The new year brings with it a mix of hope and expectations, especially among the youth and middle class who have placed their trust in the Narendra Modi government. The upcoming Union Budget is being eagerly awaited by these two groups in particular, in the hope it addresses the very real concerns of a generation in search of a brighter future. The upcoming budget is expected to focus on job cr
In the new year, India appears all set to carry forward its foreign policy objectives, such as Neighbourhood First, Act East and Think West, with all its seriousness, while giving prominence to its relationship with the US and Europe for technology and Africa and Latin America in the true spirit of ‘Vishwa Bandhu.’ But in the complex international scenario, Indi
Workplace mental harassment, often referred to as workplace bullying or psychological harassment, is a pressing issue that affects employees across industries. This form of harassment can lead to significant emotional distress, reduced productivity and, in severe cases, long-term mental health issues. Addressing this problem requires a concerted effort from legal frameworks and corporate polici
Tourism is a vital pillar of economic growth and employment generation all across the world. It offers vast potential for sustainable livelihoods while promoting India’s rich cultural and natural heritage. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), tourism`s contribution to India’s GDP in 2024 is expected to be 6.8%, amounting to $256.1 billion. Globally, the sector
Returning from a recent Renewable Energy (RE) meeting of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), UN in Germany, I was struck by the news of Delhi’s record-high AQI levels forcing partial closures across NCR. This alarming situation begs the question: Is our health sector climate-resilient enough? With COP28 aiming to triple RE capacity by 2030, a decarbonised energy future demands ur
With low income levels and weak institutional capacities, developing countries and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) are more vulnerable to external events like geopolitical crises, climate change, and rising debt burdens. To manage crises and foster development, these economies often rely on external financing from international organisations. The International Monetary Fund (IMF
Corporate governance has long been recognised as the cornerstone for sustainable economic growth, corporate accountability, and stakeholder trust. For India, which aspires to become a USD 5 trillion economy and Vishwa-Guru (a model nation for the world), strengthening governance is imperative, in government as well as government businesses (PSUs). Despite a robust regulatory fra
As cyber threats continue to rise globally, India’s states and local governments are facing unprecedented challenges in protecting sensitive data, critical infrastructure and public services. Recent cyber incidents worldwide highlight the vulnerability of government systems, especially at the state level, to sophisticated attacks that can disrupt services, compromise data and undermine pu
India`s telecom industry stands as a global powerhouse, ranking second in size with a subscriber base of 1.095 billion as of July 2024, including wireline and wireless. With the rapid expansion of 5G services, the country`s 5G subscriptions are projected to reach 350 million by 2026, accounting for 27% of all mobile connections. Further, the FY24 annual report from the Telecom Regulatory Author
As the exponentially growing tech corridors of Mumbai, Delhi, and especially the Silicon Valley of India – Bengaluru, are relaunching the content industry through Artificial Intelligence (AI), ranging from art and music to critical software codes, they are faced with the challenge of navigating ownership and originality in terms of issues of copyright. The intersection of copyright and AI
Question: During the past few months, it has been observed that the activities of convicted gangsters like Lawrence Bishnoi and his rivals are rising and the situation is similar to be the Bombay of the 90s. How do you react to this emerging situation? Answer: At the outset, I would say that the situation we are facing today in 2024 is considerably different
Cop28, the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), held in Dubai from November 30 to December 12, 2023, was a pivotal moment against the looming threat of climate change. It marked the conclusion of the first-ever Global Stocktake on Paris Agreement goals.The Stocktake is a process that takes place every five years. It assesses and u
When Europe and West Asia in particular are deep in fear about Donald Trump because he as the 47th US president is expected to bring a significant shift in the geopolitics of the world with his policies and strategies, India is looking forward with optimism to work closely with him and infuse more dynamism into New Delhi and Washington DC’s relationship. This sense of conf
India’s Trade Scenario India’s trade has increased from 17% of GDP during 1991 to 46% of GDP during 20231 owing to the liberalization reforms which led to the gradual easing of restrictions from a highly protected and controlled economy; fostering competition, innovation, foreign investment and economies of scale. We have moved up the Global Value
Over the last decade, India has initiated a range of progress-driven policies to advance the health sector towards greater overall digitisation. Frontline health workers are now trained to adopt digital health solutions, evolving from traditional paper-based record keeping systems to a centralised digital portal, and now to using mobile phone applications that allow real-time information upload
India is the world’s largest democracy, but the glaring gender disparity in its political representation continues to spark debates. Women, who outnumber the men (according to NFHS-5) in the country, remain significantly underrepresented in its political arena. This glaring disparity calls into question the inclusivity of India`s democratic processes and highlights the structural barriers
Food needs to be smart too We live in a world of smart phones, smart cities and smart manufacturing, so why not Smart Food! On World Food Day, it`s time to reflect on how our food system—from farm to table—has evolved and the urgent need to make it smarter. Our food systems face numerous challenges. Ironically, some of the poorest and most food
In the ongoing problem of facing environmental challenges, the call for sustainable practices has become more pressing than ever. Nations have started to strive to reduce their carbon footprint and mitigate the adverse effects of industrialization, innovative solutions are imperative. Unfortunately, due to human activities to aim for a developed environment, nature is slowly giving up on humans
Cyberattacks have become a daily phenomenon around the globe, especially in India. In the first half of 2024 alone, India has witnessed 593 cyber incidents, comprising of 388 data breaches, 107 data leaks, and 39 ransomware attacks. With an average of 3,201 cyberattacks per week in Q2 2024, a 46% increase from last year, India is now the second-most targeted country in the Asia-P
The United Nations Framework Classification for resources (UNFC) – also known as the Paris Agreement, which was adopted in December 2015, aims to mitigate climate change by holding global warming to two degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial levels, with a target of limiting it to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Currently, major economies like the United States, South Korea, Japan and China have a
