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
Tag: business standard
Objection milords: SC’s GST Council ruling is an overreach and can be hugely disruptive. GoI should file review petition
News: A Supreme Court Bench in a judgment has said that the recommendations of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council were not binding on the Central and state governments. In the five years since GST has been rolled out, the GST Council has been the decision-making body on all key matters such as tax… Continue reading Objection milords: SC’s GST Council ruling is an overreach and can be hugely disruptive. GoI should file review petition
Central banks and the rule of law
Context: Two recent developments in India underline the need to inspire the rule of law in the functioning of central banks (CBs). What are these two recent developments and the reasons behind it? The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) normally makes policy announcements in line with a predictable schedule. But on May 4, it went off… Continue reading Central banks and the rule of law
Increasing the pace of India’s urbanisation
News: In recent years, the governments has started to realise that the cities are the drivers of economic growth. Contents1 Trends of Urbanization 2 India’s trends 3 State-wise trends in India 4 Merits of urbanisation 5 What are the issues? Trends of Urbanization In 1960, the global rate of urbanisation was at 33.61%. In 2003, more people were living… Continue reading Increasing the pace of India’s urbanisation
Reforming the NITI Aayog
Context: The justification for the establishment of the NITI Aayog has been more or less disproved by the way development policies are being formulated in the present Union government regime. Contents1 Why NITI Aayog was established?2 What kind of role has NITI Aayog played since it was established?3 What are the issues invovled?4 What are… Continue reading Reforming the NITI Aayog
Direct paddy sowing reaps benefits
News: Recently, the Haryana government has announced a higher incentive of ₹ 10,000 per hectare for the direct planting of rice. What are the issues in present rice cropping practice? At present, rice growers generally use much more water than the crop actually needs. Around 40-45% of the water used for irrigation goes to paddy… Continue reading Direct paddy sowing reaps benefits
Root cause analysis for the power crisis
Context: The root cause of the present electricity crisis in India is said to be the demand surge due to heat waves. However, it is not the case with other products where the private sector is involved. For example, the surge in the ice-cream demand is higher compared to electricity in summers. However, no one… Continue reading Root cause analysis for the power crisis
India’s biggest policy challenge
News: Recently, the Periodic Labour Force Survey’s latest quarterly bulletin was released last week. Findings of PLFS The unemployment rate for workers of 15 years or above in urban areas came down from 10.3% during October-December 2020 to 8.7% in October-December 2021. The labour force participation rate (LFPR) has also increased marginally from 46.9% in… Continue reading India’s biggest policy challenge
Fortified rice: Surveyors find that consumers fear traces of ‘plastic rice’
What is the News? A fact-finding team of civil society activists has found serious issues with the Pilot Scheme on Fortification of Rice. About Fortification of Rice Programme Recently, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval for the supply of fortified rice throughout the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) under the following schemes… Continue reading Fortified rice: Surveyors find that consumers fear traces of ‘plastic rice’
Regulators don’t need constitutional status
Context: Should Indian regulatory agencies be given constitutional status? It is argued that Indian regulatory agencies are often unable to withstand political pressure from the elected government of the day, which affects the way they perform their functions. So, granting them constitutional sanctity would “restore symmetry” between regulatory agencies and the elected government. Though tempting,… Continue reading Regulators don’t need constitutional status
