News: The Russia-Ukraine conflict will cause major, long-term shifts in the global energy and commodity trade. Contents1 What are the driving factors behind the shift?2 Other reasons3 What does the future hold?4 Way Forward What are the driving factors behind the shift? At Present (1) The European nations & Other nations (due to western sanctions… Continue reading Lessons from the Ukraine crisis price shock
Tag: gs paper 2
The dangerous intellectual fad of ‘civilisationism’
News: At present, the big nations are using civilisational rhetoric to rebrand the nations. The leadership from India, China, Russia, Turkey, and Iran have made statements that their countries are civilisations and not nation-states. In fact, the Russian President has stated that “Russia is not just a country, it’s really a separate civilisation”. It means… Continue reading The dangerous intellectual fad of ‘civilisationism’
Myanmar’s internal situation shouldn’t hobble India’s ‘Act East’ policy
News: In 2021, Myanmar’s military took over the civilian government. Now, there are reliable reports of the strengthening of the People’s Defence Force, with the support of various ethnic militias. There is no sign of the restoration of normalcy. Implications on India For India, the coup has caused an adverse impact on its Act East… Continue reading Myanmar’s internal situation shouldn’t hobble India’s ‘Act East’ policy
India-Pakistan ties and the mirror of 2019
News: Recently, the official delegation from Pakistan visited New Delhi to hold talks with its Indian counterparts. This was done under the aegis of the Indus Water Treaty. Contents1 Recent Developments2 What are the reasons for re-engagement between India and Pakistan?3 What are the possible challenges?4 Way Forward Recent Developments India has been sending consignments… Continue reading India-Pakistan ties and the mirror of 2019
GST Council must uphold fiscal federalism
News: Recently, the Supreme Court has given its verdict on the nature of recommendations made by the GST Council. The verdict included an important observation on Indian federalism, especially on it being a dialogue between cooperative and uncooperative federalism. Contents1 Background of the Case2 Submissions by the Union of India3 The Supreme Court’s Observations on… Continue reading GST Council must uphold fiscal federalism
Do we need a law to compensate those implicated in false cases?
Context: In October 2021, Aryan Khan, son of actor Shah Rukh Khan, was arrested in Mumbai by the Narcotics Control Bureau in a drug racket case. Now, on May 28, he and five others were given a clean chit by a special investigation team from Delhi. Besides highlighting the torment suffered by him and his… Continue reading Do we need a law to compensate those implicated in false cases?
A case for community-oriented health services
News: Recently, India’s Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) received the WHO’s Global Health Leaders Awards 2022 in recognition of their work during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as for serving as a link between communities and health systems. Contents1 Contributions of the ASHA workers2 Genesis of the programme3 Launch of the programme4 Features of the… Continue reading A case for community-oriented health services
The challenge of reforming death penalty sentencing
News: Recently, the Supreme court, in Manoj and Ors. vs State of MP, has acknowledged that there is an intense and persistent crisis in the fairness of administering the death penalty in India. Legality of the Death Penalty in India In Bachan Singh vs State of Punjab (1980), the court upheld the constitutionality of the death penalty. The court… Continue reading The challenge of reforming death penalty sentencing
Global food shortages demand an international-level solution
Context: Food shortages are beginning to cast a shadow over the world. One long-term factor is the warming of our planet, which has slowly destroyed agricultural land. But the proximate cause of the greatest concern is the war in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Black Sea blockade is preventing Ukrainian grain and fertilizers from leaving the port… Continue reading Global food shortages demand an international-level solution
Another sanctions package
News: The European Union’s (EU’s) announcement of a joint decision to phase out imports of Russian crude oil has, together with some other developments, shaken up oil markets. This is the sixth such package of sanctions on entities linked to the Russian Federation by the countries of the EU. Earlier sanctions have benefitted India, but… Continue reading Another sanctions package
