Context: India’s family planning programme has improved access to contraceptives. This has led to a reduction in the Total Fertility Rate from 3.4 in 1990-92 to 2.0 in 2019-21, according to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS). However, now India needs to focus on improving access to family planning services for not just adults, but… Continue reading Meeting family planning goals
Category: 9 PM Daily Articles
3 Ideas For 4 Countries Hunting for Chips
News: Quad Leaders’ Summit meeting is being hosted today. One agenda item will be to announce a concrete action plan under the Semiconductor Supply Chain Initiative. The goal of the Semiconductor Supply Chain Initiative is to strengthen the global semiconductor supply chain’s productive capacity and resilience. Why Quad is focusing on the semiconductor supply chain?… Continue reading 3 Ideas For 4 Countries Hunting for Chips
Davos is so 1990s: The jamboree has lost shine, thanks to social media
What are the factors that led to the decline of the World Economic Forum? Communications revolution: WEF used to be a special place and a special gathering of global influencers and policymakers to catalyze dialogue and disagreement. However, the rise of social media has changed that now one tweet, from an influential personality like Elon… Continue reading Davos is so 1990s: The jamboree has lost shine, thanks to social media
Time for us to work out a universal basic income
Context: India’s debate on the need and feasibility of a universal basic income (UBI) as an elementary safety net for all our citizens was revived again after the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister released a report on inequality. Regardless of divisions in opinion over the poverty levels in the country, inequality demands a… Continue reading Time for us to work out a universal basic income
Why GoI Can Resume Wheat Exports
News: As per the third advance estimate of crop production for the year2021-22, India has harvested a record foodgrain production, up by 3. 77 MMT over the preceding year. While the rice production is up compared to previous year, wheat production is a bit low. It has led to several negative effects on traders who… Continue reading Why GoI Can Resume Wheat Exports
States must follow Centre’s fuel tax cuts
News: Government has announced lowering excise duties on petrol and diesel as well as offering a subsidy for LPG cylinders. States must also reduce the taxes on oil. The combined impact of tax cuts will provide much-needed relief to stressed household budgets and small business balance sheets. Because unlike previous inflationary pressure, that took place… Continue reading States must follow Centre’s fuel tax cuts
Food security does not need this ‘surgical strike’
News: Recently, the Government of India announced a sudden ban on export of wheat when the government was looking out for ways for augmenting India’ wheat exports. Contents1 Two schools of through for ensuring food security in India2 About Indian Public Procurement System3 What are the issues with increasing India’s export?4 Other challenges5 The Way… Continue reading Food security does not need this ‘surgical strike’
Nature has the answers
News: Recently, The International Day of Biodiversity on May 22, 2022 was celebrated. It was done amid the pandemic, and the recent heat waves in much of northern India and floods in Meghalaya. The uncertainty is being further fuelled by the continuing degradation of lands and biodiversity, growing malnutrition and hunger, and inequities and environmental… Continue reading Nature has the answers
Can agri-exports be made more sustainable?
News: In the fiscal year 2021-22 (FY22), agri-exports scaled an all-time high of $50.3 billion with registering a growth of 20% over the preceding year. For example, India’s exports constituted 41% of a global rice market of 51.3 MMT. What were the driving forces? This was made possible largely by rising global commodity prices. In… Continue reading Can agri-exports be made more sustainable?
A Rajya Sabha rebalance must go with Lok Sabha expansion
Context: India is a federal structure with a unitary bias. The Constitution strikes a balance between popular will, exercised by the Lok Sabha, and the interests of states through the Rajya Sabha. But, we have allowed popular fashions and political exigencies to undermine the federal structure. What are the various states’ concerns? Delimitation exercises have… Continue reading A Rajya Sabha rebalance must go with Lok Sabha expansion
