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
Tag: Indian express
Indian express articles.
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
Forest fires frequency, intensity went up in past 2 decades: study
What is the News? Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) has released a study titled ‘Managing Forest Fires in a Changing Climate’. What are the key findings of the study? Increase in Forest Fires: There has been a ten-fold increase in forest fires in the past two decades, and more than 62% of Indian… Continue reading Forest fires frequency, intensity went up in past 2 decades: study
Explained: How ancient megalithic jars connect Assam with Laos and Indonesia
What is the News? The discovery of a number of megalithic stone jars in Assam’s Dima Hasao district has brought to focus possible links between India’s Northeast and Southeast Asia, dating back to the second millennium BC. About the Megalithic Stone Jars in Assam Megalithic Stone Jars were first sighted in Assam in 1929 by… Continue reading Explained: How ancient megalithic jars connect Assam with Laos and Indonesia
FAO: Food prices record high due to Ukraine war disruptions
Contents1 What is the News?2 What is the World Food Price Index?3 Why is the World Food Price index at an all-time high?4 What about India and Food prices? What is the News? Food and Agriculture Organization’s(FAO) World food price Index averaged 159.3 points in March 2022 breaking an earlier record of 137.6 points scaled… Continue reading FAO: Food prices record high due to Ukraine war disruptions
Explained: What Imran Khan’s ouster as Pakistan PM means for India
What is the News? Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan has been ousted from power after losing a no-confidence vote. What are the key takeaways from this? Pakistan Democracy: Pakistan’s flawed democracy is still seen as a “guided democracy”. No elected Prime Minister there has ever completed his or her five-year term. However, this is the… Continue reading Explained: What Imran Khan’s ouster as Pakistan PM means for India
Social media has a serious disinformation problem. But it can be fixed.
Context: Social media platforms have effectively supplanted traditional information networks in India. What are the benefits of social media? Democratizing access to information, fostering community, increasing citizen participation and reducing the distance between ordinary people and decision-makers. Why are there instances of misinformation on social media? Social media platforms have adopted design choices that have… Continue reading Social media has a serious disinformation problem. But it can be fixed.
Why central services cannot be exempted from reservation for disabled
News: Recently, the Department of Empowerment for Persons with Disabilities (Department) issued a notification. It exempts all categories of posts in the IPS, the Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli Police Service, the Indian Railway Protection Force Service, and the posts of combatant nature in the paramilitary… Continue reading Why central services cannot be exempted from reservation for disabled
Court must settle challenge to the electoral bonds scheme quickly. The sanctity of elections is at stake
News: Chief Justice of India N V Ramana has assured petitioners that the Supreme Court will take up for hearing a pending plea challenging the Electoral Bond Scheme, 2018. No date or any timeline has been specified, though. Two NGOs — Common Cause and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) — have challenged the scheme, alleging… Continue reading Court must settle challenge to the electoral bonds scheme quickly. The sanctity of elections is at stake
Cabinet approves distribution of fortified rice across Government Schemes
Contents1 What is the news?2 What is rice fortification?3 What is the need to fortify rice?4 What are the guidelines for fortification? What is the news? The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, has given its approval for supply of fortified rice throughout the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) under the following schemes by 2024 in… Continue reading Cabinet approves distribution of fortified rice across Government Schemes