Tag: business standard

News: The coal shortage could worsen the power crisis in the coming months in India. According to news reports, an internal assessment of the power ministry shows the shortage could increase in the September quarter, which can lead to widespread outages. The domestic production of coal is unable to keep pace with rising power demand.… Continue reading Power for growth

Context:The recent ransomware attack targeting SpiceJet has put a spotlight on one of India’s biggest cyber-vulnerabilities. Contents1 Why India needs to strengthen its cybersecurity architecture?2 How does a ransomware work?3 What are the challenges involved?4 What is the way forward? Why India needs to strengthen its cybersecurity architecture? Both government services and private sector businesses… Continue reading Cyber safety

News: The Supreme Court has given a ruling on a commercial dispute, the Union of India versus Mohit Minerals, over the levy of the integrated goods and services tax (GST) on ocean freight charges paid by importers. It has triggered a nationwide debate. About the Judgment The judgment is virtually a recitation from the Article 279A (4)… Continue reading Storm in a GST cup

Context: Entropy, or the disorder in a system, is a concept not usually used to understand economic trends, but it best describes the disorder and randomness at work today. What are some negative economic trends since the start of 2022? Energy costs rising, the trade balance turns more negative, the fiscal balance deteriorating, portfolio capital… Continue reading For India, economic entropy presents both an opportunity and big challenge

Context: Food consumption is outpacing food production. It may prove the Malthus theory correct. In 1798, British philosopher and economist Thomas Malthus gave a theory. The theory predicted a catastrophe, which is also called “Malthusian catastrophe”. He predicted in his theory that population growth would outpace food production to cause shortages and famine. His theory… Continue reading How consumption is set to outstrip food grain production

News: The level of crude oil prices often changes the macroeconomic outlook in India. How do oil prices impact India’s economic outlook? India’s macroeconomic outlook improves when oil prices are low and stable. Whereas, a rise in oil prices means a higher Current Account Deficit and pressure on the currency. It also results in inflation… Continue reading Crude Economics – Marco-Economic impacts of oil price rise

News: The 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was recently held at Abidjan.  It called upon nations to invest in restoring degraded land for future prosperity, and urged the 196 participating nations to reclaim 1 billion hectares of degraded land by 2030. Contents1 What is the global… Continue reading Combating desertification

News: In recent years, the environmental, social and governance (ESG) investments have emerged as a subject of great interest and significance across the globe. In this context, the SEBI had brought out a consultation paper on the need to regulate ESG rating providers. Increasingly, corporates are adopting higher ESG norms, and investors are preferring such investments.… Continue reading The ESG rating conundrum

News: Russian invasion of Ukraine represents an unexpected and undesirable shock to global economies, including India’s Economy. Indian economy is facing some unexpected shocks due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Even the areas which were looking beneficial for India are turning out to be harmful. Impacts on Indian economy Both Russia and Ukraine have… Continue reading Unexpected, but also unacceptable – Shocks due to Russia-Ukraine war

News: Recently, the Orbital Assembly Corporation announced a plan to develop a space business park (hotel) which will be made operational by 2025. The hotel will be equipped with artificial gravity. Benefits of artificial gravity It would keep astronauts healthy on long trips, prevent loss of bone density and muscle atrophy. For example, in microgravity,… Continue reading Simulating gravity