Category: 9 PM Daily Articles

News: In the Attorney General of India v. Satish case, the Supreme Court has set aside the controversial judgment of the Bombay HC which held that ‘skin-to-skin’ contact is necessary for an act to be classified as sexual assault under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences(POCSO) Act. Contents1 About the Bombay HC judgment2 About… Continue reading The significance of Supreme Court’s recent POCSO decision

News: A heavy increase in fertilizer subsidy bill is seen. Contents1 A brief background of fertilizer policy since 1991 reforms:2 What is the need for reforms in the fertilizer sector?3 What is the way forward?4 What are the steps already taken by the government? A brief background of fertilizer policy since 1991 reforms: After years… Continue reading Reforming the fertilizer sector

News: Recently, government repealed three farm laws. Agri reforms in India are necessary to unlock the true potential of agriculture and the agro-processing industry, and for the efficient allocation of private and government resources. However, the success of any attempt to reform the agriculture sector in India would depend to a large extent on the… Continue reading Non-farm jobs and social mores hold India’s key to farm reforms

News: Despite the announcement by the PM to repeal the three farm laws, farmers have said their protest will continue. They have written to the PM with their six remaining demands. One of the main demands by farmers is that, MSP should be made a legal entitlement of all farmers for all agricultural produce. However,… Continue reading Explained: In perspective, farm distress and the demand for guaranteed MSP

News: Big emitters must reconsider their stated net-zero date and specify a credible action plan. Contents1 Important elements of a disaster response2 How have UNFCCC & IPCC fared in terms of the four elements of response wrt climate change?3 What are the implications?4 What is the way forward? Important elements of a disaster response There… Continue reading Climate justice must drive climate action

News: US Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell recently said that Americans should be prepared for the global supply chain to remain in crisis through 2022. Covid-induced supply chain disruption highlighted the loopholes of total dependence on one country for vital products, and diversification will take a few years to implement. What is the risk to… Continue reading Another Supply Chain Crisis?

News: Contents1 How different cars are taxed in India?2 What is the rationale behind such a differential taxation system?3 What are the issues associated with this differential taxation system?4 What is needed to be done? How different cars are taxed in India? GST is levied at 28%, the top slab, with an add-on cess of… Continue reading Time to rethink Indian levies on motor vehicles

News: Joint Committee of Parliament (JCP)  on the Personal Data Protection (PDP) Bill, 2019 has submitted its report in the Parliament. Also Read:  The draft personal data protection bill, 2018 What are the key recommendations? Inclusion of non-personal data: It proposed to include non-personal data along with personal data and also that Data Protection Authority (DPA)… Continue reading JPC retains exemption clause, adopts personal data Bill

News: Covid pandemic highlighted the urgency of addressing the issues related to manual scavengers. Sanitation work in India is tied to caste-based occupational roles. It is majorly performed by people from scheduled caste and schedule Tribes. What is the status of manual scavenging in India? Presently, the government does not directly employ manual scavengers, but the… Continue reading Sanitation workers’ safety and welfare must be urgently addressed

News: Recently, a congressional delegation (CODEL) led by U.S. Senator John Cornyn visited Indo-Pacific Command countries which also included India in its list. It interacted with the Prime Minister, External Affairs Minister, and representatives of the Dalai Lama in India. Both sides are committed to “increasing convergence of strategic interests” between India and the U.S. and… Continue reading Dynamism in India US ties