From informal to the formal economy: The crooked road

The article discusses the issues around the informal workforce in the economy. What are the factors responsible for the high informal sector in India? How is this sector responding in times of COVID? Are there some easy solutions to mainstream the informal sector into our formal economy? These are some of the points one should… Continue reading

E-Renminbi: China’s Official Digital Currency

China in a significant move has launched a trial of digital yuan in four urban centres of the country for specific services even as the world grapples with the containment of Covid. What is a cryptocurrency? Discuss how a vibrant cryptocurrency segment could add value to India’s financial sector. (250 W) Prelims Perspective:- 1. Subtle… Continue reading

Back in news: International Whaling Commission (IWC)

Iceland will not be hunting any whales in 2020. Iceland, alongside Norway and Japan, has frequently broken the International Whaling Commission’s 1986 worldwide moratorium, which indefinitely “paused” commercial whaling. Regarding IWC, we can expect a statement based prelim question asking- 1) If IWC has a UN or any other parent organization 2) If India is… Continue reading

Strategy for calibrated opening of economy

The article discusses the performance of India so far and the strategy for reopening of the economy. Dividing the districts based on the number of cases and adopting a suitable approach for opening the economy there while keeping the spread of the virus in control is suggested in the article. India performing better While the… Continue reading

[pib] Year of Awareness on Science & Health (YASH) Program

National Council for Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC) has launched a programme on health and risk communication ‘Year of Awareness on Science & Health (YASH)’ with focus on COVID-19. There are various initiatives named with Hindi acronyms. YASH is newer among them. It is very unlikely to frame a prelim question on it. Still, we… Continue reading

[pib] Kisan Sabha App to Connect Farmers to Supply Chain and Freight Transportation

Kisan Sabha App developed by CSIR to connect farmers to supply chain and freight transportation management system was recently launched. Initiatives as such are less likely to be asked in the prelims as the name and purpose create no different analogy. But for the sake of information and mains perspective, it is vital to remember… Continue reading

Pandemic calls for deep-set forces and scientific concepts of development for building a modern economy

The article discusses the recovery strategies for India. There are three examples from the past from which we can draw the lessons. 1) Recovery of the US and Europe after the World Wars 2) Recovery of Japan after World War 3) China’s stimulus package after the 2008 financial crisis. In the case of the first… Continue reading

Rethinking the role of Intellectual Property in Corona crisis

The article discusses the idea of creating a patent pool of the patents dealing with Covid-19. Such a patent pool will be effective in avoiding the possibility of the hostile response of societies towards patent rights. And also avoid the conflict between nations. corporations and international organisations. Purpose of patent rights The purpose of creating… Continue reading

Study on China dams brings the Brahmaputra into focus

A new study highlighting the impact of China’s dams on the Mekong River has raised fresh questions on whether dams being built on other rivers that originate in China, such as the Brahmaputra, may similarly impact countries downstream. Make a note of: 1) Tributaries of R. Brahmaputra 2) Countries swept by R. Mekong 3) Mekong-Ganga… Continue reading

Why May 1 is observed as Labour Day?

Today (May 1) is May Day, also known as International Workers’ Day and as Labour Day in different parts of the world. It is an occasion that commemorates the contributions of workers and the historic labour movement. Personality based history question in the UPSC CSE prelims is on the way to become the new normal.… Continue reading

[pib] Earth’s Magnetosphere and its dynamics

Scientists at the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) have developed a generalized one-dimensional fluid simulation code capable of studying a wide spectrum of coherent electric field structures of earth’s magnetosphere which can be useful in the planning of future space missions. The newscard talks of not so new phenomenon but a basic terminology of space… Continue reading

GI tag to Manipur black rice, Gorakhpur terracotta and Kovilpatti kadalai mittai

Chak-Hao, the black rice of Manipur and the Gorakhpur terracotta and the Kovilpatti kadalai mittai of Tamil Nadu have bagged the Geogrphical Indication (GI) tag. Must read: GI Tags in news for 2020 Prelims Chak-Hao Chak-Hao, the scented glutinous rice which has been in cultivation in Manipur over centuries. It is characterized by its special… Continue reading

Festival in news: Chithirai Festival

For the first time, in place of Madurai’s Chithirai Festival, a simple celestial union is set to take place that will be streamed online. Match the pair based question can be asked from festivals as such. Recently, the following festivals were in the news: Ambubachi Mela, Thrisoor Puram, Meru Jatara, Nagoba Jatara etc. Chithirai Festival… Continue reading

It is time to design clear rules for departure from accepted norms of fiscal prudence

This editorial spells out the size of the stimulus package that would be required to restart the economy. It also discusses the possible sources that the government could tap to raise the revenue. Such huge expenditure is likely to result in the huge fiscal deficit which would necessitate that the stimulus is time-bound and transparent.… Continue reading

Spanish Plan for Phased Easing of Lockdown

Spain’s Prime Minister has presented a four-phase lockdown exit strategy for the country. It’s imperative for India to learn from global examples for easing lockdown without doing away with health concerns. With the nearing end of nationwide lockdown, various exit strategies are being discussed for a smooth restart. Spain’s exit strategy The opening up of… Continue reading

Ganga water improves during lockdown

The Ganga water quality has improved remarkably during the lockdown period. This highlights the importance of synergy for absolute symbiosis between nature and man as the need of the hour. Context The novel coronavirus lockdown (COVID-19) pandemic has put millions in the throes of adversity — and yet, there is a reason to celebrate. Over… Continue reading

Religious Freedom and India

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has downgraded India to the lowest ranking, “countries of particular concern” (CPC) in its 2020 report. Religious freedom in India has been a contested issue since decades. Recent moves by the govt. since the abrogation of Art. 370 which triggered the riots in Delhi has left a… Continue reading

[pib] Petersberg Climate Dialogue

India along with 30 countries deliberated on issues of Climate Change in first-ever virtual Petersberg Climate Dialogue. Climate change negotiations are somehow put to a halt due to ongoing pandemic. Such small dialogues are keeping alive the spirit of climate action. Petersberg Climate Dialogue It has been hosted by Germany since 2010 to provide a… Continue reading

Recovery from COVID-19 is an opportunity to create economies that are more resilient and fair

This article discusses the three principles which could form the basis for recreation of the economy devastated by the Covid-19. The first is adopting the economies of “scope” instead of economies of scale. The second is about governance and focus on bottom-up approach. And third is about empowering the people. Impact of Covid-19 on the… Continue reading

It will take fiscal boldness now to relieve financial distress

The article discusses the fiscal response of the government to deal with the corona crisis. Fiscal response to the 2008 financial crisis was higher in terms of GDP percentage. Also, a comparison with emerging peer economic indicates that India might be running the tighter fiscal policy in the time of crisis. The article suggests higher… Continue reading

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