News behind The News – 22 March, 2021

POLITY

• Assembly Elections: BJP Making Unprecedented Effort to Gain Foothold in South and East

• Ashoka University: Controversy over resignation of Pratap Bhanu Mehta

• Rahul Gandhi could be real threat to BJP Politics

• Farm laws do not address farmer issues

• Jammu and Kashmir: Status report on Land, Vacancies, Industry….

DEFENCE

• BEML Bags $23-Million Orders for Construction Equipment from Cameroon, Bangladesh

• Army, Air Force get first Surface-to-Air Missile Kit From Kalyani-Rafael JV

• Bdl to supply 4,960 ATGMS to Army for $164 Million

EXPERT COMMENTS

• The Indo-Pacific: a Pause in the Game

• India-Pakistan LOC Ceasefire decision: a Thaw in Sight?

• Issues in India-Sri Lanka ties

NEIGHBOURS

• Afghanistan: India must take into Account Ground Realities

• India - China: Post Disengagement, Return to Love-Hate Routine

• Suspect intension of Pakistan, China  

• Bangladesh: Impact of Election Outcome in West Bengal

• India - Myanmar: India should Leverage its Goodwill

• India - Nepal: China gaining at India’s Cost

EXPERT COMMENTS

• Bumpy Road to Peace in Afghanistan

• For a Peaceful South Asia, Us Acknowledges India's Strategic Importance to Afghanistan

• Unhrc vote on Sri Lanka Opens Door for International Intervention: Will India Abandon Role of Regional Power?

• Himalayan Disasters: Urgent Need for Collaboration between India, Nepal and Bhutan

INTERNATIONAL

• India - US: the Austin visit

• India - Russia: Less useful to each other

• India-UAE: Deepening Security Cooperation

• India - UK: Britain has to get its India Policy Right

• The Jaishankar Interview:  On Democracy Downgrade and China

EXPERT COMMENTS

• Biden Presidency will see a more Collaborative Indo-US Relationship

ECONOMY

• Subdued Spending by States Reduces Robust Economic Recovery

STATE OF THE ECONOMY

• Inflation worries

• Worst over for economy: RBI Governor

• Economy estimated to grow by 5%; stronger recovery in 2021: UNCTAD

• Indian consumers spend more than APAC: Mastercard survey

POLICY INITIATIVES

• Development Finance Institution to be set up

E-commerce

• Market to be worth $99 billion by 2024: Report

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

• Aimed at China, DoT amends ISP licenses on telecom gear

TRADE

• Exports during March 1-14 up 17%

• Developing dedicated midnight freight corridors

MONEY AND BANKING

• Banning Bitcoin, a terrible idea: Bloomberg

CURRENCY

• Rupee the only Asian currency to gain

INVESTMENT

• Bill to hike FDI in insurance sector to 74 pc

ECONOMIC NOTES