416 results found
Advancing New Delhi’s agenda for the presidency, the formidable Union Budget 2023 has strongly prioritised the G20 objectives
As Nepal is on the cusp of elections, would the new local government be able to meet the people’s aspirations for development?
Madrasas in India offer basic literacy to millions of mostly poor Muslims, generally free of cost; they also serve as safe spaces for the preservation of Islamic culture. In many areas across the country, madrasas are the only option for poor Muslim families to provide their children basic education. This brief evaluates current madrasa education in India and identifies specific weaknesses that hamper its modernisation. It recommends remedial mea
This paper presents a bibliometric analysis of the literature on private health aid and official health assistance between 2000 and 2022. It provides an overview of the sites and themes in the literature pertaining to development assistance in health, and collates the significant policy recommendations presented therein. Several crucial findings emerge from the bibliometric analysis: 44.2 percent of the 489 papers/articles assessed focused on low
To avoid the pitfalls of previous inventions that promised to be accessible to all, the metaverse should ensure that it remains more democratic and op
Our 20 most–read commentaries this year.
Although anthropomorphisation in AI can improve user interaction and trust in systems, it can lead to unrealistic expectations, ethical dilemmas, and
In a world where the legal vacuum surrounding tech and AI persists, how do we safeguard the citizens from the adverse effects of a rapidly developing
India and the UK have a history of commitment to further educational ties as India is one of the biggest contributors to the British Higher Education system. As of 2019-2020, there are over 53,000 Indians enlisted in the UK educational institutions.
As we celebrate International Literacy Day, we examine the provision of the National Education Policy and see if the NEP can deliver on its promise to
In the face of growing domestic turmoil, how will Nepal manage geopolitical challenges that are brewing in the region?
The Taliban are reverting to their old habits as restrictions on women continue to escalate
EdTech needs to ensure that the future of education is equitable, inclusive, and safe, and does not hamper innovation at the cost of over-regulation
Digital innovation ecosystems are crucial for global development, but balanced growth requires adaptive capacity to optimise their performance
How does the interim budget impact some of the most critical facets of the Indian economy?
How does the interim budget impact some of the most critical facets of the Indian economy?
‘पीएमजय’ योजना ने तमिलनाडु में उम्मीदों को बढ़ाया है. हा�
A comprehensive approach needs to be undertaken by raising awareness of rights and encouraging community involvement and self-reliance to improve the
The workforce participation rate of India’s women is significantly lower than that of the men; and amongst the women, the employment levels of urban women are lower than those of their rural counterparts. Using the findings of the 2018 Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), released in 2019, this brief provides an overview of the current state of female labour force participation in urban India. It analyses data on vocational training and employm
The pandemic has exacerbated the income and digital divide in Brazil, particularly amongst the children and youth demographic
उत्पादों और परिणामों पर ज़ोर देकर भारत को स्वास्थ्य के म�
To reverse the adverse effects of industrialisation and rapid urbanisation on water bodies, India must implement sufficient and sustainable measures t
This brief examines the education crisis that has affected close to 250 million children in India due to school closures implemented as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It underlines that the switch to remote learning has created a “regression in learning” that, while cutting across the entire socio-economic spectrum, has disproportionately affected the poor, and among them, the girls. This pandemic-induced education divide and learning l
India’s demographic dividend will pay off only if the youth are either enrolled in higher education programmes or made job-ready with effective skil
It is about recognising that while cities offer economic opportunities to millions, they come with poor and overcrowded housing, lack of safe water an
The early years, particularly the first 1,000 days, are a critical period in a child’s development, with lifelong impacts. Evidence shows that one of the most effective strategies for economic growth is investing in the developmental growth of at-risk young children. However, early childhood development (ECD) programmes are severely challenged by the sheer scale of need in the face of early childhood care and education losses due to COVID-19 me
Africa has become essential to Russia’s geostrategic posture as Moscow seeks to overcome the backlash to its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. However, in the face of isolation and a contracting economy, Russia has realised that cultivating an entry point in Africa through conventional means such as foreign direct investment (FDI), trade, development assistance, or cultural and educational exchanges may not be its best option. Instead, Mosc
आव्हानांवर मात करण्यासाठी SDG 4 लक्ष्यांना आणि तरुणांना सक्षम करण्यासाठी व्यापक शैक्षणिक सुधारणा आवश्यक आहेत. तरुणांना पुढे नेण्यासाठी संधी देण्यासाठी हे प्रयत्न आवश्यक
महामारी ने शिक्षा व्यवस्थाओं में मौजूद संरचनात्मक दोषो�
SDG 4 के लक्ष्यों पर आगे बढ़ने के लिए शिक्षा के क्षेत्र में व�
This paper studies the case of the countries of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) to investigate if progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) plays an instrumental role in addressing structural vulnerabilities. It finds that it does. Despite improvements in certain SDGs such as increasing per-capita income levels, improving healthcare, and providing universal
First, look after the education and skill training of people so that they can move on in their career path.
Both the state government and the Central government would need to adopt more concrete measures to rectify the downtrend witnessed in Bihar’s urbani
The under-representation of women in STEM sectors puts them at a high risk of being displaced by technology.
Aside from Afghanistan’s internal crisis, the Taliban also confronts some new strategic challenges.
The phenomenon of street children has a long history and yet has not received the policy attention it deserves
Safer cities are a product of technology, policing, community participation, education, and planning and architectural design. In the policy frame, focus should be on inclusive development, participatory approaches, identity mainstreaming, and sustainable urban development to create a more equal and tolerant urban society.
Despite the recent ruling by the US Supreme Court, many believe that the overturning of race-based admissions would have a limited impact on existing
Your reflection published by Observer Research Foundation brings a complex view between food security, climate change, sustainable agriculture and land use. Is there awareness of this inseparable relationship?
The situation for most Afghans remains critical
In the midst of the chaotic withdrawal of the US-led forces from Afghanistan, the Taliban swept back to power in Kabul on 15 August 2021. Since then, the Taliban have repeatedly attempted to project a more moderate brand of governance. However, the Taliban leaders have yet to enunciate clear policies on issues such as women’s and girls’ access to education, employment, and political participation. Early indications nonetheless suggest that th
Inaugurating a workshop on 'Role of Universities in Public Policy-Making', hosted by Observer Research Foundation (ORF), New Delhi, University Grants Commission Vice-Chairman Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, on April 19, 2005, urged Vice-Chancellors and educationists to recreate linkages between universities and Government, research organizations, administrators and society, in order to render universities more relevant and help in enacting effecti
The Mullahs have found a fresh issue on which to trap General Pervez Musharraf. It has both religious connotations and a real possibility of a confrontation in which the General is bound to capitulate. The issue deals with school textbooks in Pakistan. A section of the society in Pakistan feels that textbooks cleared by the Federal Education Ministry's Curriculum Wing are regressive in nature and run counter to the objective of a progressive nati
The recently-held CII-EXIM Bank Conclave in India indicates the keenness to enhance the Indo-Africa ties via trade and entrepreneurial initiatives.
The challenge for France is not easy. The idea that education, hard work and following French laws and customs led to upward mobility has been challenged in recent years and Covid-19 has only highlighted it
Young people across the world today are facing multiple challenges: lost school years due to the pandemic-induced lockdowns, the looming climate crisis, increasingly dangerous virtual spaces, and food and energy security concerns triggered by the Ukraine-Russia conflict. This paper analyses the challenges facing the youths of the Commonwealth, where 60 percent of the combined population are under 30 years old, and explores the investments require
It is hoped that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India not only heightens bilateral relations between the two countries but also benefits the entire region
