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
Tag: business standard
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
Taxing digital companies: UN tax panel working on new set of rules
What is the News? The United Nations(UN’s) tax committee is developing a set of rules to tax digital services in a way that is distinct from global tax deals for large multinationals including Google, Facebook, Netflix and Microsoft. Note: India is also a part of this UN Tax committee. What are the rules the UN… Continue reading Taxing digital companies: UN tax panel working on new set of rules
On Delimitation in J&K: Beyond the boundary
Context: Political considerations instead of constitutional proprieties appear to have influenced the delimitation of the Assembly and parliamentary constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) by the fifth Delimitation Commission. The commission submitted its recommendations recently. Under what provisions the fifth Delimitation Commission was set up? In setting up the fifth Delimitation Commission, the govt invoked… Continue reading On Delimitation in J&K: Beyond the boundary
Fertility falls, obesity goes up in India , says National Family Health Survey
What is the News? The National Family Health Survey(NFHS-5) Report has highlighted the recent trends in Fertility and Obesity. What is the National Family Health Survey(NFHS)? Read here: National Family Health Survey (NFHS)? What are the key findings of NFHS-5? Total Fertility Rate(TFR): The Total Fertility Rate(TFR), the average number of children per woman, has… Continue reading Fertility falls, obesity goes up in India , says National Family Health Survey
The missing CDS
News: Recently, the first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of India died in a helicopter crash. The second CDS of India has not been appointed so far. The Indian military continues to remain headless and directionless with no successor to Rawat. Contents1 Importance of the CDS 2 History of Tri-Service Command in India 3 What are the… Continue reading The missing CDS
Faster, cheaper and cleaner power
Context: The Sate-owned NTPC said it plans to begin work on the construction of a new coal power plant, despite it being faster, cheaper and cleaner to build solar or wind. Why India should transition to solar and wind energy? Record low tariffs: India has seen record low renewable energy tariffs of Rs 1.99 (2.6… Continue reading Faster, cheaper and cleaner power
Agri trade beyond the Ukraine war
Context: The conflict in Ukraine has created an opportunity for India’s agricultural exports, particularly wheat. But, India’s chances of becoming a stable supplier of wheat are limited in the absence of a long-term policy on foodgrain exports. Out of the around 200 million tonnes (mt) of global wheat exports, Russia and Ukraine export 60 mt.… Continue reading Agri trade beyond the Ukraine war
How safe are India’s dams?
Context: Jal Shakti Minister recently told the Rajya Sabha that since 1979, there were 42 instances of dam failures, the latest being the Annamayya reservoir in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh that led to the death of at least 20 people in November 2021. India has the 3rd largest number of dams in the world… Continue reading How safe are India’s dams?
