Panel recommends replacement of admin at MoRD think tank

A parliamentary panel has "strongly" recommended "immediate review and replacement" of the current administration of the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR), a thinktank under the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), which is facing troubles after the Centre cut its budgetary allocation.

A bridge to London

Faced with an assertive China and unpredictable US, India and the UK will gain from deeper ties

The Formal Signing of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to London this week marks a long-awaited turning point in bilateral relations. The early 1990s opened a new opportunity for Delhi and London to move beyond the bitter legacies of Partition and the Cold War and build on the fresh possibilities offered by India's economic liberalisation

CLEARING THE AIR ON COAL

Removal of restrictions on thermal power plants provides respite to consumers

In 2015, The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notified SO2 norms for coal-based thermal power plants. The establishment of flue gas desulphurisation (FGD system) for all 600-odd power plants in the country was made compulsory. The schedule for the implementation of this system was challenging. Most professionals associated with the power sector, technical experts, researchers and policymakers raised valid concerns. Since Indian coal has a low sulphur content, these experts argued that an FGD system was not necessary for most of these plants. The implementation of the system was, however, initiated in several plants. It was estimated that the capital expenditure on FGD in the old and the new plants would tax finance resources and lead to a tariff burden in the order of Rs 0.25 -0.30 per KWhr. Power generators were worried, but more concerned were the distribution companies and consumers of power, who would have to finally bear the burden of the additional tariff.

A very political V-P

Seventy-Four-Year-Old Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's decision to quit late at night on the first day of Parliament's Monsoon session has shocked one and all. Less than a month ago, Dhankhar said that he would retire at the "right time, subject to divine interventions". I pray for his good health and wish him a speedy recovery. Dhankhar had a meeting with Opposition leaders late evening on July 21 and did not appear to look unwell after presiding over the House. There are speculations over the cause of his resignation, even though Dhankhar has said that he was "prioritising his health". This is not the first time that a Vice President has tendered his resignation. VV Giri resigned to take over as Acting President after President Zakir Hussain died in office in May 1969. Bhairon Singh Shekhawat put in his papers after being

defeated in the presidential election by Pratibha Patil. R Venkataraman, Shankar Dayal Sharma and K R Narayanan also re- signed after being elected President.

Lessons from an acquittal

The acquittal of the accused in the devastating 2006 Mumbai train blasts is a pivotal moment in the ongoing battle against terrorism in India. The Maharashtra government and the broader legal community have been taken aback by this Bombay High Court ruling. This verdict holds a mirror to our criminal justice system, and it is not a pretty sight.

Science at the final frontier

The Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), which returned to Earth on July 15, marked a pivotal moment in India's space exploration journey. Launched on June 25, this international collaboration carried astronauts from the US, India, Hungary and Poland, marking a return to space for the latter three after decades. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the mission pilot, became the first Indian astronaut to live and work on the International Space Station (ISS), and the second Indian in space since Rakesh Sharma's 1984 mission. The mission generated a lot of excitement in the country, but was not merely inspirational. It was also invaluable for India's aspirations as India gained real human spaceflight experience, validated crucial experiments in space, strengthened global partnerships and advanced commercial space collaboration.

Cabinet clears UK FTA ahead of PM's London visit; deal text likely this week

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the UK this week, where he is expected to formally sign the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with his counterpart Keir Starmer, the Cabinet on Tuesday approved the deal.

China breaks ground on $170-bn dam near Arunachal: Why India is concerned

China's Official announcement of the start of construction on a massive hydropower project on the Yarlung Zangbo - just before the river bends into Arunachal Pradesh as the Brahmaputra -marks a pivotal moment for both India's strategic interests and China's economic goals.

World Bank report: By 2030, Indian cities to create 70% of jobs but may lose $5 bn to floods

Indian Cities will need some autonomy to invest effectively in climate change adaptation and mitigation, according to Auguste Tano Kouame, the World Bank's Country Director for India. Cities with more decision-making power have performed better than average, he said on Tuesday at the launch of a report on building urban climate resilience.

What are biostimulants, now under Agri Ministry's scrutiny?

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan last week wrote to Chief Ministers of all states to immediately stop the "forced tagging" of nano-fertilisers or biostimulants along with conventional fertilisers.

Tracking India's climate goals

India has said that non-fossil fuel sources now account for more than 50 per cent of its installed electricity generation capacity. This means one of the main promises that the country had made, as part of its international climate commitments under the 2015 Paris Agreement, has been achieved five years ahead of schedule.