumkum Bhagya, Wagle Ki Duniya and Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi, died by suicide at her residence in Nalasopara East near Mumbai on June 14. She was 22.

According to police officials, the incident took place at her home in Achole village, Nalasopara East. Authorities said Ugale had locked herself inside her bedroom and was later found hanging from a ceiling fan. Family members and local residents rushed her to a hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. Officials said inquiries are underway and the exact reason behind the incident has not yet been established.

Career across television, OTT and films

Ugale had built a growing presence in the entertainment industry through television, streaming projects and films. Apart from Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, she played a lead role in Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi. She also appeared in OTT projects such as Crime Aaj Kal and Silence 2.

The actor was also associated with the film Chhaava, which contributed to her growing recognition among audiences.

Last social media post draws attention

Following news of her death, social media users shared and commented on Ugale’s final Instagram post, which had been uploaded hours before the incident. The post showed the actor in traditional attire lip-syncing to a classic Bollywood song. Fans expressed shock and grief after learning of her death.

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