News: Striking the right balance between continental and maritime security would be the best for India’s long-term security interests. In this context, India’s decision to hosts the five Central Asia leaders at the Republic Day Parade holds significance for India’s continental security. How India has progressed in terms of Maritime security? More recently, India has… Continue reading The sail that Indian diplomacy, statecraft need
Tag: gs paper 2
Bilateral Investment Treaties: A BIT to review
News: Recently, the standing committee on external affairs presented its report on India and Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs). It is important as it comes a decade after India lost the first investment treaty claim in 2011 (White industries vs India). Note: In November 2011, an arbitral tribunal found the Republic of India guilty of violating… Continue reading Bilateral Investment Treaties: A BIT to review
At WTO, China a developing country-Why many nations are raising concerns
News: China’s status as a ‘developing country’ at the World Trade Organization (WTO) has become a contentious issue. A number of countries have raised concerns over the upper middle-income nation deriving benefits reserved for developing countries under WTO norms. Moreover, concerns have been raised over the ‘least developed country’ (LDC) status, with Bangladesh potentially… Continue reading At WTO, China a developing country-Why many nations are raising concerns
Geopolitics of Eurasia: Understanding the Eurasian turmoil
News: Protests in Kazakhstan and other areas like Belarus, Ukraine, Caucasus have the potential to reshape the geopolitics of Eurasia. Russia, with its geographic spread across Eurasia, is at the very centre of this restructuring. What are the parameters involved in the geopolitics of Eurasia? The internal political evolution of Eurasian state: post-Communist states have not… Continue reading Geopolitics of Eurasia: Understanding the Eurasian turmoil
How India has approached customary international law
News: Parliamentary committee on external affairs has presented a report titled “India and international law” in the Lok Sabha. The report discusses how Indian courts have dealt with international law. Contents1 What is International customary law (CIL)? 2 What has been India’s stand towards CIL? 3 What has been the Supreme Court’s stand on CIL? 4 What… Continue reading How India has approached customary international law
Why India Needs A Fiscal Council
News: Recently, the Union Minister of State for Finance in a written reply to the Parliament ruled out setting up of a fiscal council, which was recommended by the FRBM Review Committee. It was reasoned that, there are institutions that already perform some or all of the proposed functions of the Fiscal Council. For example,… Continue reading Why India Needs A Fiscal Council
Tuberculosis(TB): We can’t afford to neglect TB care
News: COVID-19 pandemic put health systems under great stress. The government announced a policy to bolster public health by pledging four new national virology institutes, nine new high containment laboratories and the National Institute of one health. Unfortunately, it did not address other infectious diseases like tuberculosis. Read here: COVID-19 reverses decades of progress in TB… Continue reading Tuberculosis(TB): We can’t afford to neglect TB care
Discretionary powers of the governor: Some Raj Bhavans are on the war path
News: There have been some incidents that show the friction between the delicate relationships of the constitutional head of state and the elected government. What were the incidents all about? Maharashtra: Governor refused to accept the date of election of the Speaker recommended by the State government. However, this refusal goes against the principle of constitutional… Continue reading Discretionary powers of the governor: Some Raj Bhavans are on the war path
Unchanged: On EWS quota income norm
News: Supreme Court has allowed the commencement of counselling for postgraduate medical admissions under All India Quota scheme. What is the background of the development? Read here: Income Criteria for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in India – Explained, pointwise What is the decision made by the Supreme Court? The court has upheld the 27% quota… Continue reading Unchanged: On EWS quota income norm
NFHS-5: Reading NHFS-5 data to understand India’s health, population outlook
News: The government of India recently released National Family Health Survey 5 (NFHS-5) data. The data shows some promising trends and some areas of concern. Read here: NFHS-5 and its findings – Explained, pointwise What are the findings of the National Family Health Survey 5? Read here: What does NFHS-5 data tell us about state of… Continue reading NFHS-5: Reading NHFS-5 data to understand India’s health, population outlook
