News: Bombay High Court granted bail to lawyer-activist Sudha Bharadwaj, an accused in the Elgar Parishad case. Reasons behind the delay in bail, and what is the High Court’s observation on it? Under the Bhima Koregaon/Elgar Parishad case, the state opposed all bail pleas of the accused, even if some of them were ailing. Even the Bombay… Continue reading Issue of Bail: Relief to Sudha Bharadwaj is welcome. Prolonged imprisonment of other Bhima Koregaon accused must also be questioned
Category: 9 PM Daily Articles
National Family Benefit Scheme is in urgent need of revival
News: The National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS), which is meant to help the survivors in difficult circumstances, is losing its purpose now. About National Family Benefit Scheme 1) Launched in 1995 under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP). 2) Restricted to BPL families. 3) Rs. 20000 will be given as a lump sum assistance to… Continue reading National Family Benefit Scheme is in urgent need of revival
Challenges in NIRF: Recast this apples-and-oranges ranking method
News: Ranking of state-run Higher Education Institutes (HEI) with centrally funded institutes (CFI) like IIT’s under the National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF) is not a good step. What is National Institution Ranking Framework? Read here: National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Why it is not a good step to rank both state-run HEI and CFI altogether? Allocation of… Continue reading Challenges in NIRF: Recast this apples-and-oranges ranking method
The tech holes that ensure that crypto can never be effectively banned
News: Experts have stated that it is not possible to enforce an effective ban on cryptocurrency in a foolproof manner. Why banning Cryptocurrency is not possible? Peer to Peer networks: Users can always transact using peer-to-peer networks. This is exactly what happened in India post RBI’s restrictions on Indian banks in 2018. Defi platforms: Users… Continue reading The tech holes that ensure that crypto can never be effectively banned
Human trafficking survivors identify gaps in draft Bill, seek community-based rehab
News: Indian Leadership Forum Against Trafficking (ILFAT), a forum set up in 2019 by trafficking survivors, has written to the Ministry of Women and Child Development to identify gaps in the Trafficking in Persons (Prevention, Care and Rehabilitation) draft Bill 2021, which is about to table in the Parliament. What are the changes demanded by the survivors?… Continue reading Human trafficking survivors identify gaps in draft Bill, seek community-based rehab
There’s a clear-eyed vision behind China’s maritime build-up
News: American surprise over a secret Chinese military base in the UAE port of Khalifa is unwarranted. About China’s maritime plan China in 2019 released Defence White Paper (DWP), declares overseas interests as a crucial part of China’s national interests. To address deficiencies in overseas operations and support, China builds far seas forces, develops overseas logistical… Continue reading There’s a clear-eyed vision behind China’s maritime build-up
What the latest NFHS data says about the New Welfarism
News: Recently released National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) shows remarkable improvement in New Welfarism. Must read: NFHS-5 and its findings – Explained, pointwise What is New Welfarism? According to the authors, New Welfarism does not prioritise the supply of public goods such as basic health and primary education as governments have done around the world historically. Instead,… Continue reading What the latest NFHS data says about the New Welfarism
Should the state stop focusing on population control?
News: Recent NFHS-5 data revealed that India’s Total Fertility Rate has declined to 2 from 2.2 of NFHS-4. Read here: NFHS-5 and its findings – Explained, pointwise What factors have helped India bring down the Total Fertility Rate? Women and their aspirations to plan and manage families have helped reduce the TFR. NFHS-4 pointed that women,… Continue reading Should the state stop focusing on population control?
Assessing the case for a legal MSP
News: After getting the three farm laws repealed, the farm unions are now demanding a legalisation of MSP. But legalising MSP must be backed by a programme with requisite resources (like MGNREGA) and a time-frame within which governments would expand and diversify their procurement portfolios, in line with agro-ecology. Why the state continues to intervene… Continue reading Assessing the case for a legal MSP
India’s repeal of farm laws won’t resolve our real crisis of farming
News: The repeal of Farm laws is unlikely to end farmer worries. The need of the hour is to reform agriculture. What are the issues being faced by the agricultural sector? Farming in India is faced with many problems that makes farmers livelihood unsustainable. For example, the sector is faced with rising input costs and… Continue reading India’s repeal of farm laws won’t resolve our real crisis of farming
