News: In 2020, India and South Africa gave a call at the World Trade Organization (WTO) for the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) waiver wrt Covid-19. Now, a deal has been brokered between the EU, the U.S., India, and South Africa on the issue. However, the waiver is a classic case of too little, too… Continue reading On TRIPS waiver: Profit over public health
Category: 9 PM Daily Articles
Our Farm reforms deserve another chance
News: A recent finding of the Supreme Court-appointed panel has put back in focus the three farm laws that were revoked in late 2021 in the wake of farmer protests. As per the panel findings, it appears that a majority of farmers may have actually welcomed the agricultural reforms that were aimed through three farm… Continue reading Our Farm reforms deserve another chance
Global policies that helped India hit $400 billion in exports are changing
News: Last week, it was announced by the Union government that merchandise exports from India have crossed $400 billion in the current financial year 2021-22. Contents1 What is remarkable about this achievement? 2 What are the reasons behind a boom in India’s exports? 3 What are the upcoming challenges? 4 What is the way forward? What is… Continue reading Global policies that helped India hit $400 billion in exports are changing
Budgeting for a well-fed, self-reliant India
News: In the backdrop of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, the Prime Minister of India has emphasised the need for India to be atmanirbhar (self-reliant) in defence and agricultural sector in the Amrit Kaal (next 25 years). Contents1 What is India’s present situation in terms of import dependence?2 Why is Agri R&D significant for… Continue reading Budgeting for a well-fed, self-reliant India
Taking The BIMSTEC Route To Prosperity
Context: BIMSTEC is holding its summit on Mar 30 in Sri Lanka. As SAARC has failed to make any progress in the past few years, the burden to advance the regional cooperation now lies on BIMSTEC. Further, meticulous preparations behind the scenes have created an atmosphere of hope for its success. What is BIMSTEC and… Continue reading Taking The BIMSTEC Route To Prosperity
Explained: What’s behind the new anti-India campaign in the Maldives?
News: On March 23, the Maldivian Parliament disallowed a planned opposition rally in the capital Male. It had been called by former president Abdulla Yameen and his Progressive Party, and its ally, the People’s National Congress. The theme of the rally was “India Out”, a slogan coined two years ago by protesters who claimed that… Continue reading Explained: What’s behind the new anti-India campaign in the Maldives?
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
