Highlights of the World Press Freedom Index, 2020

India has dropped two places on a global press freedom index to be ranked 142nd out of 180 countries in the annual World Press Freedom Report. Press freedom especially after the abrogation of Art. 370 in J&K was profoundly debated back then. We can expect a mains question like- “Reasonable restrictions to the freedoms… Continue reading

[pib] VidyaDaan 2.0 Programme for e-learning content contributions

The Union HRD Ministry has e-launched VidyaDaan 2.0 program for inviting e-learning content contributions. There are various web/portals/apps with peculiar names such as YUKTI, DISHA, SWAYAM etc. Their core purpose is similar with slight differences. Pen them down on a separate sheet under the title various digital HRD initiatives. Add one more to this list.… Continue reading

[pib] Species in news: Anthurium

A women innovator from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, has developed ten varieties of Anthurium, a flower with high market value, by cross-pollination. Anthurium An anthurium is a vast group of beautiful blooming plants available in a wide range of colours. Anthurium is one of the best domestic flowering plants in the world. They are decorative as well… Continue reading

Fiscal empowerment of States

The article elaborates on the central role played by the States in the fight against Covid-19. The article emphasises the role that States can play in the implementation of the various measures to tackle the epidemic and economic revival of the country. It also highlights the lack of resources at the States’ disposal and reasons… Continue reading

Super-power rivalries exacerbated by coronavirus pandemic offer India an opportunity

The article discusses three fronts on which actions are required viz- health, economy and geopolitics. How much the global economy is going to be affected? how the US-China rivalry would affect the recovery? what the lack of global coordination means? all such questioned are discussed here. It also suggests actions that India should take to… Continue reading

[pib] ‘COVID India Seva’ platform for citizen engagement on COVID-19

The Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has launched the COVID India Seva platform to establish a direct channel of communication with millions of Indians amid the pandemic. We can take this initiative as an example while answering mains questions like – “India’s fight against Coronavirus pandemic is a public movement at large. Discuss.”… Continue reading

The occasion to revisit the state’s role

The role of the state has come in the focus in the corona crisis. This article describes how the dominant role once played by the state declined over time and what implications it has for society. In the next part of the article, need to revisit the political system of the country is emphasised. Paradigm… Continue reading

Amendment in the FDI Policy for curbing opportunistic takeovers/acquisitions of Indian companies

The Government of India has reviewed the extant Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy for curbing opportunistic takeovers/acquisitions of Indian companies due to the current COVID-19. Context The Indian policy revision is meant for sectors and enterprises other than defence, space, atomic energy and sectors and activities “prohibited for foreign investment”. It was understood that the… Continue reading

[pib] Draft Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill, 2020

The Ministry of Power has issued a draft proposal for amendment of Electricity Act, 2003 in the form of the draft Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill, 2020. Draft Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill 2020 Major amendments proposed in the Electricity Act are as follows: Viability of DISCOMs Cost reflective Tariff: To eliminate the tendency of some Commissions… Continue reading

What is Helicopter Money?

With the coronavirus-hit economy falling deeper and deeper into a chasm with each passing day, Telangana chief minister KC Rao earlier this month has said helicopter money can help states come out of this crisis. Various monetary policy tools are being considered to boost consumer demand in the economy which is stricken by the coronavirus… Continue reading

Economy in lockdown: On India’s worst-case scenario

This op-ed discusses the latest projections by the IMF. The latest projection and suggestions by IMF are the bleak reminder of economic disruption we have been experiencing. IMF discards its previous projections Less than two months ago, IMF had asserted that “global growth appears to be bottoming out” (i.e. announcing the worst is over). But… Continue reading

Indian’s decision on FDI to stop predatory Chinese hunt for Indian companies

This editorial discusses the implications of growing Chinese investment in India. After People’s Bank of China bought 1 per cent stake in HDFC bank, Indian government made prior government approval mandatory for investment from countries sharing border with India. Various aspects of the move are discussed here. No separating commerce and security in dealing with… Continue reading

How reverse repo rate became benchmark interest rate in the Indian economy?

Context The Indian economy’s slowdown during 2018 and 2019 is becoming much worse in 2020 with the spread of COVID-19 and the stalling of almost all economic activity. Like most other central banks in the world, the RBI, too, has tried to cut interest rates to boost the economy. However, unlike in the past, when… Continue reading

SDR general allocation by IMF

Finance Minister has said that India could not support a general allocation of new Special Drawing Rights (SDR) by the IMF because it might not be effective in easing coronavirus-driven financial pressures. FM Nirmala Sitharaman has stated that such a global liquidity boost by the IMF could produce potentially costly side-effects if countries used the… Continue reading

Matterhorn Mountain of the Swiss Alps

Switzerland has expressed solidarity with India in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic by projecting the tricolour on the famous Matterhorn Mountain in the Swiss Alps. It has been long time since a question on global mountains/mountain ranges has not been asked in the prelims. Gear up for the uncertainty. Make a special sheet of… Continue reading

Time for govt, RBI to rethink bank architecture

To deal with the damage inflicted by the corona crisis on the economy, both the RBI and the government are planning various monetary and fiscal measures. In its latest measures, the RBI has further reduced the reverse repo rate. This article discusses the impact of these measures and explains why the first round of measures… Continue reading

A virus, social democracy, and dividends for Kerala

This article is an analysis of Kerala’s success in dealing with the Covid-19. Factors that emerge are-strong emphasis on the social democracy, the participation of civil society and strong social compact between the government and citizenry. We have also covered the same subject in a previous article but focus there was more on the administrative… Continue reading

Institutional fixes and the need for ethical politics

The article discusses the recent event in Madhya Pradesh where a group of legislature resigned bringing down the government. A most important issue arising out such incidents is circumventing of the laws made to avoid such things from happening. Several such issues along with their solutions are described here. New method to bypass the anti-defection… Continue reading

[pib] “Kisan Rath” mobile app to facilitate transportation of farm produce

The Union Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare has launched a mobile application to facilitate farmers & traders in searching for transport vehicles for movement of Agriculture & Horticulture produce. 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… Continue reading

Virus outbreak can potentially spur the next quantum leap for computing

The article suggests that the corona crisis would speed up research in the field of quantum computing. The tremendous speed offered by quantum computers will help us find a cure for diseases like Covid-19 in a much shorter duration. This article explains the limitations of classical computers, working of quantum technology, and how quantum computer… Continue reading

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