
GS2: Polity
- Fallen through the cracks (TH) The year 2020 marks the anniversary of two major events concerning the status of women. First, it is nearly fifty years since the Committee on the Status of Women in India (CSWI) submitted the report ‘Towards Equality’ to the United Nations (UN), which focused on women-sensitive policymaking in India, providing a fresh perspective on gender equality. Second, it is the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, a benchmark for analysing the condition of women and State-led empowerment.
GS2: International Relations
- "Mega trade bloc RCEP takes off (TH); India will have to re-apply for membership negotiation
- Threat or treat(TH); The final agreement of RCEP covers various issues that India had flagged
- Countdown to greater India-Canada convergence (TH) The 1.5 Track Dialogue has been piloted since February 2018 by two think tanks — Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations and Canada’s Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI).
- A day after RCEP, Jaishankar slams trade pacts, globalisation(TH); ‘The effect of past trade agreements has been to deindustrialise some sectors’. India has allowed other countries “unfair” trade and manufacturing advantages “in the name of openness
- Explained: What are the economic implications of India opting out of RCEP? (IE);Escalating tensions with China are a major reason for India’s decision. While China’s participation in the deal had already been proving difficult for India due to various economic threats, the clash at Galwan Valley has soured relations between the two countries. The various measures India has taken to reduce its exposure to China would have sat uncomfortably with its commitments under RCEP.
- Explained: The China factor and India’s strategic thinking on RCEP (IE) RCEP has now been signed without India. The Indian Express has learnt that negotiators from Japan worked hard to keep the RCEP agreement “open for accession by India” and also said that India may participate in RCEP meetings as an “observer”.
GS3: Economy
- WPI quickens to 8month (TH) India’s wholesale price inflation quickened to the highest level in eight months, reaching 1.48% in October 2020 as per provisional data, compared with 0% in October, 2019.