After Ukraine, the new energy disorder

News: The Ukrainian crisis has radically altered the contours of the global energy landscape. It has created a tangle of relationships and issues for India. What are the issues involved? The petroleum market is tight and prices are ratcheting up. For example, Oil prices are close to $120/bbl. India is now a major purchaser of… Continue reading After Ukraine, the new energy disorder

Ashok Gulati and Ritika Juneja write: Why rice and wheat bans aren’t the answer to inflation

News: Earlier, the government banned wheat exports to check the potential rise in prices in the face of low procurement. But now, there are reports that the government is mulling a ban on rice exports to tame inflation. The wheat and rice exports ban was also done in 2007-08, in the wake of the global… Continue reading Ashok Gulati and Ritika Juneja write: Why rice and wheat bans aren’t the answer to inflation

Breather for NGOs

News: The Centre has recently amended the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) rules. These modifications are a welcome step after the escalation of restrictions on the NGO sector since 2015. What are the modifications introduced? The government extended to September 30 the validity of FCRA entities whose five-year permits would lapse between July 1 and… Continue reading Breather for NGOs

Explained: How Kerala has struggled to identify buffer zones around its protected forests

News: For over a month now, Kerala farmers living along the Western Ghats have been protesting a June 3 directive of the Supreme Court for setting up buffer or eco-sensitive zones (ESZ) for all protected forests in the country. What is the Supreme Court order? The SC in its order has said national parks, wildlife sanctuaries… Continue reading Explained: How Kerala has struggled to identify buffer zones around its protected forests

MoEF proposes amendments in Environment Protection Act, to decriminalize provision

What is the News? The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change sought feedback from experts and other stakeholders as it proposed to decriminalize the existing provisions of the Environment Protection Act, 1986. What are the current penal provisions under the Environment Protection Act(EPA), 1986? The Environment Protection Act(EPA) came into force in 1986. It… Continue reading MoEF proposes amendments in Environment Protection Act, to decriminalize provision

Delhi HC recently struck down powers of Banks Board Bureau; new body to select chiefs of PSU banks, insurance firms

What is the News? The Government of India has approved a government resolution for establishing the Financial Services Institutions Bureau(FSIB) in place of the Banks Board Bureau(BBB). When was the Bank Board Bureau set up? The Bank Boards Bureau was set up in 2016 as a body of eminent professionals and officials to make recommendations… Continue reading Delhi HC recently struck down powers of Banks Board Bureau; new body to select chiefs of PSU banks, insurance firms

How the RBI unconventionally innovated policy to fight the pandemic

News: The RBI has been missing the inflation target since 2019 by not raising rates. This raised some debates about RBI’s inflation management. What is the reason for rising inflation in India? There are two reasons that inflation is on the rise. These are, a) Inflation has been largely the result of supply-side shocks from… Continue reading How the RBI unconventionally innovated policy to fight the pandemic

The need of the hour: A Renewables revolution

Context: Renewable energy can limit climate disruption and boost energy security. Thus, their use must be incentivised and supported. Fossil fuels are the major cause of the climate crisis. All climate indicators are breaking records. It is a strong indication towards ferocious storms, floods, droughts, wildfires and unliveable temperatures in vast swathes of the planet.… Continue reading The need of the hour: A Renewables revolution

Explained: What is ISRO’s ‘POEM’ platform?

What is the News? Indian Space Research Organization(ISRO) PSLV-C53 rocket has successfully placed three Singaporean satellites into orbit. Besides placing these three Singaporean satellites in orbit, ISRO has also achieved the feat of successfully launching the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module or ‘POEM’. What is POEM? The PSLV Orbital Experimental Module is a platform that will… Continue reading Explained: What is ISRO’s ‘POEM’ platform?

High-speed expendable aerial target Abhyas successfully tested off Odisha coast

What is the News? India has successfully tested the indigenously-designed Abhyas – a High-speed Expendable Aerial Target(HEAT) from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), off the coast of Odisha. What is Abhyas? Source: Wikipedia Designed and developed by: Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) of DRDO Purpose: It offers a realistic threat scenario for practice of weapon systems.Hence,… Continue reading High-speed expendable aerial target Abhyas successfully tested off Odisha coast

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