News: Recently, the government of India has banned wheat exports and imposed restrictions on the export of other food commodities. History of Food Price Crises Since the adoption of Green Revolution technology in the early 1960s, the world has faced food price crises three times in terms of nominal as well as the real prices:… Continue reading Tackling the crisis of rising global food prices
Tag: gs paper 3
Red marks in green power plans amid lack of reform in electricity pricing
News: Recently the Union Power Minister has asked states to set up steering committees at the level of chief secretaries to plan for the energy transition. Why there is a need for power sector reforms? No money spent on capital expenditure: Capital expenditure among states is rising fast, but it is not rising in the… Continue reading Red marks in green power plans amid lack of reform in electricity pricing
With only 3 serious telecom operators, administrative allocation of spectrum space should take the place of auctions
News: In January, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) announced a rescue package for some telecom companies (telcos). What were the rescue packages? The government dispensed with the requirement of performance bank guarantees required earlier than security. It increased the tenure of spectrum holding from 20 to 30 years, allowed for the surrender of the unutilised… Continue reading With only 3 serious telecom operators, administrative allocation of spectrum space should take the place of auctions
Free trade can’t yet pass a basic food security test
News: At present, the 12th World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial conference is being held in Geneva. Food security is one of the agenda on the discussion table on the ministerial conference. Importance of Free Trade Free trade ensures that agricultural products flow from zones of abundance to regions of scarcity, just as the free exchange… Continue reading Free trade can’t yet pass a basic food security test
Welcome a G-7 package for an energy transition
News: It’s a win for India’s diplomacy that the G7 group looks set to offer it a climate partnership deal. Unless it places an unfair burden on us, let’s use the funds to decarbonize our economy faster. What is the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP)? Upon taking over the G-7 presidency for 2022, host Germany… Continue reading Welcome a G-7 package for an energy transition
India at bottom in EPI 2022 but environment survey confuses and stifles honest discussion on climate change
News: The 2022 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) released on World Environment Day (June 5) has triggered much distress in India, as the country is ranked last (180th). The government has issued a fierce rebuttal. How do we make sense of this debate? Contents1 What are some problems with indexes?2 What are the challenges in measuring… Continue reading India at bottom in EPI 2022 but environment survey confuses and stifles honest discussion on climate change
Economic impact of Russia-Ukraine conflict: Global macro in 2022/2023
News: The Russia-Ukraine conflict has the potential of creating macroeconomic/financial crises in many countries. Contents1 What is the vulnerability of dependence on Russian oil and gas?2 What is the present status of the Russian oil and gas?3 What is the economic impact at the global level due to higher oil prices?4 What is the critical… Continue reading Economic impact of Russia-Ukraine conflict: Global macro in 2022/2023
Misery Index
Misery index is a simple sum of a nation’s annual inflation rate and its unemployment rate. The higher the index, the more the misery felt by average citizens. The first Misery Index was constructed by economist Art Okun in the 1960s. The Index has been modified several times, first by Robert Barro of Harvard and… Continue reading Misery Index
How India Got Her Top Guns
Context: In 1940/50s Indian Air Force (IAF) undertook air combat tactics and training through the Royal Air Force. Contents1 Evolution of IAF Training2 Measures Taken to develop tactics and training more suited to Indian needs3 Outcomes4 What are the challenges? Evolution of IAF Training In the post-independent India, The Indian Air Force (IAF) has sent… Continue reading How India Got Her Top Guns
‘Microbes cause Earth to function — from plants to humans, we all live due to microbial activity’
Contents1 What is the News?2 Why are Microbes essential to Earth’s species?3 Do microbes cause diseases?4 What is the significance of the Geosime molecule? What is the News? This article talks about why microbes are essential to life and the threat it faces from climate change. Why are Microbes essential to Earth’s species? Source: TOI… Continue reading ‘Microbes cause Earth to function — from plants to humans, we all live due to microbial activity’
