News: ISRO has signed an agreement with Chinese smart device manufacturer Oppo to work towards providing NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) messaging services in mobile phones. This has wide implications for the national and cybersecurity in the country as there will be huge exchange of data and technical information through this collaboration. What are… Continue reading Sleepwalking into Chinese control of critical tech
Turmoil on the high seas-Indian shippers need stability assurers
News: Global shipping Industry is facing several challenges in the post pandemic world like surging freight rates, logistical bottlenecks and various supply-chain disruptions. What are the challenges being faced by the shipping industry? Less capacity, more demand: Due to an unexpected increase in consumer demand for goods after the March 2020 lockdowns , shipping… Continue reading Turmoil on the high seas-Indian shippers need stability assurers
Will India Pay For RBI’s Hurry?
News: The RBI, in Mar 2020, issued guidelines prohibiting merchants (including all e-commerce websites, streaming platforms) and payment aggregators (such as Razorpay and Instamojo) from storing customer card information. These will come into effect from 1st Jan 2021. In September 2021, an alternative to the current system was permitted. The alternative system is called Card-on-file… Continue reading Will India Pay For RBI’s Hurry?
On PSB privatisation: Avoidable delay
News: Although, the Finance Minister had announced in this year’s Budget that the government will take up the privatisation of two PSBs. Yet, it unlikely to happen this year. The Finance Minister, in a written reply to the Parliament, said that the Cabinet has not taken any decision in this regard. Moreover, the government will… Continue reading On PSB privatisation: Avoidable delay
On WTO Ruling against Indian Sugar industry – Lasting solution
News: The World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled against India’s sugar and sugarcane subsidies Though, the ruling is inconsequential for the country’s current policies concerning the Sugar industry. But it does provide an opportunity to address some of the chronic issues that often require the government to bail this industry out. Read more here: WTO panel’s… Continue reading On WTO Ruling against Indian Sugar industry – Lasting solution
Our semiconductor shortage is likely to persist for a long while
News: The semiconductor chip shortage, currently impacting the automobile industry, is likely to last longer. How the semiconductor industry evolved in the mid-80s? The semiconductor industry underwent a major change in the mid-80s as chips started getting commoditized. – To protect against price risks and secure heavy investments that go into fabs, chipmakers started asked… Continue reading Our semiconductor shortage is likely to persist for a long while
The troubling courtroom policymaking by the supreme court
News: A Supreme court bench has sent proposal for the establishment of a National Judicial Infrastructure Corporation (NJIC) to the law ministry. There are serious issues of constitutional propriety (correctness) with how the apex court is gradually taking over the administration of the district judiciary More about NJIC , here. What are the issues with the… Continue reading The troubling courtroom policymaking by the supreme court
Common electoral roll: Electoral reform is welcome, but shouldn’t be selective
News: Recently, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have passed the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021. The bill facilitates a wide array of electoral reform, of which several of them have been pending for over two decades. A common electoral roll can be the next reform the government should consider. In the recent meeting, the ECI… Continue reading Common electoral roll: Electoral reform is welcome, but shouldn’t be selective
e-shram registration is a stepping stone towards protection of informal workers
News: Data suggests that Indian economy is coming to its pre-pandemic status. But recovery for informal workers and circular migrants is far from complete, as the employment is yet to recover. Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) data shows that employment-population ratio for the period May-August 21 was 36.8 per cent compared to 39.6… Continue reading e-shram registration is a stepping stone towards protection of informal workers
On Geopolitics of India – As a regional leader, not a victim of circumstance
News: The changing geopolitics is demanding India’s leadership role in South Asia. But India has failed to rise to the challenge on many occasions. What are the changing Geopolitics that is impacting the Indian ocean countries? In the Indian Ocean Conference this month, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar listed the following issues link to India’s… Continue reading On Geopolitics of India – As a regional leader, not a victim of circumstance
