News: Recently, the ruling BJP suspended its national spokesperson and expelled its Delhi spokesperson Naveen Kumar Jindal, following comments they had made about Islam and the Prophet. The move came after three countries in the Gulf region had summoned the Indian ambassadors to their nations to register their protest, and demanded a public apology from… Continue reading Explained: Why the Gulf matters for India
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Taking steps to ensure sex workers’ rights
News: Recently, the SC in Budhadev Karmaskar v. State of West Bengal & Ors, has given directions related to rights of the sex workers and their children. About Sex Worker and Prostitution The expression ‘sex worker’ has not been defined in the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (ITPA) or any other law. But according to the ITPA… Continue reading Taking steps to ensure sex workers’ rights
The need for digital collaboration
News: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has simplified its approval process for local universities to collaborate with their counterparts abroad, to offer joint degrees, dual degrees, and twinning programmes. Which Higher Education Institution (IHEI) are eligible for collaboration? Indian Any IHEI accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council having a minimum score of 3.01… Continue reading The need for digital collaboration
A ‘silver’ moment to propel a Bay of Bengal dream
News: On June 6, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) has completed 25 years Background It was launched as a modest grouping of Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand), with the acronym, BIST-EC as a result of the Bangkok Declaration 1997. Later on, three countries (Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar)… Continue reading A ‘silver’ moment to propel a Bay of Bengal dream
An anomaly that goes by the name populism
Context: The populist measures and creation of perceptions have become part of the political mobilisation; Social democratisation in India New technology has replaced old social divides. For instance, now everyone does photography and shares everything. Markets have created new modes of consumption. For example, Netflix has been referred to as a non-exclusive consumption. It breaks… Continue reading An anomaly that goes by the name populism
New WHO report on assistive technology for disabled provides a roadmap for India
News: The World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) jointly launched the first Global Report on Assistive Technology (GReAT) on May 16. What is Assistive technology (AT)? It may include any item, piece of equipment, software programme or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of… Continue reading New WHO report on assistive technology for disabled provides a roadmap for India
The IPEF holds promise but there are perils too
News: Recently, the US President Joe Biden has established the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) which is said to be a new version of a “pivot to Asia”. Background The US President had first spoken about it in October 2021 during the East Asia Summit, in the presence of all IPEF signatories except Fiji.… Continue reading The IPEF holds promise but there are perils too
The Ukraine conflict has raked up old dilemmas
News: The Ukraine Conflict has caused a resurfacing of the deepest dilemma related to the energy sector, i.e. – whether to ensure there is affordable, secure, and accessible energy at present, or – to secure the longer-term imperatives of economic growth and sustainable development. Situation Prior to the Ukraine Conflict Oil market It was globally… Continue reading The Ukraine conflict has raked up old dilemmas
The new era of fiscal federalism could strengthen national unity
Context: The 15th Finance Commission (2021-2026) retained the states’ share, and its methodology of assigning weights based on population. This is likely to be a factor in the politics of federalism. Importance of fiscal federalism in India Linguistic pluralism, a federal structure and fiscal federalism have served us well and enabled us to succeed At… Continue reading The new era of fiscal federalism could strengthen national unity
Why kidney rackets thrive
News: Last week, a network of kidney traffickers was busted in Delhi. This is the 3rd such scam in the last 15 years in Delhi. The trafficker involved doctors and other healthcare personnel, hospital administrators. They catered to patients that have end-stage kidney diseases and cannot be treated with medicines or dialysis and require a… Continue reading Why kidney rackets thrive
