CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Indian government announced a pandemic-related stimulus package in FY 2020-21 though there was large decline in tax revenue.

COVID-19 has tested the resilience of all public institutions. Despite its efforts, bureaucracy has emerged as a major concern for the ineffective response to the COVID-19 crisis.

As the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic ravages India, many bitter home truths and fault lines have been starkly exposed. 

COVID-19 destroys lives and livelihoods specially low-paid and informal workers, who constitute 91% of the workforce.

The majority of India’s working population is today reeling from the impact of multiple crises: a health emergency more ferocious than any in independent India; massive job losses and dramatic declines in incomes from work; and significantly increased mass hunger and worsening nutrition. 

Recently the Central government has abolished several appellate tribunals and authorities and transferred their jurisdiction to other existing judicial bodies through the Tribunals Reforms (Rationalisation and Conditions of Service) Ordinance 2021. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has destroyed millions of livelihoods and led to a sudden and large increase in poverty and a massive disruption of the labour market in India.

Recently a research published in the journal Angewandte Chemie shows that researchers from the University of Massachusetts designed a type of  nanoparticle which embodies a new approach to treating diseases like pancreatic cancer that could potentially revolutionise the field. 

In the conflict between Israel and Palestine, both sides have taken to air strikes and rocket attacks. Videos on social media showed rockets fired from Gaza being intercepted by the Israeli Iron Dome air defence system.

India’s health systems have been confronting numerous challenges specially in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic. In order to effectively address these challenges, our health systems must be strengthened.