What is the News? Recently, Niti Aayog has released India’s first National MPI (multidimensional poverty index). The index is based on the findings of the fourth National Health Family Survey (2015-16). This index calculated the poverty ratio on the basis of three dimensions of MPI– health, education, and standard of living — with each having a… Continue reading Poverty ratio 32.75% in rural areas against 8.81% in urban: NITI report
Tag: business standard
Omicron likely to cause re-infections, surge in cases, say experts
What is the news? The new variant of COVID-19 i.e. Omicron is spreading across India. The experts say that the surge is likely due to reinfections (people getting infected with the virus again) and even vaccinated people getting infected. What are the concerns about this variant? More transmissible than Delta. This is evident from the… Continue reading Omicron likely to cause re-infections, surge in cases, say experts
A leap forward for fusion power
News: Physicists at the National Ignition Facility, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, in Livermore California, claim to have generated nearly as much energy as they put into an inertial confinement system. This development is regarding the break through research in nuclear fusion process. Though Nuclear fusion has many benefits, some drawbacks make it unviable as of… Continue reading A leap forward for fusion power
‘More women than men’ an overestimate, say experts; demand further evidence
News: The latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data shows that there are 1,020 women for every 1,000 men in India. But experts question the validity of data. Must read: NFHS-5 and its findings – Explained, pointwise What are the expert’s opinions? Firstly, the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), an autonomous organisation of the… Continue reading ‘More women than men’ an overestimate, say experts; demand further evidence
Strategy to adopt blockchain into govt systems released
What is the news? The Ministry of electronics and IT (MeitY) has released a national strategy on blockchain for adopting the technology in government systems, especially for e-governance services. What are the key features of national strategy on blockchain? It identifies 44 potential areas of using the technology and lays out the broad framework of… Continue reading Strategy to adopt blockchain into govt systems released
The tech holes that ensure that crypto can never be effectively banned
News: Experts have stated that it is not possible to enforce an effective ban on cryptocurrency in a foolproof manner. Why banning Cryptocurrency is not possible? Peer to Peer networks: Users can always transact using peer-to-peer networks. This is exactly what happened in India post RBI’s restrictions on Indian banks in 2018. Defi platforms: Users… Continue reading The tech holes that ensure that crypto can never be effectively banned
Assessing the case for a legal MSP
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. Contents1 Why the state continues to… Continue reading Assessing the case for a legal MSP
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
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
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
