Postscript to a tragedy at Galwan

The article suggests the approach that India should adopt in its policy toward China. Long term view of the situation is crucial. But some short term steps is also necessary. Prelude to 1962 War Revolt in Tibet and granting asylum to the Dalai Lama in March 1959 can be seen as start of tensions in relations.… Continue reading

We must aspire for nurturing economy

The sight of thousands of migrant workers walking thousands of kms back home after lockdown has been the watershed moment for the collective conscience of our country. This made us think about the present economic model and policies we have been adopting. So, the answer to the problems created by the present model lies in… Continue reading

Why Ladakh matters to India and China?

This article from IE discusses this cold, dry, high altitude territory with its extremely scarce vegetation that makes it a point of disagreement between India and China. Practice question for mains: Q. India’s boundary disputes with its neighbourhood are the legacy of its colonial past. Analyse. Ladakh: The Cold Desert of India Ladakh is the… Continue reading

India gets re-elected as Non-permanent Member of UNSC

India gets re-elected as Non-permanent Members of UNSC with 184 out of the 192 valid votes polled in its favour. Practice question for mains: Q. United Nations is in need of structural reforms suiting to the needs of present times. Discuss. What are ‘non-permanent seats’ at the UNSC? The UNSC is composed of 15 members:… Continue reading

What is Civil Services Board?

Punjab government notifying Civil Services Board providing for a fixed tenure of IAS officers has left its leaders in the state upset. Practice questions for mains: Q. Discuss how fixed tenure for Civil Servants helps provide better administration. What is the Civil Services Board (CSB)? Civil Services Board is responsible for the entry-level recruitment and… Continue reading

Rule of Law Index and India

The Supreme Court has asked the government to treat a writ petition for setting up expert panels to boost India’s prospects in the Rule of Law Index. Note the various factors/sub-indices on which the index is measured. There can be a direct question on these in line with: Q. Which one of the following is… Continue reading

Kodumanal Megalithic Burial Site

The Kodumanal excavation in Erode Dist. of Tamil Nadu has threw light on burial rituals and the concept of afterlife in megalithic culture. Must read: Chapter 1 | Stone Age – Paleolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic About these sites The researchers have identified 250 cairn-circles at the village in Erode district. Earlier excavations revealed that the… Continue reading

History, the standoff, and policy worth rereading

In the changing circumstances, there is a need for recalibration of foreign policy when dealing with China. This article draws on a policy approach adopted by Nehru and suggests 4 areas to focus on while devising the foreign policy. India must pay attention to “five fingers” The deadly clashes at Galwan and the ongoing standoff… Continue reading

Issues with the ordinances on agriculture

Following the announcement of reforms in the agri-sector, the government issued ordinances to make good on its promise. These ordinances deal with- ECA-1955, APMC Act and Contract farming. The author in this article examines whether these ordinances deliver on the promises made or not. 1) Ordinance for amendment of APMC Act ‘Farming Produce Trade and… Continue reading

What makes Himalayan tourism spots vulnerable to landslides?

This newscard talks about the city of Dharamshala where landslides occur frequently. Practice question for mains: Q.“Himalayan region is more susceptible to floods and flood induced landslides than the Western Ghats”. Discuss. Why is Dharamshala more vulnerable to landslides? Dharamshala has a slope varying from gentle to steep, depending on different parts of the city.… Continue reading

How ‘Vaccine Nationalism’ could block vulnerable populations’ access to COVID-19 vaccines

Hundreds of COVID-19 vaccine candidates are currently being developed. Many countries are securing priority access to doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Practice question for Mains: Q. What is Vaccine Nationalism? Discuss various ethical issues involved and its impact on vulnerable populations across the globe. Vaccine nationalism during COVID-19 Vaccine nationalism occurs when a country manages to… Continue reading

What is Axone?

A movie named Axone — also spelt akhuni —soya bean dish of Nagaland has been recently released. The traditional ‘Axone’ dish is very unique in itself. However, one must note that it does NOT carry any GI tag. Still, there is a possibility of it being asked in match the pair type questions. What is… Continue reading

“Assessment of Climate Change over the Indian Region” Report

The Union Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has released the “Assessment of Climate Change over the Indian Region” Report. This newscard discusses a very important concept: the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP). Note its definition. It can be directly asked as a statement based on prelims MCQ. Highlights of the report Average surface air temperatures over… Continue reading

COVID Isolation Coaches and their deployment

The Union govt. has declared that 500 COVID isolation coaches would be deployed in Delhi. So far, over 5,000 coaches have been converted into COVID isolation coaches across India. Practice question for mains: Q. Health infrastructure in India is hardly capable of handling any pandemic. Critically comment. What are these COVID Isolation Coaches? In March,… Continue reading

What explains the new mark crosses by our Forex reserves

At first, it seems almost contradictory. And so it is. Our foreign exchange reserves touched new high of $500 billion for the first time, but the time in which this has happened makes it paradoxical. At the time when economies around the world are touching new lows, this rise in the Forex seems all but… Continue reading

What lies behind China’s assertion in Ladakh

The latest stand-off in Ladakh triggered a debate over the reasons for Chinese actions. While many attribute it to India’s decision to change the constitutional status of J&K, the author of this article points to the widening power differential. So, what are the implications of it? Read the article to know… What is argument from… Continue reading

Why South China Sea matters to India

What happens in the South China Sea has bearing on India. So far, the U.S. played a major role in the prosperity and security of the Indo-Pacific, but after the Covid, it may be forced to reconsider its stand over the region. So, what is at stake for India? And what are the options available… Continue reading

SIPRI Report on Nuclear Stockpiles

All nations that have nuclear weapons continue to modernize their nuclear arsenals, while India and China increased their nuclear warheads in the last one year, according to a latest report by Swedish think tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). About SIPRI Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) is an international institute based in Sweden,… Continue reading

The need for an anti-discrimination law

India has a unique distinction of being a democracy without comprehensive legislation to back the constitutional right of equality. This lack of legislation gives rise to certain issues. Every time the case of discrimination is brought the discriminating party claims that he is at liberty to do so. Not only this, in a certain case,… Continue reading

Skill University

This article highlights the utility of skill education in India. There are several benefits in its adoption. But it would require several regulatory changes. So, what are these changes?Read to know… 3 issues with our university education The differential lockdown outcomes for skilled and unskilled workers highlight our university system’s pre-existing conditions. These are- 1)… Continue reading

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