News / Author / Abhishek Jha

Abhishek Jha

Abhishek Jha is a data journalist. He analyses public data for finding news, with a focus on the environment, Indian politics and economy, and Covid-19.

Articles by Abhishek Jha

Tracking monsoon variations across India

Wide variations in monsoon precipitation over time and regions, between highs and lows and rain deficits and surpluses aren’t beneficial for agriculture in a country where two-thirds of the population depend on farm incomes for a living. The output of summer crops such as rice, sugar, lentils and edible oil seeds depends on monsoon rains.

For India as a whole, a lot of rain seems to have fallen early in the season. For most of June, for example, the cumulative monsoon rainfall was in the “excess” category.(Arvind Yadav/HT PHOTO)

india news

Updated on Aug 12, 2020 08:21 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByAbhishek Jha

Not just monsoon, poor data behind Delhi’s rain chaos

Till August 5, Delhi’s total monsoon rainfall this year was 32% less than the Long Period Average (LPA). While this figure can change – rainfall until 30 September is counted as monsoon rainfall – it is not very surprising.

Not only has Delhi’s total rainfall been coming down, the share of heavy rainfall in total rainfall has also come down.(Arvind Yadav/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Aug 08, 2020 02:43 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByAbhishek Jha

As science gains ground, fewer students opting for MBA, engineering

The NSO released the findings of 2017-18 survey on Social Consumption of Education in India last month. A comparison with a similar 2014 report shows that management and engineering courses have seen biggest proportionate fall in share of students.

General courses such as humanities, sciences and commerce are now becoming more popular, a trend experts attribute to a growing gap between the skills professional degrees impart and what is needed in the job market.(Anshuman Poyrekar/HT Photo)

india news

Updated on Aug 02, 2020 08:23 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByAbhishek Jha and Roshan Kishore

Mapping education inequalities

Students from the richest 20% of the society are seventeen times more likely to be studying law than those from the poorest 20%.

A New Education Policy was announced earlier this week after a gap of 34 years(Sanchit Khanna/HT PHOTO)

india news

Updated on Aug 01, 2020 09:23 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByRoshan Kishore & Abhishek Jha, New Delhi

Certified causes for 1 in five registered deaths: ’18 data

The registration rate of deaths increased for the eighth consecutive year in 2018, to reach 86%. Medical certification of deaths has hovered around the 20% mark since 2010.

India has been making progress on registering deaths but this has not been accompanied by an increase in deaths where the cause has been medically certified.(Reuters)

india news

Updated on Jul 31, 2020 12:50 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAbhishek Jha

India added last quarter million Covid-19 cases in just 8 days, 3 states added 55.7% patients

On the day India hit the million mark – it took just eight days for the country to record the last quarter of that million – the top three states accounted for 55.7% cases.

People register at a swab sample collection for coronavirus testing, Gurugram, Haryana.(HT Photo)

india news

Updated on Jul 19, 2020 12:09 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByAbhishek Jha

Southern states achieve UN goals on Maternal Mortality Ratio

While regional divergences in MMR remain, a look at long-term trends in MMR shows that the situation has been improving in high MMR states.

A child of a migrant worker drinks water as his mother holds him while waiting in a queue for transport to reach to a railway station to board a train to Uttar Pradesh, India.(REUTERS)

india news

Updated on Jul 18, 2020 01:47 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByAbhishek Jha

The political economy of petrol-diesel price hike

Between April 1 and July 1, the share of central and state taxes in petrol and diesel prices in Delhi increased from 45% to 63% for diesel and 54% to 64% for petrol. Central taxes per litre are almost twice state taxes.

Another area where a fuel price hike can adversely affect poor people is in the transport sector.(Biplov Bhuyan/HT file photo)

india news

Updated on Jul 06, 2020 05:04 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByRoshan Kishore, Abhishek Jha and Vineet Sachdev

How the world’s strictest lockdown affected India

The preferred first step to control Covid-19 by most countries was a lockdown. On March 25, when India had reported only 500 cases, the country went into what was one of the strictest lockdowns in the world.

A labourer works at the MGR central railway station after the government eased a nationwide lockdown imposed as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Chennai on June 18, 2020. - The epidemic has badly hit India's densely populated major cities and Chennai in the south has ordered a new lockdown from June 19 because of a surge in cases. (Photo by Arun SANKAR / AFP)(AFP photo)

india news

Updated on Jun 23, 2020 01:11 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByAbhishek Jha and Jamie Mullick

Can politics shape revival of economy after Covid-19?

The Indian economy is entering a contraction phase after a prolonged slowdown. Resources of both businesses and government were already stressed. India’s policy response amid the Covid-19 pandemic will also be an exercise in distributing very scarce resources across practically unlimited demands.

Farm workers in Noida thrash harvested paddy crop to separate the grains.(AP File Photo)

india news

Updated on Jun 14, 2020 06:05 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByRoshan Kishore and Abhishek Jha

Economic impact of Covid-19 pandemic to vary in sectors

India needs to track its consumption expenditure along with employment data for policy intervention.

Labourers seen at a construction site near R-Block flyover, during ongoing Covid-19 lockdown in Patna on Thursday.(Santosh Kumar/HT Photo)

india news

Updated on Jun 14, 2020 05:45 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByRoshan Kishore and Abhishek Jha

With no contracts, casual workers may be worst hit

According to data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted in 2017-18, workers engaged in so-called casual work – their wages were based on daily or periodic renewal of a work contract – form a quarter of the total workforce.

Casual workers are going to be among the worst affected in case of an economic slowdown resulting from the Covid-19 outbreak.(AP)

india news

Updated on Mar 19, 2020 12:46 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByAbhishek Jha, New Delhi

Why social distancing is tough to implement

The first problem in implementing social distancing in India could be its population density itself.

Social distancing has been recommended as a preventive measure against coronavirus.

india news

Updated on Mar 18, 2020 03:07 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByAbhishek Jha and Vijdan Mohammad Kawoosa

Polls for 55 Rajya Sabha seats to be held in March

The BJP-led NDA, the largest grouping in the Upper House with 99 seats, will be reduced to 95 seats while the Congress and allies (64 seats) are set to reach the tally of 67 at the end of this election.

Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu conducts proceedings of the House during the Winter Session of Parliament in New Delhi.(PTI)

india news

Updated on Feb 26, 2020 02:27 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByAmrita Madhukalya and Abhishek Jha

Curb on edible oil imports leads to domestic inflation

Palm oil and its variants have a share of more than 50% in India’s total edible oil, fat and waxes (edible oil) imports. In 2018-19 India’s oil and fat imports were worth almost $10 billion.

India’s policy makers seem to have slipped on oil while trying to balance foreign and domestic policy goals.(AFP)

india news

Updated on Feb 23, 2020 12:34 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByAbhishek Jha and Roshan Kishore

What gains will Babulal Marandi’s return bring to the BJP?

Since its formation, the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha – Prajatantrik has fought three state and three national elections in Jharkhand: one each in 2009, 2014, and 2019.

Former Jharkhand chief minister Babulal Marandi (L) greets Union Minister Amit Shah during the merger of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha with the Bharatiya Janata Party in Ranchi.(PTI)

india news

Updated on Feb 19, 2020 06:21 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New | ByAbhishek Jha

Delhi doesn’t have a woman in the cabinet. How do other states fare

An analysis of reports on council of ministers compiled by the election watchdog Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) shows that the state with the highest representation of women in the council of ministers is Punjab (20%).

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has received criticism for not inducting any women in his council of ministers.(Arvind Yadav/HT PHOTO)

india news

Updated on Feb 18, 2020 01:47 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByAbhishek Jha

Why AAP performs differently in Lok Sabha and assembly elections

AAP’s assembly victories are in sharp contrast to its performances in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, when it won no Parliamentary Constituencies (PCs).

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal(Sanjeev Verma/HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Feb 13, 2020 04:49 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByAbhishek Jha

Five factors behind Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP’s sweep 2.0 in Delhi assembly election

With 53.6& vote share, the AAP swept Delhi again, winning 62 seats. We take a look at the five factors that led to AAP’s stellar performance

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal(Photo: Rajiv Tyagi / Hindustan Times)

elections

Updated on Feb 12, 2020 09:12 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVijdan Mohammad Kawoosa and Abhishek Jha

Education spending in need of a budget boost

A previous analysis of National Statistical Office (NSO) data by Ishan Anand in HT showed that access to higher education in India is much lower among socio-economically backward groups.

School children wearing caps attend Republic Day celebrations in Ahmedabad.(REUTERS)

india news

Published on Jan 30, 2020 03:48 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAbhishek Jha

India’s alcohol imports aren’t causing a trade hangover

In 2018-19, India imported $384 million worth of alcoholic beverages. This is less than 1% of India’s total imports in that year. In fact, unlike many other things, India does relatively well in exporting alcohol as well.

Beers and other alcoholic drinks sit on display in a refrigerator.(Bloomberg)

india news

Updated on Jan 22, 2020 01:41 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByAbhishek Jha

Consistent low temperatures part of a trend in Delhi

Earlier, the IMD had declared December 2019 as the second-coldest December month in Delhi since 1901 based on average maximum temperatures (18.76 degree Celsius).

The trend of consistent low temperatures in Delhi and neighbouring areas is in contrast with the all-India trend in temperature, where both maximum and minimum temperatures in winter months have been increasing since the 2000s.(HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Jan 10, 2020 09:42 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByAbhishek Jha

Poorest most likely to commit suicide in India, reveals NCRB data

Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) shows that daily wage workers, those earning less than ₹1 lakh per annum but educated up to the secondary level have the highest share in number of suicides in India in 2018.

india news

Updated on Jan 10, 2020 07:07 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByAbhishek Jha

Two factors that may determine who wins Delhi Assembly Elections 2020

The Congress, which ruled Delhi for three consecutive terms until 2013, drew a blank in both Lok Sabha and state elections since.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal(Arvind Yadav/HT PHOTO)

elections

Updated on Aug 20, 2020 01:29 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByAbhishek Jha and Vijdan Mohammad Kawoosa

Surge in tribal support key to victory for JMM-led alliance

An analysis by regions shows that the biggest reason for the BJP’s political reversal is a surge in support for the JMM alliance in Scheduled Tribe (ST) dominated regions of the state.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led alliance, which also includes the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), has won 47 ACs, 22 more than what these parties won in 2014.(PTI)

elections

Updated on Dec 24, 2019 12:12 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ranchi | ByAbhishek Jha and Vijdan Mohammad Kawoosa

Onion prices rocket, but retail profit margins low

The average monthly retail profit margin since January 2015 on onions is 104%, which clearly shows that terms of trade in agriculture are strongly skewed in favour of retailers, not farmers.

An earlier HT analysis discovered that prices normally spike due to poor supply, caused by inclement weather, which results in a poor crop.(Burhaan Kinu/HT PHOTO)

business

Updated on Dec 17, 2019 02:15 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVineet Sachdev and Abhishek Jha

Will a single party get majority for the first time in Jharkhand? | Analysis

In fact, even before Jharkhand was created, no party had been able to muster a majority in the 81 assembly constituencies (ACs) which were carved out of Bihar to form the new state since 1990.

elections

Updated on Nov 30, 2019 06:03 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Ranchi | ByVijdan Mohammad Kawoosa and Abhishek Jha

Jharkhand assembly election 2019: How politics has evolved in Jharkhand in two decades

The analysis shows that political equations which matter in Jharkhand today had started manifesting themselves before the state was created.

Jharkhand would complete two decades of its formation in November 2020.

elections

Updated on Nov 28, 2019 06:09 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByAbhishek Jha and Vijdan Mohammad Kawoosa, New Delhi

Delhi’s air bad, farm fires make it worse

Delhi’s air quality in this period was bad even without the effect of stubble-burning, which only made it worse.

Vehicles ply amid a dense layer of smog at Rajpath, in New Delhi.(PTI Photo)

cities

Updated on Jul 27, 2020 04:43 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByAbhishek Jha, New Delhi

High alert sounded on Diwali pollution

The moves come at a time when farm fires appeared to have been raging at the same frequency as last year, according to an analysis of data from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) satellites, and weather conditions are expected to exacerbate local pollution.

According to an analysis of data from Nasa’s Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), there were 5,414 fires spotted in Punjab and Haryana between October 18 and 24(Photo by Parveen Kumar/Hindustan Times)

india news

Updated on Oct 26, 2019 03:44 AM IST

New Delhi | ByJoydeep Thakur and Abhishek Jha

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Abhishek Jha

Abhishek Jha is a data journalist. He analyses public data for finding news, with a focus on the environment, Indian politics and economy, and Covid-19.

Till August 5, Delhi’s total monsoon rainfall this year was 32% less than the Long Period Average (LPA). While this figure can change – rainfall until 30 September is counted as monsoon rainfall – it is not very surprising.

The NSO released the findings of 2017-18 survey on Social Consumption of Education in India last month. A comparison with a similar 2014 report shows that management and engineering courses have seen biggest proportionate fall in share of students.

Students from the richest 20% of the society are seventeen times more likely to be studying law than those from the poorest 20%.

The registration rate of deaths increased for the eighth consecutive year in 2018, to reach 86%. Medical certification of deaths has hovered around the 20% mark since 2010.

On the day India hit the million mark – it took just eight days for the country to record the last quarter of that million – the top three states accounted for 55.7% cases.

While regional divergences in MMR remain, a look at long-term trends in MMR shows that the situation has been improving in high MMR states.

Between April 1 and July 1, the share of central and state taxes in petrol and diesel prices in Delhi increased from 45% to 63% for diesel and 54% to 64% for petrol. Central taxes per litre are almost twice state taxes.

The preferred first step to control Covid-19 by most countries was a lockdown. On March 25, when India had reported only 500 cases, the country went into what was one of the strictest lockdowns in the world.

The Indian economy is entering a contraction phase after a prolonged slowdown. Resources of both businesses and government were already stressed. India’s policy response amid the Covid-19 pandemic will also be an exercise in distributing very scarce resources across practically unlimited demands.

India needs to track its consumption expenditure along with employment data for policy intervention.

According to data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted in 2017-18, workers engaged in so-called casual work – their wages were based on daily or periodic renewal of a work contract – form a quarter of the total workforce.

The first problem in implementing social distancing in India could be its population density itself.

The BJP-led NDA, the largest grouping in the Upper House with 99 seats, will be reduced to 95 seats while the Congress and allies (64 seats) are set to reach the tally of 67 at the end of this election.

Palm oil and its variants have a share of more than 50% in India’s total edible oil, fat and waxes (edible oil) imports. In 2018-19 India’s oil and fat imports were worth almost $10 billion.

Since its formation, the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha – Prajatantrik has fought three state and three national elections in Jharkhand: one each in 2009, 2014, and 2019.

An analysis of reports on council of ministers compiled by the election watchdog Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) shows that the state with the highest representation of women in the council of ministers is Punjab (20%).

AAP’s assembly victories are in sharp contrast to its performances in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, when it won no Parliamentary Constituencies (PCs).

With 53.6& vote share, the AAP swept Delhi again, winning 62 seats. We take a look at the five factors that led to AAP’s stellar performance

A previous analysis of National Statistical Office (NSO) data by Ishan Anand in HT showed that access to higher education in India is much lower among socio-economically backward groups.

In 2018-19, India imported $384 million worth of alcoholic beverages. This is less than 1% of India’s total imports in that year. In fact, unlike many other things, India does relatively well in exporting alcohol as well.

Earlier, the IMD had declared December 2019 as the second-coldest December month in Delhi since 1901 based on average maximum temperatures (18.76 degree Celsius).

Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) shows that daily wage workers, those earning less than ₹1 lakh per annum but educated up to the secondary level have the highest share in number of suicides in India in 2018.

The Congress, which ruled Delhi for three consecutive terms until 2013, drew a blank in both Lok Sabha and state elections since.

An analysis by regions shows that the biggest reason for the BJP’s political reversal is a surge in support for the JMM alliance in Scheduled Tribe (ST) dominated regions of the state.

The average monthly retail profit margin since January 2015 on onions is 104%, which clearly shows that terms of trade in agriculture are strongly skewed in favour of retailers, not farmers.

In fact, even before Jharkhand was created, no party had been able to muster a majority in the 81 assembly constituencies (ACs) which were carved out of Bihar to form the new state since 1990.

The analysis shows that political equations which matter in Jharkhand today had started manifesting themselves before the state was created.

Delhi’s air quality in this period was bad even without the effect of stubble-burning, which only made it worse.

The moves come at a time when farm fires appeared to have been raging at the same frequency as last year, according to an analysis of data from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) satellites, and weather conditions are expected to exacerbate local pollution.

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