News: At present, the 12th World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial conference is being held in Geneva. Food security is one of the agenda on the discussion table on the ministerial conference. Importance of Free Trade Free trade ensures that agricultural products flow from zones of abundance to regions of scarcity, just as the free exchange… Continue reading Free trade can’t yet pass a basic food security test
Category: 9 PM Daily Articles
Musings on ‘Indic civilisation’ and Indianness
News: Contemporary international politics has rendered less significant to cultural influence. The modern indices of strategic thinking, economic interests, and geopolitical affinities have gained more prominence than the cultural aspects. But India must treat Indic civilisation as a matter of pride. Contents1 How Indic Civilization is different from geographical and geopolitical India?2 What is the… Continue reading Musings on ‘Indic civilisation’ and Indianness
Welcome a G-7 package for an energy transition
News: It’s a win for India’s diplomacy that the G7 group looks set to offer it a climate partnership deal. Unless it places an unfair burden on us, let’s use the funds to decarbonize our economy faster. What is the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP)? Upon taking over the G-7 presidency for 2022, host Germany… Continue reading Welcome a G-7 package for an energy transition
India at bottom in EPI 2022 but environment survey confuses and stifles honest discussion on climate change
News: The 2022 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) released on World Environment Day (June 5) has triggered much distress in India, as the country is ranked last (180th). The government has issued a fierce rebuttal. How do we make sense of this debate? Contents1 What are some problems with indexes?2 What are the challenges in measuring… Continue reading India at bottom in EPI 2022 but environment survey confuses and stifles honest discussion on climate change
Economic impact of Russia-Ukraine conflict: Global macro in 2022/2023
News: The Russia-Ukraine conflict has the potential of creating macroeconomic/financial crises in many countries. Contents1 What is the vulnerability of dependence on Russian oil and gas?2 What is the present status of the Russian oil and gas?3 What is the economic impact at the global level due to higher oil prices?4 What is the critical… Continue reading Economic impact of Russia-Ukraine conflict: Global macro in 2022/2023
English-Vinglish, Hindi-Shindi: India doesn’t need a national language. Plus, Hindi is growing & English is no longer elitist
Context: Should India have a national language? And if not, then why not. The article discusses the reasons as to why India is better off without any national language and why it must not try and impose Hindi on non-hindi speakers. Global examples In theory, a national language is a nice idea, but imposing it… Continue reading English-Vinglish, Hindi-Shindi: India doesn’t need a national language. Plus, Hindi is growing & English is no longer elitist
Finger in every pie: Regular theft of biometric data shows how lax information storage is and why we need a strong law
News: Hyderabad police recently caught a man with around 2,000 fingerprints of separate individuals that were being used to purchase SIM cards, create bank accounts, and then engineer more frauds. Widespread use of biometrics Smaller public and private entities have now taken to biometrics with passion. Bengaluru Metro is mulling a facial recognition-based pass and… Continue reading Finger in every pie: Regular theft of biometric data shows how lax information storage is and why we need a strong law
Controlling the hard sell
News: ‘Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements and Endorsements for Misleading Advertisements, 2022’ have been notified by the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA). These guidelines have been long overdue. Contents1 What are the key provisions under the new rules?2 Why the new guidelines were necessary?3 What are the challenges involved?4 What is the way forward?… Continue reading Controlling the hard sell
The FATF and Pakistan’s position on its ‘grey list’
Context: Ahead of the plenary session of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), in Berlin, Pakistan is hoping for a removal of its name from the FATF’s ‘grey list’ or the list of countries presenting a risk to the global financial system. In its last plenary meeting in March, the FATF had retained Pakistan’s listing,… Continue reading The FATF and Pakistan’s position on its ‘grey list’
What has Rajya Sabha achieved that a stand-alone Lok Sabha has not, or would not?
News: Constituent Assembly was divided on the opinion on establishing Rajya Sabha. That debate still holds relevance even after so many years. What are the arguments against the establishment and functioning of the Rajya Sabha? Lokanath Misra in the Constituent Assembly was of the opinion that, a) It will not serve any useful purpose, b)… Continue reading What has Rajya Sabha achieved that a stand-alone Lok Sabha has not, or would not?
