News: The Code on Wages, 2019 gives legal sanction to Debt bondage, by allowing employers to extend limitless credit advances to their workers, and charge an unspecified interest rate on them. Contents1 What are the new changes brought in The Code on Wages, 2019?2 How the new changes in the Code on Wages institutionalises Debt… Continue reading How the Code on Wages ‘legalises’ bonded labour
Author: Ram Manohar
An over-engineered social stock exchange?
News: Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in its recent board meeting approved the creation of a social stock exchange. SEBI has announced the setting up of Social Stock Exchange, on the basis of proposals from the working group under Ishaat Hussain, and a technical advisory committee under Harsh Kumar Bhanwala. What are the… Continue reading An over-engineered social stock exchange?
India’s FTA ambitions in perspective
News: Recently, India’s commerce secretary, stated that trade will find a specific focus in the forthcoming Budget and that India’s FTAs will be “very deep”. The statement appears to be in line with recent global developments. For example, The US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the EU-Vietnam FTA, and the 15-member Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). China and… Continue reading India’s FTA ambitions in perspective
Why bugs should be a bigger part of the human food chain
News: Recently, the EU (European Union) approved the use of insects for human consumption. The decision paves the way for an alternative protein source that can play a critical role in food & nutritional security. Further, the Insect protein Industry has huge economic and environmental potential. How insect proteins can ensure sustainability in our food… Continue reading Why bugs should be a bigger part of the human food chain
On India’s Data Policy – The promise and peril of big data in India’s policy space
News: Even years after India initiated an ‘open data’ policy, openness, of public datasets, is still very rare. Unlike in the West, the statistical ecosystem in India is not such that administrative datasets can be scrutinized by independent researchers and then deployed for policymaking. What are the issues/ challenges in using administrative data for policymaking?… Continue reading On India’s Data Policy – The promise and peril of big data in India’s policy space
How does the Fed’s taper move impact Indian economy?
News: The US Federal Reserve has decided to speed up its taper timeline because of higher inflation, expanding economic activity and a stronger labour market. What did the Federal Reserve decide? In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the Fed had been buying $120 billion worth of bonds every month. Now, the US central bank said… Continue reading How does the Fed’s taper move impact Indian economy?
Can India become a technology leader?
News: India-born techies are chosen as the leader by technology giants. Despite having so many celebrated technologists around the world, India is still not a major player in technology. As a consequence, the talent in India left the country. For instance, as of 2019, there were 2.7 million Indian immigrants in the US. How other… Continue reading Can India become a technology leader?
Focus on local bodies in govt push to improve ease of doing business
News: India wanted to break into the top 50 nations on the Ease of doing business index. India has moved up from 142 among 189 nations in 2014 to 63 in 2019 in the World Bank’s ranking. Experts pointed out that the following steps taken by the government have helped India to break into the… Continue reading Focus on local bodies in govt push to improve ease of doing business
How to get PLIs transform manufacturing
News: Recently, the government approved Rs 76,000 crore incentives for promoting domestic semiconductor manufacturing. There is a need to understand the role of trade and industrialisation in colonisation and its impact on our external trade policy. It will help us to shape India’s current policies in sync with our aspirations of becoming a global economic… Continue reading How to get PLIs transform manufacturing
How to read the WTO panel’s sugar report against India
Relevance: WTO, Dispute Settlement Body, Sugar subsidies News: A panel set up by the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has ruled against India’s sugar subsidies. Contents1 What was the complaint against India?2 What did the panel find?3 What was India’s argument in the WTO panel?4 Will India’s sugar industry or… Continue reading How to read the WTO panel’s sugar report against India
