News: Recently, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have passed the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021. One of the key provisions of the Bill is linking Aadhaar with the electoral rolls. Cash transfers in many welfare programmes, such as payment of MGNREGA wages, are done using the Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS). Read more: Linking Aadhaar with electoral rolls… Continue reading The efficiency myth of Aadhaar linking
Tag: gs paper 2
Questions still on how far labour codes will change gig workers’ lot
News: Although companies claim that they take care of the social security needs of their workforce, but the various surveys suggest a different trend. For example – Uber, incidentally, has scored a zero in the Fairwork India Ratings 2021 on the working conditions of app-based gig workers, as have Ola and Porter. Covid-19 disrupted earnings,… Continue reading Questions still on how far labour codes will change gig workers’ lot
A whiff of trouble in the Nord Stream pipeline
News: The Ukrainian authority has called the Nord Stream 2 project a ‘dangerous geopolitical weapon’. There is also strong opposition from the United States and most of the European countries (except for Austria, Germany, Hungary, and the Netherlands). What was meant to be an ordinary energy project has transformed itself into a powerful geopolitical tool,… Continue reading A whiff of trouble in the Nord Stream pipeline
Joint development of oil tank farm by India, Lanka could alter dynamic of Delhi-Beijing rivalry
News: Sri Lanka’s energy minister has said the India-Lanka development of the strategic Trincomalee oil tank farm will be finalised in January. What are the reasons for the recent economic crisis in Srilanka? The Easter killings of 2019: it dealt a hammer blow to the country’s tourism industry, its main economic activity and source of… Continue reading Joint development of oil tank farm by India, Lanka could alter dynamic of Delhi-Beijing rivalry
Great Power Politics is back with a twist
News: Great power politics between US and China is shaping every dimension of the global order China’s rise has shaken the status quo in the global political order. As a rising power, it is challenging the foundation of the US-led global order. This has led to the US-China strategic competition. Covid-19 has merely accelerated the… Continue reading Great Power Politics is back with a twist
How to protect India’s film heritage
News: The Govt has decided to merge four publicly-funded institutions with National Film Development Corporation (NFDC). Scholars are questioning this treatment, which is based on a misconception that cinema is either an object of information or broadcasting. These cultural institutions have been known to perform better without the shackles of centralised power or unnecessary bureaucratic… Continue reading How to protect India’s film heritage
Medical postgraduates: Omicron’s Here, Doctors Aren’t
News: Omicron is spreading faster than any virus in history. Latest reports from the UK show that patients with Omicron are 50-70% less likely to be admitted to hospital for treatment. However, observations in Europe and the US show that this milder virus could still put pressure on hospitals because of the speed of spread,… Continue reading Medical postgraduates: Omicron’s Here, Doctors Aren’t
Judiciary is Indian democracy’s only flicker of hope
News: Even when other powerful institutions appear to be faltering and floundering, people continue to have faith in the judiciary as the last post of justice. But two issues that need immediate attention in Judiciary. These are 1. Lack of diversity, 2. The secrecy around the appointment of judges. Must read: The Collegium System – Explained… Continue reading Judiciary is Indian democracy’s only flicker of hope
In Tamil Nadu, a lack of political will to end the Palk Bay conflict
News: Palk Bay (an important marine zone between south-eastern India and northern Sri Lanka) has been a source of dispute for long. It has come under news once again due to arrest of 68 Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan authorities. More on this arrest here. What has been the history of the issue? … Continue reading In Tamil Nadu, a lack of political will to end the Palk Bay conflict
Edtech’s teachable moment
News: Government has issued an advisory to citizens that caution should be exercised while using the services of companies that offer online and remote learning courses. These companies have been accused of delaying refunds, suppressing information about auto-debit facilities and luring subscribers to sign up for tuitions without explaining the financial implications. What is the… Continue reading Edtech’s teachable moment
