FOODGRAINS PRODUCTION SET TO TOUCH A RECORD HIGH
Why in news? Total foodgrains production is projected to scale an all-time high of almost 292 million tonnes in 2019-20, propelled by record production of both rice and wheat
MADHYA PRADESH GRAPPLES WITH SPIRALING NEONATAL DEATHS
Why in news? Madhya Pradesh has recorded the highest percentage of newborn deaths of 11.5% against the total admissions to government run sick newborn care units (SNCUs) in the past three years across the country, a rate ominously spiralling since 2017 According to the National Health Mission (NHM). The country’s average is 7%. Several factors […]
RATES TO FALL DESPITE RBI’S STATUS QUO
Why in news? The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decided at a meeting to keep the interest rates unchanged in the wake of a rise in inflation, but emphasized that there would be space for rate reduction
SOLAR PANEL COULD GENERATE ELECTRICITY EVEN BY NIGHT
Context and News University of California explained how a new kind of thermoradiative cell could design an anti-solar panel to generate power at night Details According to a study published in the ACS Photonics, it is possible to design solar panels that can produce energy during the night A regular solar cell generates power when […]
RAIL, FLIGHT SERVICES TO TRANSPORT FARM PRODUCE
Why in news? FM has announced ‘Kisan Rail’ Programme Details The Centre has raised the target for agricultural credit by 11% to ₹15 lakh crore in 2020-21 and proposed to begin special rail and flight services to transport farm produce as part of a 16-point action plan for the agriculture sector announced in the Union […]
PRIVATE PLAYERS ALLOWED TO SET UP DATA PARKS
Why in news? Union Budget for 2020-21 has made a provision for private players to get into data center market Details All ‘public institutions’ at the gram panchayat level, such as anganwadis, health and wellness centres, government schools, PDS (public distribution system) outlets, post offices and police stations will be provided with digital connectivity Fiber […]
India’s dominance as global economic power for three-fourths of economic history manifests by design.
Kautilya’s Arthashastra postulates the role of prices in an economy (Spengler, 1971). Historically, Indian economy relied on the invisible hand of the market with the support of the hand of trust: Invisible hand of the market reflected in openness in economic transactions. Hand of trust appealed to ethical and philosophical dimensions. What is Invisible hand […]
THALINOMICS: THE FORMULA BEHIND ONE SQUARE MEAL
For the average worker in India’s organised manufacturing sector, the affordability of a plate of vegetarian food — comprising rice or roti, dal and sabzi has improved 29% since 200607, according to Thalinomics, a take on the economics of food by the Economic Survey. For non-vegetarians, affordability has risen 18%.
CROP DUSTING WITH DRONES IS ILLEGAL, SAYS CENTRE
Why in news? Use of drones for agrochemical spraying had increased of late. This would create a lot of problems. What are problems? Aerial spraying impacts a larger area, while decreasing the efficacy on the target pests. Eg. Kasargod in Kerala reeling under such impact due to aerial spraying of Endosulfan for over 25 years […]
RBI TO REGULATE PAYMENT AGGREGATORS
Focus: GS-III Indian Economy, Economic Development Why in news? The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 17th March 2020, said it will regulate in entirety the activities of payment aggregators (PAs) and provide baseline technology-related recommendations to payment gateways (PGs) in view of the important functions of these intermediaries in the online payments space as […]