Context: The single greatest threat that blocks the promise of India at a foundational level is malnutrition. What are the different effects of malnutrition on people? Effect of malnutrition: Malnourished children tend to fall short of their real potential physically as well as mentally. That is because malnutrition leaves their bodies weaker and more susceptible… Continue reading Nutritional Security
Category: Daily News Updates
Smart Anganwadi system
Context: Infrastructure development and capacity building of the anganwadi remains the key to improving the programme, the standards of all its services need to be up-scaled. In what areas the ICDS programme lagging? Community development: The country has 13.77 lakh AWCs. These centres have undoubtedly expanded their reach, but they need to play a much… Continue reading Smart Anganwadi system
AI moment in India
Context: The importance of AI economy to India What is the significance of AI economy to India? Data and AI services are expected to help boost India’s economic growth in a big way. For example, according to NASSCOM, data and AI will contribute $450 billion-$500 billion to India’s GDP by 2025, which is around 10%… Continue reading AI moment in India
The state of farmers
Context: While the farmers demand a repeal of the three new farm laws, the government insists the reforms are “farmer-friendly”. What is the aim and impact of the new farm laws? Aim of farm laws: The farm laws seek to introduce the neoliberal notion of “choice” into the production and sale of agricultural produce through… Continue reading The state of farmers
Boosting Farmer’s Income
Context- Policies designed for an India on the edge of starvation don’t fit the India of today. What is the history of supply and demand of wheat crop in India? The genesis of the current state of affairs stems from policies initiated over half a century ago- Starvation period– It dates from the 1960s, when… Continue reading Boosting Farmer’s Income
Lessons for the health sector
Context: It has been only nine months since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic on March 11, but the world has changed in previously unimaginable ways. Discuss the challenges put forth by the pandemic. Health systems: The health systems in many of the wealthy countries struggled; some were overwhelmed due to inadequate beds, supplies and healthcare… Continue reading Lessons for the health sector
Sanitation in India- Cultural stigma
Context- The problem with sanitation in India is not lack of infrastructure but the social and cultural stigma attached to it. What is the state of sanitation in India? Lack of proper toilets– the lack of proper restrooms makes long distance journeys an ordeal for women. However, NHAI maintains one restroom every 40-50 Km, but their… Continue reading Sanitation in India- Cultural stigma
Dangers of misplaced optimism in economy
Context: The government’s economic recovery hype is no rights and this is not a time for fiscal conservatism. What is current economic scenario? India’s economy contracted by 7.5% in the second quarter of financial year 2020-21 was, both good and bad. It is far lower than the 23.9% contraction registered in the first quarter of… Continue reading Dangers of misplaced optimism in economy
Authorisation of coronavirus vaccines
Context: Safety and efficacy data for the new vaccine must be known before emergency-use authorisation for vaccines. Why in news? The Pune-based Serum Institute of India has approached the regulator for nod for its vaccine, Covishield, developed by Oxford University. AstraZeneca, which is carrying out the phase-3 trials of the Oxford vaccine in four countries, is… Continue reading Authorisation of coronavirus vaccines
Coercive and Liberal environmentalism
Context– India’s ability to influence the new geopolitics of climate change will depend a lot on its domestic political resilience in adapting to the new imperatives. What are China’s climate commitment? China would become carbon net-zero by the year 2060. Also, China now aims to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030.That means China would not… Continue reading Coercive and Liberal environmentalism
