News: The Ukraine Conflict has caused a resurfacing of the deepest dilemma related to the energy sector, i.e. – whether to ensure there is affordable, secure, and accessible energy at present, or – to secure the longer-term imperatives of economic growth and sustainable development. Situation Prior to the Ukraine Conflict Oil market It was globally… Continue reading The Ukraine conflict has raked up old dilemmas
Category: 9 PM Daily Articles
The new era of fiscal federalism could strengthen national unity
Context: The 15th Finance Commission (2021-2026) retained the states’ share, and its methodology of assigning weights based on population. This is likely to be a factor in the politics of federalism. Contents1 Importance of fiscal federalism in India2 Why states in India have weak fiscal capabilities?3 Important Institution to uphold fiscal federalism4 Measures towards Fiscal… Continue reading The new era of fiscal federalism could strengthen national unity
Why kidney rackets thrive
News: Last week, a network of kidney traffickers was busted in Delhi. This is the 3rd such scam in the last 15 years in Delhi. The trafficker involved doctors and other healthcare personnel, hospital administrators. They catered to patients that have end-stage kidney diseases and cannot be treated with medicines or dialysis and require a… Continue reading Why kidney rackets thrive
7% Growth Is India’s Best Foreign Policy Strategy
Context: Countries from around the world like the US, Israel, Iran, etc. are trying to build good relations with India. However, India is still not free to make strategic choices. How economic development determines freedom to make choices for countries? In 2010, Professor Michael Beckley analyzed the relationship between military effectiveness and economic development. In the… Continue reading 7% Growth Is India’s Best Foreign Policy Strategy
Unnatural urbanisation
News: Recently, a 20-minute thunderstorm in Delhi uprooted many trees, some of them between 40 and 50 years old, throwing the city out of gear for hours. This chaos, caused due to poor urban planning, has become a pattern whenever a pre-monsoon storm, with high-velocity winds, hits the city. Delhi High Court has taken note… Continue reading Unnatural urbanisation
‘Plants adapt by their fragrances — these enrich the environment and our lives
Context: Plants express their needs through the release of aromatic chemicals. They emit fragrances for both attraction and protection. What is the significance of various fragrances emitted by the plants? For protection, a certain fragrance is released when a leaf is crushed or when someone walks on grass. This is sharp and green, called ‘green… Continue reading ‘Plants adapt by their fragrances — these enrich the environment and our lives
Veiled threats to privacy
Context: Cert-In recently issued a new directive making it mandatory for VPN service providers to keep user data for at least five years and share records with authorities when required. This new regulation threatens free speech and privacy. Contents1 What is a VPN?2 What are the different use cases of VPNs?3 How does a VPN… Continue reading Veiled threats to privacy
Gradual engagement – India should maintain with Afghanistan a policy of engagement rooted in realism
News: India has sent a multi-member team of senior diplomats to Afghanistan for the first time since the Indian Embassy in Kabul was evacuated in August 2021 following the arrival of the Taliban in the Afghan capital. The MEA has said that the visit is only to help coordinate India’s humanitarian assistance for the Afghanistan… Continue reading Gradual engagement – India should maintain with Afghanistan a policy of engagement rooted in realism
Control and delete
News: Recently, the Government has planned to set up a panel that can overturn content moderation decisions made by social media platforms. The idea has been proposed as an amendment to the IT Rules 2021. The IT Rules, 2021 will be amended to constitute one or more appellate committees which will have the final word… Continue reading Control and delete
New India needs free and quality higher education
News: New York University’s NYU Grossman School of Medicine has become the first major American medical school to announce that it will pay the tuition fees for all its students admitted in its MD programme, regardless of their financial needs, from the 2021–22 academic year. Contents1 The Nordic Model2 Importance of Free Education as learned… Continue reading New India needs free and quality higher education
