What is the News? A study was conducted to understand why Covid-19 has infected people differently — while some witness severe disease, others are impacted by milder symptoms. The study has found that a gene variant is what provides protection against severe disease. Who conducted the study? The study was conducted by an international team… Continue reading Neanderthal-inherited gene variant helps in protecting against severe COVID-19: Study
World Employment and Social Outlook – Trends 2022: Global unemployment projected to stand at 207 million in 2022: ILO
What is the News? The International Labour Organisation(ILO) has released the World Employment and Social Outlook – Trends 2022. The report examines the impacts of the Covid-19 crisis on global and regional trends in employment, unemployment and labour force participation as well as on job quality, informal employment and working poverty. What are the key… Continue reading World Employment and Social Outlook – Trends 2022: Global unemployment projected to stand at 207 million in 2022: ILO
Explained: The Devas-Antrix deal and its aftermath
What is the news? The Supreme Court has upheld the liquidation of Devas, whose foreign investors continue to fight for compensation following the cancelled 2005 satellite deal with Antrix. The Supreme Court has kept the $1.2 billion award in suspension. What is Devas- Antrix deal? Devas entered into a lease contract with ISRO’s private sector… Continue reading Explained: The Devas-Antrix deal and its aftermath
Explained: The Ravidassias of Punjab
What is the news? Recently, the Punjab elections have been postponed to 20th February from the earlier 14th February. This was done because of the Guru Ravidas Jayanti, an annual occasion during which Ravidassias travel to Varanasi in large numbers. Who is Guru Ravidas and who are considered as Ravidassias? Guru Ravidas was a mystic… Continue reading Explained: The Ravidassias of Punjab
Farm reforms need not be a lost cause in India
News: Recently, a lawsuit against the Patiala Central Cooperative Bank was heard by India’s Supreme Court. This case drew attention to an attitudinal problem in the farm sector. What is the issue between farmers and Patiala Central Cooperative Bank? The bank sought to pay less compensation than what was ordered by a High Court. The… Continue reading Farm reforms need not be a lost cause in India
Grow the pie-Rising Inequality per se isn’t a problem if economic growth raises income over all
News Oxfam International and its India unit have recently brought out reports on inequality. However, the are some apprehensions regarding this report. What are the issues with the Oxfam report? Problem with measure of inequality-Oxfam has used wealth, not income, as the parameter. The problem with this approach is that it is heavily dependent on the… Continue reading Grow the pie-Rising Inequality per se isn’t a problem if economic growth raises income over all
The Silver Line project is anti-development
News Kerala government has recently announced a rail project named Silver Line. This has received some aversive reactions from ecologists, engineers, activists and citizens which include Madhav Gadgil, E. Sreedharan, Prashant Bhushan and Medha Patkar, etc. What are the concerns regarding Silverline project? Concern of flooding– Mr. Sreedharan, perhaps India’s most famous railway engineer has put forth the view that… Continue reading The Silver Line project is anti-development
Assure basic scientific research its due supply of oxygen
News: Investment in basic science has helped the USA. Similarly, National Research Foundation (NRF) can help India in basic scientific research. How investment in science helped the USA? In 1941, US President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD). It was given unlimited access to funds with a broad mandate… Continue reading Assure basic scientific research its due supply of oxygen
BS Number Wise: India’s labour, capital paradox
News: Many sectors in India are showing improvements in labor productivity. On the other hand, employing a lesser number of laborers with no improvement in capital investment. This article shows how India is reinforcing Lewis’s argument about labor productivity. What was Arthur Lewis model of development? In 1954, Arthur Lewis presented a model to explain… Continue reading BS Number Wise: India’s labour, capital paradox
Why do Indian do so well abroad
News: In times of hyper-nationalism, there comes an interesting note on who is ruling the world. Currently, CEOs of many companies are Indians including Microsoft, Twitter etc. Also, many Indians can be found heading important political positions across the global level, for instance, Kamala Harris Vice President of the USA, Yasmin Trudeau as a state… Continue reading Why do Indian do so well abroad
