Context: The Union finance minister recently made a declaration at the Atlantic Council think tank that the government is planning to set up as many as 75 digital-only banks or non-banking financial companies (NBFCs). Digital Banking Units (DBUs) could transform access to financial services in remote areas where the physical delivery of such services is… Continue reading On Digital Banking Units (DBUs): Digital delivery
Category: 9 PM Daily Articles
Government needs to factor in that both production and procurement are likely to be below expectations
Context: India isn’t going to harvest a bumper wheat crop this time. What is the situation wrt wheat production and procurement this year? The Agriculture ministry made an all-time high output estimate of 111.32 million tonnes (mt) in mid-February, when the crop looked good, thanks to surplus rains and an extended winter. Most field reports… Continue reading Government needs to factor in that both production and procurement are likely to be below expectations
This is India’s moment of reckoning
News: Recently, there have been global developments of conflict and violence in Ukraine. It has been followed by the imposition of the western economic sanctions on Russia. This has presented new opportunities and threats to the world, especially India. Contents1 What have been the trends since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989? 2 What… Continue reading This is India’s moment of reckoning
Its time to celebrate democratic governance in a war-ridden world
News: In the light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the West is trying to shape a global consensus in favour its democratic governance model. This is leading to widening the divide between authoritarian and democratic regimes. What have been the arguments against the democratic governance model? In last few years, the Chinese and Russian… Continue reading Its time to celebrate democratic governance in a war-ridden world
The Brittle Middle
News: Recently, the Supreme Court found serious fault within the high courts. The High Courts have consistently failed to uphold judicial discipline while pronouncing orders. Contents1 What are the recent instances in which the HCs have failed to uphold judicial discipline? 2 What are the issues in Indian Judiciary? 3 What are the steps that needs to… Continue reading The Brittle Middle
Not just dollars: Sri Lanka needs deep economic reforms to dig its way out of the crisis
Context: A series of positive developments in Sri Lanka have triggered hopes that it’ll eventually see through one of the worst economic crisis that it’s going through right now. What are the positive developments? On the political front, 17 new ministerial appointments were initiated by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, suggesting an end to the political logjam.… Continue reading Not just dollars: Sri Lanka needs deep economic reforms to dig its way out of the crisis
Freebies are a passport to fiscal disaster
[ Context: The strength of the Centre in India lies in the strength of the states. Hence, the macroeconomic stability of the Union is contingent on the macroeconomic stability of both the Centre and states. It is in this context that the chairperson of the 15th Finance Commission, NK Singh, discusses the political culture of… Continue reading Freebies are a passport to fiscal disaster
Initiatives to resuscitate traditional medicine are welcome. There is need to iron out regulatory flaws
Context: Inaugurating the WHO’s Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (GCTM) at Jamnagar in Gujarat, Prime Minister of India talked of the possibilities offered by therapeutic approaches that are different from the allopathic medicine system. Such conversations on medical pluralism are welcome. They could pave the way for a healthcare ecosystem in which healing approaches based… Continue reading Initiatives to resuscitate traditional medicine are welcome. There is need to iron out regulatory flaws
Bulldozed due process: Courts must step in and stop state/local authorities from ignoring basic principles
Context: Bulldozers continued to raze alleged encroachments in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri – scene of rioting on Saturday – yesterday, forcing Supreme Court to expeditiously communicate its stay order to North Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Constitutional courts located in national/state capitals must respond fast enough to such localised cases of overreach. Why state action in this case… Continue reading Bulldozed due process: Courts must step in and stop state/local authorities from ignoring basic principles
When the stars came out
News: Recently, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) was launched on 25 Dec 21. It was a joint project of NASA, the European Space Agency, the Canadian Space Agency and involved many universities, organisations, and companies across 14 countries. It is to be administered by the Space Telescope Science Institute (STSI). The project proved that… Continue reading When the stars came out
