News: There has been a remarkable upswing in GST collections in recent months. In fact, collections touched a record high of Rs 1.67 lakh crore in April. What are the reasons behind an inc in the GST collections? First, the sharp rise in inflation has played a significant role. After all, as output turnover increases,… Continue reading Making sense of the GST bonanza
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You can’t fight a pandemic without IP: Intellectual property rights were vital in producing life-saving Covid vaccines
News: Recent data from ‘Our World in Data’ suggest Covid-19 related infection around the world and India is waning. Hospitalisations and deaths are very low. Vaccines must take great credit for keeping Covid largely out of the headlines after two years. There are now 10 Covid-19 vaccines recommended by the WHO, and over 60 vaccine… Continue reading You can’t fight a pandemic without IP: Intellectual property rights were vital in producing life-saving Covid vaccines
Explained: Sugar export curbs and their impact
News: The government has decided to “restrict” the export of sugar, effective from June 1. The curbs, the first such move in four years, have been ordered to maintain “domestic availability and price stability of sugar”, the government said. India is the biggest producer of sugar and the second-largest exporter after Brazil. Govt has also scrapped… Continue reading Explained: Sugar export curbs and their impact
Be wary of growing exports
News: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the western sanctions on Russia, and Sri Lanka’s ongoing struggles have created export opportunities for countries such as India. However, there are environmental concerns into it. Contents1 What are the issues?2 About Net CO2 exports3 Why did the development countries become Net-CO2 import countries?4 Consequences of such export5 Way… Continue reading Be wary of growing exports
How consumption is set to outstrip food grain production
Context: Food consumption is outpacing food production. It may prove the Malthus theory correct. In 1798, British philosopher and economist Thomas Malthus gave a theory. The theory predicted a catastrophe, which is also called “Malthusian catastrophe”. He predicted in his theory that population growth would outpace food production to cause shortages and famine. His theory… Continue reading How consumption is set to outstrip food grain production
Crude Economics – Marco-Economic impacts of oil price rise
News: The level of crude oil prices often changes the macroeconomic outlook in India. How do oil prices impact India’s economic outlook? India’s macroeconomic outlook improves when oil prices are low and stable. Whereas, a rise in oil prices means a higher Current Account Deficit and pressure on the currency. It also results in inflation… Continue reading Crude Economics – Marco-Economic impacts of oil price rise
Indian gig workers may finally be getting a fairer deal
Context: Uber’s recent announcement of new terms for drivers may prove revolutionary in the long history of labour relations, specifically wrt the Gig economy. To work around the recurrent problem of drivers cancelling rides because they did not want to go to the destination or wanted a cash payment upfront rather than waiting for the… Continue reading Indian gig workers may finally be getting a fairer deal
Supreme Court’s ruling on GST deepens the churn in the tax regime
News: Recently, the Supreme Court ruled that the decisions taken by the GST Council are merely recommendations with “persuasive value” and are not binding. The ruling has opened up serious questions on the stability and certainty of the structure and operation of GST which is still evolving. Contents1 What has been the reaction to the… Continue reading Supreme Court’s ruling on GST deepens the churn in the tax regime
Decolonising science in Indian education
Context: Education is central to the idea of modernity in independent India. In the Indian education system, a certain aspect of European modernity has lingered for a long time which has hampered the Indian intellectual discourse. The true spirit of education refers to “Shiksha vo hoti hai jisme baat se baat nikle” (education should produce… Continue reading Decolonising science in Indian education
Combating desertification
News: The 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was recently held at Abidjan. It called upon nations to invest in restoring degraded land for future prosperity, and urged the 196 participating nations to reclaim 1 billion hectares of degraded land by 2030. Contents1 What is the global… Continue reading Combating desertification
