E-NAM PLATFORM MOVING TOWARDS ONE NATION ONE MARKET
Why in news? 200 new mandis were added to the e-NAM platform from 7 States and by the end of May 2020 there will be around one thousand Mandis joining the e-NAM platform for marketing of Agricultural produce said the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. With the aim to reach the last mile […]
TAIWAN’S CORONAVIRUS PROTOCOL SHOWS HOW IT IS DONE
Introduction Pandemics can spread rapidly around the world because of the ease of international transportation. Among the most salient examples are the Spanish flu of 1918, the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak of 2003, and the H1N1 influenza of 2009. Taiwan’s strategy When information concerning a novel pneumonia outbreak was first confirmed on December […]
OMINOUS CONTRACTION: ON CORE SECTOR OUTPUT
Introduction The provisional figures released by the Commerce Ministry show that production at all but one of the eight industries comprising the core sector shrank in March from a year earlier. Details This is the sharpest contraction in the index since the new series began in April 2012. The output contracted by as much as […]
NEEDED: A PANDEMIC PATENT POOL
Introduction Every April 26, we celebrate World Intellectual Property Day. This year it provided us an opportunity to reflect upon the role of intellectual property (IP) in the ongoing health crisis and dedicate IP to finding a solution. Vaccines are the only way ahead The purpose of creating and recognising patent rights is for the […]
PRINT MONEY, SAVE ECONOMY
Introduction The Major global economies are responding to the COVID-induced recession by adopting unorthodox stimulus measures, including printing money. The US, the European Central Bank, Japan, and even emerging economies such as Turkey and Indonesia are printing money to bring economies back to life. So, can India. What is Printing Money? Central bank directly buys […]
KERALA SCRAMBLES FOR FUNDS AS CENTRE TIGHTENS
Why in news? An alarming dip in the Kerala’s Own Tax Revenue, coupled with a delay and cut in Central transfers, have pushed the State to the edge of a financial precipice. Kerala Down to a trickle A comparison of receipts in April 2019 and April reveals the intensity of the crisis. The Goods and […]
CII PROPOSES DIFFERENT RULES FOR TOP PRIORITY DISTRICTS
Why in news? The country’s high performing economic districts should be allowed to play by different rules in the third phase of the lockdown beginning 4th April, according to the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Concerns with Economic Recovery In a CII poll almost half of the CEOSs say an economic recovery will take over a […]
CORONAVIRUS IS PULLING MILLIONS BACK INTO POVERTY
Introduction to expected increase in Poverty The gains the world was making in fighting poverty are now at grave risk. The World Bank says that for the first time since 1998, global poverty rates will rise. By the end of the year 2020, 8% of the world’s population — half a billion people — could […]
GI TAG TO MANIPUR BLACK RICE, GORAKHPUR TERRACOTTA, KOVILPATTI KADALAI MITTAI
Why in news? Chak-Hao, the black rice of Manipur, the Gorakhpur terracotta, Kovilpatti kadalai mittai have bagged the Geogrphical Indication (GI) tag in 30th April 2020. Chak-Hao Chak-Hao is a scented glutinous rice which has been in cultivation in Manipur over centuries and is characterised by its special aroma. It is normally eaten during community feasts […]
MARCH 2020 CORE SECTOR OUTPUT SLUMPS 6.5%
Why in news? The Output at India’s core sector contracted by 6.5% in March, Commerce Ministry data show, reflecting the early impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent nationwide lockdown. The index of eight core sector industries, which form 40% of the weight of items included in the broader Index of Industrial Production (IIP), […]