Kashmiri artisans give wings to the dodo

This Christmas, papier mache artisans in Srinagar have given wings to thousands of dodos, a bird that became extinct in 1681 within 80 years of its interaction with humans and exposure to depleting forests.

"Dodos were last seen in Mauritius. The bird is important to the place and is the national emblem there. Most papier mache artisans do not know much about how dodos were introduced in Kashmir’s art scene. The bird is a very recent addition to the craft, which has been practised in Kashmir for over 600 years now 

India's 'steel frame' does need a check

The IAS, often called India's "steel frame", traces its origins to the colonial Indian Civil Service (ICS). Post-Independence, it became the backbone of India's administrative machinery, with officers occupying pivotal roles in governance. Political interference, lack of specialisation, and outdated personnel practices have gradually eroded its effectiveness. One of the pressing issues is the politicisation of the IAS. Frequent transfers, suspensions, and promotions influenced by political loyalty rather than merit, have undermined morale and professionalism. Officers often struggle to develop domain expertise due to frequent rotations across departments, preventing them from becoming effective policy specialists in an increasingly complex governance landscape. 

Canary in the canopy

Through history, forests for humans have been sites of shelter, food, livelihoods, protection, and strength of spirit. According to the new India State of Forest Report 2023, 25% of India's land is covered by forests or trees, on its face a healthy figure and a step closer to the National Forest Policy's prescriptions. Post-Independence, India's forest governance has been typified by attempts to break free from European colonialists' insular view of forests as sources of timber, codified in laws the country inherited. Two significant achievements in this regard were the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980 and the Forest (Rights) Act 2006.

Envisioning India as a global skill supplier

Global mega trends, such as demographic transitions, globalisation, technological advancements, and climate change, are significantly altering the demand for, and the supply of, international migrant workers. Among the various facets of such changes, the skills of these workers are assuming centrality in public policy discourse. Reviews of immigration policies of the traditional and major migrant destinations (the U.S., the U.K., Canada, and Gulf Cooperation Council countries) and of the new destinations (Germany, South Korea, Japan, etc.) reveal the increased prioritising of skill-selective and skill-intense immigration. Most of the destination countries recognise that their ability to respond to certain developments, such as an ageing society, digitalisation, declining fertility rates, and the need for economic diversification strategies to tackle the challenging global economic environment, can be met only by welcoming international migrant workers with the relevant skills .

India's reliance on China for critical minerals

The Ministry of Mines in 2023 identified 30 critical minerals deemed essential for the nation's economic development and national security. While the report highlighted India's complete import dependency for 10 critical minerals, it did not fully address a more pressing concern the extent and nature of dependency on China. As the world's largest mining nation, China has discovered 173 types of minerals, including 13 energy minerals, 59 metallic minerals, and 95 non-metallic minerals. Reserves of nearly 40% of these minerals, particularly copper, lead, zinc, nickel, cobalt, lithium, gallium, germanium, and crystalline graphite, increased significantly last year, supported by an exploration investment of $19.4 billion. This led to the discovery of 132 new mineral deposits, including 34 large ones. 

Why has the MHA reimposed restrictions in three NE States? 

On December 17, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) reimposed the Protected Area Regime (PAR) in the States of Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram to restrict and monitor the movement of foreigners. From now on, foreigners visiting the three States would have to seek prior permission and Protected Area Permits (PAP) from the government. The circular stated that the relaxation provided to the three States under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958 was being withdrawn with immediate effect. The Order stated that no foreigner shall enter into or remain in any protected area except under and in accordance with a permit issued by the Central government or any office authorised by the Central government. The permit shall include the following details - place of entry, place of residence and period of stay. 

'MFN not to hit India-EFTA pact'

The Swiss decision suspend the most favoured nation clause in the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement will not delay the ratification and implementation of the already signed trade agreement between India and the EFTA bloc, Switzerland has said. The Swiss government has suspended the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status, which could potentially impact Swiss investments in India and lead to higher taxes on Indian companies operating in the European nation. India and the four-nation European Free Trade Association (EFTA) signed the pact, officially dubbed as TEPA (Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement), in March. Its members are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

Switzerland's TIL to invest ₹20,000 crore in Vadhvan Port

Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) said it signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Terminal Investment Ltd. (TIL) for constructing Vadhvan Port Project Ltd. (VPPL) in Maharashtra. TIL will invest an estimated 20,000 crore for the development of the Vadhvan Port and the surrounding ecosystem. TIL, based out of Switzerland, has a diverse portfolio of container terminals, located at key ports on the world's major shipping routes, providing access to developed and developing markets.

How to tax popcorn? India's formula sparks outrage against GST system

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, chaired by the Finance Minister and including State representatives, announced that non-branded popcorn mixed with salt and spices would attract a 5% GST, pre-packaged and branded popcorn 12%, and caramel popcorn, categorised as a sugar confectionery, 18%. The differential rates come into effect immediately, ending confusion over rates as popcorn was taxed differently across States.