Contents1 What is the News?2 What are Bamiyan Buddhas?3 What had happened to the Bamiyan Statues?4 What is the significance of Bamiyan? What is the News? The Taliban regime in Afghanistan has said it would protect the ancient Buddha statues in Mes Aynak. This is the site of a copper mine where the Taliban are… Continue reading Explained: What were the Bamiyan Buddhas, and why did the Taliban destroy them?
This is a criminal attack on privacy
News: Recently, the Criminal procedure (Identification) Bill 2022 was introduced in the parliament by the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs. The Bill aims to replace the Identification of Prisoners Act 1920 that has been in need of amendment for several decades. What has been proposed in the bill? The definition of measurements has been… Continue reading This is a criminal attack on privacy
Opening up procurement
News: Recently, the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was signed between India and the United Arab Emirates last month. Further, such a free trade agreement is also going to be signed between India and Australia. What are the provisions in the India-UAE trade deal? The deal provides for harmonisation in the regulatory system. It also… Continue reading Opening up procurement
Thinking hard on AI
News: Recently, two Indian researchers wrote an unpublished paper “Artificial Intelligence and the armed forces: Legal and ethical concerns”. This has led to the resurgence of a debate on Artificial Intelligence (AI) based arms and weapon system. In 1950, Alan Turing in a paper titled “Computing Machinery and Intelligence”, considered the question: “Can machines… Continue reading Thinking hard on AI
How to survive and grow in a warming world
News: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published its latest report on climate impacts. It highlights the need for adaptation. What does the report state regarding adaptation? It suggests that adaptation to climate impacts in the near to medium term can help communities and ecosystems become resilient against the threats from current and future… Continue reading How to survive and grow in a warming world
Is the fuel pricing policy problematic?
News: India officially has a deregulated pricing regime for fuel prices. However, there has been a practice to put prices on hold during election campaigns. Experts have raised concerns with this fuel pricing policy. How has India’s fuel pricing regime evolved in recent years? The dismantling of oil prices started gradually in 1997, according to… Continue reading Is the fuel pricing policy problematic?
Any data extraction law must pass a privacy test
News: The Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022 has the objective of letting the authorities bio-tag law-breakers in their records for a watchful eye to be kept on them. The concern of citizens is the lack of a privacy framework that can restrict unauthorized use and the safety of data collected. What are the provisions of… Continue reading Any data extraction law must pass a privacy test
Cohesion and co-operation: On power imbalances in BIMSTEC
News: Recently, the fifth Summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) was held. In the summit, BIMSTEC Charter, and Master Plan for Transport Connectivity were adopted among other things. What are the challenges facing the BIMSTEC? The Rohingya crisis has weakened the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Myanmar.… Continue reading Cohesion and co-operation: On power imbalances in BIMSTEC
An opportunity to repolish India-Nepal ties
News: The Nepal’s Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is on trip to India from April 1. This visit holds significance since it is the first visit of Nepal’s PM to India since 2018, and is also the first bilateral visit of the new PM of Nepal. What are the issues with India-Nepal relations? India-Nepal bilateral relations… Continue reading An opportunity to repolish India-Nepal ties
Explained: AFSPA and the Northeast
News: The Centre has decided to reduce the area under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the states of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland The act has been withdrawn entirely from 23 districts in Assam; and partially from seven districts in Nagaland, six districts in Manipur, and one district in Assam. Once the decision… Continue reading Explained: AFSPA and the Northeast
