News: In spite of several years of policymaking to improve road safety, India remains among the worst-performing countries in this area. The persistently high annual death toll brings into question the country’s ability to meet Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.6, which aims to halve the fatalities and injuries from road traffic accidents by 2030. Meanwhile,… Continue reading A road safety quartet and the road ahead
Category: 9 PM Daily Articles
The worrying slowdown in India’s fight against poverty
Context: A new poverty estimate has been released by SBI Research. What do the findings of the recent estimates suggest? As per SBI Research, Poverty in India declined to 17.9% in 2020-21, compared with the last available official estimate of 21.9% in 2011-12. These new estimates suggest an annual decline of 2.75 million in our… Continue reading The worrying slowdown in India’s fight against poverty
Selfish rich inequality hypothesis: The selfishness and graft of the rich drive inequality
News: In recent days, a ‘Selfish Rich Inequality Hypothesis’ has been proposed based on an analysis of the Gallup World Poll of 2018. What is the selfish rich inequality hypothesis? It says that, whether the rich are richer than the poor because they have been more selfish in life than the latter. What are… Continue reading Selfish rich inequality hypothesis: The selfishness and graft of the rich drive inequality
On reproductive rights, India’s MTP and Surrogacy Acts don’t go far enough
News: Recently, reproductive rights were overturned in the US through the Roe V. Wade judgment. Bodily autonomy and reproductive rights must be viewed from legal, medical, and social lenses. What are the challenges associated with MTP Act? The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act 2021: The act is in reality far from ideal. (1)… Continue reading On reproductive rights, India’s MTP and Surrogacy Acts don’t go far enough
Amendment proposals for IT rules miss the main point
News: Recently, the Bombay and Madras high courts, ordered to stay the operation of the inter-ministerial appellate body that was to operate under the 2021 IT Rules. The body aims to monitor digital news publications and over-the-top (OTT) platforms. The court observed that this oversight mechanism threatens media independence or “rob the media of its… Continue reading Amendment proposals for IT rules miss the main point
Semiconductors: Heroes Of The New Digital World
News: The government has launched the Semicon India program to secure a semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem in India. It will make India self-reliant on key items such as semiconductors. About the government initiative It provides attractive fiscal and non-fiscal incentives for companies to set up production across the value chain. Decoding chips: A chip essentially comprises… Continue reading Semiconductors: Heroes Of The New Digital World
Phased ban on plastics is welcome. Challenge will lie in enforcement, bringing in viable substitutes
News: The government has introduced rules to ban plastic in India in a phased manner. Now, the ban on the manufacture and use of several common use-and-throw plastic products will come into effect from 01 July 2022. New Plastic Ban rules (To be banned in a phased manner) At present, the banning would apply… Continue reading Phased ban on plastics is welcome. Challenge will lie in enforcement, bringing in viable substitutes
A direct approach to conservation
News: It has been found that India has not been able to mobilise private and public finance through Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES). This could have helped India achieve the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and the Paris Agreement on climate change. What are the biodiversity finance measures that can enable biodiversity protection and sustainable… Continue reading A direct approach to conservation
Goods and Services Tax at five: The new regime’s journey so far
News: The Goods and Services Tax (GST) has completed its 5th year since its inception on 1 July 2017. Recently, The 47th meeting of the GST Council has also taken place. What is the reason for introducing GST? Firstly, The GST replaced 17 central and state taxes and 13 cesses, eliminating the cascading impact of… Continue reading Goods and Services Tax at five: The new regime’s journey so far
Full privatization of PSBs: Our bank privatization agenda demands clarity
News: According to media reports, investment banks and other likely investors have recently asked the government to fully withdraw the Centre’s share from PSBs for facilitating a better disinvestment process and value discovery. This raised debate on the privatization of state-owned banks once again. Must read: Privatization of PSBs – Explained, Pointwise What are the… Continue reading Full privatization of PSBs: Our bank privatization agenda demands clarity
