News: In the Union budget 2022-23, Finance Minister has provided for Rs. 1 lakh crore in loans to state governments to enable them to increase their capital expenditure. These loans will be interest free and repayable after 50 years. Why such an arrangement raises questions regarding Centre-state fiscal relations? One, the first and foremost issue… Continue reading Trust and Loan – on Central loans to states
Tag: gs paper 2
Address the challenges of doing ESG ratings at the onset
News: Recently, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has come out with a paper on how credit-rating agencies (CRAs) should go about ESG exercise. The article says there is need of proper assessment before allowing CRAs to become ESG rating agencies. How Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investing is becoming the ‘next big… Continue reading Address the challenges of doing ESG ratings at the onset
India’s Ukraine dilemma
News: As Russian pressure increases over Ukraine, it is time that India changes its perspective towards central Europe. Read here: Explained: What are India’s stakes in its ties with Ukraine and Russia? What is the issue? Russia has raised the tensions over Ukraine and set his demands of security guarantee from NATO. India has largely remained… Continue reading India’s Ukraine dilemma
Online courses by autonomous colleges: UGC gets Bold
News: UGC (University Grants Commission) is planning to allow autonomous colleges that are under top-100 ranks in the NIRF subject rankings or having NAAC-grade higher than 3.26 to offer online degrees from the next academic session. What are the implications of this move? Quality education: Although many universities are offering online degrees but allowing prestigious… Continue reading Online courses by autonomous colleges: UGC gets Bold
Use international law, call out China’s violations
News: In the recent foreign affairs meeting of Quad, India’s External Affairs minister said that the situation at the India-China Line of Actual Control (LAC) has arisen due to the “disregard” by China of written agreements. Read here: Why India-China Border disputes are unresolved? What is the base of India-China agreements? India-China LAC engagement is guided by… Continue reading Use international law, call out China’s violations
India-US partnership for post-pandemic world
News: There are ample opportunities in the post-pandemic works in which India and USA can work together. The present geostrategic and geoeconomic situation demands greater economic cooperation between India and US. During the pandemic, both India and US cooperated to airlift hundreds of millions of free doses of vaccines to low-income countries. What are the challenges… Continue reading India-US partnership for post-pandemic world
No slacking: On action plans against antimicrobial resistance
News: Lancet recently released its report on the Global Burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Also read: Living in a world of emerging antimicrobial resistance What are the findings of the Lancet report? Report states AMR deaths to be around 4.95 million in 2019. It identifies the main reason behind this resistance is pathogens and the pathogen–drug… Continue reading No slacking: On action plans against antimicrobial resistance
Tapping technology for multilingual learning
News: Mother tongue represents an individual or a community’s cultural identity. Thousands of different languages are spoken in India, making India’s cultural diversity unique in the world. But this uniqueness is vanishing in present times. What is the reason behind declaration of International Mother Language Day? Languages are the key bridges that ensure cultural and civilizational… Continue reading Tapping technology for multilingual learning
The significance of EU-India partnership in the Indo-Pacific
News: Ministerial Forum is going to be held in Paris under France’s ongoing presidency of the EU. Foreign affairs ministers from EU member states and 30 Indo-Pacific countries, including India are going to join it. What are the focus area of the meeting? Security and defence : Indo – Pacific and related issues Connectivity and infrastructure:… Continue reading The significance of EU-India partnership in the Indo-Pacific
Revisit the terms of use for this scholastic ABC
News: National Education Policy 2020 aims to transform higher education to make it more student-centric and multidisciplinary. Recently, UGC notified the implementation of Academic Bank of Credits, which is a welcome step, but it has certain flaws. Read here: A reality check for higher education dreams What are the benefits associated with Academic Bank of Credits? Students… Continue reading Revisit the terms of use for this scholastic ABC
