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
Tag: gs paper 2
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. About the growth in institutional births The share of India’s institutional deliveries increased to 88.6% in 2019-2021 (National Family Health Survey 5) from 40.8% in 2005-06 (NHFS 3). The nine targeted states… Continue reading Over 15 years of incentivised institutional delivery: Has it ensured safe births?
Heartening milestone: On India’s overseas shipping record
News: Govt has announced that India’s merchandise exports have already surpassed the target set for this fiscal year, with overseas shipments crossing a record $400 billion mark by March 21. Why is this news significant? This news assumes importance esp in light of the last fiscal’s pandemic-induced slump in global demand. Also, the fact that… Continue reading Heartening milestone: On India’s overseas shipping record
Forging a social contract for data
News: In February 2022, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) released the Data India Data Accessibility and Use Policy 2022 (or Draft Policy) for public consultation. What are the aims of the draft policy? It will help in overcoming a number of historical bottlenecks: (1) slow progress on the Open Government Data (OGD)… Continue reading Forging a social contract for data
India’s complex position on Islamophobia
News: The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a consensus resolution declaring March 15 to be celebrated as “International Day to Combat Islamophobia” annually. What is Islamophobia? It refers to the fear of and prejudice, discrimination and hate speech against Islam. For example, Muslims claims the face negative stereotyping in Western countries has exacerbated since 9/11… Continue reading India’s complex position on Islamophobia
A good foreign policy must also make a difference at home
News: India’s foreign policy is at the centre of debate due to ongoing geopolitical issues like the treatment of Indian students from the conflict-ridden Ukraine. What are the ingredients of a good foreign policy? A good foreign policy does not necessarily have to sound nice. It must be able to meet the everyday needs of… Continue reading A good foreign policy must also make a difference at home
3 in 1: New Bill silent on Corpn funding
News: The central government introduced the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022, in the Lok Sabha. The Bill seeks to merge the three municipal corporations of Delhi into a single entity. What is the rationale behind the bill? The 2011 Trifurcation of the erstwhile Municipal Corporation of Delhi was uneven in terms of territorial divisions… Continue reading 3 in 1: New Bill silent on Corpn funding
