DELIBERATIVE FUNCTIONS
Public affairs & advocacy - a career choice
Advocacy and Public Affairs have evolved significantly over the past decade, transforming into a strategic function for corporates. The landscape now includes policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, and risk management. The introduction of policies like the Pre-Legislative Consultation Policy has increased public participation in the legislative process, fostering transparency and inclusivity. Public Affairs in India is evolving to champion knowledge-based engagement and inclusive practices, with companies increasingly recognizing the importance of engaging with Public Policy professionals for business decisions.
CJI DY Chandrachud says Indian courts have come to be reimagined as democratic spaces of discourse
CJI Chandrachud emphasized the transformation of courts into democratic spaces of discourse due to COVID-19 challenges at the J20 summit in Brazil He highlighted the Supreme Court's Program to Fight Disinformation and the use of technology like SUVAS for translation and Digital Supreme Court Records for easy access to judgments. He stressed the importance of addressing inequalities in judicial processes and the need for sustained efforts to tackle issues like AI bias and misinformation.
India calls out hidden agenda of rich nations to tap poor countries' markets
India criticizes the Global North's hidden agenda of using non-tariff barriers for market access. It urges the WTO to address services trade and mobility issues while emphasizing free trade and addressing the disparity in micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME).
WTO Ministerial: Why the world should pay heed to India’s caution
Any moves to draw up new agreements in haste on by stealth would discourage countries to even discuss critical issues at the WTO. India’s stance reflects the fundamental need to understand the impact of evolving themes.
View: Will rich nations distort WTO?
The WTO ministerial conference in Abu Dhabi has sparked discussions on reforms to agriculture and fisheries subsidies. Developed countries aim to reshape the institution to favor their interests, impacting dispute resolution, decision-making, and negotiations. Developing countries must safeguard their interests and prevent the dominance of plurilateral agreements.
Despite opposition, non-trade issues make their way into WTO draft package
The draft package distributed ahead of the Abu Dhabi World Trade Organisation (WTO) conference scheduled for next week has brought attention to themes of trade inclusivity, women's involvement in trade, industrial policy, and environmental considerations – topics that India and numerous other developing nations oppose. The draft document has been reviewed by ET.
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India against EU bringing in new issues at WTO meet via backdoor
The EU has proposed that these issues be taken up as part of reforming the multilateral trade watchdog. Many proponents are calling MC13 as a "reform ministerial". The EU has identified three areas of systemic importance - trade policy and state intervention in support of industrial sectors, global environmental challenges, and trade and inclusiveness - to reinvigorate the deliberative function of the WTO.
As a leader, India must ensure a successful meet: WTO DG Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
India, Brazil and South Africa are the troika of the G20, the WTO DG said. “We hope they will work together to ensure MC13 is a success... the entire package… not one issue or the other… it is across the board,” she told ET. “Not just G20, they are also BRICS (members)… they should support the UAE to ensure the UAE is a successful host, like it was for COP28,” she said, referring to the climate summit held late last year in Dubai.
WTO reform, food security, ecomm among issues for 2024 ministers' meet: WTO DG Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Public stockholding is a policy tool used by governments to purchase, stockpile and distribute food when needed. Developing countries' food subsidies are protected by an interim peace clause which shields food procurement programmes against action from WTO members.
Robust, enlightened civil society essential for functioning democracy, says Rajnath Singh
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke at a C20 meeting in Jaipur, stating that a strong civil society is fundamental to a functioning democracy. He expressed that civil society organisations can act as government force multipliers and help bring about policy changes. NGOs working in various areas can positively influence official policies and programmes.
Rajya Sabha recorded 102% productivity in winter session
According to Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, in 13 sittings, the functional time was 64 hours and 50 minutes against the total scheduled time of 63 hours and 26 minutes, while the productivity was 102 per cent.
From green rooms to red carpet: How WTO members defied the odds and delivered at MC12
Ranging from decisions to enhance global food security to a holistic pandemic response, the Geneva Package has served as a decisive victory for the multilateral trading order and will help rejuvenate a moribund WTO.
Delhi civic bodies set to be dissolved in five days
SDMC's term set to end on Wednesday, while the other two civic bodies -- NDMC and EDMC - will be completing their terms on May 19 and May 22, respectively.
Governor: The Centre's Middlemen
With GoI fully controlling their appointment and removal, governors can’t play a non-partisan role.
The question of whether India is first a nation or a union of states is a non sequitur
Beyond the personalisation of national politics and the building of a grand national political narrative, the Union government has introduced, since 2014, a series of reforms that have altered the balance of power between the Centre and the state, to the benefit of the former.
India to push for TRIPS waiver on Covid drugs at WTO
India and South Africa, supported by 64 WTO members, want the TRIPS waiver proposal to be part of the pandemic response but the European Union has been blocking the proposal.
Hiring in crypto? Top tips from headhunters about what to do
With the rise in digital-asset prices and the expansion of decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), there’s been a boom in companies and organizations -- and a need for qualified people to make them function. Crypto firms have been fighting for top talent as job listings soar in an industry that’s so new, someone with just a few years of experience is often considered a veteran.
Sabka Prayas: How the citizens can do their bit
As local govts share greater proximity with the citizens, they enable greater transparency and accountability. Thus, they not only act as a bridge between the people and the other two tiers of government, but also are also a means for citizens to take an active role in decision-making and exercise their power as stakeholders in the governance chain.
Criminal, anti-terror laws should not be misused to quell dissent: Justice Chandrachud
Justice Chandrachud made these comments on Monday while speaking on the "Role of the Supreme Court in protecting fundamental rights in challenging times" at a conference hosted by the American Bar Association with the Society of Indian Law Firms and Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
We will continue to aggressively invest in India: Facebook India's Head Ajit Mohan
When we think of products and partnerships, we don't apply the lens of short term monetization. We look at can we have impact for the long term and can we build sustainable economic models also for the long term. And I think that's the same lens that we're bringing to India.
View: Suspending Question Hour in Parliament points to a deeper malaise
By all accounts, Parliament has been consistently conducting Question Hour in all its sessions except on some occasions, typically during wars and the Emergency.
WTO as an institution is essential to bring order to a chaotic world: Pradeep Mehta
Pradeep Mehta, Secretary General, CUTS International, was moderating a webinar titled ‘What would happen to a world without the WTO?’. “There has to be a balance between the market access, needs and regulations related to ensure safety and security for consumers,” he argued.
Opposition dominated Rajya Sabha for 39 of 68 years, but law making not impacted: Naidu
Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said the Rajya Sabha held 5,472 sittings and passed 3,857 Bills till the Budget Session this year, even as it asserted it's independence on some occasions.
Rajya Sabha spends 28 per cent time on making laws, 40 per cent on discussing matters of public concerns
The analysis on utilisation of time during the sessions by the Rajya Sabha revealed that the House spends 40.20 per cent of its functional time on deliberating various issues of public importance, followed by 32.22 pc in ensuring the accountability of the executive and 27.57 pc in making laws.
View: It's time to shed the colonial tradition of secrecy around budget making
Over the years, the Indian budget has been shedding its colonial traditions. In 1999, we changed the timing of the budget from 5 pm to 11 am. Later, we changed the date from the last day to the first day of February. We also dropped the separate presentation of the rail budget. One colonial tradition that remains is the secrecy around the making of the budget.
Naidu urges parties to have code of conduct for their MPs, MLAs, include it in poll manifestos
Naidu suggested that political parties could include such a code in their election manifestos that would help enable voters to make their judgement before voting.
BJP allies deserting 'sinking ship' a telling sign: Shashi Tharoor
The saffron party is also under pressure from its allies in Uttar Pradesh -- Apna Dal (S) and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) -- with murmurs of dissatisfaction coming from their camps.
Out of campaign, Varun Gandhi pens 'rediscovery of rural India'
The Sultanpur MP, who has been out of his party's list of campaigners for some time now, spent two and a half years to complete an 870-page book on India's rural society and economy.
Leave politics outside, focus on people's welfare inside Rajya Sabha: Naidu
M Venkaiah Naidu today asked newly elected members "to leave politics outside" and focus on people's welfare inside the House.
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