THE NEWS IN
PROPORTION
17 February 2020
17 February 2020
SOLAR MISSION DISPUTE
Trade rules and what they eclipse
Trade rules and what they eclipse
The ruling by the World Trade Organisation (WTO)’s dispute settlement body (DSB) in a complaint filed by USA against elements of India’s solar mission is again in the news. Shalini Bhutani helps to piece together the sequence of events and points out how the global trade architecture keeps domestic laws and policies under intense scrutiny.
STREET VENDORS
A futile struggle for the right to tradeLegislation for street vendors mandates registration of all vendors and allocation of spaces for them by the state in designated zones. Navya P K’s interaction with street vendors in Delhi reveals a reality that is in stark contrast to what the law holds.
TRADE POLICY
Will free trade allow free voices too?Shalini Bhutani takes a close look at the law and ensuing policy on trade in India, and asks whether the regulatory framework on trade issues nurtures the idea of public consultation.
FDI & JOBS IN MANUFACTURING
Can FDI really spur ‘Make in India’?The government’s thrust on ‘ease of doing business’ and ‘Make in India’ rests significantly on the premise of attracting foreign capital into manufacturing. Kannan Kasturi tracks data on FDI inflows to see whether it indicates true potential to boost the sector and job creation.
NEW IPR POLICY
Missing: Intellectual Property Rights with a social lensThe Modi government has moved fast and furious on charting a new policy regarding intellectual property rights; Shalini Bhutani’s recap of recent developments shows that much of it has been with an overt focus on industry, rather than innovation in general.
ECONOMY & PRICES
Is lower inflation here to stay?Most measures of inflation over the last couple of months point to an encouraging downward movement in price indices; Shambhu Ghatak deconstructs these measures and quotes observations of the RBI to show why it may still be premature to take low inflation for granted.
E-COMMERCE POLICY
Crying out for clarityThe e-commerce space in India has been growing in leaps and bounds but inchoate rules and dated laws have created ‘grey areas’ that need to be cleared at the earliest. Akshatha M outlines the key issues in the debate.
INDO-BHUTAN ENERGY COOPERATION
Hydropower in the land of Gross National HappinessThe immense untapped potential of hydropower generation in Bhutan has led to several major projects in the offing, with varying degrees of Indian involvement. However, Shripad Dharmadhikary finds a steady rise in voices questioning their impact on the Himalayan environment.
IPR LAWS
An old policy Modi must hold on toThe government’s clarification on the Indo-US joint statement on Intellectual Property Rights issued during Modi’s visit to the United States highlights the imperative of maintaining India’s original stance on patent laws and refusal to yield to US demands made in its Special 301 Report. Shambhu Ghatak has more.
GLOBAL TRADE
Will The NYT bat against Washington apples in India?A recent editorial in The New York Times rightly recognises the flaws of a growth model driven by lower trade barriers. But Devinder Sharma wonders if the American daily will take a stand and extend its arguments to champion the cause of all nations, including India.
CONTROLLING THE CAD
Who's importing all that gold?The Indian government has stopped short of imposing effective controls on gold imports despite the soaring current account deficit and its concomitant ills. Kannan Kasturi examines recent trends in gold demand to see if the government's rationale behind the soft policy holds good.
THE ECONOMY
Our cheese has moved, and only we must find itThe drying up of the dollar and the resultant plummet of the rupee reflects on the government's flawed economic strategy. Shyam Sekhar draws upon the famous business fable Who Moved My Cheese? to show the kind of behaviour and actions that could resolve the crisis now.
ECONOMY AND THE 'AAM AADMI'
Why the Current Account Deficit matters to you and meIndia's current account deficit reached alarming levels in the year 2012-13. Kannan Kasturi provides a historical context and lucid explanation of the phenomenon and rues the government's shocking lack of action.
India Together offers an excellent forum for people from diverse fields of expertise to present their views, share their experiences and raise questions about where our country and society are headed in the future.
Amitabha Basu
- Retired Scientist
- National Physical
- Laboratory
- India Together reader
India Together
Also see our sister publication 
From Aug 2013, published with support from Oorvani Foundation, a champion of public-funded media for the new India.
© Oorvani Media Pvt. Ltd., all rights reserved.