News: Recently, the Government has planned to set up a panel that can overturn content moderation decisions made by social media platforms. The idea has been proposed as an amendment to the IT Rules 2021. The IT Rules, 2021 will be amended to constitute one or more appellate committees which will have the final word… Continue reading Control and delete
Category: 9 PM Daily Articles
New India needs free and quality higher education
News: New York University’s NYU Grossman School of Medicine has become the first major American medical school to announce that it will pay the tuition fees for all its students admitted in its MD programme, regardless of their financial needs, from the 2021–22 academic year. The Nordic Model The Nordic countries — Denmark, Finland, Iceland,… Continue reading New India needs free and quality higher education
Lessons from the Ukraine crisis price shock
News: The Russia-Ukraine conflict will cause major, long-term shifts in the global energy and commodity trade. What are the driving factors behind the shift? At Present (1) The European nations & Other nations (due to western sanctions on Russia) are diversifying their energy supplies. This has been causing market distortions and high prices. (2) The… Continue reading Lessons from the Ukraine crisis price shock
The dangerous intellectual fad of ‘civilisationism’
News: At present, the big nations are using civilisational rhetoric to rebrand the nations. The leadership from India, China, Russia, Turkey, and Iran have made statements that their countries are civilisations and not nation-states. In fact, the Russian President has stated that “Russia is not just a country, it’s really a separate civilisation”. It means… Continue reading The dangerous intellectual fad of ‘civilisationism’
Urban agriculture can help make cities sustainable and liveable
News: Recently, the Union finance minister wished to make India cities “centres of sustainable living with opportunities for all”. The FM argued for a paradigm shift in urban planning with announcement to set up a high-level committee to steer the required changes in urban policy, planning, capacity building and urban governance What are the problems… Continue reading Urban agriculture can help make cities sustainable and liveable
Evaluating the arsenal
News: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Indian Army are assessing procurement of another 100-200 mobile SP howitzers. The additional 200 guns would equip 10 medium artillery regiments. Historical trends (1) Medieval Times In 1526, Babur defeated the Sultan of Delhi, Ibrahim Lodhi and won the First Battle of Panipat. Babur was able to… Continue reading Evaluating the arsenal
States should focus on the quality of public expenditure
News: States were guaranteed bi-monthly compensation for any loss of revenue in the first 5 years of GST implementation from 1 July 2017. The 5-year period will end on 30 June and there is a growing demand from many states to extend the GST compensation mechanism beyond that. Given this uncertainty over the extension of… Continue reading States should focus on the quality of public expenditure
Asset monetisation
News: The Union government’s asset monetisation plan seems to be facing resistance from government departments and public sector enterprises (PSEs). The government’s target of mobilising Rs 1.62 trillion in the current fiscal year would thus become difficult to achieve. What is the progress of Asset monetisation plan? As per reports, PSEs in the oil and… Continue reading Asset monetisation
A ban on wheat exports was the country’s least damaging option
Context: The Indian export ban on wheat in mid-May drew much negative attention. The ban was on private sector wheat exports, leaving open government-to-government contracts. The widespread criticism of the ban was misplaced. Details about the wheat export ban and related issues The issue has been covered in detail in the following articles, Boon to… Continue reading A ban on wheat exports was the country’s least damaging option
Price Of Wrong Price Strategy
News: India is now facing a dual problem of low growth and high inflation at the time when India is facing a historic opportunity to use exports to boost India’s GDP growth. Historic Opportunities Two large countries China and Russia are reducing their presence on the international trade landscape, providing opportunities to India: – China,… Continue reading Price Of Wrong Price Strategy
