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? What are some problems with indexes? Indexes are inherently problematic, especially when applied… Continue reading India at bottom in EPI 2022 but environment survey confuses and stifles honest discussion on climate change
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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. What is the vulnerability of dependence on Russian oil and gas? Before invading Ukraine, Russia was the world’s biggest exporter of oil, at about 8 million barrels a day. In addition, about a third of Europe’s gas supply came from Russia.… 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. Evolution of IAF Training In the post-independent India, The Indian Air Force (IAF) has sent pilots abroad (like the UK) to undergo the Pilot Attack Instructors (PAI) course. These pilots were required to pass on their knowledge… Continue reading How India Got Her Top Guns
‘Microbes cause Earth to function — from plants to humans, we all live due to microbial activity’
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 Microbial activities are foundational for the functioning of our planet. Without microbes, there is no chance that plants, animals, or humans would have ever… Continue reading ‘Microbes cause Earth to function — from plants to humans, we all live due to microbial activity’
India is not the fastest growing big economy
News: Recently, the Provisional Estimates of Annual National Income in 2021-22 was released. It showed that India’s GDP grew 8.7% in real terms and 19.5% in nominal terms (including inflation) which made India the fastest growing major economy in the world. What are the problematic areas in the present GDP estimation? As per data, Indian… Continue reading India is not the fastest growing big economy
What India is doing to tackle its water crisis?
Context: Although India has 16% of the world’s population, the country possesses only 4% of the world’s freshwater resources. India is water-stressed due to changing weather patterns and repeated droughts. But it looks like the country has finally got its act together and several measures are now in place to conserve and rejuvenate our water… Continue reading What India is doing to tackle its water crisis?
Explained: What is the environment index, and why has India questioned it?
News: The newly released Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2022, measured by Yale and Columbia universities, ranks India at the bottom position among 180 countries. The Environment Ministry has issued a rebuttal, saying the indicators used in the assessment are based on “unfounded assumptions”. What is the Environmental Performance Index (EPI)? The EPI is an international… Continue reading Explained: What is the environment index, and why has India questioned it?
CDS: Unsettled questions
News: The government has recently announced eligibility conditions for the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). There is a noticeable difference between the CDS the government wanted in 2019 and what it seems to want today. It is disconcerting that the government has modified the eligibility criteria for appointment as CDS so early in… Continue reading CDS: Unsettled questions
Avoiding the coal scarcity trap
News: In 2021, the Indian government gave instructions to generators to import coal while India was in the midst of a power crisis. It directed the power stations itself to import coal to the extent of 4% of their requirement and blend it with domestic coal. What are the causes of the power crisis? India… Continue reading Avoiding the coal scarcity trap
