News: A Supreme Court Bench in a judgment has said that the recommendations of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council were not binding on the Central and state governments. In the five years since GST has been rolled out, the GST Council has been the decision-making body on all key matters such as tax… Continue reading Objection milords: SC’s GST Council ruling is an overreach and can be hugely disruptive. GoI should file review petition
Frequent policy flip-flops are bad for farmers as well as consumers
Context: In a sudden move, the central government banned the export of wheat on 13th May, a day after retail inflation numbers for April were released. It was wheat inflation at 9.6% that triggered this panic reaction. None of it was unexpected, given the trend so far. The Food and Agriculture Organisation food index has… Continue reading Frequent policy flip-flops are bad for farmers as well as consumers
Crushing lives: On the need to enforce rules in quarries
Context: Death of three workers in an accident at a private stone quarry in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu has raised concerns regarding worker safety at hazardous sites. In the present case, a falling boulder trapped six workers and their heavy vehicles under debris in a 300-feet deep stone quarry. Were the norms being… Continue reading Crushing lives: On the need to enforce rules in quarries
In Perarivalan’s case, the constitutional battle between governor and government
News: Recently, the Supreme Court of India exercised its power under Article 142 of the Constitution and ordered the release of A.G. Perarivalan, a convict in the Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case. This has put an end to the battle between the Raj Bhavan and Secretariat that has lasted more than two decades. What… Continue reading In Perarivalan’s case, the constitutional battle between governor and government
Bridging the health policy to execution chasm
News: The Union government has released a guidance document on the setting up of a ‘public health and management cadre’ (PHMC) as well as revised editions of the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) for ensuring quality health care in government facilities. Background The health sector has been facing multiple challenges of handling an epidemic and… Continue reading Bridging the health policy to execution chasm
On marital rape, regressive notions undermine autonomy of women
News: Recently, two judges of the Delhi High Court handed down separate judgments on the constitutional validity of the “Marital Rape Exception” under Section 375 of the IPC in RIT Foundation v Union of India Case. What is the law? Section 375 defines “rape” as when a man has sex with a woman without her… Continue reading On marital rape, regressive notions undermine autonomy of women
Explained | What a new study on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome says about the disease
What is the News? A team of researchers in Australia has identified a biochemical marker in the blood that could help identify newborn babies at risk for the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). What is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)? Sudden infant death syndrome is the unexpected death of an apparently healthy infant. It usually occurs… Continue reading Explained | What a new study on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome says about the disease
Union Health Minister addresses 35th Stop TB Partnership Board Meeting
What is the News? The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare addressed the 35th Board meeting of the Stop TB Partnership. What is Stop TB Partnership? Click Here to read about it What are the key highlights from the 35th Board meeting of the Stop TB Partnership? Adopt people with TB Initiative: The initiative… Continue reading Union Health Minister addresses 35th Stop TB Partnership Board Meeting
Circular Economy in Municipal Solid and Liquid Waste: Recyclable garbage may generate Rs 30,000 crore annually
What is the News? The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has released a report titled ‘Circular Economy in Municipal Solid and Liquid Waste’. Note: The circular economy is a model of production and consumption that involves sharing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling existing materials/products as long as possible. What is the purpose of the report?… Continue reading Circular Economy in Municipal Solid and Liquid Waste: Recyclable garbage may generate Rs 30,000 crore annually
Low-cost super-elastic buckling restrained braces can improve earthquake resistance of structures
What is the News? Researchers have developed low-cost buckling-restrained braces that can give improved protection to constructions from earthquakes. What have the researchers developed? The earthquake resistance of civil structures is often improved by using seismic force-resisting systems or vibration control devices. Buckling-restrained braces are the special structural elements that serve both purposes. Researchers from… Continue reading Low-cost super-elastic buckling restrained braces can improve earthquake resistance of structures
