Think Tanks
Here's a look at documents from think tanks
Featured Stories
Rand Issues Commentary to Foreign Affairs: How China Misperceives Itself
SANTA MONICA, California, June 5 -- Rand issued the following excerpts of a commentary by Francesca Ghiretti, director of the Economic Security and Resilience Initiative and co-director of the China Initiative, to Foreign Affairs:
* * *
How China Misperceives Itself
Great powers rarely fail because they are unaware of their problems. More often, they fall apart because they misidentify or only partially identify the root of those problems. The ability to accurately diagnose weaknesses, to distinguish between temporary constraints and structural limits, and to generate the political will to fix
... Show Full Article
SANTA MONICA, California, June 5 -- Rand issued the following excerpts of a commentary by Francesca Ghiretti, director of the Economic Security and Resilience Initiative and co-director of the China Initiative, to Foreign Affairs:
* * *
How China Misperceives Itself
Great powers rarely fail because they are unaware of their problems. More often, they fall apart because they misidentify or only partially identify the root of those problems. The ability to accurately diagnose weaknesses, to distinguish between temporary constraints and structural limits, and to generate the political will to fixdeep-seated problems separates states that adapt and thrive from those that stagnate or crumble.
China today faces an imposing list of challenges that it needs to assess and address. Economic growth is slowing, the population is aging, the financial system is under stress, and other countries have been tightening trade controls and scaling up their own industrial policies to compete.
For many years, China's economic expansion could mask the country's underlying vulnerabilities. That era is now over. And in party documents and major speeches alike, leaders in Beijing admit these pressures and acknowledge the country's weaknesses.
But recognition is not diagnosis, nor does it automatically translate into meaningful action. Beijing describes China's challenges as technical, developmental, or externally imposed rather than products of systemic problems.
This distinction is strategic. It downplays political and institutional vulnerabilities that are causing the issues or making them worse, including the concentration of authority in the hands of Chinese leader Xi Jinping, tensions between central directives and local implementation, misaligned incentives between leaders and rank-and-file cadres, and a demand for ideological rigidity that leaves limited room for feedback or policy correction. ...
The remainder of this commentary is available on foreignaffairs.com (https://www.foreignaffairs.com/china/how-china-misperceives-itself).
* * *
More About This Commentary
Francesca Ghiretti is director of the Economic Security and Resilience Initiative, codirector of the China Initiative, and a research leader at RAND Europe.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2026/06/how-china-misperceives-itself.html
[Category: ThinkTank]
Manhattan Institute Issues Commentary to UnHerd: Loneliness Has Become an Online Lifestyle Brand
NEW YORK, June 5 -- The Manhattan Institute issued the following excerpts of a commentary on June 4, 2026, by policy analyst Carolyn D. Gorman to UnHerd:
* * *
Loneliness Has Become an Online Lifestyle Brand
Young women are attracting hundreds of thousands of online followers by declaring themselves alone and friendless. "Loneliness" and "solitude" influencers are gaining traction by posting their nights in, accompanied by captions such as: "POV you have no friends and live alone so this is how you spend your Friday night." Americans have worried for years about whether social media is making
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, June 5 -- The Manhattan Institute issued the following excerpts of a commentary on June 4, 2026, by policy analyst Carolyn D. Gorman to UnHerd:
* * *
Loneliness Has Become an Online Lifestyle Brand
Young women are attracting hundreds of thousands of online followers by declaring themselves alone and friendless. "Loneliness" and "solitude" influencers are gaining traction by posting their nights in, accompanied by captions such as: "POV you have no friends and live alone so this is how you spend your Friday night." Americans have worried for years about whether social media is makingus lonely, but these influencers demonstrate that loneliness itself has become content.
This trend points to a cultural problem, one bigger than a few solitary female influencers. Social media is not just chipping away at real-world interactions but actively rewarding people for performing loneliness.
Platforms and their users can cash in by glamorizing behavior that inherently makes society -- and content producers themselves -- worse off. One 24-year-old influencer told New York Magazine that after titling her first TikTok video "You're single, you don't have kids, you live alone, and you're an introvert," it drew around 200,000 views.
Society gets more of what it rewards. Another "full-time influencer" rebranded her account away from posts about her dog to videos of herself as a "single introvert" after one Friday night post about having few local friends "blew up".
If being a lonely, friendless influencer is a successful online brand, we shouldn't be surprised when it produces more people who are lonely and friendless.
Continue reading the entire piece here at UnHerd (https://unherd.com/newsroom/loneliness-has-become-an-online-lifestyle-brand/?edition=us)
* * *
Carolyn D. Gorman is a Paulson Policy Analyst at the Manhattan Institute.
* * *
Original text here: https://manhattan.institute/article/loneliness-has-become-an-online-lifestyle-brand
[Category: ThinkTank]
Hudson Institute Issues Commentary to Asia Times: Kyrgyzstan's UN Upset Signals Eurasia's Quiet Rise
WASHINGTON, June 5 -- Hudson Institute, a research organization that says it promotes leadership for a secure, free and prosperous future, issued the following commentary on June 4, 2026, by senior fellow Ken Moriyasu to Asia Times:
* * *
Kyrgyzstan's UN Upset Signals Eurasia's Quiet Rise
UN vote favoring Kyrgyzstan over Philippines for Security Council seat is a sign of the changing geopolitical times.
-
On Wednesday (June 3), Kyrgyzstan secured an upset victory over the Philippines to win a seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2027-2028 term.
After taking a surprising 105-85
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, June 5 -- Hudson Institute, a research organization that says it promotes leadership for a secure, free and prosperous future, issued the following commentary on June 4, 2026, by senior fellow Ken Moriyasu to Asia Times:
* * *
Kyrgyzstan's UN Upset Signals Eurasia's Quiet Rise
UN vote favoring Kyrgyzstan over Philippines for Security Council seat is a sign of the changing geopolitical times.
-
On Wednesday (June 3), Kyrgyzstan secured an upset victory over the Philippines to win a seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2027-2028 term.
After taking a surprising 105-85lead in the first ballot, the Central Asian nation went on to win decisively, 142-49, in a fourth round of voting. Kyrgyzstan was one of 59 countries that had never served on the Council. Its election marks only the second time a Central Asian country has held a seat, following Kazakhstan in 2017-2018.
An elated Kyrgyz delegation - some wearing traditional ak-kalpak hats - celebrated in the General Assembly Hall, exchanging handshakes and smiles with a long line of well-wishers.
The scale of the final vote was striking. That such a decisive margin favored a Central Asian candidate over a US-aligned Indo-Pacific one challenges conventional assumptions about where the center of global geopolitical gravity is shifting.
On paper, the Philippines appeared the obvious choice. A US treaty ally and founding member of ASEAN, it has deep diplomatic ties across the Global South and has served on the Security Council four times. Its strategic location -- on the front lines of tensions with China and near Taiwan -- only reinforced its relevance.
In April, the United States and the Philippines held their largest-ever "Balikatan" joint military drills, including in areas near Taiwan. More than 17,000 troops from seven countries participated in the 19-day exercise.
At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 30, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth praised President Ferdinand Marcos Jr for boosting defense spending by 12% this year, highlighting Manila's push to build a "modern, technologically advanced and interoperable force" capable of operating alongside US forces.
Yet, Wednesday's vote suggested that many countries in the Global South gave a collective shrug to this US-centric narrative. Rather than lining up behind alliance structures or strategic alignments, many countries in the General Assembly appeared willing to back a different kind of candidate.
Kyrgyzstan's campaign leaned into that contrast. Its messaging -- "The voice of Central Asia," "Mountain nation, global vision," and "Landlocked, ocean-minded" -- emphasized representation and perspective over power politics.
Ahead of the vote, a senior Philippine diplomat had expressed confidence that countries such as the US and Japan would support Manila's bid. The diplomat noted Kyrgyzstan's backing from China and Russia, and argued it was clear which candidate stood on "the right side of history."
The outcome, however, suggests that framing did not resonate. For years, the dominant narrative in global strategy has been the rise of the Indo-Pacific - a framework centered on maritime trade, naval power and US-China competition at sea.
By that logic, a country like the Philippines should have been the natural choice. But the General Assembly chose differently. Kyrgyzstan's victory suggests that another map is beginning to matter: the Eurasian interior.
This region is increasingly a theater of strategic competition. Russia's influence in Central Asia and South Caucasus is waning as it remains consumed by the war in Ukraine.
China, meanwhile, is expanding overland energy and infrastructure networks across Eurasia, as it seeks to reduce reliance on maritime routes vulnerable to disruption, particularly in the event of an armed conflict with the US.
At the same time, countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan have pursued multivector foreign policies, avoiding overdependence on any single power and a balancing act that has kept them engaged with multiple partners, including the US.
Washington has always struggled to categorize Central Asia - variously grouping it with Europe, the Middle East or Asia. Often treated as a space between more important regions, it is now emerging as a geopolitical arena in its own right -- defined not by sea lanes, but by corridors, energy routes and common Turkic heritage.
None of this means that countries are necessarily siding with Russia and China over the US. Nor does it diminish the importance of the Indo-Pacific. And the Philippines will obviously remain central to US strategy vis-a-vis China.
But the vote does suggest something more subtle: a growing appetite for new narratives and a recognition that military buildup may not be the only path to credible deterrence. It also reflects an emerging new geopolitical map with Eurasia increasingly at its center.
Read in Asia Times (https://asiatimes.com/2026/06/kyrgyzstans-un-upset-signals-eurasias-quiet-rise/).
* * *
At A Glance:
Ken Moriyasu is a senior fellow at Hudson Institute.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.hudson.org/security-alliances/kyrgyzstans-un-upset-signals-eurasias-quiet-rise-ken-moriyasu
[Category: ThinkTank]
Center on Budget & Policy Priorities: Data Show Social Security Staff Cuts Harm Service Delivery in Every State
WASHINGTON, June 5 -- The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities issued the following commentary on June 3, 2026, by senior fellow Kathleen Romig:
* * *
New Data Show Social Security Staff Cuts Harm Service Delivery in Every State
In just 15 months, the Trump Administration has pushed out more than 8,000 Social Security Administration (SSA) workers -- causing SSA's largest one-year staffing reduction on record. This 14 percent cut has compromised SSA's ability to reliably serve seniors, bereaved families, and people with disabilities. By January 2026, SSA had fewer employees than at any time
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, June 5 -- The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities issued the following commentary on June 3, 2026, by senior fellow Kathleen Romig:
* * *
New Data Show Social Security Staff Cuts Harm Service Delivery in Every State
In just 15 months, the Trump Administration has pushed out more than 8,000 Social Security Administration (SSA) workers -- causing SSA's largest one-year staffing reduction on record. This 14 percent cut has compromised SSA's ability to reliably serve seniors, bereaved families, and people with disabilities. By January 2026, SSA had fewer employees than at any timesince 1967, when the agency was not yet responsible for administering Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and served 52 million fewer beneficiaries.
This largest-ever cut in SSA staffing has affected field offices and operations in every state -- with 42 states and the District of Columbia seeing SSA staff losses greater than 10 percent between January 2025 and April 2026, according to Office of Personnel Management (OPM) data. (See table below.) This short-staffing of critical functions has affected SSA's ability to deliver across the country.
The loss of thousands of employees hit key customer service positions hard, including a drop of more than 3,800 customer service staff who assist visitors to SSA field offices and callers to SSA's national 800 number. SSA leadership responded by shifting thousands of remaining workers to new roles to help fill the gap the Administration had created. But redistributing the too-few remaining workers to roles where they have little or no experience risks ameliorating one service delivery problem by exacerbating others.
But it's hard for Congress and the public to understand how these radical changes affect the people SSA serves, from new babies being assigned a Social Security number, to workers at the beginnings and ends of their careers, to the surviving spouses and children of workers who die. That's because in the summer of 2025, amid bad press on its worsening performance, SSA stopped publicly releasing regular monthly updates of many customer-focused service metrics.
SSA restored the public release of some of those measures over time, but certain key metrics have remained unreported. For example, SSA no longer shares how long callers to the 800 number wait on hold or for a call to be returned, how long it takes applicants to get an appointment, or how many unfulfilled requests languish in the processing backlog. And in May 2026, SSA failed to publish any updates to its monthly performance measures.
The lack of transparency is not serving the agency well, particularly as agency leadership claims that SSA is "working better and faster than ever" seem readily undercut by press reports on customer service and processing strains at the agency. For example, phone wait times are much longer than publicly advertised; lengthy waits for appointments particularly harm widows and children who have lost parents; local offices often struggle to operate with shrinking staffs; and record-high processing backlogs create longer waits for needed help.
SSA already faced customer service challenges when the Trump Administration took office, as years of underfunding had forced the agency to serve the growing number of beneficiaries with fewer staff. The Administration's personnel policies have made things worse. While SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano has promised that SSA will partly compensate for cuts in staffing through improved efficiency, he has yet to explain how it will do so. The reality is the agency will need to begin hiring significant numbers of new employees now to avoid even greater deterioration in service.
The Administration needs to publish detailed plans for addressing its customer service challenges, identifying the specific steps it will take to improve customer service. It also needs to increase transparency by publishing the type of regular, detailed customer service metrics it used to release to the public. Taking these basic steps can help restore confidence in the agency and hold it accountable for delivering on its promises.
* * *
Table: Trump Administration Cuts to Social Security Staffing, January 2025 to April 2026
* * *
Kathleen Romig is a Senior Fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.cbpp.org/blog/new-data-show-social-security-staff-cuts-harm-service-delivery-in-every-state
[Category: ThinkTank]
Capital Research Center Issues InfluenceWatch Wrapup on June 5, 2026
WASHINGTON, June 5 -- The Capital Research Center issued the following InfluenceWatch wrapup by Jonathan Harsh:
* * *
InfluenceWatch, a project of Capital Research Center, is a comprehensive and ever-evolving compilation of our research into the numerous advocacy groups, foundations, and donors working to influence the public policy process. The website offers transparency into these influencers' funding, motives, and connections while providing insight often neglected by other watchdog groups.
The information compiled in InfluenceWatch gives news outlets and other interested parties research
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, June 5 -- The Capital Research Center issued the following InfluenceWatch wrapup by Jonathan Harsh:
* * *
InfluenceWatch, a project of Capital Research Center, is a comprehensive and ever-evolving compilation of our research into the numerous advocacy groups, foundations, and donors working to influence the public policy process. The website offers transparency into these influencers' funding, motives, and connections while providing insight often neglected by other watchdog groups.
The information compiled in InfluenceWatch gives news outlets and other interested parties researchto use in reporting on significant topics that are often overlooked by the American public.
CRC is pleased to present some of the most significant additions to InfluenceWatch in the past week:
* The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a nonprofit that organizes the "voluntary standards and conformity assessment system" within the United States. It has previously received government funding from the U.S. State Department, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It has also received funding from NSF International and the Gates Foundation.
* Root Capital is a group that provides funding and training services to assist rural communities in Latin America, Asia, and Africa with agricultural development. In 2022, it received a $25 million grant from Yield Giving, the philanthropic organization controlled by MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder and former CEO Jeff Bezos. Root Capital has also received funding from the Waverley Street Foundation and the Ezrah Charitable Trust. In 2024 it donated $583,458 to Catholic Relief Services.
* GreenLatinos is a membership-based coalition representing Latino community organizations that advocate for left-of-center environmentalist policies. In 2022, the group created the "Justicia y Equidad Fund" as a grantmaking initiative that received support from the Bezos Earth Fund, as well as government funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Urban and Community Forestry Program. GreenLatinos has also received funding from the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund, the United States Energy Foundation, the Heising-Simons Foundation, and the New Venture Fund.
* CHISPA, or the Community Housing Improvement Systems and Planning Association, is a California-based nonprofit that develops and manages apartments and single-family homes for low-income residents in Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz counties. CHISPA has previously received government funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through its Off-Farm Labor Housing Program. It has also received grants from the James Irvine Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the East Bay Community Foundation, and the National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders.
* Avina Americas is a left-of-center grantmaking organization and the United States-based affiliate of international philanthropic group Fundacion Avina. Fundacion Avina was initially founded by Swiss entrepreneur Stephan Schmidheiny and is one of several organizations within the Avina network of philanthropic groups. Avina Americas has received funding from the Valhalla Foundation, the Foundation to Promote Open Society, the Ford Foundation, the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the Skoll Foundation.
* * *
Jonathan Harsh holds a master's degree in political science from James Madison University and a bachelor's degree in political science from Beloit College.
* * *
Original text here: https://capitalresearch.org/article/influencewatch-friday-06-05-2026/
[Category: ThinkTank]
CSIS Issues States Weekly News Wrap Up on June 3, 2026
WASHINGTON, June 5 -- The Center for Strategic and International Studies issued the following States Weekly news wrap on June 3, 2026, by Aryan D'Rozario, associate fellow for the Chair on India and Emerging Asia Economics:
* * *
Big News: Bihar issues a Land Acquisition Policy and Land Survey Rules; Punjab repeals the Punjab Ad-hoc, Contractual, Daily Wage, Temporary, Work Charged and Outsourced Employees' Welfare Act, 2016; Assam passes the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill 2026; Sikkim withdraws the odd-even vehicle restriction normwith immediate effect; and more.
Health
Bihar approves "cashless
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, June 5 -- The Center for Strategic and International Studies issued the following States Weekly news wrap on June 3, 2026, by Aryan D'Rozario, associate fellow for the Chair on India and Emerging Asia Economics:
* * *
Big News: Bihar issues a Land Acquisition Policy and Land Survey Rules; Punjab repeals the Punjab Ad-hoc, Contractual, Daily Wage, Temporary, Work Charged and Outsourced Employees' Welfare Act, 2016; Assam passes the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill 2026; Sikkim withdraws the odd-even vehicle restriction normwith immediate effect; and more.
Health
Bihar approves "cashlesstreatment" to its legislators, officials, staff, and retired pensioners. The facility also extends to dependents of these categories. A "cashless treatment" facility allows one to receive medical care at empaneled network hospitals without making upfront out-of-pocket payments.
Source:The Hindu
In detail: Cabinet decisions
Punjab approves a menstrual health curriculum for adolescent girls studying in government schools. The curriculum will be rolled out in all 23 districts of Punjab.
Source: India Today
Jharkhand approves the 'Abua Dawakhana' (Our Clinic) Scheme. These clinics will provide treatment using allopathy, ayurveda, homeopathy, and other South Asian systems of medicine.
Source: Avenue Mail
Climate Change and Energy
Karnataka issues new rules on delayed bill generation and reduced payment periods. The order, issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) instructed all electricity distribution licensees to provide consumers with a full fifteen days to pay their electricity bills, calculated strictly from the actual date of bill generation and not from the scheduled billing date.
Source: Solar Quarter
In detail: KERC Order
Uttar Pradesh imposes an additional surcharge under the fuel adjustment charge mechanism. The charges issued by the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) will result in an increase of nearly 10 percent in electricity bills.
Source:India Today
In detail: Uttar Pradesh Electricity Price
Tamil Nadu releases (TNERC) Forecasting, Scheduling and Deviation Settlement and Related Matters for Wind, Solar and Hybrid Generations (with or without ESS) Regulations, 2026. The regulations, issued by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) will apply across Tamil Nadu to all wind, solar, and hybrid generating stations with a capacity of 1 MW and above.
Source: Solar Quarter
In detail: Draft TNERC (Forecasting, Scheduling and Deviation Settlement and Related Matters for Wind, Solar and Hybrid Generation (with or without ESS) Regulations, 2026
Himachal Pradesh issues draft Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (Promotion of Generation from the Renewable Energy Sources and Terms and Conditions for Tariff Determination) (Eighth Amendment) Regulations, 2026. The regulations, issued by the Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (HPERC) aim at updating the state's renewable energy regulations in line with evolving national standards.
Source: Solar Quarter
In detail: Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (Promotion of Generation from the Renewable Energy Sources and Terms and Conditions for Tariff Determination) (Eighth Amendment) Regulations, 2026
Meghalaya releases draft of the Meghalaya State Electricity Regulatory Commission (Multi-Year Tariff) Regulations, 2026. The regulations introduce a framework intended to create a more structured, transparent, and predictable tariff system for power utilities operating in the state. The regulations are set to govern electricity tariff determination from April 1, 2027.
Source: Construction world
In detail: Meghalaya State Electricity Regulatory Commission (Multi Year Tariff) Regulations, 2026
Finance
Nothing critical to report this week.
Industrial Policy & Business Regulations
West Bengal lowers the threshold for mandatory e-way bill generation on intra-state movement of goods from $1,050.14 - $525.07 (INR 1 lakh to INR 50,000). The revised requirement comes into force from June 1, 2026. Under the revised framework, businesses moving goods within West Bengal will now be required to generate an e-way bill if the consignment value exceeds $525.07 (INR 50,000).
Source: KNN
In detail: Circular
Delhi publishes a draft Bed and Breakfast Policy 2026. The policy seeks to promote regulated homestay-style accommodation through a simplified online registration system and self-certification regime.
Source: Times of India
In detail: Draft Delhi Bed & Breakfast Policy 2026
Ladakh approves a new Excise Policy. The policy permits the sale of hard liquor through retail vendors, reduces documents to obtain a liquor license from sixteen to six, and extends the availability of liquor to four more districts.
Source: Economic Times
In detail: Excise Policy
Land Acquisition and Labor Regulations
Bihar issues Land Acquisition Policy and Land Survey Rules. The policy allows the government to acquire land from private individuals and farmers for its development projects in urban and rural areas through fiscal incentives.
Source: ETV
Uttar Pradesh eliminates the requirement to obtain a Change of Land Use (CLU) Certificate to convert agricultural land for non-agricultural use. Building plans can now be approved without a prior CLU, and once a building plan is approved by the relevant agency, the land use will be deemed to have changed automatically in accordance with the approved plan.
Source: KNN
Puducherry issues a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) forproperty ownershiptransfer. The SOP ends the practice of forwarding subdivision files to the Directorate for re-checking and sets a 60-day time limit for disposal of petitions.
Source: The Hindu
Punjab repeals the Punjab Ad-hoc, Contractual, Daily Wage, Temporary, Work Charged and Outsourced Employees' Welfare Act, 2016. The Act is replaced by The Punjab State Outsourced Personnel (Transition to Contractual Engagement) Bill, 2026, and the Punjab Contractual Personnel (Absorption Against Sanctioned Vacancies) Bill, 2026. These actions dismantle Punjab's contractual employment system, paving the way for the formalization of over 65,000 outsourced and temporary workers across 51 government departments.
Source: Hindustan Times
Infrastructure and Governance
Andhra Pradesh issues operational guidelines for the development of urban infrastructure projects under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. The guidelines will apply to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), Urban Development Authorities (UDAs), and other agencies under the department. The guidelines aim to create investor-friendly, financially sustainable, and future-ready cities.
Source: Deccan Chronicle
In detail: Guidelines for Development of Urban Infrastructure in Andhra Pradesh through Public Private Partnerships
Tamil Nadu waives loans up to $525.07 (INR 50,000), availed by small and marginal farmers from cooperative banks since May last year. Loans up to $525.07 (INR 50,000) obtained by marginal farmers will be completely waived. For small farmers, 50 percent of the loan within this limit will be waived. Marginal farmers who borrowed $525.07 - $630.08 (INR5 0,000 - INR 60,000) will receive a waiver of $420.05 (INR.40,000) and small farmers will receive a waiver of $210.02 (20,000).
Source: The Hindu
Assam passes the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill 2026. The Bill does not apply to Scheduled Tribes residing in Assam. It proposes imprisonment terms for bigamy and polygamy, and up to three months in jail for failing to register a live-in relationship. The minimum age of marriage is also fixed at 21 years for men and 18 years for women.
Source: India Today
In detail: Assam Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill 2026
Himachal Pradesh mandates a drug test for individuals hoping to join government service.
Source: New Indian Express
In detail: Press Release
Jharkhand approves an increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for employees and pensioners from 58 percent to 60 percent.
Source: Avenue Mail
Jharkhand approves a pension scheme for artists above 60 years of age who are seriously ill or differently abled. Eligible artists with a monthly income below $84.01 (INR 8,000) will receive government assistance of $42 (INR 4,000).
Source: Avenue Mail
Center - State Relations
Nothing critical to report this week.
Any Other
Bihar mandates all state government officials and employees to take regular family vacations within the state. This initiative aims to boost local tourism and evaluate regional infrastructure.
Source:The Federal
Sikkim withdraws the odd-even vehicle restriction normwith immediate effect. However, the relaxation will not apply to Gangtok, where the regulation will continue.
Source: Daily Pioneer
* * *
Aryan D'Rozario is an associate fellow for the Chair on India and Emerging Asia Economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
* * *
Original text here: https://www.csis.org/analysis/states-weekly-june-3-2026
[Category: ThinkTank]
America First Policy Institute: Erika Donalds Commemorates Title IX Month and a Half Century of Opportunity for Girls
WASHINGTON, June 5 -- The America First Policy Institute issued the following statement on June 3, 2026:
* * *
Erika Donalds Commemorates Title IX Month and a Half Century of Opportunity for Girls
In recognition of Title IX Month, the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) today released the following statement from Erika Donalds, Chair of Education Opportunity, on the critical importance of Title IX in protecting opportunities for women and girls.
Erika Donalds, Chair of Education Opportunity at AFPI, said:
"As a former elected school board member, a founder of classical schools, a former
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, June 5 -- The America First Policy Institute issued the following statement on June 3, 2026:
* * *
Erika Donalds Commemorates Title IX Month and a Half Century of Opportunity for Girls
In recognition of Title IX Month, the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) today released the following statement from Erika Donalds, Chair of Education Opportunity, on the critical importance of Title IX in protecting opportunities for women and girls.
Erika Donalds, Chair of Education Opportunity at AFPI, said:
"As a former elected school board member, a founder of classical schools, a formerhigh school athlete, and most importantly, as a mom, I have always believed the same thing: Every child deserves education opportunities that meet their individual and unique needs, and parents, not bureaucrats, should be the ones in the driver's seat.
Education freedom isn't limited to the classroom. Athletic programs instill a student with discipline, resilience, and the drive to succeed. When Title IX passed in 1972, fewer than 300,000 girls played high school sports. Today more than three million do. Athletic opportunity teaches young women to set a goal, to work for it, to lose with dignity, and win with grace. Those are the lessons that build leaders.
This is why protecting Title IX is critical right now. The law was written to defend opportunity for women and girls, not erase the line of protection when ideologies redefine biology. When we erase Title IX, we take away fairness from the very girls the law was meant to serve. Girls deserve their own locker rooms, their own podiums, and scholarships that honor their work.
We will keep standing with moms, dads, and young women on this issue. The women who came before us turned a few lines of law into a half century of opportunity. We owe it to our daughters to keep that promise alive."
Learn more about AFPI's Education Opportunity and Athletes for America initiative here (https://www.americafirstpolicy.com/policy-areas/education-opportunity) and here (https://www.americafirstpolicy.com/initiative/athletes-for-america-coalition).
* * *
Original text here: https://www.americafirstpolicy.com/issues/erika-donalds-commemorates-title-ix-month-and-a-half-century-of-opportunity-for-girls
[Category: ThinkTank]
