News: Recently, the Union finance minister wished to make India cities “centres of sustainable living with opportunities for all”. The FM argued for a paradigm shift in urban planning with announcement to set up a high-level committee to steer the required changes in urban policy, planning, capacity building and urban governance What are the problems… Continue reading Urban agriculture can help make cities sustainable and liveable
Author: Luv Sharma
Evaluating the arsenal
News: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Indian Army are assessing procurement of another 100-200 mobile SP howitzers. The additional 200 guns would equip 10 medium artillery regiments. Historical trends (1) Medieval Times In 1526, Babur defeated the Sultan of Delhi, Ibrahim Lodhi and won the First Battle of Panipat. Babur was able to… Continue reading Evaluating the arsenal
States should focus on the quality of public expenditure
News: States were guaranteed bi-monthly compensation for any loss of revenue in the first 5 years of GST implementation from 1 July 2017. The 5-year period will end on 30 June and there is a growing demand from many states to extend the GST compensation mechanism beyond that. Given this uncertainty over the extension of… Continue reading States should focus on the quality of public expenditure
Asset monetisation
News: The Union government’s asset monetisation plan seems to be facing resistance from government departments and public sector enterprises (PSEs). The government’s target of mobilising Rs 1.62 trillion in the current fiscal year would thus become difficult to achieve. What is the progress of Asset monetisation plan? As per reports, PSEs in the oil and… Continue reading Asset monetisation
A ban on wheat exports was the country’s least damaging option
Context: The Indian export ban on wheat in mid-May drew much negative attention. The ban was on private sector wheat exports, leaving open government-to-government contracts. The widespread criticism of the ban was misplaced. Details about the wheat export ban and related issues The issue has been covered in detail in the following articles, Boon to… Continue reading A ban on wheat exports was the country’s least damaging option
Price Of Wrong Price Strategy
News: India is now facing a dual problem of low growth and high inflation at the time when India is facing a historic opportunity to use exports to boost India’s GDP growth. Historic Opportunities Two large countries China and Russia are reducing their presence on the international trade landscape, providing opportunities to India: – China,… Continue reading Price Of Wrong Price Strategy
Myanmar’s internal situation shouldn’t hobble India’s ‘Act East’ policy
News: In 2021, Myanmar’s military took over the civilian government. Now, there are reliable reports of the strengthening of the People’s Defence Force, with the support of various ethnic militias. There is no sign of the restoration of normalcy. Implications on India For India, the coup has caused an adverse impact on its Act East… Continue reading Myanmar’s internal situation shouldn’t hobble India’s ‘Act East’ policy
India-Pakistan ties and the mirror of 2019
News: Recently, the official delegation from Pakistan visited New Delhi to hold talks with its Indian counterparts. This was done under the aegis of the Indus Water Treaty. Recent Developments India has been sending consignments of wheat to the Taliban-run Afghanistan via Pakistan, under the World Food Programme. Since the Ladakh border crisis on the… Continue reading India-Pakistan ties and the mirror of 2019
GST Council must uphold fiscal federalism
News: Recently, the Supreme Court has given its verdict on the nature of recommendations made by the GST Council. The verdict included an important observation on Indian federalism, especially on it being a dialogue between cooperative and uncooperative federalism. Background of the Case The case was an appeal to the SC against the Gujarat High… Continue reading GST Council must uphold fiscal federalism
Do we need a law to compensate those implicated in false cases?
Context: In October 2021, Aryan Khan, son of actor Shah Rukh Khan, was arrested in Mumbai by the Narcotics Control Bureau in a drug racket case. Now, on May 28, he and five others were given a clean chit by a special investigation team from Delhi. Besides highlighting the torment suffered by him and his… Continue reading Do we need a law to compensate those implicated in false cases?
