Context: After the Supreme Court called for “corrective measures” against the peddling of communal hate from supposedly religious platforms, the authorities in Uttarakhand have prevented the holding of a ‘dharam sansad’ in Roorkee by imposing prohibitory orders against such gatherings. Recently, many such cases have come to the forefront wherein inflammatory speeches against particular communities… Continue reading Preventing harm: On judicial intervention against hate speech
Category: 9 PM Daily Articles
Scrap sedition: There’s no point trying to mend this broken law. It’s an anti-constitutional provision that must go
News: The Supreme Court has resumed its hearing of petitions seeking the scrapping of the sedition provision in IPC. This comes at a time when this colonial era law is becoming a major threat to political and personal freedoms. Why sedition law must be scrapped? Section 124A IPC punishes words or actions that attempt to… Continue reading Scrap sedition: There’s no point trying to mend this broken law. It’s an anti-constitutional provision that must go
Building back to avert a learning catastrophe
News: Recently, a joint report by UNESCO, UNICEF and the World Bank, ‘The State of the Global Education Crisis: A Path to Recovery’, was released related to the Covid-19 impact on school education. Contents1 What were the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic? 2 What are the emerging threats of issues in the coming future? 3 Should schools… Continue reading Building back to avert a learning catastrophe
A look at child and adolescent healthcare systems
News: There are less than eight years to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. However, many child and adolescent health targets are off track. Therefore, there is a real risk that nations might completely fail to meet the United Nation’s sustainable development targets. Global status & achievements of children and adolescents’ health Globally, an estimated… Continue reading A look at child and adolescent healthcare systems
Ride Between East & West
News: Recently, the Group of Twenty (G20) was facing the heat of disruption. The G7 group of rich nations have ganged. Their leaders walked out of a meeting of G20 finance ministers demanding Russia’s ouster. The developed countries have threatened to prevent the convening of the World Trade Organisation’s 12th ministerial meeting. About G20 It… Continue reading Ride Between East & West
Atmanirbhar internet is about self-sufficiency, not protectionism
Context: The criticisms levelled against the IT Rules and the idea of an atmanirbhar internet are baseless. What are the arguments in favor of IT Rules? Read – Draft IT Rules for Social Media Firstly, it will strike a balance between the commercial interests of social media platforms and the rights of its citizens in… Continue reading Atmanirbhar internet is about self-sufficiency, not protectionism
Electric vehicles have a dark side too: Blood batteries and child labour
Context: EVs are being pitched as cleaner, greener and sustainable. But are they? Underlying the shiny exteriors of an electric vehicle lies a shocking story of blood batteries, extreme poverty and child labour. Contents1 What is the usage of Cobalt in production of EVs?2 What are the humanitarian problems associated with production of EVs?3 Is… Continue reading Electric vehicles have a dark side too: Blood batteries and child labour
PDS has had a spectacular run. That may not last
Context: Its golden chapter was scripted in an environment of low global commodity prices and surplus domestic foodgrain production. That party is over, even as food inflation is back. Why was the 2020-21 year very important for the agricultural sector? (1) In 2020-21, Agriculture was the only sector to grow at 3.3%, even as the… Continue reading PDS has had a spectacular run. That may not last
Public Sector Banks must move beyond recapitalization bonds
News: Recently, the public sector banks (PSBs) had a huge amount of gross non-performing assets (NPAs) or bad loans. It peaked at ₹8.96 trillion or around 14.6% of total loans in March 2018. However, the gross NPAs have fallen to ₹5.59 trillion, or around 7.9% of total loans as of December 2021. What are the challenges before… Continue reading Public Sector Banks must move beyond recapitalization bonds
“India as a democratic superpower
News: India is the world’s third-largest economy, at least in purchasing power terms. Further, it has been argued that India has emerged as a democratic superpower capable of providing the leadership that the world needs. What are the geopolitical and other challenges in front of the international community? Russia has launched an unprovoked war against… Continue reading “India as a democratic superpower
