News: The government seems ready to expand the scope of goods and services tax (GST) to cryptocurrency transactions. Reports suggest it may impose crypto-token purchases with GST, just like on any other product. The entire value chain s expected to be included into its tax net. Presently, services provided by crypto exchanges are taxed at… Continue reading Heavy taxes are fine for quasi-assets like crypto
9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – March 22nd, 2022
Dear Friends, We have initiated some changes in the 9 PM Brief and other postings related to current affairs. What we sought to do: Ensure that all relevant facts, data, and arguments from today’s newspaper are readily available to you. We have widened the sources to provide you with content that is more than enough… Continue reading 9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – March 22nd, 2022
One nation one software
Context: National Generic Document Registration System can be helpful in dealing with the land records related issues. The Constitution of India is imbued with a federal vision. The 7th Schedule provides for 3 lists: “Union List” – defines the area of work for the Union government. “Concurrent List” – here both Union and State can… Continue reading One nation one software
Whither unemployment benefits
News: As per Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, the average urban unemployment rate remained 9% in 2021. Before COVID the unemployment rate touched its peak in 2017-18 at 6.1%, with urban unemployment as high as 7.8%. This was further exacerbated by the pandemic. As per Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, the average urban unemployment rate… Continue reading Whither unemployment benefits
A solution in search of a problem: on 10% reservation
The Government passed 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act creating a 10% reservation for economically weaker sections (EWS), for those, who have an income threshold of Rs. 8 lakh per annum. This article discusses potential implication of the EWS Amendment, followed by some alternatives: Issues with the amendment: Excludes no one: As per India Human Development Survey… Continue reading A solution in search of a problem: on 10% reservation
Changing the jurisprudence of scarcity
News: The Prime Minister’s recently made observation about the plight of the Indian medical students returning from Ukraine is on point. Why are problems being faced in the education sector? States are demanding reservation higher than 50%. It is demanded because most of the state’s population is eligible for reservation and goes beyond 50%. For… Continue reading Changing the jurisprudence of scarcity
Sri Lanka’s aggravating economic crisis
News: Sri Lanka’s economic crisis is aggravating rapidly, putting citizens through enormous hardship. Sri Lanka’s Consumer Price inflation is at 16.8%, and it must repay foreign debt totalling nearly $7 billion this year. Reason for the crisis Ever since the start of the pandemic, 1) Sri Lankan labourers in West Asian countries were left stranded… Continue reading Sri Lanka’s aggravating economic crisis
When West Weaponizes Sanctions
News: Recently, the Indian PM pointed towards the domestic political stability in the face of external threats and challenges like global conflict, instability and mounting inflationary pressures. Consequences of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine Conflict and the economic sanctions The military campaign in Ukraine has destabilised the European security order. The western economic sanctions on Russia are… Continue reading When West Weaponizes Sanctions
Russia’s offer of cheaper oil is tempting, but India must be cautious
News: Global crude oil prices have now risen above $100 a barrel due to the Russia-Ukraine Conflict 2022. Impact of high crude prices on India Indian government is under tremendous pressures. It has to spend twice as much to import oil. It cannot pass on these high oil costs to consumers, and will have to… Continue reading Russia’s offer of cheaper oil is tempting, but India must be cautious
Amid Ukraine crisis, India does well to deepen ties with Australia and Japan, draw red lines vis a vis Beijing
News: The Chinese Foreign Minister attacked QUAD members. He mentioned that “No country should pursue its so-called absolute security at the expense of other countries’ security”. He stated this in wake of Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narender Modi’s summit-level meetings with the prime ministers of Japan and Australia. Accusation made by China on the west … Continue reading Amid Ukraine crisis, India does well to deepen ties with Australia and Japan, draw red lines vis a vis Beijing
