Context: The US has weaponized its financial power to pressurize Russia to withdraw from Ukraine. The result of sanctions is that Russia cannot access around half of its foreign exchange reserves. This has led to discussion that other countries will try to diversify their reserves away from the US dollar. Why is the US Dollar… Continue reading It may be time to revive Keynes’ idea of a global reserve currency
Category: 9 PM Daily Articles
A blow to equitable access to essential medicines
News: In October 2020, India and South Africa tabled a proposal in the World Trade Organization (WTO) seeking temporary waiver from Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). This was to ensure availability of affordable vaccines, medicines and other medical products. What are the reasons for such demand? This was based on the contention… Continue reading A blow to equitable access to essential medicines
Recycling heat generated by datacentres
News: Microsoft has partnered with Fortum, Finnish energy company to launch the world’s largest scheme to provide heat to homes, services and business in Finland with waste heat. Heat would be sourced from a new data centre region that Microsoft has planned to build in the Helsinki metropolitan area in Finland. Contents1 How will this… Continue reading Recycling heat generated by datacentres
World Water Day: Are we ready for the thirsty future?
News: Notwithstanding, water scarcity and river pollution, we are making things worse for the conservation of the valuable resource. Contents1 What is Water Scarcity? 2 Situation wrt Water Scarcity 3 What are the factors behind increasing water scarcity? 4 Why is it important to tackle the water crisis? 5 What is the way forward? What is Water Scarcity? Water… Continue reading World Water Day: Are we ready for the thirsty future?
Ask the right questions for Ease of Doing Business 2.0
News: In her budget speech, Finance Minister expressed the government’s resolve to launch Ease of Doing Business 2.0 and Ease of Living programmes. She highlighted that in recent years, over 25,000 compliance requirements were reduced and 1,486 Union laws repealed. Has the reduction of compliance requirements impacted Ease of Doing Business in India? It is… Continue reading Ask the right questions for Ease of Doing Business 2.0
India & Japan take recent shifts in their stride
News: Recently, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was on visit to New Delhi. The visit was important for several reasons. What are the important outcomes of the visit? Wrt Ukraine conflict: In the Joint Statement, both sides called for international law to be respected and for an immediate cessation of violence in Ukraine. It is… Continue reading India & Japan take recent shifts in their stride
ICJ has ordered an end to invasion of Ukraine. This matters
News: The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN) has issued a provision measure i.e., an order to Russia to immediately suspend its military operations in Ukraine What are the provisional measures? These are interim injunctions aimed to preserve the rights of the party to the dispute(like Ukraine… Continue reading ICJ has ordered an end to invasion of Ukraine. This matters
Stop applauding ‘all-woman police stations’
News: On March 8, International Women’s Day, a Commissioner of Police in Tamil Nadu appointed women police officers as “heads” of police stations for a day. Also, many “all-woman police stations” have been created by the politicians over the years. What are the issues with such measures? Such moves are gestures for glory, admiration and,… Continue reading Stop applauding ‘all-woman police stations’
Needed, an Indian Legislative Service
Since the first Parliament in 1952, Secretaries-General of Rajya Sabha are usually parachuted from civil services and other services from time to time. On September 1, 2021, Dr. P.P.K. Ramacharyulu became the first Rajya Sabha Secretariat staff member who rose to the position of Secretary-General. However, he was replaced in less than 3 months. Need… Continue reading Needed, an Indian Legislative Service
India trails other countries in researchers
News: In this article, S Sridhar, the President of the Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI) lists what can help consolidate India’s pharma industry’s advantages and help it touch $130 billion by 2030 from $42 billion in 2020. India is the world’s third-largest drug manufacturer in volumes and ranks 14th in value terms. However,… Continue reading India trails other countries in researchers
