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Journalism of Courage
Good morning,
You are chatting with AI. But is the AI learning too much about you? When you ask ChatGPT to help write an email or Gemini to plan your vacation, your prompt reveals intent, tone, preferences, and context to the AI chatbot. Now, imagine if a government official uses the same generative AI platform. Could the chatbot infer their role and strategic intent? And that’s not all. AI chatbots, mostly run by global firms, are often bundled as free services with telecom subscriptions. Does this put the data of millions of Indian users at risk? Various government sections are mulling these questions, The Indian Express has learnt, with some taking action to limit exposure. Soumyarendra Barik and Anil Sasi have more details.
On that note, let’s get to the rest of the edition👇
The Bihar Assembly elections kicked off on a high note, with nearly 65 per cent of voters exercising their franchise in Phase 1. This marks the highest voter turnout in 75 years. The second phase is scheduled for November 11.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, leading the NDA’s campaign to retain power, enjoys overwhelming support from the women of the state. Tapping into this loyal voter base, he announced the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana (MMRY) just before the polls were declared. The scheme targets two goals: to woo women beneficiaries and encourage them to take up entrepreneurial roles. Unlike other states, where women-centric schemes often include free doles, this one, as a JD(U) functionary says, favours women’s empowerment. Already, earning the moniker, ‘das hazari’ (10,000), the scheme has generated much buzz across the state.
Zoom in: Take a look at the Musahar-dominated Piparghatti village. Forty-six years ago, contributing editor Neerja Chowdhury visited the place to study a peaceful andolan. All these years later, as she revisited the place, she found some change but a desire for more. The women still barely go to school, but ensure their children study. What do they want? Jobs — and Nitish.
Big picture: The state’s economic development has been one of the most talked-about issues in the run-up to these polls. There are two opposing views of Bihar: some see it as a laggard, while others think its image doesn’t do justice to its recent economic resurgence. Where does the truth lie? Udit Misra pits Bihar against states like Maharashtra, Punjab, Kerala, Gujarat, UP and West Bengal, to bring you an incisive picture.
H files: Among Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of vote theft in Haryana, there was a photograph of a woman, which featured 223 times on the voter list in two booths. How many times did she vote? Gandhi asked. The Indian Express decided to visit the woman in question, Charanjeet Kaur, 75, to ask. Her answer? Just once.
🎧 For more on Gandhi’s claims, tune in to today’s ‘3 Things’ podcast episode.
Under fire: A land deal involving Parth Pawar, son of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, has come under the scanner. A 40-acre land near Pune’s upscale Koregaon Park, reportedly worth Rs 1,800 crore, was allegedly sold to Amedea Enterprises LLP, where Parth is a partner, for Rs 300 crore with a stamp duty waiver of Rs 21 crore. CM Devendra Fadnavis has ordered an inquiry into the deal, which is reportedly set to be cancelled.
On liberty: The Supreme Court has said that it is “mandatory” to inform the arrestee of the grounds of arrest under all offences under the Indian Penal Code (now Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita), and not just under special statutes like PMLA or UAPA.
Addition: Did you know mathematical concepts like algebra and geometry can be traced back to ancient India? The NCERT’s recently released Class 7 mathematics textbook will now teach students this history. It refers to the concepts introduced by a 7th-century mathematician, Brahmagupta, and how they influenced Arabic mathematicians to create the algebra we know today. Read.
The right man (for the job): The appeal of Zohran Mamdani may lie beyond his politics. As Yuvaa co-founder Nikhil Taneja writes, in Gen Z-speak, Mamdani is a “certified pookie”. As right-wing politics champion loud, angry, fear-mongering men, “Zohran’s masculinity is the antithesis of the manosphere.”
Bollywood blockbusters: Our film critic, Shubhra Gupta, is counting down the 25 years of Indian cinema. She wrote how in 2000, the super-hit Kaho Na Pyar Hai, made Hrithik Roshan the biggest challenge to the three Khans. 2001 was the year of movies that continue to find resonance and fans even today: K3G and the game-changer, Dil Chahta Hai. Today, the spotlight is on 2002, the year Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s baroque met Ram Gopal Verma’s grit.
Where are all the GMs going? Goa is hosting the FIDE World Cup. And every evening as the sun sets, the road to Resort Rio turns into a red carpet for chess’s greatest minds. Except, the Grandmasters ditch their custom-fitted suits for shorts and tracksuits. Where are they headed? Well, wherever their feet take them. Amit Kamath writes about the Grandmasters’ love for walking.
That’s all for today, folks! Until tomorrow,
Sonal Gupta
