9 PM Current Affairs Brief – February 9th, 2018

Should States have their own flags? Context: The committee constituted in Karnataka to design a flag for the State is said to have finalised a design. What is the issue? The government in Karnataka constituted a nine-member committee to design a state flag and look into the legalities of it. The Committee is said to… Continue reading Should States have their own flags?

Why Supreme Court action in Goa is nudge to honour rights to commons Context: The Supreme Court quashed all iron ore mining leases in Goa, two days before the deadline for public feedback to the draft National Mineral Policy (NMP) 2018. The court had mandated the National Mineral Policy on September, 2017 saying the older,… Continue reading Why Supreme Court action in Goa is nudge to honour rights to commons

SC flags exclusions under Aadhaar Context: The Centre on Thursday maintained before the Supreme Court that nobody would be excluded or denied any entitlement due to inability to link Aadhaar. Court’s opinion: The government’s assurance came after Justice D Y Chandrachud, sitting in the bench, asked if it was not their obligation to ensure that… Continue reading SC flags exclusions under Aadhaar

Cease fire Context: The 2003 ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan is now alive only in the breach, with violations intensifying in number and much damage to life and livelihood along the border. 2003 ceasefire agreement: It is important to see the 2003 agreement in the immediate context of the time. It came just four… Continue reading Cease fire

A disquieting silence Context: In the case of Rohingya, other than inking an “agreement” with Naypyidaw that normalcy and development would be promoted in the restive Rakhine state, government’s only public position has been to announce that it intends to send the nearly 40,000 Rohingya in India back to Myanmar. India, Myanmar and China’s take… Continue reading A disquieting silence

‘Russian military relations with Pakistan very minimal’ Context:  Russia’s new Ambassador to India Nikolay Kudashev takes over at a tough time for bilateral ties. Nikolay Kudashev in an interview said that the priority for New Delhi and Moscow would be sealing several defence agreements this year. Bigger priority is young generation in contributing to our… Continue reading ‘Russian military relations with Pakistan very minimal’

In different courts Context: Nawaz Sharif, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, who has been debarred from public office by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, is not just fighting back, but has been strengthened by the huge public response that he has been receiving as he takes his case to the people with elections due… Continue reading In different courts

India rejects Maldives offer  Context: India has rejected an offer by Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen to send a special envoy to discuss the ongoing emergency in Maldives What has happened? Maldivian President Yameen has sent special envoys to China, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to brief them about the deepening political crisis in the country.  Questions… Continue reading India rejects Maldives offer 

Big discoveries have small origins Context: The Economic Survey 2017-2018 has called for doubling research and development expenditure from its current level of about ₹1 lakh crore, amounting to 0.8% of the gross domestic product (GDP). Economic Survey:  Transforming Science and Technology in India. Key Highlights As per the Survey, investments in science in India… Continue reading Big discoveries have small origins

A boost to rural entrepreneurship Context: Amendments to the NABARD Act Introduction: The NABARD 1981 Act was enacted to establish a development bank to provide and regulate credit and other facilities in order to promote and develop agriculture, small-scale industries, cottage and village industries, handicrafts, and allied economic activities in rural areas. Why amendments were… Continue reading A boost to rural entrepreneurship

‘No curtailment in demand for funds under MGNREGA’ Context: No curtailment in demand for funds under MGNREGA, says Government to Supreme Court. Why in news? The Centre told the Supreme Court on Thursday that the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) was a “demand-driven scheme” and it has not curtailed the demand for… Continue reading ‘No curtailment in demand for funds under MGNREGA’

SC to handle Ayodhya title dispute only as a ‘land issue’ Context: The Supreme Court has said that the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute will be decided as any other land dispute based on evidence on record. What has happened? The Hindu parties and sects involved in the dispute believe Lord Ram was born on this… Continue reading SC to handle Ayodhya title dispute only as a ‘land issue’