Synopsis: North Korea has maintained a dubious record of its nuclear program. Given its past record, it becomes difficult to access the direction its nuclear program is going to take. Introduction North Korea recently started its largest fissile material production reactor. This is the same reactor whose production was ceased in December 2018. IAEA (International… Continue reading A selective nuclear policy
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Terra pharma: A new drugs legislation must keep the pharma sector growing while safeguarding consumer interest
Synopsis: Pharma ecosystem is rapidly evolving and needs proper monitoring and regulation. Introduction The Union government has constituted a committee for framing draft legislation regarding new drugs, cosmetics and medical devices. Read more: Panel set up to draft Bill on drugs, cosmetics and medical devices What is the performance of Indian Pharma at global level?… Continue reading Terra pharma: A new drugs legislation must keep the pharma sector growing while safeguarding consumer interest
How India and Germany can work together to tackle climate change
Synopsis: India and Germany have innovative economies and many highly-trained people. There is a need to harness this potential, especially to fight climate change. Introduction The Covid-19 pandemic has left no country untouched. It is safe to say, we will either beat Covid-19 worldwide or not at all. The virus briefly drew attention away from… Continue reading How India and Germany can work together to tackle climate change
The national security discourse is changing
Synopsis: National security has long been viewed through a narrow perspective of just war-fighting. In the present scenario being shaped up by multiple factors like climate change, a rising China and the COVID pandemic, national security and domestic policy are to be seen as two sides of the same coin. This new understanding is gaining… Continue reading The national security discourse is changing
Politics vs governance: on Urban Cooperative Banks
Synopsis: The Madhya Pradesh High Court’s decision to stay the Reserve Bank of India’s circular may delay the shift towards better governance in Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs). Introduction The RBI had in June this year said that Members of Parliament, Assemblies, municipal corporations, municipalities, or other local bodies could not hold the corner-room post, or be a… Continue reading Politics vs governance: on Urban Cooperative Banks
India’s presidency of the UNSC fortified our role in world affairs
Synopsis: With the month-long UNSC presidency, India showcased our role in world affairs. Introduction India has just concluded its presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for August. India managed to achieve almost all of what we set out for, and also successfully handled the expected and unexpected challenges that came our way. Initiatives… Continue reading India’s presidency of the UNSC fortified our role in world affairs
A questionable quota policy
Synopsis: Instead of providing reservations for government school students, the government should improve the quality of government schools. Introduction Recently, the Odisha government has proposed a 15% reservation for government school students in medical and engineering colleges. The aim is to reduce “inequity arising” from the lack of physical and economic access to coaching institutions.… Continue reading A questionable quota policy
Practice of reserving cadre posts for certain services is exclusionary, must be reconsidered
Synopsis: The cadre system, part of British legacy systems, needs to be reformed if we are working towards good governance. Introduction Recently, the Haryana government issued an order, appointing an IPS officer as principal secretary (transport) — a cadre post of the IAS. This opened up the debate of cadre posts in the Indian Administration… Continue reading Practice of reserving cadre posts for certain services is exclusionary, must be reconsidered
Ideas of propriety must not be used by courts to control and silence lawyers
Synopsis: The relationship between the bar and bench has gone from one of mutual respect and equality to the one between ruler and ruled. Introduction Propriety or conformity to established norms can be very dangerous. In the past, it led to evils like child marriage, slavery and the holocaust. Now this propriety has reached the Judiciary,… Continue reading Ideas of propriety must not be used by courts to control and silence lawyers
A reality check for higher education dreams
Synopsis: The proposed academic bank of credits, multiple entry-exit options will require infrastructure, manpower and budget that the Indian education system simply does not possess Introduction The article highlights the changes that are required in National Education Policy (NEP) to make our present education system more effective. What are the observations of the National Education… Continue reading A reality check for higher education dreams
