Synopsis: Behind the rhetoric of mobilising climate finance lies the grim reality of burdening the G77 and its people with a fresh load of “green” debt. Introduction Media reports have claimed that developed countries are inching closer to the target of providing $100 billion annually in climate finance to developing countries by 2025 (the original… Continue reading Deconstructing climate finance
Author: Ram Manohar
CoP-26: We must shift gear from climate intention to actual action
Synopsis: There is an urgent need to address climate change which continues to mount. The future of each one depends on the actions of all. Introduction Recent catastrophic flooding in Asia and Western Europe, record-shattering temperatures in North America, and raging wildfires in southern Europe remind us that no country is safe. The Intergovernmental Panel… Continue reading CoP-26: We must shift gear from climate intention to actual action
Energy policy preparedness
Synopsis: Energy policy preparedness would help reduce the impact of global market disruptions on the Indian economy. Introduction The ongoing recovery and the medium-term growth potential of the Indian economy could be adversely affected by the unfavourable energy sector outlook. Deficient coal supply is affecting power availability in many states and could hurt industrial production.… Continue reading Energy policy preparedness
GST rationalisation: Challenge and response
Synopsis: A revision of GST slab rates may create some disquiet, but, if cleverly crafted, it could be a game-changer for manufacturing. Introduction Recently, the group of ministers (GoM) was formed by the GST Council for rate rationalisation and correcting the inverted duty structure. The GoM has a very difficult task of balancing a number… Continue reading GST rationalisation: Challenge and response
How do we protect children in the Digital Age?
Synopsis: Protecting children has become far harder in the digital era. Introduction Recently, a whistle-blower of Facebook, Frances Haugen, accused Facebook of hurting children and harming democracy by promoting social divisions. She tried to reveal the technical depths of the problem that the young consumers of the Facebook face. For instance, she tried to explain… Continue reading How do we protect children in the Digital Age?
Should we be worried about how technology is changing the human condition?
Synopsis: Fears about algorithms designed for addiction, advances in AI are grounded in recent revelations about corporate greed and government surveillance. Why expecting the social media corporates to self-regulate themselves is an absurd idea? Inaction of social media corporates: Social media corporates are well aware of the moral uncertainty towards the consequences of their products… Continue reading Should we be worried about how technology is changing the human condition?
New laws for our pharma sector must focus on reforms
Source: This post is based on the article “New laws for our pharma sector must focus on reforms” published in Livemint on 13th October 2021. Syllabus: GS3 – Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors Relevance: Reforms needed in pharma-sector Synopsis: With govt agreeing to take a look at the pharma sector laws,… Continue reading New laws for our pharma sector must focus on reforms
The state of states: On lack of data on state’s finances
Source: This post is based on the article “The state of states” published in Business Standard on 13th October 2021. Syllabus: GS3 – Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources Relevance: Significance of data on states’ finances Synopsis: Data of the Union Govt’s finances is made available at the end of every… Continue reading The state of states: On lack of data on state’s finances
The great hubris that lay behind the Great Moderation and Reset
Synopsis: Faulty assumptions of rosy economic scenarios have resulted in an energy crisis. Introduction Post-covid, there has been talk of a great reset. It has many elements. Important among them is green growth, an effort to decarbonize the world and attain net zero carbon dioxide emissions. For instance, The International Energy Agency (IEA), in a… Continue reading The great hubris that lay behind the Great Moderation and Reset
Protecting India’s natural laboratories
Synopsis: India needs to take measures to protect and conserve Geoheritage sites. Introduction India has a very unique geodiversity. India has tall mountains, deep valleys, sculpted landforms, long-winding coastlines, hot mineral springs, active volcanoes, diverse soil types, mineralised areas, and globally important fossil-bearing sites. It is long known as the world’s ‘natural laboratory’ for geo-scientific… Continue reading Protecting India’s natural laboratories
