Context: India recently signed trade deals with Australia and UAE. Many more are in pipeline. Such deals are important as exports lead to higher growth. In a white paper on ‘Building Competitiveness for Inclusive Growth’, CUTS International, Institute for Competitiveness and Institute for Studies in Industrial Development have outlined an action agenda for improving Indian… Continue reading A six-point agenda for India to raise its trade competitiveness
Tag: gs paper 3
Focus on CPI inflation
News: In 2021 and 2022, the present inflation rate in developed markets is much higher (8.5% in the US). Therefore, the central banks of developed markets (DM) like the US Fed, or the European Central Bank, or the Bank of England — all of them have chosen inflation targeting. It has generated debate on the… Continue reading Focus on CPI inflation
Medicinal plants await good marketing
Context: Recently, the Ministry of AYUSH launched e-CHARAK, an electronic platform for interaction between various stakeholders in the medicinal plants sector. It will allow sale, purchase and sharing of material as well as know-how between different stakeholders. In this relation, medicinal plants sector has come under focus. The curative plants of significant commercial value are… Continue reading Medicinal plants await good marketing
A north pole for science and technology
News: This is the birth centenary year of Dr. Y. Nayudamma, Padma Shri recipient, noted scientist, former Director of the Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai and former Director-General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Humans have been propelled in the fields of science and technology since ancient civilisations. This has been due… Continue reading A north pole for science and technology
Confidentiality ring amendment could make antitrust disputes more opaque
News: Recently, the Director General of Competition Commission of India (CCI) has issued orders on the Amazon dispute. In this dispute, Amazon (the defendant) has decided to take the confidentiality route towards its submissions. The CCI has realised that disputes arising out of antitrust matters, also known as competition or cartelisation, require confidentiality. The… Continue reading Confidentiality ring amendment could make antitrust disputes more opaque
What are oil bonds, and to what extent do they tie the govt’s hands?
Context: The government has attracted criticism post a surge in retail prices of petrol, diesel, and other petroleum product. However, the Finance Minister has blamed the oil bonds issued by the predecessor government for the current price countered. Contents1 How much fuel price is taxed?2 What is an Oil Bond?3 Why were they issued?4 What is… Continue reading What are oil bonds, and to what extent do they tie the govt’s hands?
Humans Decoded
Contents1 Context: 2 What is the background?3 What is DNA sequencing?4 What led to the recent breakthrough?5 What is the significance of complete genomic sequencing?6 What is the way forward? Context: Scientists have completed the first full and seamless catalog of genetic instructions of humans. It’s expected that research will help to explain how every cell… Continue reading Humans Decoded
Is the Reserve Bank doing enough to rein in inflation?
News: Recently, the central bank’s monetary policy committee had decided to hold benchmark interest rates (remain accommodative). However, it has declared to withdraw the accommodative monetary policy measure to ensure that inflation remains within the RBI’s target limit. In the last two years, there has been high inflation and real growth has also been zero.… Continue reading Is the Reserve Bank doing enough to rein in inflation?
Hits and misses: India’s solar power energy targets
News: A report prepared by JMK Research and Analytics and the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis states that India is likely to miss the 2022 target of installing 100 GW of solar power capacity. This is because rooftop solar lagging behind. What is India’s solar policy? The National Solar Mission, 2010 started promotion… Continue reading Hits and misses: India’s solar power energy targets
A milestone’s been spied for a switchover to EVs
Context: The government has expressed confidence that electric vehicles (EVs) will achieve parity with conventional petrol burners in India within two years. What is the cost trend estimate of EVs? By Crisil Research report estimates, all vehicles get increasingly economical with greater use. But EVs are seen to do this better, the gap would close… Continue reading A milestone’s been spied for a switchover to EVs
