A NATION FOR THE PERSECUTED
In his historic address to the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago in 1893, Swami Vivekananda declared, “I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the Earth.” Refugee law and India Refugees include Sri Lankan Tamils, Tibetans from China, […]
LISTENING TO THE CALL OF THE INFORMAL
Context and Details: The key question here is: Who benefits from formalisation of informal firms? Formalisation does reduce the last-mile costs for banks. The state finds it easier to monitor and to tax the firms that adopt its version of formality. However, the process can also produce adverse outcomes for the informal sector firms themselves […]
COURSE CORRECTION FOR THE SPEAKER’S OFFICE
Why in news? Recently, the Supreme Court of India while adjudicating upon the matter relating to the disqualification of MLAs in the Manipur Legislative Assembly under the Tenth Schedule made a significant suggestion. It recommended that Parliament should rethink as to whether disqualification petitions ought to be entrusted to a Speaker as a quasi-judicial authority when […]
A CASE OF A MARITIME PRESENCE ADRIFT
Why in news? The International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations agency tasked with regulating shipping, mandated that merchant ships should not burn fuel with sulphur content greater than 0.5% beginning January 1. Prior to the mandate by IMO, there was 3.5% of Sulphur in the fuel It was said to damage the vessels and even causing […]
NEED OF THE HOUR: PROTEST AND CAA
Why in news? As protests continue to ripple in many parts of the country against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, or the CAA, the National Population Register (NPR) and allied issues, their nature, content and direction have drawn critical attention The discriminatory CAA targets Muslims, but the protests were driven by the wider civil society at […]
REFORM WHO
Why in news? With the 73rd World Health Assembly – the decision-making body of WHO- – taking place through Videoconferencing, the Covid-19 pandemic is taking centre stage. Call for Action: Investigate COVID-19 WHA is taking up a motion backed by more than 120 countries, including India, that calls for a “stepwise process of impartial, independent […]
ENSURING ACCESS AND EQUITY IN EDUCATION
Why in news? The Finance minister announced a slew of measures for the education sector as a part of the ~20 lakh crore economic package. The key principles behind the education sector reforms are equity and access for students. Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) Of the total population in the age group of 18-23, which is […]
MOST MISSING WOMEN FROM MAHARASHTRA, M.P
Why in news? The highest number of women and children who go missing in the country are from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh respectively according to the study of NCRB.
USAID TO FUND 200 VENTILATORS FOR INDIA
Why in news? India would take delivery of 200 ventilators donated by the United States within the June, government sources said on 18th May 2020. The ventilators would be paid for by United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Details In a statement on April 16, the U.S. government said the funds through USAID would help […]
INDIA BUILDING ILLEGAL DEF POSTS IN AKSAI: CHINA
Why in news? Amid heightened confrontation in east Ladakh, Chinese state media claimed that India has built illegal defence facilities at Galwan Valley in the Aksai China region quoting anonymous military sources. Recent Events: Pinpricks Indian and Chinese forces clashing along the northern bank of the Pangong Tso Lake earlier in May 2020. India has […]