Context: Agriculture in India needs state support to thrive. Background Recently, President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to three contentious farm bills passed by Parliament. The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act,2020 (FAPAFS). The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020 (FPTC). The Essential Commodities… Continue reading Farm Bills Concerns and evaluation
Category: 9 PM Daily Articles
GDP recovery- questionable data
Context- The Q-2 sharp recovery is very tactical because of pent-up demand, because of lockdown and the Data used for quarterly growth rates are weak and questionable. What in the news- The second quarter GDP contracted at a slower pace of 7.5 percent compared to a massive 23.9 percent in the first quarter of the… Continue reading GDP recovery- questionable data
Disability – policy and challenges
Context: 3rd dec is the annual International Day of Persons with Disabilities, established by the United Nations in 1992. More on news: International Day of Persons with Disabilities: Promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development. Increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every… Continue reading Disability – policy and challenges
AMR and health crisis
Context: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a silent pandemic, is growing at an alarming rate. Why is AMR growing at an alarming rate? AMR: Globally, about 35% of common human infections have become resistant to available medicines. About 700,000 people die every year because available antimicrobial drugs (antibiotics, antivirals, anti-parasitic and antifungals) have become less effective at… Continue reading AMR and health crisis
Behind China’s wolf warrior diplomacy
Context: Xi Jinping is deepening a ‘Chinese Communist Party-state’ brand of nationalism for a domestic and global audience. What is Chinese brand of nationalism? An abrasive brand of nationalism is associated with China. Beijing’s recourse to nationalistic aggression as a foreign policy strategy has gained the euphemism of ‘wolf warrior diplomacy’. It involves a state-sponsored… Continue reading Behind China’s wolf warrior diplomacy
Purpose of the vaccine
Context- The challenges vaccine poses to qualify as a ‘public health’ intervention in India. What is the purpose of vaccination? Individual prevention- – The ability to develop immunity by producing antibodies among those individuals who have taken a vaccine shot. It builds an adaptive immune system To achieve herd immunity– It is a concept used… Continue reading Purpose of the vaccine
Why Corporate houses should not own banks?
Context: Granting license to corporates to promote banks will be disastrous to the economy as a whole. Background Recently, the RBI constituted an Internal Working Group to determine if large corporate houses can be given licence to promote banks. The Internal Working Group recommended to allow corporate houses to operate banks. What are the concerns… Continue reading Why Corporate houses should not own banks?
Farmer’s protest
Context – Massive communication failure on the part of the central government to explain to farmers what these laws are, and how they are intended to benefit them. What is the farmer’s and States concern with regard to new farm laws? Farmer’s fear- This could corporatize agriculture, threaten the current mandi network and State revenues and dilute… Continue reading Farmer’s protest
India hosted the SCO heads of governments (HoG) meeting
Context: Three years after joining the eight-nation Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), India hosted the SCO heads of governments (HoG) meeting for the first time. How does the SCO serve India’s quest for geopolitical balance and regional engagement? The focus: The focus of the 66-point joint statement was in developing a “Plan of Priority Practical Measures… Continue reading India hosted the SCO heads of governments (HoG) meeting
Assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist
Context: Assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist threatens will have serious geopolitical implications in West Asia and beyond Background Fakhrizadeh, who is widely regarded as a key figure in Iran’s nuclear weapons programme was recently killed in an ambush attack on a rural road outside Tehran. Also, note that Qasem Soleimani, the Iranian general in charge… Continue reading Assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist
