Context: WTO rulebook must evolve to support food security and rural livelihoods in developing countries. What are the existing issues related to India? Whether the current farm subsidy rules provide enough room for developing countries to buy food at government-set minimum support prices as part of their public stockholding programmes. To negotiate a permanent solution. India’s farm… Continue reading WTO rulebook
Category: Daily News Updates
Health care in India
Context – The problems in India’s health sector. What are the issues with healthcare sector in India? Low government spending – Public expenditure on health accounts for only 1.13% of the total health expenditure which is abysmally low when compared to WHO recommendation of 5%. High out of pocket expenditure– Out of pocket expenses account for 62% of… Continue reading Health care in India
Shakti Act 2020 concerns
Context – The Maharashtra Shakti Bill, 2020, and the Special Court and Machinery for Implementation of Maharashtra Shakti Criminal Law, 2020 have been criticized by prominent women’s rights advocates for being “draconian. More in news- The two interconnected bills are the Maharashtra Shakti Criminal Law (Maharashtra Amendment) Act 2020 and the Special Court and Machinery for Implementation of Maharashtra Shakti Criminal Law… Continue reading Shakti Act 2020 concerns
Coal sector reforms to reduce CO2 emissions
News: Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has conducted a webinar titled “Reducing CO2 footprints of India’s coal-based power sector”. Facts: Coal Sector: Coal Sector Emissions: India’s coal-based thermal power sector is one of the country’s biggest emitters of CO2.It emits 1.1 giga-tonne of CO2 every year; this is 2.5% of global GreenHouse Gas (GHG) emissions,… Continue reading Coal sector reforms to reduce CO2 emissions
What is Solar Winds Hack?
News: The ‘Solar Winds hack’, a cyberattack discovered in the United States, has emerged as one of the biggest ever targeted against the US government.In fact, it is likely a global cyberattack. Facts: SolarWinds Hack also called the Supply Chain attack is a cyberattack discovered in the United States. Instead of directly attacking the federal government or… Continue reading What is Solar Winds Hack?
Climate mitigation
Context: The fifth anniversary of the Paris accord provided the scope of a virtual global meeting. What steps has India undertaken to mitigate climate change post Paris Agreement? Renewable energy targets: Initially, India had set a target of 175 GW of installed renewables capacity by 2020 and a guarantee that by 2030, 40 per cent of… Continue reading Climate mitigation
MSP for other crops
Context: Need to extend MSP for other crops to promote crop diversification. How India achieved self-sufficiency in food grain production mainly in wheat and rice? Ship-to-mouth situation in India: In the early 1960s, near-famine conditions prevailed in India and some 10 million tonnes of wheat had to be imported from the US under the PL480 programme. Green… Continue reading MSP for other crops
India and Bangladesh
Context: Recent inauguration of an 11-km rail link between West Bengal and Bangladesh marks the slow but steady effort by Delhi and Dhaka to overcome the negative consequences of the Partition of the subcontinent. How economic dissociation started in the Indian subcontinent? The political Partition in 1947, which created Pakistan, did not immediately lead to… Continue reading India and Bangladesh
Sixth Schedule discriminates against the non-tribal
Context – The Sixth Schedule was incorporated to protect the rights of the minority tribals living within a larger state dominated by the majority. More in news Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) an influential students’ body in Meghalaya has put up banners labelling all Bengalis in the state as Bangladeshis. It is also spearheading an agitation for an… Continue reading Sixth Schedule discriminates against the non-tribal
Child nutrition needs attention
Context: Worsening of child nutrition calls for immediate and decisive course correction. More on news: The first phase of NFHS-5, held during 2019-2020, covered 17 states and five Union territories. What are the findings of the report? Revelation from the survey: southern states have joined the league of poor performing states. Stunting has risen in Kerala and… Continue reading Child nutrition needs attention
