Policy Forum Discussion

General Announcement

• An useful resource for all groups – sectoral growth expectations after Covid-19 incidence:
https://nidm.gov.in/covid19/PDF/covid19/research/30.pdf
• An useful resource for all groups – interventions under ‘Make-in-India’ after Covid-19 incidence:
https://dst.gov.in/sites/default/files/Focused%20Interventions%20for%20%E2%80%98Make%20i
n%20India%E2%80%99%20Post%20COVID%2019%20-%20TIFAC.pdf
• Though a few resources (report / news / policy document) are marked against a particular topic for
the preliminary reading by respective groups, all the groups are encouraged to glance through
these links, which refers to the recent scenario.

Rules

• The two discussions will be conducted in the last 30 minutes of the class. The Groups will discuss
the policy for 12-15 minutes.
• No PPT is required, the members can just share their views on possible business implications of the
topic with the class from their notes. However, if need be, point noted in only 4-5 core slides can
be shared.
• The idea is to comprehend the trade possibility in one area, in light of WTO provisions, market
dynamics and national government policies.
• We are giving same topics for all the sections, so topic 1 would be presented by Group 1 in all the
three sections. Please note, there is no competition among the groups presenting the same topic.
We just would like to see how one group can conceptualize important insights.
• Along with the topics, links of a few web-resources are shared for tentative reading. But feel free
to explore as much as possible to make the discussion interesting.

Policy Debate Topics

Sl. Topic Tentative Reading

No.
1 We discussed the Compulsory https://www.bloombergquint.com/law-and-policy/is-
Licensing and Parallel Import the-government-attempting-to-dilute-indias-
provisions, and their possible compulsory-licensing-
implications for pharmaceutical regime; https://www.mondaq.com/india/patent/435
trade. Now in the post-Covid 044/compulsory-license-the-most-happening-section-
scenario, what should be the of-the-patents-act-
options for India on this front, 1970; https://www.remfry.com/wp-
given the Co-morbidity trend and content/uploads/2017/12/2013-December-
similar Challenges? Compulsory-licensing-is-india-protecting-its-
own.pdf; https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/co
mpanies/Indias-first-compulsory-licence-granted-to-
Natco-for-Bayers-cancer-drug/article20408026.ece
2 We discussed the cotton price Check the Cotton subsidy in the countries and
support policy practiced by China, composition from the OECD PSE database
for creating a stock for the - https://www.oecd.org/unitedstates/producerandco
domestic garment manufacturing nsumersupportestimatesdatabase.htm#country; and
firms. We also found that the from the WTO Trade Policy
Cotton export share of US (in the Reviews: https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_
global market) has increased e/tp_rep_e.htm#chronologically, https://gro-
 recently, while the same for India intelligence.com/insights/articles/us-cotton-
has come down. Try to compare subsidies, http://oxfam-
the cotton support policies in the us.s3.amazonaws.com/www/static/media/files/payin
US and India, and comment on g-the-price.pdf
possible course of action for India.
3 The average productivity of the http://www.geacindia.gov.in/resource-
agricultural sector in India is on the documents/13_2-
decline. What should be the Seed Regulatory_Framework_for_GE_Plants_in_India.pdf,
Policy of India – in terms of https://geacindia.gov.in/resource-
allowing GM crops and documents/biosafety-regulations/policies-and-
international seed corporates? reports/National-Seed-Policy_2002.pdf,
https://www.navdanya.org/bija-
refelections/2019/11/04/the-the-seed-bill-2019-is-a-
threat-to-indias-seed-sovereignty-and-farmers-
rights/,
https://www.seedworld.in/pdf/SeedWorld2019-
Report.pdf
4 The demand for Organic Farming https://ncof.dacnet.nic.in/Training_manuals/Training
produce is on the rise among _manuals_in_English/Organic_Agriculture_in_India.p
global players, given the growing df, https://www.icar.org.in/files/Base-Paper-Organic-
concerns over food safety Farming-%20Base-16-03-2015.pdf,
considerations. What are the https://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/ditcted11d
export opportunities for Indian .pdf,
corporates? https://www.eximbankindia.in/Assets/Dynamic/PDF/
Publication-Resources/ResearchPapers/57file.pdf
5 The policy environment in India is http://www.icfa.org.in/assets/doc/summit-
becoming more facilitating towards presentations/sp-16.pdf,
Contract Farming. What can be the http://agricoop.nic.in/sites/default/files/Model%20C
opportunities for expanding ontract%20Farming%20Act%202018.pdf,
exports through this route? http://bepls.com/feb_2019/2.pdf,
http://www.ncap.res.in/contract_%20farming/Resou
rces/5.1%20Pratap%20S%20Birthal.pdf
6 India has recently launched the https://www.meity.gov.in/content/phased-
‘Make-in-India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar manufacturing-programme,
Bharat Abhiyan’ for manufacturing https://www.iimb.ac.in/sites/default/files/2018-
sector consolidation. What are the 07/WP%20No.%20528.pdf,
implications of this policy change https://icrier.org/pdf/Competition-Issues-in-India-
for the cellular mobile handsets Mobile-Handset-Industry.pdf
and its intermediate products?
7 The Covid-19 scenario has put https://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/ditcinf202
certain practical restrictions on 0d3_en.pdf, https://read.oecd-
several service categories. What ilibrary.org/view/?ref=124_124984-
are the implications for the 7uf8nm95se&title=Covid-
Tourism sector? Will the 19_Tourism_Policy_Responses,
platformization trend help? https://itforchange.net/sites/default/files/add/Repor
t%3A%20Techno-disruptions%20and%20travel.pdf
8 The Covid-19 scenario has created http://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/80433
certain opportunities for several 1588657997511/pdf/Health-Services-Trade-and-the-
service categories. What are the COVID-19-Pandemic.pdf,
implications for the Medical / https://thewire.in/economy/covid-19-india-pharma-
Health Services sector? opportunities,
 https://thecommonwealth.org/sites/default/files/inli
ne/D17111_V5_TRD_TradeHotTopics_THT_Covid_No
1_B_Vickers_LoRes.pdf
9 All the countries are supposed to https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/13/5343/pdf,
implement the UN Sustainable https://www.un.org/development/desa/dpad/wp-
Development Goals (SDG) content/uploads/sites/45/publication/PB_78.pdf,
objectives by 2030. What can be https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/doc
the possible effects on that uments/26281VNR_2020_India_Report.pdf
process, in the post Covid-19
scenario?
10 India has recently pulled out of https://www.eastwestcenter.org/system/tdf/private/
RCEP negotiations. What are the apb494.pdf?file=1&type=node&id=37358,
possible fallouts of the decision on https://www.vifindia.org/sites/default/files/After-
India’s trade opportunities? Withdrawing-from-RCEP-What-Next_1.pdf,
https://www.epw.in/journal/2019/45/notes/indias-
withdrawal-regional-comprehensive-economic.html,
https://cuts-citee.org/pdf/onw-2-rcep.pdf
11 India is recently trying to move http://nujslawreview.org/wp-
towards renewable energy sources, content/uploads/2017/06/10-2-Vivasvan-Bansal-
e.g., Solar power. However, the Chaitanya-Deshpande-%E2%80%93-The-India-Solar-
policy of providing supports to Cells-Dispute_-Renewable-Energy-Subsidies-under-
domestic players has been World-Trade-Law-and-the-Need-for-Environmental-
objected to by the US. What are Exceptions.pdf,
the takeaways for the policymakers https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/files/Issue_Areas/
and industry in light of the India-US Enforcement/WTO/Pending/Sub1.fin.pdf,
Solar cell dispute? https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/456r
_e.pdf