News: Recently, there have been comments that hunger in India has increased, based on the GHI 2021 report that showed a decline in India’s ranking to 101 from 95 in 2020. This article examines the question – how best to measure poverty? It also stresses that poverty based on consumption is still important and there… Continue reading Poverty, Wellbeing, Hunger: Where Do We Stand?
Tag: times of india
The Case for Liberal Democracy
News: India’s political system has always risen to challenges facing the nation. After Independence, India’s democracy was faced with numerous challenges. However, it was able to self-correct and rise against all odds. Democracy functioned as a safety valve, managing and mediating pressures that emerged from our vast country. Having said that, contemporarily India’s democracy is… Continue reading The Case for Liberal Democracy
Win for daughters: But more needed to ensure women’s property rights
News: Recently, the Supreme Court has ruled that daughters will have equal rights to their father’s property even prior to the enactment of the Hindu Succession Act (HSA) of 1956. How the judgement is a win for women’s right to inheritance? First, the daughter now can inherit property by inheritance and not by survivorship if… Continue reading Win for daughters: But more needed to ensure women’s property rights
Environment Ministry’s plan to rank states draws ire
News Union Environment Ministry has recently brought out a proposal of ranking States on how quickly they could give environmental clearances to proposed infrastructure projects. Many environmentalists have objected to this step and also stated that it contravenes the basic principles of environmental regulation. What are State Environmental Impact Assessment Agencies (SEIAA) and What do they do? SEIAA consists of State officers… Continue reading Environment Ministry’s plan to rank states draws ire
About the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021: Counting trees properly
News: The India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021 has been released by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC). What is the Indian state of Forest Report 2021? ISFR 2021 shows an increase of 154 0 km² of Forest area. They also contain data on growing stocks, carbon stock, forest cover etc. The assessment is… Continue reading About the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021: Counting trees properly
‘Superbugs claim 1.3m lives a year, 3.9L in S Asia alone’
What is the news? According to a study published in The Lancet, Superbugs kill around 1.27 million people globally every year. What are Superbugs? Superbugs are pathogens which are resistant to multiple antimicrobial drugs, thus making it harder to treat. Patients infected with any of these bugs often have to be treated with last line… Continue reading ‘Superbugs claim 1.3m lives a year, 3.9L in S Asia alone’
“Broken houses-MP, MLAs suspensions have become cross party blunt instrument of maximalist power politics ”
News Supreme Court has raised concern over frequent suspension of MPs/MLAs and also stated that if this trend is a “danger to democracy”. Why have been some recent instances of suspension of MP/MLAs have come under criticism? 12 Rajya Sabha members were suspended in the winter session-Since the allegation of misbehaviour were from the time of monsoon session, the opposition complained… Continue reading “Broken houses-MP, MLAs suspensions have become cross party blunt instrument of maximalist power politics ”
Grow the pie-Rising Inequality per se isn’t a problem if economic growth raises income over all
News Oxfam International and its India unit have recently brought out reports on inequality. However, the are some apprehensions regarding this report. What are the issues with the Oxfam report? Problem with measure of inequality-Oxfam has used wealth, not income, as the parameter. The problem with this approach is that it is heavily dependent on the… Continue reading Grow the pie-Rising Inequality per se isn’t a problem if economic growth raises income over all
NFT: How crypto tech made it possible to own, trade digital art
What are NFTs? NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are unique digital items stored on a blockchain, the same network that runs cryptocurrencies. – Anything digital – images, videos, music, online version of various articles – can be converted into an NFT and monetised. – NFTs are not the digital art but instead certificates of authenticity, and… Continue reading NFT: How crypto tech made it possible to own, trade digital art
The Cryptocurrency deception
News: Cryptocurrencies are neither a currency, nor an asset. They are a fraud which needs extensive scrutiny by the government agencies. Why Cryptocurrencies are not a currency? For any instrument to classify as a currency, it must have the following features: – One, it is a promissory note wherein the issuer is promising the bearer… Continue reading The Cryptocurrency deception
