News: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and possible sanctions by the US will impact India adversely. What are the probable adverse impacts on other countries? Implications for Europe: If the US supports Ukrainian resistance groups, Europe will see a conflict that can drag out for months, or more, with all kinds of possible consequences. Implications for… Continue reading The Russia effect: Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has bleak implications diplomatically & economically. India won’t escape them
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Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is marked by a big Chinese failure
News: Russia invades Ukraine. The author of this article argues that the war in Ukraine is a failure of Xi Jinping’s foreign policy, and a big setback for China’s geopolitical ambitions. Putin has cleverly dragged Xi Jinping into a position that the Chinese president surely did not desire. The author has enumerated the following reasons… Continue reading Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is marked by a big Chinese failure
Real cost of data
News: The Government of India has released a policy document called “Draft India Data Accessibility & Use Policy 2022”. About the Draft India Data Accessibility & Use Policy, 2022 Read here: Draft India Data Accessibility & Use Policy, 2022: India’s draft data policy unlocks govt data for all, mulls monetization What are the challenges associated with the policy?… Continue reading Real cost of data
Facing the job problem
News: The government of Rajasthan has decided to introduce an urban job guarantee scheme similar to MGNREGA, which will offer 100 days of demand-based employment. What are the concerns associated with the scheme? State economy: First concern is whether 800cr allocation will be enough for the open-ended program? Rajasthan’s government debt is already at 1/3rd of state GDP, as reported… Continue reading Facing the job problem
A reductionist approach – On health sector
News: For a long, Government has focused on a reductionist approach of private-level interventions, ignoring social determinants of health. How did this problem arise? In the previous decade, Government’s focus remained on maternal and child health and infectious diseases. After this, focus moved to non-communicable diseases (NCD) and chronic illness. This led to individualistic and… Continue reading A reductionist approach – On health sector
Drafting a new Constitution is impossible
News: Chief Minister of Telangana said that the governments at the Centre over the years have been suppressing the powers of the State, so there is a need for a new Constitution. Why the demand for drafting a new constitution is not feasible? First, Dr. Ambedkar was originally elected from the Bengal assembly, which went to Pakistan… Continue reading Drafting a new Constitution is impossible
New Delhi’s stance on Europe’s crisis is just about right
News: At the Munich Security Conference recently, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar was asked why India keeps pointing fingers at China’s violation of the sovereignty of smaller states while not condemning Russia’s incursions into Ukraine. Western officials have sought to rope India in as part of a unified worldwide opposition to Russia’s incursions into Ukraine. But… Continue reading New Delhi’s stance on Europe’s crisis is just about right
Flashpoint Ukraine
News: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and possible sanctions by US will impact India adversely. What are the probable adverse impacts on India? Inflationary impact: the significant upward pressures on oil prices, exacerbated by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries’ recent unwillingness to raise output. It will accentuate inflationary impulses and increase risks for the… Continue reading Flashpoint Ukraine
India risks being left out of TRIPS waiver
News: India, with South Africa, proposed to waive key provisions of the TRIPS agreement on Covid-19 vaccines, drugs, therapeutics, and related technologies. Developed countries attempt at limiting the waiver to vaccines alone, leaving out diagnostics and therapeutics and excluding India. Read here: US Support to TRIPS Waiver – Challenges Ahead What are Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual… Continue reading India risks being left out of TRIPS waiver
Barring students from studying Indian history or culture in foreign universities speaks of prickliness and prejudice
News: Under the new government guidelines, courses concerning Indian Culture, History, and Social Studies in foreign universities shall not be covered under National Overseas Scholarship (NOS). What the new guidelines are not justified? – It will shrink the student opportunities, and put a ceiling on their academic ambitions. – Government should not decide on what students… Continue reading Barring students from studying Indian history or culture in foreign universities speaks of prickliness and prejudice
