News: Recently, the Criminal procedure (Identification) Bill 2022 was introduced in the parliament by the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs. The Bill aims to replace the Identification of Prisoners Act 1920 that has been in need of amendment for several decades. What has been proposed in the bill? The definition of measurements has been… Continue reading This is a criminal attack on privacy
Tag: gs paper 3
Opening up procurement
News: Recently, the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was signed between India and the United Arab Emirates last month. Further, such a free trade agreement is also going to be signed between India and Australia. What are the provisions in the India-UAE trade deal? The deal provides for harmonisation in the regulatory system. It also… Continue reading Opening up procurement
Thinking hard on AI
News: Recently, two Indian researchers wrote an unpublished paper “Artificial Intelligence and the armed forces: Legal and ethical concerns”. This has led to the resurgence of a debate on Artificial Intelligence (AI) based arms and weapon system. In 1950, Alan Turing in a paper titled “Computing Machinery and Intelligence”, considered the question: “Can machines… Continue reading Thinking hard on AI
How to survive and grow in a warming world
News: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published its latest report on climate impacts. It highlights the need for adaptation. What does the report state regarding adaptation? It suggests that adaptation to climate impacts in the near to medium term can help communities and ecosystems become resilient against the threats from current and future… Continue reading How to survive and grow in a warming world
Is the fuel pricing policy problematic?
News: India officially has a deregulated pricing regime for fuel prices. However, there has been a practice to put prices on hold during election campaigns. Experts have raised concerns with this fuel pricing policy. How has India’s fuel pricing regime evolved in recent years? The dismantling of oil prices started gradually in 1997, according to… Continue reading Is the fuel pricing policy problematic?
India’s lithium dependency worries
Context: Lithium has been among the most sought-after mineral during the past few years, largely on the back of its usage in battery manufacturing. China is a major import source of Lithium. Contents1 Why is Lithium important for India?2 Why the supply of Lithium has declined?3 Who are major Lithium producers and does India produce… Continue reading India’s lithium dependency worries
Race to the bottom for gig workers
News: Recently, Zomato announced its plans to deliver food to customers in 10 minutes. This has raised several questions on the nature of delivery platforms, and the impact on delivery workers. What are the issues with the platform industry, especially food delivery platforms? Platform industry is all about grabbing market share. This is done by… Continue reading Race to the bottom for gig workers
India’s food response as ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’
Context: Global hunger is on the rise, driven by the climate crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic shocks, conflicts, poverty, and inequality. India via its partnership with World Food Programme, world’s largest humanitarian agency, can help address this problem embodying the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kumtumbakam (Earth is one family). What is the situation wrt hunger across… Continue reading India’s food response as ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’
Lifestyles for climate justice
News: A recent report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has pointed out that climate change has caused substantial damages, and increasingly irreversible losses, in terrestrial, freshwater and coastal, and open ocean marine ecosystems. Policy approach to tackle climate change: The policy approach to tackling this has tended to concentrate on supply-side changes,… Continue reading Lifestyles for climate justice
A ‘doomsday’ book that launched a movement
Context: Recently, global-level discussions on the GDP-based measures of economic performance have started. It was because the Limits to Growth is going to complete its 50 years. The Club of Rome sponsored the LTG project. It was composed of leaders from various fields of human activity. The System Dynamics group at the Massachusetts Institute of… Continue reading A ‘doomsday’ book that launched a movement
