Sustainable & Equitable Water Management
Water is paramount for economic development, but related issues concerning consumption are worrisome. Climate change is disrupting the consumption pattern, hitting even agriculture which consumes over 80% of India’s fresh water. By 2030, India will only have 50% of the water it needs. This crisis is likely to be the worst in India’s history and will disproportionately impact agriculture and other areas. India’s water crisis is a ticking time bomb. I strongly believe that the benefits derived from small water bodies are enormous. They are found in all parts of the country, and are easily accessible and manageable. In this context, MMA is organizing a seminar on, ‘How to make India water resilient?’ in association with Sundaram Climate Institute (SCI) and KAS on Thursday, 11 May 2023. The studies compiled by SCI reveal how deep and unequal the crisis is, how it will become far worse if we do nothing, and what solutions are likely to work. By prioritizing sustainable and equitable water management policies and practices, we can ensure that water resources can be managed effectively and fairly for generations to come.
The New Foreign Trade Policy
The new foreign trade policy (FTP) came into force on 1April 2023. The objective is to formulate, implement and monitor trade policies to boost exports, facilitate imports and maintain a favorable balance of payments. The Government has also done away with the conventional practice of setting a five-year cycle. The new policy is intended to be responsive to changing circumstances and will be modified as and when required. Additionally, the Government will also consistently gather input from relevant stake holders to enhance and revise the policy as required. The Government’s endeavor is to increase India’s overall export to $2 trillion by 2030, with equal contributions from the merchandise and services sector.
In this context MMA, KAS, FIEO and DGFT organized a seminar on ‘Implementing Foreign Trade Policy 2023.’ Senior Officials from FIEO and DGFT shared insights on changes in the Foreign Trade Policy for the benefit of participants.
Click here to watch the recording of the seminar.
Population
We have surpassed China to become the world’s most populous country. It is a cause for neither celebration nor dismay. Despite the population boom over the past many decades, the birth rate in the country is dropping sharply enough for stability to be attained. The challenge now is to ensure that our people add up to national strength rather than weakness. We still have too many people adding too little value to the economy, an issue we can only solve if we could develop a significantly wider skill that can be gainfully employed. This can be achieved only by focusing on basic health care and providing high quality education for all. Even today, huge gaps result in large a number of our population being left out. India must close these gaps to realize its demographic dividend or it would become a demographic disaster.
The Trillion Dollar Dream!
MMA – KAS in association with FICCI FLO is organizing a presentation by
Mr Suresh Sambandam, Founder and CEO, OrangeScape (Kissflow), on Monday 8 May 2023. Suresh now dreams of making his company at least one of the top three in the world in its category. He will also share his insights on India’s cloud software sector and why he believes that it can really deliver a trillion dollars in value. Please join us in person at MMA or watch it here.
Dr.V.Mohan and Good Health
Dr V Mohan is a renowned diabetologist and endocrinologist who has dedicated his career to studying and treating diabetes and its related conditions. He addressed the members of MMA on 04 April 2023 and shared his tips for maintaining good health and preventing chronic diseases. He emphasized on maintaining healthy diet, regular exercise, avoid smoking, get good sleep and manage stress.
He reiterated that adopting a healthy lifestyle by following the tips shared by him can go a long way in preventing chronic diseases and maintaining good health. It is important to note that these tips are general guidelines and may not apply to everyone, so it is best to consult with a healthcare provider before making any significant lifestyle changes. The transcript of his talk is published in this issue with embedded video. Kindly read on and watch the video to lead a healthy life.
Psychology of Persuasion
A thought provoking discussion on the theme of the book ‘Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion,’ by Robert B Cialdini was held on 21 April 2023, featuring experts from various fields, such as marketing, psychology and business. The discussion centered around six principles of persuasion outlined by Cialdini in his book. These principles include reciprocity, commitment and consistency, social proof, authority, liking and scarcity.
The panellists discussed how these principles can be applied in various contexts relevant to their respective domain to influence people’s behaviour. They also discussed the ethical implications of using these principles and the importance of using them responsibly. I am delighted to present transcript of the discussion in this issue with embedded video. Please read on and watch the video to enhance your power of persuasion.
India & Quantum Computer
The Union cabinet approved Rs. 6,000/- Crores for National Quantum Mission (NQM) to develop quantum computers and scale up research and development in quantum technologies.
Quantum computers are believed to be 100 million times faster than even the most advanced Supercomputers. Quantum computing can accelerate research in areas from health to finance. The fund will support technical and research institutions to collaborate with startups and other firms for developing quantum computing and applications. It is a great step in the right direction to achieve the $5 Trillion economy.
Endemic??
In the past few days, COVID cases are marginally on the rise. Indian health authorities have rightly gone into preparatory mode in case COVID break out of its endemic pattern and pose a big threat again. Since this is not a serious threat, nobody should overreact: COVID will always be with us. So watch out and take care!