Category: 9 PM Daily Articles

The move to ease voting for overseas citizens

News: The ECI has proposed to extend the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETBPS) for NRIs. How overseas voters currently vote in Indian elections? Prior to 2010, an NRI who had stayed out of India for more than 6  months at a stretch was not able to vote in elections. As their names were deleted… Continue reading The move to ease voting for overseas citizens

Has IAS Failed the Nation? 

News: The Prime Minister Narender Modi openly expressed his disappointment with the prevalent ‘babu culture’ in the bureaucracy in the Parliament of India last year.  IAS in early Post Independence India  Soon after Independence, they were seen as the home-grown answer to the colonial era ICS.   They were responsible for nation building. For example, carrying… Continue reading Has IAS Failed the Nation? 

Over 15 years of incentivised institutional delivery: Has it ensured safe births?

News: Maternal mortality ratio (MMR), infant mortality rate and neonatal mortality rate (NMR) have not improved at the same pace as institutional births. Contents1 About the growth in institutional births2 How did the government incentivise institutional deliveries?3 About the mortality ratio4 What is the reason behind the low improvement in Mortality rates?5 What should be… Continue reading Over 15 years of incentivised institutional delivery: Has it ensured safe births?

Film archives are our heritage. They must not be monetised 

News: In recent developments, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has decided to bring all regional and national offices of the National Film Archives of India (NFAI), Films Division (FD), Children’s Film Society of India (CFSI), and Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF) under the workings of the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).  Contents1 Brief… Continue reading Film archives are our heritage. They must not be monetised 

Heartening milestone: On India’s overseas shipping record

News: Govt has announced that India’s merchandise exports have already surpassed the target set for this fiscal year, with overseas shipments crossing a record $400 billion mark by March 21.  Contents1 Why is this news significant? 2 Which sectors have performed well? 3 What are some challenges that need to be addressed? 4 What is the way forward? … Continue reading Heartening milestone: On India’s overseas shipping record

Forging a social contract for data

News: In February 2022, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) released the Data India Data Accessibility and Use Policy 2022 (or Draft Policy) for public consultation.   What are the aims of the draft policy?  It will help in overcoming a number of historical bottlenecks: (1) slow progress on the Open Government Data (OGD)… Continue reading Forging a social contract for data

India’s complex position on Islamophobia 

News: The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a consensus resolution declaring March 15 to be celebrated as “International Day to Combat Islamophobia” annually.   Contents1 What is Islamophobia? 2 Who Introduced the resolution and for what purpose?3 What was the stand by various countries and organizations?4 What is the way forward? What is Islamophobia?  It refers to… Continue reading India’s complex position on Islamophobia 

A good foreign policy must also make a difference at home 

News: India’s foreign policy is at the centre of debate due to ongoing geopolitical issues like the treatment of Indian students from the conflict-ridden Ukraine.   What are the ingredients of a good foreign policy?   A good foreign policy does not necessarily have to sound nice. It must be able to meet the everyday needs of… Continue reading A good foreign policy must also make a difference at home 

3 in 1: New Bill silent on Corpn funding

News: The central government introduced the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022, in the Lok Sabha. The Bill seeks to merge the three municipal corporations of Delhi into a single entity.  What is the rationale behind the bill?  The 2011 Trifurcation of the erstwhile Municipal Corporation of Delhi was uneven in terms of territorial divisions… Continue reading 3 in 1: New Bill silent on Corpn funding

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