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 24th, 2022
Fighting TB with lessons learnt during Covid pandemic
News: Recently, World TB Day was organized. Focus on TB has declined due to Covid-19 Pandemic. It’s time we acknowledge the magnitude of the disease, and work harder at offering individuals’ equitable healthcare access and resources that the disease warrants. Why should TB be considered serious? On one side, 1.8 million people succumbed to the… Continue reading Fighting TB with lessons learnt during Covid pandemic
On India’s education and healthcare: Mind, body & growth
News: Ensuring top quality and a proper delivery of public goods like education and healthcare is one area where successive governments have underperformed in India. The article highlights the current situation, reasons for underperformance and measures to address the issues. What is the situation wrt education and healthcare in India? – Education: ASER reported in… Continue reading On India’s education and healthcare: Mind, body & growth
The controversy over the proposed Mekedatu water project
News: Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are heading for a political confrontation over the Mekedatu drinking water project across river Cauvery, proposed by the former. Within days of Tamil Nadu Assembly’s resolution against the project, Karnataka’s legislative assembly is set to counter it with a resolution seeking the project’s early implementation and clearances from the Centre.… Continue reading The controversy over the proposed Mekedatu water project
Buyers’ power: India depends on Russian arms. But Russia depends on Indian arms purchases. That gives Delhi leverage
News: India’s national interest and its international stand on Ukraine are at centre of debate due to the Ukraine-Russia Conflict. Status of the Russian Economy Russia relies hugely on exports of two products, oil and petroleum products and arms products. Oil and Petroleum: Russia’s oil and petroleum products export was 8 million barrels/day. However, The… Continue reading Buyers’ power: India depends on Russian arms. But Russia depends on Indian arms purchases. That gives Delhi leverage
Phasing out coal-based plants: The way forward
Context: The world including India is making plans to decarbonise in context of the looming threat of climate change Challenges in achieving 500GW non-fossil fuel generation capacity by 2030 There are questions on the availability of the sufficient demand in the economy Such a huge capacity of renewable generation needs grid stability. Renewable energy requires… Continue reading Phasing out coal-based plants: The way forward
Global uncertainties, India’s growth prospects
News: On February 28, 2022, the National Statistical Office (NSO) released India’s GDP data for Quarter 3 of 2021-22. The NSO also released Second Advance Estimates (SAE) for Fiscal Year 2021-22. India’s Growth performance As per the estimates, India’s real GDP and GVA growth are estimated to recover to 8.9% and 8.3%, respectively, in 2021-22… Continue reading Global uncertainties, India’s growth prospects
Green Bonds, digital currency hold promise
Context: The Budget had two major announcements pertaining to the issuance of sovereign green bonds and a central bank digital currency. These two launches will be a joint effort between the government and the RBI. What are Sovereign Green Bonds? It will be a part of the government’s borrowing program. The government undertakes borrowing to… Continue reading Green Bonds, digital currency hold promise
World Happiness Report: India among ‘unhappiest’ nations, languishes at 136th spot
What is the News? The World Happiness Report 2022 has been released. What is the World Happiness Report 2022? Published by: United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network(UNSDSN) powered by the Gallup World Poll data. Purpose: The report uses global survey data to report how people evaluate their own lives in countries worldwide. Factors: The report… Continue reading World Happiness Report: India among ‘unhappiest’ nations, languishes at 136th spot
Explained: What are Kamikaze drones, the ‘lethal’ weapon being sent by the US to Ukraine?
What is the News? US has announced USD 800 million in new military aid for Ukraine including 800 additional Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, 9,000 antitank weapons, 100 tactical drones including Kamikaze or suicide drones. What are Kamikaze Drones? Kamikaze Drones are also called Switchblade drones. These are small unmanned aircraft that are packed with explosives that… Continue reading Explained: What are Kamikaze drones, the ‘lethal’ weapon being sent by the US to Ukraine?
