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हवामानामुळे होणारे नुकसान वाढत असताना, ग्रीन फायनान्सद�

With climate-induced losses soaring, green finance must adapt by scaling investment, mitigating risks, and ensuring financial resilience in a warming

As AI enters the field of nuclear security, global discussion forums that produce ethical and regulatory frameworks for the use of AI are necessary

महामारीच्या काळात एड-टेकची झपाट्याने होणारी वाढ गुणवत्�

The rapid growth of Ed-Tech during the pandemic highlights gaps in quality, legal frameworks, and children's rights—India must adopt proper measures

It is difficult and highly impractical for any AI regulation to be effective if the technology in question is hidden behind black boxes, be it trainin

नेटवर्क उद्योगांमधील स्पर्धा आणि मक्तेदारी संतुलित करत

Balancing competition and monopolies in network industries, Mumbai's inadvertent parallel licensing in electricity retail serves as a focal point for

अन्न सुरक्षा आणि हवामान बदल या परस्परसंबंधित आव्हानांन�

Climate-Smart Agriculture holds promise in building a robust agri-food system amidst the intensifying effects of climate change, however, there is a p

With a robust regulatory framework and tapping further into capital markets, InvITs are looking more and more promising to become the ideal route for

There is a growing need for global governance of space technology. India, being one of the earliest and most successful spacefaring states, could play

While there is no explicit definition of cryptocurrencies under India’s regulatory framework, the focus is on investor protection, anti-money launde

The digital sphere is a great enabler of trade. To maintain the momentum that India has on Mode 1 service supply, a stable regulatory framework is cru

As India makes rapid technological advancements, should it rethink its regulatory framework governing surveillance?

A clear, robust regulatory framework for pricing carbon can play a key role in increasing the uptake of carbon pricing by businesses in India.

The legal, regulatory and political momentum to take action is there — yet, regulations remain mostly globally uncoordinated.

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

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities constantly evolve, its regulation can no longer remain simply an exercise in optimisation and mitigation—or maximising innovation opportunities and minimising the risk of harm. AI’s intersecting socio-economic and legal implications require dynamic governance arrangements to identify, respond to, and anticipate continually shifting regulatory imperatives. This report makes a case for a framework th

Ensuring contestability and fairness in India’s digital market—one of the world’s most prominent—is critical to ensuring consumer welfare. This paper outlines a legal and regulatory framework that can ensure contestability and fairness in the Indian digital market.  The paper identifies the following elements of this toolkit: (i) competition law; (ii) ex-ante regulation for digital gatekeepers; (iii) laws for increased transparen

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

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman needs to infuse strategic urgency into her eighth budget. Five ways she can address the risk from US President Donald J Trump’s efficiency drive

Social media platforms facilitate the sharing of information and enhance connectivity and civic engagement. At the same time, however, they are vulnerable to abuse by malicious actors who use the channels to spread misinformation and hateful and divisive content. Regulatory reforms must seek to align the utility of social media platforms with the welfare of citizens, while safeguarding the right to free speech. This paper explores the regulatory

This brief examines the rapid growth of the global online gaming industry and the consequent increase in cyber threats. Issues such as microtransactions, money laundering, and predatory practices by developers can stymie the industry’s growth potential if not addressed. Many countries’ current gaming-focused regulatory frameworks do not cover these challenges and will need to be revised. India—a significant gaming market—must also conside

Crowdfunding is a concept that refers to an open call for finances, often for innovative or unique projects and campaigns. Crowdfunding platforms act as intermediators between supporter and project, investor and investee, or lender and lendee. The platforms intermediate this process by arranging the payment process between the parties. This brief outlines the benefits of crowdfunding for improving access to financing for small and medium enterpri

Africa is facing a digital divide. Access to the internet and related digital services is low, and in most countries, the supporting regulatory framework is not in place; nor are the necessary data and logistics infrastructure. At the same time, there are various examples of e-commerce success stories across the continent; and the wide use of mobile phone technology has created many new opportunities for African entrepreneurs and consumers alike.

Microfinance, which began in India 50 years ago, extends credit, insurance, loans, access to savings accounts, and money transfers to small business owners and entrepreneurs, especially those not served by the conventional banking system, or indeed the rest of the financial sector. This paper traces the history of microfinance in India and evaluates its impact. It finds that although the microfinance sector has emerged as a salient player in Indi

India’s online gaming sector is rapidly growing, surpassing other emerging digital sectors in the country. It contributes to GST revenue, creates jobs, and attracts FDI. The sector also promotes ancillary sectors, contributing indirectly to the economy. However, concerns persist around harms such as addiction, financial crimes like money laundering, and implications to national security. Regulatory uncertainty continues to hinder the sector’s

There are multiple concerns around the audit of CSR and a discomfort with the lack of audit and oversight required for CSR activities. "Comply or explain" simply has not worked in the case of other existing regulatory frameworks that deal with corporate governance issues. It is time to realise that in India, only a few are in a position to ask, while nobody is in any hurry to explain.

This brief discusses Thailand’s Over-the-Top (OTT) industry, focusing on production, consumption and impact. It analyses the rise of online audio-visual business in the country, and the implications for traditional broadcasters. In the context of existing international practices and Thailand’s domestic situation, the brief discusses the current and future regulatory requirements of the OTT industry. It also makes recommendations for a regulat

This report tracks the changes to India’s business regulatory framework in the first 40 days of the nationwide lockdown due to the COVID-19 virus. The Union and state governments have been highly proactive in creating spaces for doing business while managing the ongoing health crisis. The governments have attempted to modify the business-related legal infrastructure within the confines imposed through the lockdown. While under normal circumstan

In August 2019, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released its final guidelines for a regulatory sandbox for fintech firms.[1] Technology innovations are disrupting the traditional financial sector, and the RBI’s regulatory sandbox exercise is an attempt to be more agile and absorb some of this disruption. ‘Sandboxes’ give regulators a chance to work with fintech innovators, mitigate potential risks and develop evidence-based policy, while fi

This Special Report examines key themes highlighted during a series of panel discussions exploring South Asian Perspectives on Net Neutrality, hosted by the Observer Research Foundation and the Centre for Internet and Society in New Delhi on 12 December 2015. The first panel analysed the potential effects of net neutrality regulation and zero-rated platforms on the market. The second explored viable regulatory frameworks for net neutrality that c

The technology revolution of the 20th century minimised the importance of geographical, economic, social and political barriers and reduced transaction and information costs thus boosting productivity and growth, making governance more transparent and empowering the citizen. It propelled not only democracy, but also the market economy. Its impact on social relations, especially on gender relations, was significant, with the commodification of lab

Statements made by public officials in certain G20 member states as well commentaries by financial analysts suggest that emerging market economies stand on a different footing from developed counterparts in their regulation of virtual digital assets. They attribute these differences to the distinct institutional, demographic, and economic vulnerabilities of developing countries. This paper examines this notion by presenting a quantitative

नियामकांसाठी डेटा ही पुढील मोठी दरी आहे, वित्तीय व्यवस्थेत त्याचे वाढते महत्त्व आणि त्याच्या व्यवस्थापनातील आव्हाने.

क्रिप्टोवर बंदी घालण्यासारख्या अति-प्रतिबंधात्मक नियमनातून, डिजिटल स्वरुपातील हाजी मस्तान तयार होण्याची शक्यता नाकारता नाही.

क्रिप्टोवर बंदी घालण्यासारख्या अति-प्रतिबंधात्मक नियमनातून, डिजिटल स्वरुपातील हाजी मस्तान तयार होण्याची शक्यता नाकारता नाही.

वाहतुकीच्या क्षेत्रामध्ये एलपीजीचा वापर स्थानिक आणि राष्ट्रीय स्तरावर प्रदूषण कमी करण्यासाठी हातभार लावणारा आहे. पेट्रोल आणि डिझेलच्या तुलनेत एलपीजी स्वच्छ जीवाश्म �