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GS: 1
Walking with others on a tightrope (The Hindu Opinion)
Gandhi knew well that one cannot be a friend of Truth without living on the edge
Three milestones in education (The Hindu Opinion)
Every year in January, when the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) is released, there is a hue and cry about the status of children’s learning in India. The hand-wringing, debates and discussions die down after some time. But this year’s situation is different. India is in a position right now to think and act differently.
GS: 2
International relations:
A pivot in Asia (The Hindu Opinion)
The National Defence Strategy (NDS) and the National Security Strategy (NSS) released recently by the U.S. showcase the country’s strategic priorities and the way forward. As the two documents lay considerable focus on the ‘Indo-Pacific’, they will serve as crucial policy indicators for India and the region. The previous Obama administration too laid considerable focus on Asia-Pacific under its ‘Rebalance to Asia’ strategy.
Open to talk with India on CPEC: China
China on Monday offered to open talks with India to resolve differences on the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), opening the door for removing a major irritant in New Delhi-Beijing ties.
Sushma to engage new Nepal govt
In a bid to revive ties with Nepal, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will visit Kathmandu from February 1 to 2.
Indian Constitution and Polity:
President, PM call for early passage of triple talaq bill
President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday advocated the early passage of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017, also known as the triple talaq Bill, during the Budget session of Parliament.
Cow vigilantism: SC issues notice to Haryana, U.P. and Rajasthan
The Supreme Court on Monday asked the governments of Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to respond to a plea seeking contempt action against the States for not complying with the court’s order to take stern steps against cow vigilantism
A path to executive power (The Hindu Opinion)
The issue of office of profit must be understood as part of the legislature’s institutional separation
GS: 3
Economy:
Recovery will lift growth to 7-7.5%
The economy is set to grow at 7-7.5% in the next financial year on the back of reviving exports and investment even as the negative effects of demonetisation and the teething troubles of the Goods and Services Tax recede, Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian said in the Economic Survey 2018.
The Goods and Services Tax has resulted in a 50% increase in the number of indirect taxpayers, the Economic Survey said, adding the fledgling tax regime has already revealed new data on key aspects such as inter-State trade, State-wise exports, and the extent of formalisation in the economy.
CEA: Time to change monetary stance
Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian on Monday acknowledged that the country’s monetary authorities may have little choice now but to adopt a policy stance that lets them tamp down on re-emerging inflationary pressures.
SMEs hold key to revive investments
The current episode of investment slowdown is ongoing, and one that is impacting growth, and therefore investment revival needs to be prioritised urgently to arrest more lasting impact on growth,
Eliminate embedded taxes to boost exports
The Economic Survey has suggested that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council should comprehensively review ‘embedded taxes’ and expeditiously eliminate the embedded export taxes to boost India’s manufacturing exports.
Tax litigation taking toll on economy
Less is more said the Economic Survey released on Monday when it comes to appeals by the income tax department for both direct and indirect tax cases.
Govt. has curbed inflation: Kovind
He also hailed the 12-digit unique identity number Aadhaar as something that helped the poor secure their rights by eliminating middlemen.:
Climate change may hit farm income
The Economic Survey 2017-18 said farmer income losses from climate change could be between 15% and 18% on an average, rising to anywhere between 20%-25% in unirrigated areas of the country.
Household cash savings dip 250%
Following the demonetisation exercise, Indian households are moving away from savings in cash to financial assets, the Economic Survey for 2018 pointed out on Monday.
The government needs to address issues such as rent control and unclear property rights rather than focussing on building more homes under its scheme to provide ‘Housing for All’ by 2022, according to the Economic Survey 2017-18.
Incidence of open defecation falls sharply
The number of people defecating in the open in rural India had reduced to less than half of what it was in 2014, according to the Economic Survey, claiming success in rural sanitation due to Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), the flagship scheme of the Centre.
India’s spending on science below economic capacity
India currently spends far below its economic capacity on reach according to a chapter in the Economic Survey. India spent only 0.5% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on research and development in 2015.
Farm sector sees feminisation says survey
With a rise seen in migration of men from rural to urban areas, there is ‘feminisation’ of agriculture sector, as the number of women in multiple roles such as cultivators, entrepreneurs and labourers is increasing, according to the Economic Survey 2017-18 released on Monday. The Survey also stressed the need for an ‘inclusive transformative agricultural policy’, aimed at gender-specific interventions.
Need to revisit sops for renewables
The government needs to revisit subsidies and incentives for renewables because its tariff is approaching grid parity and some discoms are insisting for renegotiation of already inked PPAs, according to the Economic Survey
The response to last year’s Economic Survey was overwhelming, humbling, and, of course, burdening. According to behavioural economics, humans place greater welfare weights on avoiding loss than experiencing equivalent gain. If true, the response to last year’s Survey has created a heightened performance anxiety of falling short relative to higher expectations.
Diamonds make the cut with domestic investors
It’s been five months since the world’s first diamond futures exchange began operations in India. If the trading data are any indication, it will appear that more and more investors are making diamonds their best friend.
Cautious optimism (The Hindu Editorial)
The Economic Survey underscores the need to maintain fiscal credibility
Science and Technology:
The many things that Lamin B2 can do
For the first time, nuclear protein lamin B2, which plays an important role in maintaining the structure and function of the nucleus, has been found to determine the morphology and function of the nucleolus, a roundish entity found inside the nucleus. The nucleolus makes ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) and ribosomes. Like in the case of the nucleus, the lamin B2 protein is found at the border of the nucleolus, which is again a new finding.
