What is the News? The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) has so far disbursed ₹48,606 crores to 32 States. Chhattisgarh and Odisha have had the maximum amount transferred to them, followed by Jharkhand and Maharashtra. What is Compensatory Afforestation? Compensatory Afforestation (CA) is defined as the process of afforestation, and associated regeneration… Continue reading Afforestation funds released to States
Explained: The significance of Raigad fort in Maratha history
What is the News? The President of India is visiting the Raigad Fort, where he will pay tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. About Raigad Fort Raigad is a hill fort situated in the Raigad district in Maharashtra. The British Gazette states the fort was known to early Europeans as the Gibraltar of the East. Its… Continue reading Explained: The significance of Raigad fort in Maratha history
Issi saaneq: New dinosaur species, which roamed Greenland 214 mn years ago
What is the News? Researchers had earlier unearthed two well-preserved dinosaur skulls during an excavation in East Greenland. They have now named this dinosaur species as Issi saaneq. About Issi saaneq Issi saaneq is a dinosaur that lived about 214 million years ago in what is now Greenland. It was a medium-sized, long-necked herbivore and… Continue reading Issi saaneq: New dinosaur species, which roamed Greenland 214 mn years ago
Nagaland killings should prompt a broad rethink
News: The army operation resulted in the tragic death of 14 civilians in Nagaland. What can be the impact of the killings? It can stall the ongoing Naga peace process and has the potential to revive the narrative of India versus the Naga people. The incident can be used by the insurgent groups to recruit and… Continue reading Nagaland killings should prompt a broad rethink
The nine lives of India’s National Family Health Survey
News: The NFHS data evolved much from the Demographic and Health Survey and became a well-structured one. Must read: NFHS-5 and its findings – Explained, pointwise About the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) The declassified Kissinger report of 1974 had feared that an ‘explosion’ in the Third World population would create masses of discontented youth, who… Continue reading The nine lives of India’s National Family Health Survey
Why the Reserve Bank wants to have its own digital currency
News: The Indian government and the RBI are getting ready to launch a central bank digital currency (CBDC). This is indicated by the scheduled introduction of the Cryptocurrency and Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021, in the winter session of the Parliament. Further, the government has also received a proposal from the RBI in Oct 2021… Continue reading Why the Reserve Bank wants to have its own digital currency
Fighting together: Only the political leadership can clear the way for joint theatre commands
News: The new navy chief, Admiral R Hari Kumar, recently said that the US military took 50 years to achieve its joint command structure. Although he clarified that he wasn’t implying that it would take a similar amount of time to establish India’s joint theatre commands, his stress was on highlighting the complexities involved. What… Continue reading Fighting together: Only the political leadership can clear the way for joint theatre commands
The farm laws fiasco offers 7 lessons on how to reform in a democracy
News: The enactment of farm laws, sustained farmer protests against them over the year and the eventual repeal has many takeaways for the future policymakers. Seven such policy lessons are discussed. Together they form a toolkit for the future reformer. What are key policy lessons from the farm law fiasco? Lesson 1: Push for simultaneous… Continue reading The farm laws fiasco offers 7 lessons on how to reform in a democracy
Proposal to create bad bank for farm loans raises several issues that need careful deliberation
News: Recently, at a meeting of the Indian Banks’ Association, the idea of floating an asset reconstruction company (ARC) to improve the recovery from bad loans in the agricultural sector was discussed. As per the RBI’s Financial Stability Report, bad loans for the agricultural sector stood at 9.8% at the end of March 2021. In… Continue reading Proposal to create bad bank for farm loans raises several issues that need careful deliberation
MSP is no silver bullet to boost farmers’ income
News: Even as the central government has announced its withdrawal of the three farm laws, farmer unions have persisted in their demand to make the minimum support price (MSP) a legal entitlement. But, even if it becomes a legal right, the MSP, in its current form, is unlikely to resolve the problems of Indian farmers… Continue reading MSP is no silver bullet to boost farmers’ income
