9 PM Current Affairs Brief – February 5th, 2018

Mixing work with study Context The Annual Status of Education Report (Rural) 2017’s findings wrt basic education Findings A national-level finding is that as a group, 14.4% of youth aged 14 to 18 years are not enrolled in school or college. Yet, this figure conceals variations by age: while it is 5.3% for 14-year-olds, it… Continue reading Mixing work with study

Pre-Christian era artefacts unearthed in Odisha Context The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has discovered pottery pieces, and tools made of stones and bones believed to be of the pre-Christian era from a mound in Jalalpur village of Cuttack district Significance Discoveries of ancient artefacts indicate that a rural settlement might have thrived in that… Continue reading Pre-Christian era artefacts unearthed in Odisha

Alam Beg, martyer of sepoy Mutiny, wants to return home Context Headhunting is usually associated with primitive tribes and contemporary terrorists, but the colonial rulers of India also collected heads of Indian soldiers as war trophies Significance A proof: A 160-year-old skull of sepoy Alam Beg, now in the possession of a historian in London,… Continue reading Alam Beg, martyer of sepoy Mutiny, wants to return home

India US air forces to deepen ties in Indo Pacific Context Chief of U.S. Air Force General David L. Goldfein has said Indian and U.S. air forces will significantly ramp up operational cooperation to complement the strategic interests of the two countries in the Indo-Pacific region where China has been expanding its military influence Future… Continue reading India US air forces to deepen ties in Indo Pacific

Crisis in Male  Context Fresh elections, with the opposition free to contest, are the best option for the Maldives Backdrop Yameen has ruled since 2013 when he won power in an election, the result of which is still contested. He defeated Mohammad Nasheed, who had been deposed in 2012 and who, in 2015, was sentenced… Continue reading Crisis in Male 

Odisha ready to welcome olive ridleys Context Fencing along the sea coast to protect the olive ridley turtles during their mass nesting at the Rushikulya rookery in Odisha is being increased by two more kilometres this year. Mating season over The mating season of the endangered marine turtles in the sea near the Rushikulya rookery… Continue reading Odisha ready to welcome olive ridleys

Deciphering LTCG tax on equit Context LTCG tax imposed in recent budget What is LTCG? LTCG or long-term capital gains refer to the gains made on any class of asset held for a particular period of time. In case of equity shares, it refers to the gains made on stocks held for more than one… Continue reading Deciphering LTCG tax on equit

Agriculture needs more than just quick fixes Context The government’s efforts to focus on the welfare of farmers in the Union Budget is admirable but care should be taken to address the sector’s competitiveness in a global scenario. Long term policies needed Long-term cure will be in the form of policies that provide a boost… Continue reading Agriculture needs more than just quick fixes

Easier norms may help Indian firms go global Context The proposed Outward Direct Investment (ODI) policy may contain provisions to make it easy for many Indian firms, envisioning ambitious plans to transform themselves into multi-national companies (MNC), to go global and expand. Tightening of round tripping provisions ODI policy also expected to tighten regulations to… Continue reading Easier norms may help Indian firms go global

Limited succor Succcor: assistance and support in times of hardship and distress Context Budget 2018 does well to focus on senior citizens, but action must be broad based Offering relief to senior citizens: Measures Affording a five-fold increase in the exemption limit on interest income from savings, fixed and recurring deposits held with banks and… Continue reading Limited succor