News: The U.S. state of New York recently passed the Fair Repair Act. It has also ignited the debate in India on providing right to repair to the consumers. The US’s Fair Repair Act requires manufacturers to supply repair information, tools, and parts to independent repair shops and not just their own stores or partners. It… Continue reading Upholding the right to repair
Category: 9 PM Daily Articles
The influenza pandemic and ‘nations within a nation
Context: Whenever there is an increased demand for life-saving products such as vaccines, the issue of inequity in access to such medicines arises. What are the factors that that drive production of life-saving products in a country? Product demand is central to the development of capabilities and the resources of firms. In developed countries, the high-fixed-cost research… Continue reading The influenza pandemic and ‘nations within a nation
Tackling the crisis of rising global food prices
News: Recently, the government of India has banned wheat exports and imposed restrictions on the export of other food commodities. History of Food Price Crises Since the adoption of Green Revolution technology in the early 1960s, the world has faced food price crises three times in terms of nominal as well as the real prices:… Continue reading Tackling the crisis of rising global food prices
Red marks in green power plans amid lack of reform in electricity pricing
News: Recently the Union Power Minister has asked states to set up steering committees at the level of chief secretaries to plan for the energy transition. Why there is a need for power sector reforms? No money spent on capital expenditure: Capital expenditure among states is rising fast, but it is not rising in the… Continue reading Red marks in green power plans amid lack of reform in electricity pricing
With only 3 serious telecom operators, administrative allocation of spectrum space should take the place of auctions
News: In January, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) announced a rescue package for some telecom companies (telcos). What were the rescue packages? The government dispensed with the requirement of performance bank guarantees required earlier than security. It increased the tenure of spectrum holding from 20 to 30 years, allowed for the surrender of the unutilised… Continue reading With only 3 serious telecom operators, administrative allocation of spectrum space should take the place of auctions
Regarding the Abridged Life Tables report: The longevity puzzle
News: According to the recent Abridged Life Tables report for the period of 2015-19, the average Indian can expect to live about 69.7 years, around two years more than the life expectancy 10 years ago. What are the findings of the report? India’s life expectancy has improved by leaps and bounds from an abysmal 32… Continue reading Regarding the Abridged Life Tables report: The longevity puzzle
Rights violations – Right to speech and property must be protected
News: The government has the duty to protect the rights of its citizens. These include the rights to free expression and property also. The right to free expression includes the right to protest. But, the recent UP government decision to demolish property without a full public investigation is a violation of the Right to property.… Continue reading Rights violations – Right to speech and property must be protected
Proposed WTO reform aims to bully developing nations: Civil society members
News: The ‘WTO Reform’ proposal has been pushed in the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). However, the proposed reforms are said to weaken the position of the developing countries. What are the issues in the proposed WTO reforms? As per some experts, the reforms may undermine the participation and say… Continue reading Proposed WTO reform aims to bully developing nations: Civil society members
Free trade can’t yet pass a basic food security test
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
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. How Indic Civilization is different from geographical and geopolitical India? Geographical idea of India:… Continue reading Musings on ‘Indic civilisation’ and Indianness
