News: The report estimates that there has been an increase in students traveling abroad for higher education every year. What does the data suggest? About 8 lakh students travel abroad for higher education every year and spend $28 billion, or 1% of the country’s GDP, on this. About $6 billion in fees, out of this, go… Continue reading Why lakhs of Indians go abroad to study
Category: 9 PM Daily Articles
Russia-Ukraine crisis underscores lack of integrated energy policy in India
News: The conflict between Russia and the Western powers over Ukraine will have adverse impacts on India’s energy security. The crisis is a wake-up call for India to address its energy policies in totality, by energy price reforms, prioritizing resources to sectors, such as energy storage, and stopping vote banks from hijacking fuel pricing. Why… Continue reading Russia-Ukraine crisis underscores lack of integrated energy policy in India
The Russia effect: Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has bleak implications diplomatically & economically. India won’t escape them
News: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and possible sanctions by the US will impact India adversely. What are the probable adverse impacts on other countries? Implications for Europe: If the US supports Ukrainian resistance groups, Europe will see a conflict that can drag out for months, or more, with all kinds of possible consequences. Implications for… Continue reading The Russia effect: Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has bleak implications diplomatically & economically. India won’t escape them
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is marked by a big Chinese failure
News: Russia invades Ukraine. The author of this article argues that the war in Ukraine is a failure of Xi Jinping’s foreign policy, and a big setback for China’s geopolitical ambitions. Putin has cleverly dragged Xi Jinping into a position that the Chinese president surely did not desire. The author has enumerated the following reasons… Continue reading Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is marked by a big Chinese failure
Real cost of data
News: The Government of India has released a policy document called “Draft India Data Accessibility & Use Policy 2022”. About the Draft India Data Accessibility & Use Policy, 2022 Read here: Draft India Data Accessibility & Use Policy, 2022: India’s draft data policy unlocks govt data for all, mulls monetization What are the challenges associated with the policy?… Continue reading Real cost of data
Facing the job problem
News: The government of Rajasthan has decided to introduce an urban job guarantee scheme similar to MGNREGA, which will offer 100 days of demand-based employment. What are the concerns associated with the scheme? State economy: First concern is whether 800cr allocation will be enough for the open-ended program? Rajasthan’s government debt is already at 1/3rd of state GDP, as reported… Continue reading Facing the job problem
We must develop Brand India to attain global appeal and success
News: In recent years, country or national branding has emerged as a distinctive field in marketing and communication, and also making headways in international diplomacy. What is country branding? It is a process of identity creation where countries gain visibility and put themselves on the world map as distinctive entities by drawing on their history,… Continue reading We must develop Brand India to attain global appeal and success
A policy to replicate BrahMos’ success
News: India recently sold BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines. Read here: the Philippines to acquire BrahMos cruise missiles for $375 million Why the Philippines is upgrading its defence capabilities? Both China and the Philippines claim islands in the South China Sea (SCS). China has militarized Woody Island and arbitrarily claimed the Nine-Dash Line (NDL).… Continue reading A policy to replicate BrahMos’ success
A roadmap for India’s natural farming ambitions
News: In her budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to natural, chemical-free, organic, and zero-budget farming. On the lines to develop chemical-free farming, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, has been given a larger allocation of Rs 10,433 crore. In this context, eight suggestions are given by experts to scale up chemical-free farming.… Continue reading A roadmap for India’s natural farming ambitions
A reductionist approach – On health sector
News: For a long, Government has focused on a reductionist approach of private-level interventions, ignoring social determinants of health. How did this problem arise? In the previous decade, Government’s focus remained on maternal and child health and infectious diseases. After this, focus moved to non-communicable diseases (NCD) and chronic illness. This led to individualistic and… Continue reading A reductionist approach – On health sector

