News: After getting the three farm laws repealed, the farm unions are now demanding a legalisation of MSP. But legalising MSP must be backed by a programme with requisite resources (like MGNREGA) and a time-frame within which governments would expand and diversify their procurement portfolios, in line with agro-ecology. Why the state continues to intervene… Continue reading Assessing the case for a legal MSP
India’s repeal of farm laws won’t resolve our real crisis of farming
News: The repeal of Farm laws is unlikely to end farmer worries. The need of the hour is to reform agriculture. What are the issues being faced by the agricultural sector? Farming in India is faced with many problems that makes farmers livelihood unsustainable. For example, the sector is faced with rising input costs and… Continue reading India’s repeal of farm laws won’t resolve our real crisis of farming
On indigenisation of defence products: Adding economy to defence
News: On Independence Day, Prime Minister handed the indigenously designed & developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), over to the Indian Air Force (IAF). It has been manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). The issue here is, it’s confusing how the PM chose the LCH as an indigenous product, even while the cabinet has not given… Continue reading On indigenisation of defence products: Adding economy to defence
Global corporate taxation: The new bare minimum
News: Recently, the G20 nations approved a new global minimum corporate tax. The new taxation regime covers 90% of the global economy. While OECD countries see this as a significant reform in a digitalised and globalised world economy, many sees this deal as not inclusive of the developing countries. What are the important provisions under… Continue reading Global corporate taxation: The new bare minimum
Breathing fresh air into the NCR’s pollution control
News: Supreme Court questioned government and role of Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for the lack of actual ground results in the fight against air-pollution in Delhi. At a hearing, the Court gave the Centre and Delhi government 24 hours to come out with suggestions to control air pollution. What is the problem with… Continue reading Breathing fresh air into the NCR’s pollution control
Did poor government handling in Kerala cause 2018 floods? Yes, says CAG
What is the news? A recent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has pointed out at the lapses in Kerala governments planning, capacity building, flood forecasting and dam management during 2018 state floods. What are the key findings of the report? Bureaucratic issues– The flood plains of Kerala had not been identified and… Continue reading Did poor government handling in Kerala cause 2018 floods? Yes, says CAG
Annual Report on State Finances: The vital third tier
News: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released its annual study of state finances. What are the findings of the report? -States’ gross fiscal deficit breached the 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) mark. -Combined revenue deficit of the state governments rose from 0.1% of GDP in 2018-19 to 2% of GDP in 2020-21 because… Continue reading Annual Report on State Finances: The vital third tier
A white touch to a refreshed green revolution
News: 26th Nov, 2021 was celebrated in Anand, Gujarat as the 100th birth anniversary of Verghese Kurien, the leader of India’s ‘white revolution’. The white revolution resulted in increased incomes and the wealth of millions of cattle-owning small farmers in India, many of them women. The Amul model, of a socio-economic enterprise, also has an… Continue reading A white touch to a refreshed green revolution
Draft Data Protection Law: Privacy must be held as a fundamental right
News: Supreme Court declared the Right to Privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21. Considering this, Indian data protection law must be based on the principle that we own our personal data and only specified legal processes can deprive us of it. What are the recommendations by Joint Parliamentary Committee? Read here: What are… Continue reading Draft Data Protection Law: Privacy must be held as a fundamental right
Centre set to rejig privatisation process for non-strategic sectors
What is the News? The government of India is set to approve several changes in the privatisation process for companies in non-strategic sectors. Background Recently, the Government of India has released a new ‘Public Sector Enterprise Policy’. The policy classifies public sector commercial enterprises into strategic and non-strategic sectors. In the strategic sectors, there would… Continue reading Centre set to rejig privatisation process for non-strategic sectors
