News: The Indian economy has been hit by inflationary shocks. The RBI failed to keep the inflation rate below the upper threshold of 6%. Only after inflation hit 7%, it raised the repo rate. Mandate of the RBI In 2016, an independent monetary policy committee was constituted. It embraced the idea of inflation-target. The Reserve Bank of… Continue reading Partha Sen writes: The inflation tightrope
Category: 9 PM Daily Articles
Ashok Gulati and Ritika Juneja write: An oil palm plan for home
News: Recently, The World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) 12th Ministerial Conference was concluded. It struggled to find satisfactory answers to some of the complex questions pertaining to global trade, especially with respects to trade in agriculture commodities and public stockholding for food security purposes, What are the major issues in international trade related to trade in… Continue reading Ashok Gulati and Ritika Juneja write: An oil palm plan for home
On India’s unemployment issue: Persistent problem
News: Poor state of employment creation in India is reflected in the recurrent protests against changes in the government’s recruitment policy or delays in appointment. The ongoing violent protests against the change in the recruitment policy for armed forces, which have led to a massive loss of public and private property, are yet another example… Continue reading On India’s unemployment issue: Persistent problem
The WTO restores faith in convergence of views
News: The WTO deal in Geneva confirms that it is still possible for the world’s countries to achieve a modest consensus. India has played a worthy role, even if its gains are far from dramatic. What were the difficult circumstances prevailing before the WTO’s 12th ministerial? That a deal went through was victory in itself.… Continue reading The WTO restores faith in convergence of views
How can Agnipath be made more attractive? Recommendations from 2 former army leaders
News: Recently, the government of India introduced a new recruitment scheme for the armed forces, Agnipath. Violent protests erupted in parts of India ever since the launch of the scheme. Must read: Cabinet clears Agnipath Scheme What are the advantages of the Agnipath Scheme? a) Lower the age profile in the units, b) Create a more empowered… Continue reading How can Agnipath be made more attractive? Recommendations from 2 former army leaders
What West Seti power project can mean for India-Nepal ties
News: India’s National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) will be taking over the West-Seti Hydropower Project in Nepal, after China withdrew from it, ending a six-year engagement between 2012 and 2018. About the Project The project will be a storage scheme generating power round the year. The power will be supplied to India, either for domestic… Continue reading What West Seti power project can mean for India-Nepal ties
Time to end systemic misogyny reflected in the gender pay gap
News: Prevailing gender pay gap in developed and developing economies What is the situation wrt gender pay inequity? In a pre-pandemic world, UN Women stated that “women only make 77 cents for every dollar earned by men“, resulting in lifelong income inequality. An International Labour Organization policy brief in July 2021 drew attention to the… Continue reading Time to end systemic misogyny reflected in the gender pay gap
Easing of IP restrictions on vaccines is welcome. But it will need to be accompanied by technology transfers
Context: Nearly two years after it was initiated by India and South Africa, a proposal to waive patents on Covid-19 vaccines has been approved by the World Trade Organisation (WTO). But, the waiver of IP rights will not amount to anything substantial if pharma companies in the Third World do not have the know-how to… Continue reading Easing of IP restrictions on vaccines is welcome. But it will need to be accompanied by technology transfers
The flawed rationale behind Agnipath
News: Recently, the government launched the Agnipath scheme. It has sparked off vehement protests from aspirants to defence services. Nature of Indian Defence Forces India has always had a complete volunteer defence force. Indeed, there is fierce competition to join as the riots indicate. There are strong economic reasons for such a high competition. There… Continue reading The flawed rationale behind Agnipath
World Trade Organisation Must Get Back To Trade
News: For the first time in a decade, the members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) have finalized a historic deal at the 12th Ministerial Conference(MC12). The key issues include a reduction in fishery subsidies, patent waivers for making a vaccine for the pandemic, food security and e-commerce. Read more: Outcomes of 12th Ministerial Conference of… Continue reading World Trade Organisation Must Get Back To Trade
