What is the News? After a high-level security review for the forthcoming Amarnath Yatra, the government has decided to track all pilgrims using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags. What is Radio Frequency Identification(RFID)? RFID is a wireless tracking system that consists of tags and readers. In this, radio waves are used to communicate information/identity of… Continue reading Explained: What are RFID tags that will be used to track Amarnath pilgrim
Lessons for today from India’s 2006 wheat crisis
News: India faced a wheat crisis in 2006. The present article lists out the reasons that caused it and lessons that can be learnt. The author is this article was appointed as the Secretary of Food and Public Distribution during that time. What was the situation in 2006 and the reasons behind it? – Centre… Continue reading Lessons for today from India’s 2006 wheat crisis
The UN report that highlights India’s vulnerability to drought
News: Recently, the Droughts in Numbers, 2022 report was presented by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). What is the Drought in Numbers Report? The report is a collection of data on the effects of droughts on our ecosystem and the manner in which they can be mitigated through efficient planning for the future. … Continue reading The UN report that highlights India’s vulnerability to drought
Central banks and the rule of law
Context: Two recent developments in India underline the need to inspire the rule of law in the functioning of central banks (CBs). What are these two recent developments and the reasons behind it? The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) normally makes policy announcements in line with a predictable schedule. But on May 4, it went off… Continue reading Central banks and the rule of law
Law and public opinion: On Perarivalan release
News: Recently, the Supreme Court ordered the release of A.G. Perarivalan, one of the seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. How was he released? The Supreme Court has invoked its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution of India. Why was he released? The mother of the convict, vast sections of public… Continue reading Law and public opinion: On Perarivalan release
Help Afghans
News: At present, the four-day meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure is being organized in Delhi, India. Importance of the meeting At present the global attention has been shifted to the Ukraine war, sanctions and their economic impact. Therefore, the US has abandoned Afghanistan to the Taliban. Therefore, SCO’s RAT member countries,… Continue reading Help Afghans
Delimitation fallout needs no political
News: India’s electoral democracy is going to observe the delimitation of the constituencies for the Lok Sabha. This will be based on the population figures returned by the next decennial Census post 2026. Arrangements made in the Constitution of India Article 82 of the Constitution of India provided for a periodic, Census-linked re-arrangement of constituencies… Continue reading Delimitation fallout needs no political
PM Modi’s recent Nepal visit saw a successful deployment of India’s soft power to repair bilateral ties
Context: Indian Prime Minister’s recent visit to Lumbini (Nepal) on Buddha Poornima. What is the significance of the visit? This visit assumes significance since the two countries should have had the best relationship in South Asia, but have been unable to capitalise on their connections, caught in the crossroads of Nepalese internal politics. It also… Continue reading PM Modi’s recent Nepal visit saw a successful deployment of India’s soft power to repair bilateral ties
Increasing the pace of India’s urbanisation
News: In recent years, the governments has started to realise that the cities are the drivers of economic growth. Trends of Urbanization In 1960, the global rate of urbanisation was at 33.61%. In 2003, more people were living in cities than in villages. In 2020, the global urbanisation rate was at 56.15% in 2020. In… Continue reading Increasing the pace of India’s urbanisation
State of the Global Climate in 2021 Report: En route to climate catastrophe? 4 major indicators broke records in 2021, says WMO
What is the News? The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has released the State of the Global Climate in 2021 Report. What are the key findings of the report? Four Climate Indicators broke record: The world seems to be on a fast track toward climate catastrophe as four major climate indicators broke records in 2021. These… Continue reading State of the Global Climate in 2021 Report: En route to climate catastrophe? 4 major indicators broke records in 2021, says WMO
