News: India and UK have formally launched Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, with the aim of concluding an early harvest trade agreement over the next few months. Read here: India’s FTA ambitions in perspective What will be the benefit of FTA with the UK? According to India’s commerce minister, this interim agreement aims to achieve up to… Continue reading Early Harvest agreements: Explained: Why India is trying to seal a free trade agreement with UK
Tag: gs paper 2
Challenge arbitration awards carefully
News: Recent guidelines by the central government have asked its arms, including state-run firms to avoid appeal against every arbitration award, especially in the cases that have a low probability of success. These guidelines are released to avoid project delays. What are the implications of these project delays? Project delays and cost overruns cause a lot of harm to the exchequer. Government has to at the… Continue reading Challenge arbitration awards carefully
Friend in need: On India-Sri Lanka ties
News: In the visit to Sri Lanka, External Affairs Minister assured to help Sri Lanka to overcome economic and other challenges that occurred because of the pandemic. What is the economic condition of Sri Lanka? Sri Lankan economy is in big crisis with a credit crunch, a slump in GDP, foreign reserves that reduced from $7.5… Continue reading Friend in need: On India-Sri Lanka ties
On Pak’s National Security Policy document: Pakistan gets serious
News: Pakistani National Security Division’s latest National Security Policy document released recently. There are five key takeaways for India. By this, it can be inferred that Pakistan has started looking inwards (domestic issues). Must Read: Pakistan’s National Security Policy: Pakistan security policy seeks 100 years of peace with India, but with caveat What are the… Continue reading On Pak’s National Security Policy document: Pakistan gets serious
If Siachen is back on Indo-Pak agenda, it is good news
News: Recently, the Indian Army Chief, General Naravane, in his press conference reportedly made a reference to the possibility of “demilitarisation of the glacial region” in Siachen. He said that Pakistan would have to first authenticate respective troop positions along the 110-km long actual ground position line (AGPL) in the Siachen-Saltoro Ridge region for any… Continue reading If Siachen is back on Indo-Pak agenda, it is good news
Explained: For how long can an MLA be suspended?
News: 12 Maharashtra BJP MLAs have gone to Supreme Court against their year-long suspension from the Assembly. What is the background of this issue? The leader of Opposition in Maharashtra objected to an attempt by a state minister to table a resolution demanding that the Centre release data on Other Backward Classes (OBCs), so that… Continue reading Explained: For how long can an MLA be suspended?
Govt needs to plug loopholes, minimise irregularities, in implementation of NREGA in times when it is most needed
News: Social audit has been conducted in Jharkhand for the implementation of the MGNREGA scheme where so many loopholes were visible. This questions the effective implementation of the MGNREGA scheme. What is the importance of MGNREGA? MGNREGA played a critical role in alleviating economic hardship as migrations increased and non-farm employment opportunities declined. In 2020–21, 11.19… Continue reading Govt needs to plug loopholes, minimise irregularities, in implementation of NREGA in times when it is most needed
In 2022, India should keep an eye on Indo-Pacific
News: The year 2020 was transformational not just because of a pandemic, but because of massive geopolitical changes surrounding the Indo-Pacific. The region is central to emerging geopolitics and nine countries are the key players: the USA, China, Japan, India, Germany, UK, Russia, Australia and France. How USA and China impact the Indo-Pacific region? The… Continue reading In 2022, India should keep an eye on Indo-Pacific
Why India’s Health data needs a booster jab
News: India’s health data system is not functioning properly. It requires a complete overhaul. About 16 years ago, HIV AIDS was threatening to become a pandemic. Then, no answers were available on the questions related to the prevalence of the disease, due to the unavailability of data. The situation, even today, has not improved much.… Continue reading Why India’s Health data needs a booster jab
Shifting demand patterns must guide state excise policy design
News: Policymakers need to design their tax policies after studying the market trends and available data carefully. How a change in the consumer sector can impact the market? The Indian consumer is becoming from price-sensitive to quality conscious, due to growing urbanization, rising incomes, and availability of innovative products and technology. The younger to middle age… Continue reading Shifting demand patterns must guide state excise policy design
