Explained: Fiscal Marksmanship

Over the past few years, many have questioned the government’s fiscal marksmanship. What is fiscal marksmanship? Fiscal marksmanship essentially refers to the accuracy of the government’s forecast of fiscal parameters such as revenues, expenditures and deficits etc. In other words, if the difference between what the government projected as the likely tax revenues in the… Continue reading

Reintroduction of African Cheetahs in Indian forests

The Supreme Court lifted its seven-year stay on a proposal to introduce African cheetahs from Namibia into the Indian habitat on an experimental basis. The plan was to revive the Indian cheetah population. Asiatic cheetahs in India In 1947, Maharaja Ramanuj Pratap Singh of Deoghar of Koriya, Chhattisgarh — who was infamous for shooting… Continue reading

10 more wetlands from India get the Ramsar site tag

Ramsar has declared 10 more wetland sites from India as sites of international importance. News Ramsar Wetlands With this, the numbers of Ramsar sites in India are now 37 and the surface area covered by these sites is now 1,067,939 hectares. Maharashtra gets its first Ramsar site (Nandur Madhameshwar) , Punjab which already had 3… Continue reading

[pib] Bhuvan Panchayat V 3.0

The Bhuvan Panchayat V 3.0 web portal was recently launched. Bhuvan Panchayat Version 3.0 For better planning and monitoring of government projects, the ISRO has launched the Bhuvan Panchayat web portal’s version 3.0. For the first time, a thematic data base on a 1:1000 scale for the entire country is available with integrated high resolution… Continue reading

[pib] Operation Vanilla

Indian navy will perform HADR operations in Madagascar under ‘Operation Vanilla’. Operation Vanilla Indian Navy Ship Airavat whilst mission deployed in the Southern Indian Ocean has been diverted to Antsiranana based on request recieved from Madagascar. The ship will undertake Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) mission as part of ‘Operation Vanilla’. It has been… Continue reading

[op-ed snap] The stress in state finances

Context Lower tax devolution, delays in GST compensation are potential risks to the states. Trends in the finances of the state The unaudited fiscal data of 21 states: These states account for around 90 per cent of India’s GDP in 2017-18. The data reveal some trends. First Trend: Revenue receipt sliding down From 15.6 to… Continue reading

[op-ed snap] Here’s looking at you

Context Face recognition technology calls for a more comprehensive domestic framework that promotes the use of new technologies for the public good as well as imposes necessary constraints against their abuse. Debate on finding the balance between regulation and promotion Google calls for partial ban: TheGoogle CEO’s recent support for a temporary ban on facial… Continue reading

Comprehensive Bodo Settlement Agreement

The MHA, the Assam government and the Bodo groups have signed an agreement to redraw and rename the Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD) in Assam, currently spread over four districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri. Several Bodo groups led have been demanding a separate land for the ethnic community since 1972, a movement… Continue reading

Legislative Councils and its abolition

The Andhra Pradesh Assembly recently passed a resolution to abolish the state’s Legislative Council (LC). Legislative Councils The LC or Vidhan Parishad is the upper house in those states that have a bicameral legislature; the lower house being the State Legislative Assembly. Its establishment is defined in Article 169 of the Constitution of India. Each… Continue reading

Liberation of Auschwitz

Yesterday on January 27th survivors of the Holocaust and international heads of state marked the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. During the Second World War, the government of Nazi Germany killed approximately 17 million people across Europe in half a dozen camps specifically designated for killings. Of these seven killing centers, the… Continue reading

[op-ed of the day] The convergence of rich nations with the rest has gone off track

Context Sound policies are needed to put emerging economies back on a higher growth path and ameliorate regional inequalities. The theory of convergence The theory of convergence is one of the most powerful and noblest ideas in economics. What is it? It is the concept that other things being equal, poorer economies should catch up… Continue reading

[op-ed snap] The hype over hypersonics

Context Russia announced that its new hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV), Avangard, had been made operational. What HGV is and where the US and China stand What is HGV and what is it capable of? Speed over 5 Mach: A hypersonic delivery system is essentially a ballistic or cruise missile that can fly for long distances… Continue reading

Biorock technique for Coral Restoration

The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), with help from Gujarat’s forest department, is attempting for the first time a process to restore coral reefs using biorock or mineral accretion technology. What is Biorock Technique? Biorock is the name given to the substance formed by electro accumulation of minerals dissolved in seawater on steel structures that… Continue reading

Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI) 2020

What is the news: The Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI) was recently published. Performance Analysis India has climbed eight places to 72nd rank in the GTCI which was topped by Switzerland, the US and Singapore. Sweden (4th), Denmark (5th), the Netherlands (6th), Finland (7th), Luxembourg (8th), Norway (9th) and Australia (10th) complete the top 10… Continue reading

Nagardhan Excavations

Recent archaeological excavations at Nagardhan near Nagpur have provided concrete evidence on the life, religious affiliations and trade practices of the Vakataka dynasty that ruled parts of Central and South India between the third and fifth centuries. After a 1,500 year-old sealing was excavated for the first time, a new study in Numismatic Digest… Continue reading

Oslo Peace Accord

Palestinian officials threatened to withdraw from key provisions of the Oslo Accords, which define relations with Israel, if U.S. President Donald Trump announces his Middle East peace plan next week. The Oslo Peace Accord The Oslo Accords were a landmark moment in the pursuit of peace in the Middle East. Actually a set of… Continue reading

Operation Alberich

The recently released ‘1917’ movie tells the story of two British soldiers during the WWI in Operation Alberich, the strategic retreat in which their troops were taken back to the Hindenburg Line in 1917. What was Operation Alberich? Operation Alberich is considered among Germany’s most important operations on the Western Front in 1917, as well… Continue reading

Sagarmatha Sambaad

Nepal has invited the PMs of India and Pakistan along with several other heads of government and heads of state for the Sagarmatha Sambaad. Sagarmatha Sambaad Sagarmatha Sambaad is a multi-stakeholder, permanent global dialogue forum initiated by the Government of Nepal. It is scheduled to be held biennially in Nepal. The Sambaad (dialogue) is… Continue reading

[op-ed snap] Frame rules to govern how devices identify us

Context Facial recognition technology is set to become an integral part of the law enforcement toolkit, but we should regulate this technology before it pervades our public spaces. What are the issues with the use of facial recognition? Enormous possibilities for law enforcement agencies: Detectives have been using facial recognition to solve crimes for almost… Continue reading

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