News: The NFT promise is overhyped. Recently, a column titled ‘NFTs are overhyped but useful for a creative economy’ appeared in Mint. The author of that article opines that non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and the allied technology can alleviate the work-monetization challenges. Without NFTs, the artists and other independent content creators, are left at the mercy… Continue reading The NFT promise is overhyped even for creative folks
How waterways can help improve competitiveness
News: Despite being cost-effective and environment-friendly, domestic waterways play a limited role in hinterland connectivity. About inland waterways in India India has an extensive network of inland waterways, but they are highly underutilized for freight transport. The development of inland waterways has been effective in increasing the movement of cargo by about 13% in 2020-21, compared… Continue reading How waterways can help improve competitiveness
Suspension of 12 MPs for entire Winter Session is worrying
News: 12 Rajya Sabha MPs have been suspended for the remainder of the session for bringing disorder in the house. What are the suspension rules of the Rajya Sabha? Read here: Suspension rules of RS Why the present suspension is a cause of concern? Sub Rule 2 of Rule 256 clearly indicates that the matter of… Continue reading Suspension of 12 MPs for entire Winter Session is worrying
School education: Children and schooling in the post covid 19 era
News: The pandemic has exposed the limits of the Nation’s capacity to look after the collective needs of children. It proved that society and state ignored the conditions under which family copes with the demand of childhood. What was the impact of the Covid pandemic on children? Right to education and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan created… Continue reading School education: Children and schooling in the post covid 19 era
India-Germany relations: After 16 years
News: Recently, Olaf Scholz has been sworn in as chancellor of Germany, ending the 16-year tenure of Angela Merkel. About Germany’s political system The political system of Germany is known for its continuity. The post-War German republic has had just nine chancellors, including Mr Scholz. For the past 40 years, just three individuals have occupied… Continue reading India-Germany relations: After 16 years
Pavlovian responses like travel restrictions won’t stop omicron
News– Discovery of a new coronavirus variant in South Africa, called Omicron, has led to countries once again restricting or entirely eliminating the freedom to travel. Why these knee-jerk reactions like travel bans are not effective? 1) Virus is well on its way to becoming endemic at many places. 2) Also there appears no need to lock away one country when this virus is already on multiple… Continue reading Pavlovian responses like travel restrictions won’t stop omicron
A better NJAC: Politicians are right on the collegium. But can their solution rise above politics, that’s the question
News: A demand for introducing National Judicial Appointments Commission has been resurfaced in Lok Sabha. What is National Judicial Appointments Commission? Read here: National Judicial Appointments Commission Why did the demand for NJAC arise? Supporters of collegium cite executive overreach and suspicious government interest in judicial appointments in the 1970s. But after the first and second judges’… Continue reading A better NJAC: Politicians are right on the collegium. But can their solution rise above politics, that’s the question
Across India, minorities are overrepresented in jails
News: National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reports show that in almost all the states of the Indian Union, irrespective of the party holding office, religious minorities are over-represented in jail. What do the NCRB Report data shows? Muslims are (and were) over-represented among jail inmates in almost all the Hindu-majority states. For example, In Assam, Muslims,… Continue reading Across India, minorities are overrepresented in jails
Rising inequality in India – Explained, Pointwise
For 7PM Editorial Archives click HERE → Introduction The latest World Inequality Report has pointed to rising inequality in India and the world. The inequality has worsened in terms of both wealth and income. As far as income is concerned, the richest 10% of the global population currently takes 52% of global income, whereas the poorest half of… Continue reading Rising inequality in India – Explained, Pointwise
Poor nations lag in removing unhealthy trans fat from food – WHO report
What is the news? The World Health Organization (WHO) released the third progress report on Global trans fat elimination, 2021. What are Trans Fats? Trans fat is an artificial compound that can be found in cakes, cookies, biscuits, packaged foods, cooking oils and spreads. WHO estimates that consumption of these fats cause around 500,000 deaths… Continue reading Poor nations lag in removing unhealthy trans fat from food – WHO report
