News: In Budget 2022, Finance Minister announced that “world-class foreign universities and institutions would be allowed in the planned business district in Gujarat’s GIFT City”. These institutions would be free from domestic regulations to facilitate availability of high-end human resources. And the British Prime Minister during his visit to India wished to strengthen the United… Continue reading A Harvard branch in India, prospects and challenges
Tag: gs paper 2
Why vaccine mandates are essential
News: Recently, the Supreme Court has given its verdict on the government’s ongoing vaccination policy. The court held that restrictions imposed by States and Union Territories on unvaccinated individuals cannot be said to be proportionate. Contents1 Background2 Past trends of safeguard community interest3 The Supreme Court’s observations in this case4 In particularly this case Background… Continue reading Why vaccine mandates are essential
The IPEF could offer us a boat we must not miss
News: The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework may be an opportunity for India’s integration with global supply chains and trade flows. But the US must put global aims above its home politics. Contents1 Why India should join IPEF?2 What does the IPEF entail?3 What are some concerns that India must consider?4 Way forward Why India should join IPEF?… Continue reading The IPEF could offer us a boat we must not miss
ASHA: A successful public health experiment rooted in the village community
News: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recognized the contribution of India’s 1 million Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) during the Covid-19 pandemic ASHA workers have received the Global Health Leaders Award-2022 in the backdrop of the on-going 75th World Health Assembly. Contents1 Genesis of the ASHA worker programme2 What were the challenges faced by… Continue reading ASHA: A successful public health experiment rooted in the village community
India needs parliamentary supervision of trade pacts
Context: India is negotiating and signing several free trade agreements (FTAs) with countries like Australia, the UK, Israel, and the EU. While the economic benefits of these FTAs have been studied, there is very little discussion on the lack of parliamentary scrutiny of these treaties. This gives rise to arguments of democratic deficit in India’s… Continue reading India needs parliamentary supervision of trade pacts
Meeting family planning goals
Context: India’s family planning programme has improved access to contraceptives. This has led to a reduction in the Total Fertility Rate from 3.4 in 1990-92 to 2.0 in 2019-21, according to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS). However, now India needs to focus on improving access to family planning services for not just adults, but… Continue reading Meeting family planning goals
3 Ideas For 4 Countries Hunting for Chips
News: Quad Leaders’ Summit meeting is being hosted today. One agenda item will be to announce a concrete action plan under the Semiconductor Supply Chain Initiative. The goal of the Semiconductor Supply Chain Initiative is to strengthen the global semiconductor supply chain’s productive capacity and resilience. Why Quad is focusing on the semiconductor supply chain?… Continue reading 3 Ideas For 4 Countries Hunting for Chips
Davos is so 1990s: The jamboree has lost shine, thanks to social media
What are the factors that led to the decline of the World Economic Forum? Communications revolution: WEF used to be a special place and a special gathering of global influencers and policymakers to catalyze dialogue and disagreement. However, the rise of social media has changed that now one tweet, from an influential personality like Elon… Continue reading Davos is so 1990s: The jamboree has lost shine, thanks to social media
India needs to keep an eye on its myopia prevalence
Context: Millions of young children are growing up short-sighted every year because of myopia. While East Asia and the Pacific have been reporting some of the highest numbers for a decade now, current estimates out of India do not yet reflect this trend. It may mean India has time to act and save the sight… Continue reading India needs to keep an eye on its myopia prevalence
A Rajya Sabha rebalance must go with Lok Sabha expansion
Context: India is a federal structure with a unitary bias. The Constitution strikes a balance between popular will, exercised by the Lok Sabha, and the interests of states through the Rajya Sabha. But, we have allowed popular fashions and political exigencies to undermine the federal structure. What are the various states’ concerns? Delimitation exercises have… Continue reading A Rajya Sabha rebalance must go with Lok Sabha expansion
