Current Issues in International Relations and Economy

The Brahmaputra River is a crucial lifeline for agriculture in Assam and Bangladesh, supplying fertile floodplains for farming.

The Brahmaputra's strong current and large volume makes it valuable for hydropower generation, offering significant potential for renewable energy.

The Brahmaputra River basin harbors diverse ecosystems and supports many unique species, making conservation essential.

The Brahmaputra River plays a central role in the Northeast's cultural heritage, shaping livelihoods and influencing local traditions.

The Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) is a crucial survey conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) to understand household spending patterns in India.

The HCES helps economists understand the purchasing power of households, providing insights into the overall economic well-being of the country.

HCES data is used to assess poverty levels and design targeted social welfare programs to address specific needs effectively.

The HCES helps update the Consumer Price Index (CPI), ensuring accurate inflation measurement for better economic planning.

A massive Chinese hydropower dam project located on the Yarlung Zangbo River (Tibetan name for Brahmaputra) in Tibet.

The Brahmaputra River, also known as the Tsangpo in Tibet, originates from the Chemayungdung Glacier in the Kailash Range and flows eastward through Tibet before entering India.

The Brahmaputra River gets its name in India, after merging with the Siang (also called Dihang), Dibang and Lohit rivers in Arunachal Pradesh.

The Brahmaputra Dam project has raised concerns about China's control over water flow and its potential impact on downstream countries like India and Bangladesh.

China's ability to regulate water flow in the Brahmaputra River could lead to floods or reduced water supply for downstream regions.

The dam's location in a seismically active region raises concerns about the potential for earthquakes and environmental damage.

The Brahmaputra River is prone to floods and erosion due to high rainfall and sediment in the catchment area, leading to instability and challenges.

Ongoing disputes between China, India and Bangladesh about water sharing and usage rights in the Brahmaputra River highlights the complexities of the issue.

A drastic decrease in the number of individuals within a population, often attributed to environmental changes.

A period of unusually warm ocean temperatures that can have devastating effects on marine life.

The ability of an ecosystem to withstand disturbances and return to a stable state.

The process of restoring damaged or degraded ecosystems to a healthier state.

Policies and practices aimed at reducing human activities that harm the ocean environment.

Rising greenhouse gas emissions are causing the global ocean to warm, making marine heatwaves more frequent and intense.

Changes in atmospheric patterns, like El Niño events, can amplify ocean warming by altering wind patterns and ocean currents.

Weaker winds and stronger stratification limit the mixing of cooler, nutrient-rich waters from deeper layers to the surface, contributing to warmer surface temperatures.

Marine heatwaves can lead to large-scale die-offs of organisms like kelp and corals, disrupting the entire ecosystem.

The disruption of lower trophic levels, like plankton, can cause food shortages for predators, creating a ripple effect across the ecosystem.

Seabirds, fish, and marine mammals experience reduced breeding success and increased mortality due to the effects of marine heatwaves.

Marine heatwaves could permanently shift ecosystems, reducing their ability to support their historical levels of biodiversity.

Measures inequality in income distribution. Ranges from 0 (perfect equality) to 1 (perfect inequality). A lower Gini Coefficient indicates less inequality.

The difference between rural and urban consumption levels. A shrinking gap suggests a more balanced economy.

The average spending by households in a particular region, providing insight into economic well-being.

Welfare programs like PMAY, Ujjwala Yojana, and MGNREGA improve rural infrastructure and income, narrowing the gap between rural and urban consumption.

Indicates the success of welfare programs in reducing disparities and improving access to essential goods for poorer groups.

Spending on items beyond food, like transportation, clothing, and durable goods, indicating a shift towards a more consumer-driven society.

Rural and urban households have different spending patterns, with rural households spending more on food items like beverages, processed foods, and dairy. This reflects dietary shifts.

The increasing rural consumption shows the positive impact of government initiatives and indicates a more vibrant and contributing rural economy.