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?
Tag: gs paper 3
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
Big Tech’s privacy promise to consumers could be good news — and also bad news
News: Recently, Facebook accused Apple of abusing its market power. It has been criticized for introducing a new AppTrackingTransparency feature on its app store, which aims to enhance the user’s privacy. However, in the name of enhancing privacy, it has been alleged to cause disadvantages to competitors. Contents1 What is the new feature? 2 Why the… Continue reading Big Tech’s privacy promise to consumers could be good news — and also bad news
The importance of addressing duty anomalies in trade deals
Context: India has long suffered the anomaly of imported raw material being taxed more than the finished product. Economists call it the inverted duty structure. A range of free trade agreements (FTAs) in the past have not helped. Are the new ones any better? What is the main issue with the inverted duty structure? Makes… Continue reading The importance of addressing duty anomalies in trade deals
Cleaning India’s air: What is the report card so far?
Context: An analysis of various steps taken by the government in this regard shows that much more needs to be done. Contents1 What is the present situation wrt the problem of air pollution in India?2 What are the various steps taken by the govt to address the issue?3 What has been the outcome of these… Continue reading Cleaning India’s air: What is the report card so far?
Poverty estimates are a shot in the dark
Context: The government, which earlier used to conduct Consumption Expenditure Surveys (CES) and update poverty lines, has not released any data on this lately. The last consumption survey of 2017-18 was junked. Based on the leaked estimates of consumption expenditure from that survey, it was reported that poverty increased from 31% in 2011-12 to 35%… Continue reading Poverty estimates are a shot in the dark
A greener, safer future for Indian cities
Context: The IPCC’s latest report shows how smart urban planning can mitigate the effects of climate change. Contents1 What is the need for smart urban planning in India? 2 What are the challenges wrt urban infra in India? 3 What measures need to be implemented? 4 Way Forward What is the need for smart urban planning in… Continue reading A greener, safer future for Indian cities
