News: The hype around NFTs may be a gold rush, but it has made an important idea mainstream: Creators need to take back control from Big Tech. Are NFTs a speculative bubble? Couple of factors due to which some experts believe to be speculative bubbles: – Relation of NFTs to Cryptocurrencies, which are in itself… Continue reading NFTs are overhyped, but useful for a creative economy
How to regulate crypto, minus a crypto-specific law
News: Bringing a new legislation for Crypto regulation may not be necessary in India until Cryptocurrency transactions reach a widespread adoption. Till then, a more prudent approach would be to extend our current regulatory frameworks, along with the associated enforcement apparatus, to regulate cryptos as yet another class of assets. What are the challenges the… Continue reading How to regulate crypto, minus a crypto-specific law
Mediation Bill: Not getting the Act together
News: The Ministry of Law and Justice has placed the Draft Mediation Bill, 2021 in public domain seeking feedback and suggestions from all stakeholders. What is the significance of the bill? Firstly, it recognises that mediation has to be treated as a profession. This is a significant development compared to the previous mediated schemes. Secondly,… Continue reading Mediation Bill: Not getting the Act together
Surveillance as governance
News: Recently, Amnesty International raised concerns that extensive surveillance of Hyderabad is putting human rights at risk. How surveillance is carried out in Hyderabad? It largely follows a three-pronged approach. – Wide web of CCTV cameras: For example, CCTV coverage in two cities (Kala Pathar and Kishan Bagh) is 53.7% and 62.7% respectively according to… Continue reading Surveillance as governance
India-Russia summit recognised that each needs the other, and that the drift in bilateral ties needs to be arrested
News: Recently, 21st India – Russia Annual summit took place. The summit highlighted the “all-weather” partnership between India and Russia. Must read: Recent developments in India-Russia Relations – Explained, pointwise Contents1 What are the challenges in India-Russia relations?2 Why does Russia need India?3 Why does India need Russia?4 What should be done? What are the… Continue reading India-Russia summit recognised that each needs the other, and that the drift in bilateral ties needs to be arrested
About Swacch Bharat Mission 2.0: Being free of old waste
News: Main focus of Swacch Bharat Mission 2.0 is to work on solid waste management. About Swacch Bharat Mission 2.0 The mission aims to provide financial assistance to set up fresh waste processing facilities and bioremediation projects across all the ULBs. Financial assistance is limited to chosen large cities that have a population of over 5… Continue reading About Swacch Bharat Mission 2.0: Being free of old waste
What schools need to do during pandemic
News: School life during and after the Covid-19 pandemic is not going to be the same. The coming of a new sub-variant, Omicron, triggered concerns worldwide on what measures should adopt to protect children. What is the exposure rate of adults and children? According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) study, both adult and child… Continue reading What schools need to do during pandemic
Health account numbers that require closer scrutiny
News: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has released the National Health Accounts Report for 2017-18. How does NHA capture data? NHA captures health data like out-of-pocket expenditure, insurance premiums from various sources like the “Household social consumption in India: Health” survey of the National Sample Survey Organization. Read here: Per capita out-of-pocket health expenditure sees… Continue reading Health account numbers that require closer scrutiny
New research: A plant-based chewing gum that ‘traps’ coronavirus
Contents1 What is the News?2 How does the covid virus spread?3 What role does ACE-2 protein play in this?4 How does this chewing gum reduce the Covid Virus load? What is the News? Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a chewing gum that can potentially reduce transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. How does… Continue reading New research: A plant-based chewing gum that ‘traps’ coronavirus
Explained: What is NASA’s new communications system LCRD; its importance
What is the News? NASA has launched its new Laser Communications Relay Demonstration(LCRD). What is Laser Communications Relay Demonstration(LCRD)? LCRD is NASA’s first-ever laser communications system. Purpose: It has been launched to help demonstrate the benefits of space-to-ground laser communications also called optical communications. Orbit: The LCRD payload is hosted onboard the US Department of… Continue reading Explained: What is NASA’s new communications system LCRD; its importance
