WHY LIQUOR SALES MATTER TO STATES?
Why in news? Following the easing of restrictions in the third phase of the nationwide lockdown, some of the most striking images on 4th May showed long queues outside liquor stores around the country. Manufacture and sale of liquor is one of the major sources of their revenue. How do states earn from liquor? Liquor […]
PATHWAYS TO A MORE RESILIENT ECONOMY
7 radical ideas emerging to build a more resilient economy “De-Growth”: The obsession with GDP as the supreme goal of progress has been challenged often- Goals for human progress must be reset. “Sufficient boundaries”: Boundaries impede flows of trade, finance, and people- removing boundaries is good for global growth. However, since countries are at different stages of […]
BOOST WAGES TO STIMULATE INDIA’S GROWTH
Why in news? One of the moving images from today’s India is of migrant workers suddenly feeling desolate in their places of work and desperate to return to their villages, in the aftermath of the COVID-19 outbreak. We need to plan for an economic growth driven by rising. Patchy data As per 2018 data: Out […]
IT’S TIME FOR A VIRTUAL JUDICIARY
Why do we need a ‘Virtual Judiciary’ now? The pendency of cases in various courts in India is staggering- and the existing infrastructure may be grossly under-utilised. There are tribunals such as the Income Tax Tribunal that function only half-day most of the time. To make matters worse, most courts are closed for Christmas and […]
NHRC ISSUES NOTICES TO STATES
Why in news? The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the Maharashtra government and the Madhya Pradesh government. Maharashtra was called up over the “inappropriate approach” adopted for the release of prisoners to avoid the SARS-CoV-2 infection and Madhya Pradesh was called up for the incident of a pregnant migrant giving birth […]
INDIA NON-COMMITTAL ON TALKS WITH TALIBAN
Why in news? India will “continue to be guided” by its friendship with the Afghan people, said the government, remaining non-committal on renewed questions of whether it would open direct talks with the Taliban. India’s Current Position on Afghanistan India has asserted that it has its own perspectives on Afghanistan, and the traditional and neighbourly […]
DIAMER-BHASHA DAM: CLAIMS OVER GILGIT-BALTISTAN
Why in news? India on 14th May 2020 opposed a move by Pakistan and China to build a major hydropower plant in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, saying it has shared its concerns regarding such projects with both countries. The Pakistan government on, 13th May 2020, signed a Rs 442-billion contract with a joint venture formed by China Power […]
SECOND TRANCHE OF ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE
Why in news? The major focus of the second tranche of the economic stimulus package announced on 14th May 2020 is to provide free food grains for the next two months to migrant workers who do not have ration cards. The Centre will help create affordable rental housing for the urban poor and provide relief worth […]
NEPAL CAN LET INDIA USE LINK ROAD
Why in news? Nepal’s Prime Minister, on 13th May 2020, proposed a solution to the ongoing border tension saying that Nepal can allow India to use the link road to the Lipulekh Pass as part of an agreement, but will not surrender the Kalapani territory on which India has been carrying out construction. Background Nepal expressed […]
LOW-COST ‘FELUDA’ TEST
Why in news? An accurate and low-cost strip test called “Feluda” that can detect the coronavirus disease within one hour is expected to be available for the first phase of testing by July 2020. Called Feluda, the test is named after a fictional detective created by the late Satyajit Ray – and it is also an acronym for FNCAS9 […]