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Correspondent

23 August 2024 at 4:29:04 pm

Festive Surge

India’s bazaars have glittered this Diwali with the unmistakable glow of consumer confidence. The country’s festive sales crossed a staggering Rs. 6 lakh crore with goods alone accounting for Rs. 5.4 lakh crore and services contributing Rs. 65,000 crore. More remarkable still, the bulk of this spending flowed through India’s traditional markets rather than e-commerce platforms. After years of economic caution and digital dominance, Indians are once again shopping in person and buying local....

Festive Surge

India’s bazaars have glittered this Diwali with the unmistakable glow of consumer confidence. The country’s festive sales crossed a staggering Rs. 6 lakh crore with goods alone accounting for Rs. 5.4 lakh crore and services contributing Rs. 65,000 crore. More remarkable still, the bulk of this spending flowed through India’s traditional markets rather than e-commerce platforms. After years of economic caution and digital dominance, Indians are once again shopping in person and buying local. This reversal owes much to policy. The recent rationalisation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) which trimmed rates across categories from garments to home furnishings, has given consumption a timely push. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s September rate cuts, combined with income tax relief and easing interest rates, have strengthened household budgets just as inflation softened. The middle class, long squeezed between rising costs and stagnant wages, has found reason to spend again. Retailers report that shoppers filled their bags with everything from lab-grown diamonds and casual wear to consumer durables and décor, blurring the line between necessity and indulgence. The effect has been broad-based. According to Crisil Ratings, 40 organised apparel retailers, who together generate roughly a third of the sector’s revenue, could see growth of 13–14 percent this financial year, aided by a 200-basis-point bump from GST cuts alone. Small traders too have flourished. The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) estimates that 85 percent of total festive trade came from non-corporate and traditional markets, a robust comeback for brick-and-mortar retail that had been under siege from online rivals. This surge signals a subtle but significant cultural shift. The “Vocal for Local” and “Swadeshi Diwali” campaigns struck a patriotic chord, with consumers reportedly preferring Indian-made products to imported ones. Demand for Chinese goods fell sharply, while sales of Indian-manufactured products rose by a quarter over last year. For the first time in years, “buying Indian” has become both an act of economic participation and of national pride. The sectoral spread of this boom underlines its breadth. Groceries and fast-moving consumer goods accounted for 12 percent of the total, gold and jewellery 10 percent, and electronics 8 percent. Even traditionally modest categories like home furnishings, décor and confectionery recorded double-digit growth. In the smaller towns that anchor India’s consumption story, traders say stable prices and improved affordability kept registers ringing late into the festive weekend. Yet, much of this buoyancy rests on a fragile equilibrium. Inflation remains contained, and interest rates have been eased, but both could tighten again. Sustaining this spurt will require continued fiscal prudence and regulatory clarity, especially as digital commerce continues to expand its reach. Yet for now, the signs are auspicious. After years of subdued demand and inflationary unease, India’s shoppers appear to have rediscovered their appetite for consumption and their faith in domestic enterprise. The result is not only a record-breaking Diwali, but a reaffirmation of the local marketplace as the heartbeat of India’s economy.

Psychology Key in Tackling Crime Surge

Updated: Oct 21, 2024

Crime rates in India have surged significantly, creating an ever-growing backlog of cases. Modern crimes differ markedly from the past, often leaving minimal physical evidence at crime scenes. Such challenges pose a hurdle for investigating agencies trying to link perpetrators to their crimes. While suspects can be identified, proving their involvement in the courts remains a complex task. Forensic psychology plays a crucial role in addressing these issues.

Forensic psychology integrates principles from psychology, forensic science, and law to enhance the justice delivery system. Its application within the Indian criminal justice system has expanded over recent decades. Forensic psychology encompasses a range of techniques, collectively referred to as Forensic Psychological Investigative Techniques (FPITs). These include Deception Detection Technologies (DDTs) like polygraphs, narco-analysis, Brain Electrical Oscillation Signature Profiling (BEOS), Layered Voice Analysis, and Suspect Detection Systems, as well as methods such as Psychological Autopsy and Offender Profiling.

These FPITs combine psychophysiological principles with technology, serving as valuable tools in investigations. They are employed to screen suspects, detect deception, and determine a suspect’s knowledge or involvement in a crime. Despite their utility, the legal status of these techniques in India remains contentious.

The right to remain silent, a cornerstone of legal protection in India, is enshrined in Article 20(3) of the Indian Constitution and Article 11 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Section 161(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) reinforces this right, stating that individuals are not obliged to answer questions that could incriminate them. This right was further upheld by the Supreme Court in the landmark case of Nandini Satpathy vs. Dani.

However, the use of forensic psychological techniques such as polygraphs and narco-analysis have been contested. In the 2010 case of Selvi & Ors vs. the State of Karnataka, the Supreme Court addressed the issue of involuntary administration of these tests. The Court ruled that such tests cannot be administered without the subject’s consent, as they would infringe on the right to remain silent. Nevertheless, if these tests are administered voluntarily, their results may be admissible under Section 27 of the Indian Evidence Act, which permits the use of evidence obtained voluntarily in certain contexts.

One notable case where forensic psychological techniques played a significant role was the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Narco-analysis was used on the suspects to extract information about the planning and execution of the attacks. The technique provided critical leads that aided in piecing together the sequence of events and provided crucial information regarding terrorist training camps in Pakistan.

Another important case is the 2009 Aarushi Talwar murder case. In this case, polygraph tests were administered to various suspects, including the parents of the victim. While the results were not directly admissible in court, they were instrumental in narrowing down the list of suspects and guiding the investigation.

The hit-and-run case of the Dhanbad judge involved the use of BEOS and narco-analysis to extract information from the suspects. The technique was employed to confirm the identities of those involved and their roles in the crime. Although controversial, these techniques provided crucial leads for the investigation.

In 2022, Ashraf Ali, an ISI agent, was caught by the Delhi Crime Branch. BEOS and narco-analysis were used to interrogate him. The use of these techniques was crucial in uncovering hidden details about the suspect’s involvement and motivations.

Forensic psychology is vital in addressing complex crimes in India and offers essential tools like polygraphs and narco-analysis. While these methods have proved valuable in investigations, their use remains legally contentious. Balancing their application with constitutional rights is crucial for advancing justice and ensuring ethical practices in the future.

(Keshav Kumar, IPS (Retd.) is a consultant to Assam Government. Hemant Reddy is forensic Psychologist. Views personal)

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