News: Recently, the Chinese and Russian leaders visited New Delhi. Both developments are important in the context of India’s position over the Russia-Ukraine war What has been India’s position on Ukraine crisis? India has consistently abstained from voting on all resolutions by both the West and Russia. For example, India abstained from Russia’s resolution in… Continue reading Between BRICS and Quad
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A subregional grouping that must get back on course
News: A summit level meeting of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is going to be organized in Sri Lanka. It is an opportunity to take concrete steps to address critical challenges confronting the region. About Bay of Bengal Maritime Dialogue (BOBMD) It was organised recently by the Centre… Continue reading A subregional grouping that must get back on course
Towards affordable healthcare in India: ‘Jan Aushadhi’ to ‘Jan Upyogi’
News: India marked the Jan Aushadhi Diwas 2022 in mid-February. Contents1 About Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP)2 What is the need for affordable healthcare?3 What are some issues with PMBJP that need to be addressed?4 What is the way forward? About Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) Prime Minister launched Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi… Continue reading Towards affordable healthcare in India: ‘Jan Aushadhi’ to ‘Jan Upyogi’
Fixing the service: Recruiting more IAS officers is necessary, as is a real merit system and trimming of government
News: Data presented by a parliamentary committee has revealed that over 1,500 sanctioned IAS officer posts (22%) at the state level lie vacant, with some states reporting greater gaps than others. It should be noted that GoI had earlier mooted an amendment to service rules to ensure more officers are available for central deputation by… Continue reading Fixing the service: Recruiting more IAS officers is necessary, as is a real merit system and trimming of government
Common University Entrance Test won’t solve the real problems
News: University Grants Commission (UGC) recently announced the introduction of the Central University Entrance Test (CUET), which is now mandatory for undergraduate admission at any of the 45 central universities in the country. What is the need for a centralised entrance test like CUET? In India there is an uneven quality of different school boards… Continue reading Common University Entrance Test won’t solve the real problems
Taking The BIMSTEC Route To Prosperity
Context: BIMSTEC is holding its summit on Mar 30 in Sri Lanka. As SAARC has failed to make any progress in the past few years, the burden to advance the regional cooperation now lies on BIMSTEC. Further, meticulous preparations behind the scenes have created an atmosphere of hope for its success. What is BIMSTEC and… Continue reading Taking The BIMSTEC Route To Prosperity
Explained: What’s behind the new anti-India campaign in the Maldives?
News: On March 23, the Maldivian Parliament disallowed a planned opposition rally in the capital Male. It had been called by former president Abdulla Yameen and his Progressive Party, and its ally, the People’s National Congress. The theme of the rally was “India Out”, a slogan coined two years ago by protesters who claimed that… Continue reading Explained: What’s behind the new anti-India campaign in the Maldives?
The move to ease voting for overseas citizens
News: The ECI has proposed to extend the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETBPS) for NRIs. How overseas voters currently vote in Indian elections? Prior to 2010, an NRI who had stayed out of India for more than 6 months at a stretch was not able to vote in elections. As their names were deleted… Continue reading The move to ease voting for overseas citizens
Has IAS Failed the Nation?
News: The Prime Minister Narender Modi openly expressed his disappointment with the prevalent ‘babu culture’ in the bureaucracy in the Parliament of India last year. IAS in early Post Independence India Soon after Independence, they were seen as the home-grown answer to the colonial era ICS. They were responsible for nation building. For example, carrying… Continue reading Has IAS Failed the Nation?
Over 15 years of incentivised institutional delivery: Has it ensured safe births?
News: Maternal mortality ratio (MMR), infant mortality rate and neonatal mortality rate (NMR) have not improved at the same pace as institutional births. Contents1 About the growth in institutional births2 How did the government incentivise institutional deliveries?3 About the mortality ratio4 What is the reason behind the low improvement in Mortality rates?5 What should be… Continue reading Over 15 years of incentivised institutional delivery: Has it ensured safe births?
