News: Recently, Facebook accused Apple of abusing its market power. It has been criticized for introducing a new AppTrackingTransparency feature on its app store, which aims to enhance the user’s privacy. However, in the name of enhancing privacy, it has been alleged to cause disadvantages to competitors. Contents1 What is the new feature? 2 Why the… Continue reading Big Tech’s privacy promise to consumers could be good news — and also bad news
Category: 9 PM Daily Articles
A merger to better manage the Indian Railways
News: Recently, the government issued a Gazette notification regarding the creation of the Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS). It has been created after merging 8 out of 10 Group-A Indian Railway services, and marks a paradigm shift in the management of one of the world’s largest rail networks. What is the significance of this… Continue reading A merger to better manage the Indian Railways
When lack of data gets in the way of affirmative action
News: Recently, in two separate judgements, the Supreme Court (SC) of India has struck down the reservations that were awarded by the Maharashtra government and Tamil Nadu government. Both judgments identified the same problem – a lack of evidence-driven policymaking by the state govt for reservations. What observations have been made by the Supreme Court… Continue reading When lack of data gets in the way of affirmative action
A model struggling to deliver
Context: National Education Policy, 2020, envisions universalizing Early Childhood Care and Education through Anganwadis. However, the events linked to COVID-19 led to an abrupt halt in the progress. What are Anganwadi Centres (AWCs)? AWCs fall under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme. Preschool is one of the six services provided in this package. AWCs are… Continue reading A model struggling to deliver
The process of electing India’s President
Context: The tenure of the current President is set to end in July this year, which is also when the 16th Indian Presidential election will be held to elect his successor. How is the President elected? The Indian President is elected through an electoral college system, by proportional representation by a single transferable vote. The… Continue reading The process of electing India’s President
HOPS as a route to universal health care
Context: The basic idea of Universal Health Care (UHC) is that no one should be deprived of quality healthcare for the lack of ability to pay. In the Bhore Committee report of 1946, a case was made for India to create its own National Health Service (NHS) type health care system. How UHC can be… Continue reading HOPS as a route to universal health care
The importance of addressing duty anomalies in trade deals
Context: India has long suffered the anomaly of imported raw material being taxed more than the finished product. Economists call it the inverted duty structure. A range of free trade agreements (FTAs) in the past have not helped. Are the new ones any better? What is the main issue with the inverted duty structure? Makes… Continue reading The importance of addressing duty anomalies in trade deals
Cleaning India’s air: What is the report card so far?
Context: An analysis of various steps taken by the government in this regard shows that much more needs to be done. Contents1 What is the present situation wrt the problem of air pollution in India?2 What are the various steps taken by the govt to address the issue?3 What has been the outcome of these… Continue reading Cleaning India’s air: What is the report card so far?
Poverty estimates are a shot in the dark
Context: The government, which earlier used to conduct Consumption Expenditure Surveys (CES) and update poverty lines, has not released any data on this lately. The last consumption survey of 2017-18 was junked. Based on the leaked estimates of consumption expenditure from that survey, it was reported that poverty increased from 31% in 2011-12 to 35%… Continue reading Poverty estimates are a shot in the dark
A greener, safer future for Indian cities
Context: The IPCC’s latest report shows how smart urban planning can mitigate the effects of climate change. Contents1 What is the need for smart urban planning in India? 2 What are the challenges wrt urban infra in India? 3 What measures need to be implemented? 4 Way Forward What is the need for smart urban planning in… Continue reading A greener, safer future for Indian cities
