News: Recently, The International Day of Biodiversity on May 22, 2022 was celebrated. It was done amid the pandemic, and the recent heat waves in much of northern India and floods in Meghalaya. The uncertainty is being further fuelled by the continuing degradation of lands and biodiversity, growing malnutrition and hunger, and inequities and environmental… Continue reading Nature has the answers
Category: 9 PM Daily Articles
Can agri-exports be made more sustainable?
News: In the fiscal year 2021-22 (FY22), agri-exports scaled an all-time high of $50.3 billion with registering a growth of 20% over the preceding year. For example, India’s exports constituted 41% of a global rice market of 51.3 MMT. What were the driving forces? This was made possible largely by rising global commodity prices. In… Continue reading Can agri-exports be made more sustainable?
A Rajya Sabha rebalance must go with Lok Sabha expansion
Context: India is a federal structure with a unitary bias. The Constitution strikes a balance between popular will, exercised by the Lok Sabha, and the interests of states through the Rajya Sabha. But, we have allowed popular fashions and political exigencies to undermine the federal structure. What are the various states’ concerns? Delimitation exercises have… Continue reading A Rajya Sabha rebalance must go with Lok Sabha expansion
Indigenous weapons will have to wean India off Russian arms
News: According to Bloomberg News, the US is considering a $500 million defense package for India to finance the purchase of US weapon systems. According to Researchers at the Stimson Center, 85% of India’s weapons are of Russian origin. Further, in the next 5 years, Russian arms export to India will increase. India showed its… Continue reading Indigenous weapons will have to wean India off Russian arms
Unexpected, but also unacceptable – Shocks due to Russia-Ukraine war
News: Russian invasion of Ukraine represents an unexpected and undesirable shock to global economies, including India’s Economy. Indian economy is facing some unexpected shocks due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Even the areas which were looking beneficial for India are turning out to be harmful. Impacts on Indian economy Both Russia and Ukraine have… Continue reading Unexpected, but also unacceptable – Shocks due to Russia-Ukraine war
Striking off sedition will have little impact if UAPA remains untouched
News: Recently, the Union Government has shown its willingness to reconsider the colonial law in the spirit of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and the Supreme Court order has ordered to keep the 152-year-old sedition law, i.e., Section124 A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in abeyance. Contents1 What are the issues?2 Argument against the law3… Continue reading Striking off sedition will have little impact if UAPA remains untouched
Judicial delays and the need for intervention at the district level
News: Recently, Bihar’s Bhojpur district court was in the news. It delivered a judgement on a land dispute case filed in 1914 which is 108 years ago, making it one of the oldest cases in the country. What are the findings about the pendency of cases in the lower judiciary? According to some estimates, the… Continue reading Judicial delays and the need for intervention at the district level
On Raja Ram Mohan Roy’s 250th birth anniversary, remembering the legacy of the father of Modern Indian Renaissance
Context: One of the most influential social and religious reformers of the 19th century, Ram Mohan Roy, was born on May 22, 1772 in what was then Bengal Presidency’s Radhanagar in Hooghly district. As India grapples increasingly with changing social and religious circumstances, Roy’s work in the sphere of women’s emancipation, modernising education and seeking… Continue reading On Raja Ram Mohan Roy’s 250th birth anniversary, remembering the legacy of the father of Modern Indian Renaissance
Jobs scheme will not offer a long-term solution to urban unemployment. Safety nets need to better conceived
Context: A few days ago, the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister released a report on the state of inequality in India. The report, prepared by the Institute of Competitiveness, provides a detailed examination of the existing disparities in society. Some of the suggestions to tackle rising inequality in India included putting in place… Continue reading Jobs scheme will not offer a long-term solution to urban unemployment. Safety nets need to better conceived
Let’s keep GST good and simple
Context: The Supreme Court ruled on May 19th that the recommendations of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council only have persuasive value, and cannot be binding on the Centre and states. It should be noted that the case – Union of India vs Mohit Minerals Pvt Ltd – was dealing with the levy of… Continue reading Let’s keep GST good and simple
