News: In Asia today, the economy is global, politics are local, and security is local, regional and transnational. Asia is now the epicentre of security risks. More worrying is the international and regional system’s inability to address these issues. What are the present regional security threats in Asia? The region is facing 1. Intensified Sino-American… Continue reading Asia faces many regional security threats
Category: 9 PM Daily Articles
On FCRA & NGOs: Killing the license
News: After 2020 amendment to the FCRA act 2010, NGOs are required to renew their FCRA (Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act) license in order to be able to receive foreign funding. Ministry of home affairs (MHA), which looks into these renewals recently denied Missionaries of Charity group (an NGO founded by Mother Teresa) renewal of its… Continue reading On FCRA & NGOs: Killing the license
J&K delimitation exercise sets a dangerous precedent
News: Delimitation Commission headed by Justice Ranjana Desai has completed the task of delimitation of Jammu and Kashmir, but there have been some concerns regarding its mandate. What are the issues associated with the recently concluded delimitation of J&K? Population base: This delimitation commission has taken the 2011 Census as the basis for delimitation for… Continue reading J&K delimitation exercise sets a dangerous precedent
Wrong medicine-Quota case delayed PG intake in medical institutes. Courts intervene too much
News: Widespread protests by resident doctors over delayed NEET-PG counselling come just when healthcare defences need to be strengthened against a feared Omicron surge. The current fiasco is an example as to how legal disputes can trigger disruptions elsewhere. It would be better if issues like income ceiling for EWS/OBC categories are policy decisions best… Continue reading Wrong medicine-Quota case delayed PG intake in medical institutes. Courts intervene too much
Banks have fared better than expected in pandemic, but there are also signs of stress building up
News: According to the RBI’s Report on Trends and Progress of Banking in India, 2020-21, Indian banking system has performed better than the expectation during the pandemic. But, it is still far from full recovery and there are still impending threats. How has banking sector performed during the pandemic? The asset quality of banks has… Continue reading Banks have fared better than expected in pandemic, but there are also signs of stress building up
On India’s Employment Situation – India’s most abundant resource remains tragically underutilized
News: In a world of ageing affluent societies, with big mismatches of labour demand and supply across the developed and developing world, India can convert its largest and youngest labour force into an advantage. The American economy is actually overheating despite Omicron. Its labour market is not only hot, but it is also going through… Continue reading On India’s Employment Situation – India’s most abundant resource remains tragically underutilized
Maximising the boost-on mixing the COVID vaccines
News: India currently has three available vaccines and recently two more along with a drug have been approved for emergency use authorization. Despite this wide range of vaccine availability, India has been extremely dependent on just one vaccine COVISHEID. This may become a cause of concern specially with the directives that focus on precaution doses(/booster… Continue reading Maximising the boost-on mixing the COVID vaccines
Trading on a buffer-Can India afford to commercialize its fuel reserves
News: Govt earlier this year allowed the Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve (ISPRL), which runs the SPRs, to lease 30% of capacity and trade another 20%. The decision to commercialise half of India’s paltry SPRs is ill-conceived. Contents1 What is a Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR)? 2 Why is government deciding to commercialize SPR? 3 What are the associated… Continue reading Trading on a buffer-Can India afford to commercialize its fuel reserves
The efficiency myth of Aadhaar linking
News: Recently, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have passed the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021. One of the key provisions of the Bill is linking Aadhaar with the electoral rolls. Cash transfers in many welfare programmes, such as payment of MGNREGA wages, are done using the Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS). Read more: Linking Aadhaar with electoral rolls… Continue reading The efficiency myth of Aadhaar linking
Questions still on how far labour codes will change gig workers’ lot
News: Although companies claim that they take care of the social security needs of their workforce, but the various surveys suggest a different trend. For example – Uber, incidentally, has scored a zero in the Fairwork India Ratings 2021 on the working conditions of app-based gig workers, as have Ola and Porter. Covid-19 disrupted earnings,… Continue reading Questions still on how far labour codes will change gig workers’ lot
