News: A layer of froth was seen floating over parts of the Yamuna River in New Delhi. For the past three days, social media has been flooded with visuals of devotees taking a dip in the Yamuna River enveloped by the toxic foam. The formation of froth is a sign of an ecologically-dead river. What… Continue reading Cleaning Yamuna will require improving sewerage networks, cooperation between Delhi and neighbouring states
Category: 9 PM Daily Articles
Managing Cryptocurrencies
News: Since March 2020, when the Supreme Court ruled it was legal to trade Cryptocurrencies, over Rs 50 crore in Crypto-assets is traded every day by resident Indians. On the other hand, RBI has often expressed its serious concerns regarding the dangers these instruments pose to macroeconomic and financial stability of the country. Hence, governments… Continue reading Managing Cryptocurrencies
Hunger isn’t about biology. It’s about politics
News: In the absence of an organized food security net and political commitment, India is being crippled by the challenge of pervasive hunger and malnourishment James Vernon in his book Hunger: A modern history wrote that hunger is a timeless and inescapable biological condition. While he was right, the real problem was captured by Karl… Continue reading Hunger isn’t about biology. It’s about politics
UAPA acts enacts as punishment
News: Tripura violence has led to cases against journalists under UAPA. It is time for political parties to forgo their conventional approach and make a concerted effort to repeal this unlawful law. In the backdrop of the Tripura violence, the police used the provisions under the UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967) to charge… Continue reading UAPA acts enacts as punishment
How to play the Kabul game?
Synopsis: After the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban, India needs to evolve a strategy to secure its interest in the region. Introduction India recently held Delhi regional security dialogue on Afghanistan. It was attended by security chiefs of Russia, Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Though Pakistan and China were also invited, they… Continue reading How to play the Kabul game?
In our efforts to be green, we must not greenwash: On India’s net zero pledge at COP26
News: India’s net zero pledge at Glasgow, though commendable, raises several questions. Apart from serious doubts about their techno-financial feasibility, there are at least three reasons to question the commitments made by India at COP26. Must Read: India announces new climate targets at COP26 – Explained, pointwise What are the issues with India’s net zero… Continue reading In our efforts to be green, we must not greenwash: On India’s net zero pledge at COP26
Does India have a right to burn fossil fuels?
Relevance: Why India doesn’t need to depend on coal for its future development? News: In the backdrop of COP26, India’s dependence on coal has remained a much talked about issue. Fossil fuel sources like coal have contributed significantly to global carbon emissions. But, neither India’s historical nor its current emissions come anywhere near to those… Continue reading Does India have a right to burn fossil fuels?
How to buy better: India needs new mechanisms for defence purchases, for enhancing both efficiency & reputation
News: French portal Mediapart recently claimed in a new report that it has evidence of kickbacks[1] being paid by French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation to help secure the sale of Rafale fighter aircraft to India. Reports have further alleged that the CBI and the ED had evidence of bribes being paid since October 2018 but… Continue reading How to buy better: India needs new mechanisms for defence purchases, for enhancing both efficiency & reputation
The case of demonetisation in India
News: Popular narratives play a much bigger role in economic policymaking than economists and policymakers acknowledge. For instance, the Weimar hyperinflation of 1921-24 is deeply embedded in the German consciousness. Even now, nearly 100 years after the event, German society trusts financial stability and distrusts public debt. Fiscal conservatism remains the dominant narrative and has… Continue reading The case of demonetisation in India
Dualism and its discontents
News: Covid has substantially sharpened economic dualism in India. Poverty rates are increasing and government needs to focus on the expansion of job opportunities in both the formal and informal segments India has been characterised by significant economic dualism and disparities over many years. Dualism indiciates co-existence of two different worlds. Economic dualism therefore denotes… Continue reading Dualism and its discontents
