Context: Sri Lanka government cut taxes across the board and provided several free goods and services, as a result of which the economy collapsed and the heavily-indebted country has had no choice but to default on its commitments. As a corollary, the issue of freebies given out by Indian states has come under the lens… Continue reading Let us pause to think about ‘freebies’ versus incentives
Category: 9 PM Daily Articles
Unemployed Indians: For a country in the midst of a demographic transition, this is the biggest challenge
Context: India has an employment problem which has been exacerbated by the pandemic. For a country of the young, in the midst of a demographic transition, this problem is perhaps the most formidable challenge before the government. What are some indicators of rising problem of unemployment in India? Increase in work demanded under MGNREGA: One… Continue reading Unemployed Indians: For a country in the midst of a demographic transition, this is the biggest challenge
Preventing harm: On judicial intervention against hate speech
Context: After the Supreme Court called for “corrective measures” against the peddling of communal hate from supposedly religious platforms, the authorities in Uttarakhand have prevented the holding of a ‘dharam sansad’ in Roorkee by imposing prohibitory orders against such gatherings. Recently, many such cases have come to the forefront wherein inflammatory speeches against particular communities… Continue reading Preventing harm: On judicial intervention against hate speech
Scrap sedition: There’s no point trying to mend this broken law. It’s an anti-constitutional provision that must go
News: The Supreme Court has resumed its hearing of petitions seeking the scrapping of the sedition provision in IPC. This comes at a time when this colonial era law is becoming a major threat to political and personal freedoms. Why sedition law must be scrapped? Section 124A IPC punishes words or actions that attempt to… Continue reading Scrap sedition: There’s no point trying to mend this broken law. It’s an anti-constitutional provision that must go
Building back to avert a learning catastrophe
News: Recently, a joint report by UNESCO, UNICEF and the World Bank, ‘The State of the Global Education Crisis: A Path to Recovery’, was released related to the Covid-19 impact on school education. Contents1 What were the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic? 2 What are the emerging threats of issues in the coming future? 3 Should schools… Continue reading Building back to avert a learning catastrophe
A look at child and adolescent healthcare systems
News: There are less than eight years to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. However, many child and adolescent health targets are off track. Therefore, there is a real risk that nations might completely fail to meet the United Nation’s sustainable development targets. Global status & achievements of children and adolescents’ health Globally, an estimated… Continue reading A look at child and adolescent healthcare systems
Ride Between East & West
News: Recently, the Group of Twenty (G20) was facing the heat of disruption. The G7 group of rich nations have ganged. Their leaders walked out of a meeting of G20 finance ministers demanding Russia’s ouster. The developed countries have threatened to prevent the convening of the World Trade Organisation’s 12th ministerial meeting. About G20 It… Continue reading Ride Between East & West
Atmanirbhar internet is about self-sufficiency, not protectionism
Context: The criticisms levelled against the IT Rules and the idea of an atmanirbhar internet are baseless. What are the arguments in favor of IT Rules? Read – Draft IT Rules for Social Media Firstly, it will strike a balance between the commercial interests of social media platforms and the rights of its citizens in… Continue reading Atmanirbhar internet is about self-sufficiency, not protectionism
Electric vehicles have a dark side too: Blood batteries and child labour
Context: EVs are being pitched as cleaner, greener and sustainable. But are they? Underlying the shiny exteriors of an electric vehicle lies a shocking story of blood batteries, extreme poverty and child labour. Contents1 What is the usage of Cobalt in production of EVs?2 What are the humanitarian problems associated with production of EVs?3 Is… Continue reading Electric vehicles have a dark side too: Blood batteries and child labour
PDS has had a spectacular run. That may not last
Context: Its golden chapter was scripted in an environment of low global commodity prices and surplus domestic foodgrain production. That party is over, even as food inflation is back. Why was the 2020-21 year very important for the agricultural sector? (1) In 2020-21, Agriculture was the only sector to grow at 3.3%, even as the… Continue reading PDS has had a spectacular run. That may not last
