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
Tag: gs paper 2
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
Indigenous weapons will have to wean India off Russian arms
News: According to Bloomberg News, the US is considering a $500 million defense package for India to finance the purchase of US weapon systems. According to Researchers at the Stimson Center, 85% of India’s weapons are of Russian origin. Further, in the next 5 years, Russian arms export to India will increase. India showed its… Continue reading Indigenous weapons will have to wean India off Russian arms
Unexpected, but also unacceptable – Shocks due to Russia-Ukraine war
News: Russian invasion of Ukraine represents an unexpected and undesirable shock to global economies, including India’s Economy. Indian economy is facing some unexpected shocks due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Even the areas which were looking beneficial for India are turning out to be harmful. Impacts on Indian economy Both Russia and Ukraine have… Continue reading Unexpected, but also unacceptable – Shocks due to Russia-Ukraine war
Striking off sedition will have little impact if UAPA remains untouched
News: Recently, the Union Government has shown its willingness to reconsider the colonial law in the spirit of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and the Supreme Court order has ordered to keep the 152-year-old sedition law, i.e., Section124 A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in abeyance. Contents1 What are the issues?2 Argument against the law3… Continue reading Striking off sedition will have little impact if UAPA remains untouched
Judicial delays and the need for intervention at the district level
News: Recently, Bihar’s Bhojpur district court was in the news. It delivered a judgement on a land dispute case filed in 1914 which is 108 years ago, making it one of the oldest cases in the country. What are the findings about the pendency of cases in the lower judiciary? According to some estimates, the… Continue reading Judicial delays and the need for intervention at the district level
