This report summarizes the findings of a review aimed at understanding emerging approaches to energy subsidy reform, discerning trends, and identifying major strands of thinking and research in the field, as reflected in major policy and academic journals relevant to the subject. The review was initiated in early 2020 as …
dengue resurfaces: Delhi is once again in the grip of dengue. The disease claimed its first victim at Apollo Hospital on October 5, 2004. Over 180 cases have already been reported in the capital. The disease is also spreading in the neighbouring town of Noida; media reports claimed the occurrence …
Japan has dropped its opposition to curbs on fishing subsidies in the World Trade Organization. Environmental groups say this shift marks a breakthrough in current negotiations on the issue. Japan now acknowledges that fishing subsidies deplete global fish stocks and has set out an approach for tackling them. This is …
The International Conference for Renewable Energies is to be held in Bonn, Germany. But here is a sector dwarfed by fossil fuels, and although governments can proactively root for renewables, and some have, the options given to developing countries are quite limiting. After travelling in Germany and the UK, the …
The collapse of the World Trade Organization's (wto) ministerial meet at Cancun last year was a big shock to the eu. The union had calculated that it would drive home its agenda related to agriculture and the so-called
history will be made on June 18, when the World Trade Organization (wto) is expected to officially declare that the subsidies given by the us to its cotton farmers are illegal. It will be the first time that a developing country
the much-touted North East Industrial Policy (neip) of the Union government badly needs a ‘mid-course correction’. This acknowledgement has come from none other than S Jagdeesan, joint secretary in the Union ministry of commerce and industry, at the Northeast Expo 2004 at Delhi. He made some other revelations. For example, …
WHAT separates Punjab from Nagaland and makes them alike at the same time? Our visionary bureaucracy. Nothing else can explain why the Union government wants to slap a facsimile copy of the fiscal and economic policy pursued in Jammu Kashmir, Punjab and Haryana onto the eight northeast states. The government …
"I am not sure we can survive the European Union(eu),' says Andrzej Konkol, an organic farmer in Kashubia, Northern Poland. His daughter translates while her young twin brothers amble about the yard in the afternoon sun. Grinning broadly, they half lead, half follow the gangling calf they'd watched being born …
The World Social Forum (WSF) concluded in Mumbai. Then began the World Economic Forum in Davos. A little before these, a glitzy automobile fair in Delhi. One after the other, loud and strident images. But even as an intensely stimulating energy of dissent swelled at WSF, I kept feeling the …
Wherever they exist India's urban elite splash on subsidies B Ashok a regime of pro-rich subsidies have ensured India's urban elites happilly benefit from organised water supply and sewage treatment services, wherever they exist. Water tariffs in India are among the lowest. Let us compare. In the us
Cancun: a paper tiger jurgen maier The strategy of the European Union (eu) did seem to be transformed in the conference centres of Cancun. A coherent eu policy is non-existent. Europe is deeply divided between the American satellites (the uk, Spain and Italy) and the Gaullist camp (France, Germany and …
The international clinical trial business could come to India in a big way. The most advanced drugs might be available to Indians as soon as the research is finalised. A lot of Indians could get free treatment, also contributing to the development of new drugs. But given the poor state …
Ladakh was opened to tourism in 1971. Since then the tourist inflow has increased several times over (see graph: Welcome to Ladakh). Though Ladakh gets more foreign tourists, domestic tourists have increased recently. The biggest tourist activity is trekking and jeep safaris; the biggest tourist attractions of Ladakh are its …
In Ladakhi, lango khel means conquering the highest point of a pass in the mountains. In Ladakhi schools, it means the matriculation (class X) examination. From 1947 to 1998, matriculation results in Leh district hovered between 0-5 per cent. The reasons are not difficult to fathom. Children grew up speaking …
Life in a cold desert is harsh and exacting. You need enormous amounts of energy for everything, but there are very few sources. Getting electricity to light up houses in Leh is no easy task. About two-thirds of the power supply in the summer comes from diesel generator sets (DG) …
It is widely accepted that panchayati raj is shaping up much better in Leh as compared to other districts of J&K.; The first real panchayat elections in the state were held only in May 2001. Even then, modalities of decentralisation of power to elected village representatives were not issued. After …
The most remarkable aspect of the developmental challenges in Leh district is the small margin for error. Resources are highly limited. Ladakh's ecology is fragile. Unbridled tourism will imperil the pastures of Changthang that support the pashmina goats and the Changpa nomads. The good news from Leh is that the …
