139 results found
In times of growing urbanisation, the importance of fire safety in urban spaces must be seen. If not, we will be walking unprepared into a deadly infe
Australia’s efforts to fight the surge in online child sexual abuse and exploitation during the pandemic could act as an exemplar for other nations.
The recent plane crash in Nepal has exposed the cracks in the aviation sector. A complete overhaul is required.
On World Food Safety Day, we look at how COVID-19 has highlighted the growing concerns around food safety
The FRDI Bill creates a process, with early-warning systems in place to alert regulators and the government about the risk on financial institutions,
A World Bank report on 'State of Social Safety Nets' paints an overall positive picture, with over one billion people worldwide being included under at least one safety net initiative. But the reality is that more than two-thirds of the world's 1.2 billion poorest are not covered.
In the biomedical field, laboratories must ensure biosafety while managing pathogens and microorganisms in order to protect personnel and the broader community against potential leaks and lab-acquired infections. Global standards provide a roadmap for the biosafety of laboratories, underscoring the importance of their design and equipment, personnel training, waste management, and communication in preventing potential biohazards from breaching co
Even if GDP growth rises in India, there will be growing inequalities unless there are strong policies aimed at the uplift of the vulnerable sections and the rich are taxed in an efficient and judicious manner. There should be some insurance against unemployment and sickness which will enable low income families to live with dignity.
While the regulatory and safety structures of India's civilian nuclear programme have served the country well, they are in need of an upgrade. This paper examines the paths that lie ahead.
It may appear surprising that India is moving from Cobalt-60 to Cesium-137 at the same time that the global community is moving away from Cesium-137 t
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, there has been a surge in cases of online child sexual abuse and exploitation (OCSAE) in many parts of the world. This brief discusses the cases of India and Australia. It examines their efforts to combat the increased incidence of OCSAE resulting from greater use of the internet as movement was restricted in response to the pandemic. The brief focuses on India and Australia as bo
Following the Nirbhaya case of 2012 and the public outrage that it provoked, public safety for women has been increasingly deemed a political issue worthy of attention and concern, particularly in India’s cities. The government’s response has been to promote precautionary policies for women that, while may be well-meaning, tend to reinforce the prevalent social inclination to put the onus of their safety on women themselves, rather than addre
A detailed analysis of why India ranks at the top of the international table of fatalities caused by road crashes, and the measures the Indian governm
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.
The year 2023 has witnessed significant advancements in space exploration. With these remarkable achievements come evolving guidelines to safeguard Ea
In the context of private data protection versus the State, the committee’s recommendations are fairly status quoist.
In the urban-rural stereotyping, the phrase 'city girls' epitomises the impact of urban excesses on the apparent modesty and traditional aspect of femininity. City girls are assumed to be loud, to say the least, and of 'morally inappropriate character' on the extreme. Even within cities, this dilemma of how girls in cities ought to behave persists.
Decades of women right movements have demonstrated that theory and praxis must join hands in order to bring about a sustainable change. Exploring and implementing ideas to make this process participatory with adequate incentives will ensure that half a billion Indians,
In line with this year’s World Food Safety Day theme, this brief explores the role of proper food standards in ensuring the safety, quality, and int
This year’s World Food Safety Day focuses on the role of safe nutritious food for better health and well-being; communities and the government shoul
कोविड साथीपासून देशातील महिलांकरता ऑनलाइन धोके वाढले आ�
The Indian general election will go beyond reaffirming the power of democracy; it could make 2024 the year that took democracy home to the people of t
भारतात होणारी आगामी लोकसभा निवडणूक लोकशाहीच्या सामर्थ्
As World Hepatitis Day is being observed, it is imperative to be aware of this public health threat, especially since the incidence of hepatitis cases
The incidence of online child sexual abuse and exploitation (OCSAE) has spiked worldwide since the pandemic began. India is responding to the menace i
After 2011 Fukushima disaster, popular sentiment against nuclear energy has made it impossible for the government to revive the operations of the reac
A comprehensive and conscientious approach to ensure the ethical and considerate mainstream integration of AI technologies is imperative
The Observer Research Foundation’s first Tech Huddle was held on 23 November 2023 and focused on the governance of artificial intelligence (AI) in India, highlighting the rapid growth and adoption of AI as well as the complexities associated with developing regulatory frameworks for it. AI governance is in its infancy, both globally and in India, and grapples with issues such as the explainability of AI systems as well as the embedded biases, s
Climate change poses a significant risk to global food security. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and shifting precipitation patterns impact food production, disrupting food supply chains, increasing food prices, and diminishing food safety. These effects are particularly apparent in developing countries, where vulnerable populations struggle to access nutritious foods and small farmers face financial challenges. Tackling the impacts
Senator Chris Evans visited the Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi on July 22 and spoke on the close cultural ties that have been forged between the two countries, the safety of Indian students in Australia and migration prospects in the future.
Clearly determined traffic rules for cyclists, training and sensitising cyclists, motorists, pedestrians and law enforcement agencies — especially t
Although biohacking offers opportunities for improved health, it raises significant ethical and safety concerns that need to be addressed via state re
Nurturing youth capital and well-being is not only a moral imperative but also an economic necessity
The success of the Integrated COVID Campus in Mahasamund underscores the importance of a dedicated and integrated approach in the face of global pande
The DPDP Act may be the culmination of five years of drafts, consultations, and diplomatic furores, however, it is a starting point, rather than the d
The sporadic and uncontrolled launch of thousands of new mega-constellations put outer space security and safety at risk.
The pandemic will bring in more of the unorganised sector in the formal fold by means of the economic stimulus announced, and increase the government�
Immersive technology is a key part of the emerging Web 3.0. A prominent aspect of this evolution of the World Wide Web is the Metaverse, which aims to build a fully immersive and self-sustaining virtual shared space for humans to use as they would the physical world in all aspects of life. Existing concerns and debates on privacy, user protection, and the ethics of monetising platforms also extend to the Metaverse. This brief discusses the three
Digital adoption, hastened globally by the COVID-19 epidemic, brought along with it both benefits and threats, including concerns of safety and security of the cyberspace. Current geopolitical dynamics, ongoing strategic and economic disputes, as well as attempts by authoritarian regimes to preserve power have allowed companies with malicious intent—known as ‘cyber mercenaries’—to develop and deploy offensive cyber capabilities. The tools
In September this year, the Government of India banned the manufacture, sale and distribution of 328 Fixed-Dose Combination drugs (FDCs) after a protracted legal battle with manufacturers. The ban followed a report by a Supreme Court-mandated experts’ panel that not only was there no therapeutic justification for the ingredients in these drugs, but they can in fact pose health risks. This paper argues that the move against “irrational” and
The recent demolition of the twin towers of Noida showcases that violation of urban laws in the real estate industry will no longer be tolerated.
Regulations brought in related to sex work need to go beyond people who are forced into the profession to also be inclusive of the people who enter th
Humanitarian organisations need to prioritise data safety and protection, especially in those regions where data laws are weak or non-existent
