News behind The News – 18 January, 2021

POLITY

• Obsession with the Cow
• Blow to ‘Love Jihad’: Court Strikes Down Provision used by Vigilante Groups 
• Massive Vaccination Drive Commences

EXPERT COMMENTS

• Farmers’ Stir: It’s Getting Worse

DEFENCE

• Transformational reforms
• Two Landmark Military Aircraft deals in next Few Months
• Maharashtra Metro Rail Network to Adopt India DRDO-Built Biodigester Technology

EXPERT COMMENTS

NEIGHBOURS

• India - China: Tibet in Focus Once Again
• Expert Analyses: India - China Dynamics in South Asia, Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean
• Leads on Origin of Coronavirus in Chinese Laboratory 
• India’s future Challenges: Rising ‘Inequality’ and China
• Pakistan moves over Gilgit-Baltistan
• India - Pakistan: Terrorist Arrests on eve of FATF Meeting
• Afghanistan: Crucial Doha Talks

EXPERT COMMENTS

• US takes first step towards Recognising Tibetan Government-in-Exile: the Myth of Historic Chinese Suzerainty over Tibet
• India should take lead in shaping Global Maritime conventions to protect Seafarers
• Growing Pakistan-Turkey Axis and China's Grand Regional Strategy
• Is Monarchy the answer to Nepal's 'Unsuccessful' Democracy?

INTERNATIONAL

• India - US: Dealing with  the Trump and Biden Eras
• India - UK: Economic Opportunities provided BJP Creates Proper Investment Clmate
• Third Term for India at UNSC: its Priorities

EXPERT COMMENTS

• Are EU and India Sleepwalking their way to another lost decade on FTA?

ECONOMY

• Expert Analyses: Economy Recovering, but challenges ahead

STATE OF THE ECONOMY

• Unemployment rate rises to 6-month high: CMIE
• Service sector slows in December
• December retail inflation likely fell sharply
• Fiscal deficit likely to be over 7% in 2020/21

AUTOMOBILES

• Electric two-wheeler sales drop 5% in 2020; way behind FAME 2 target

ECONOMIC NOTES