Context: Employment scenario in India remains poor. This can be gauged by the data on work demanded and availed by households under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). Worrying MGNREGS data MGNREGS data: Number of households seeking employment under MGNREGS has increased gradually. No of households availing work under MGNREGS May 2022… Continue reading Growing reliance on MGNREGA in rural areas, elevated youth unemployment in urban areas, are worrying signals
Author: Luv Sharma
Home and abroad: On PM Modi’s G-7 commitements and freedom of speech
News: PM of India attended the G7 annual summit meeting in Germany along with other special invitees from Argentina, Indonesia, Senegal, and South Africa. Most of the deliberations took aim at the twin challenges seen from Russia and China. Contents1 What economic initiatives were discussed?2 What other issues were discussed at the meeting?3 What was… Continue reading Home and abroad: On PM Modi’s G-7 commitements and freedom of speech
A road safety quartet and the road ahead
News: In spite of several years of policymaking to improve road safety, India remains among the worst-performing countries in this area. The persistently high annual death toll brings into question the country’s ability to meet Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.6, which aims to halve the fatalities and injuries from road traffic accidents by 2030. Meanwhile,… Continue reading A road safety quartet and the road ahead
The worrying slowdown in India’s fight against poverty
Context: A new poverty estimate has been released by SBI Research. Contents1 What do the findings of the recent estimates suggest?2 Data indicating a slowdown in poverty reduction3 What are the implications?4 Way forward What do the findings of the recent estimates suggest? As per SBI Research, Poverty in India declined to 17.9% in 2020-21,… Continue reading The worrying slowdown in India’s fight against poverty
M Venkaiah Naidu writes: Without soil conservation, there is no food security
News: Recently, Sadhguru, a spiritual leader, had launched an initiative known as “save soil campaign”. In addition, he also completed 100 days of solo biking across many countries to promote concerted action on saving soil. What are the factors that have led to food security? The agricultural modernisation has led to improvement in the crop… Continue reading M Venkaiah Naidu writes: Without soil conservation, there is no food security
What India needs to do to reduce its fertiliser bill
News: In 2021- 22, India’s import of fertilisers touched an all-time high of $12.77 billion in fiscal terms. What are the factors that make India fit for agricultural activities? India has no dearth of land, water and sunshine to sustain vibrant agriculture. India is abundant in all these resources. For example: (1) India’s land under… Continue reading What India needs to do to reduce its fertiliser bill
Open network for digital commerce
News: The government of India announced the launch of the pilot phase of open network for digital commerce (ONDC) in five cities in late April. The aim was to “democratise” the country’s fast growing digital e-commerce space that is currently dominated by the two U.S.-headquartered firms — Amazon and Walmart. Contents1 What is ONDC?2 What… Continue reading Open network for digital commerce
The problems plaguing thermal power generators
News: On June 10, India’s power demand touched a record high of 211 MW even as the coal shortage continued with coal stocks available only for eight days. Consequently, the Ministry of Power directed the power-generating companies or ‘gencos’ to use imported coal for 10% of their requirement, failing which their domestic supplies would be… Continue reading The problems plaguing thermal power generators
Stabilise Sri Lanka
News: The situation is rapidly approaching a major humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka with its Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe recently stating that Sri Lanka’s economy has completely collapsed. How bad is the situation? Sri Lanka’s PM has informed parliament that the economy was facing a far more serious situation beyond mere shortages of fuel, gas,… Continue reading Stabilise Sri Lanka
Help Afghans
News: Recently, Afghanistan has faced a severe earthquake, which is supposed to have killed around 1,000-plus people in initial estimates. Contents1 What are the major problems that are being faced in Afghanistan?2 Since Earthquake3 Why should India come forward?4 What are the challenges in giving aid to Afghanistan? What are the major problems that are… Continue reading Help Afghans
