It stands for Scheme for Modernization and Reforms through Technology in Public Distribution System. Envisaging a new and unified scheme to strengthen the PDS technology components by standardization of its operation and implementation of data driven decision making through the data analytics. Smart ration cards are issued to beneficiaries of public distribution system. Fingerprint template of the beneficiary is recorded …

For nearly a year now, many in Sri Lanka have been fervently chanting three letters — IMF (International Monetary Fund). As the country’s familiar balance of payments problem escalated last year, citizens experienced crippling shortages and painfully long power cuts. They took to the streets in a staggering mass protest …

The last few years have ushered in a harsh new reality where crises are the norm rather than the exception. Pandemics, economic slumps and extreme weather events were once tail-end risks, but all three have hit South Asia in rapid succession since 2020. COVID-19 alone put millions of lives and …

The National Statistical Office’s latest release of GDP data estimates a further deceleration in growth in the October-December 2022 quarter, a slowdown that the government’s Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) has attributed largely to an upward revision in the year-earlier period’s figures. Gross domestic product is posited to have expanded by …

On February 23, 2023, on the eve of the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution, calling for an end to the war. The resolution was favoured by 141 members and opposed by seven, while 32 states abstained. Unsurprisingly, India was …

CENTRE FOR POLICY RESEARCH The Government of India suspended the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licence of the Centre for Policy Research (CPR). The CPR was established in 1973 as a think tank. Mission: To contribute to a more robust public discourse about the issues that impact life in India. It is India’s premier public policy …

India hosted the first meeting of the Governing Board of BIMSTEC Energy Centre (BEC). India made a presentation on establishing the BIMSTEC Energy Centre (BEC) in India. The BEC will be housed in the premises of the Central Power Research Institute (CPRI), Bengaluru. The Meeting recommended to add the additional following areas under the specialized Wings of BEC: …

The Press Council of India (PCI) on Wednesday advised the print media to follow the norms of Journalistic Conduct-2022 on ‘paid news’ during the elections in various States. Stating that newspapers should not misconstrue or misquote the statements given by any leader, the Council said the statements quoted in editorial …

Deliveries of five regiments of S-400 air defence systems under a $5.43-billion deal with Russia are expected to be completed by year-end or early 2024, according to official sources. However, issues of delayed payments as well as insurance and reinsurance remain major stumbling blocks delaying deals in the pipeline Delivery …

The G-20 was born out of the Asian financial crisis 25 years ago. It was upgraded to convene heads of government after a global financial and economic crisis a decade later. Today, however, the organisation that styles itself as the ‘premier forum of international economic cooperation’ appears to be descending …