9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – August 11, 2017

A strange hybrid: Context: The  Niti Aayog is all set to push states to privatise well functioning district hospitals in the Tier 2 and 3 cities like Pune, Baroda, Visakhapatnam, Madurai and so on. Introduction: The proposed model consists of leasing out for 30 years a portion of the hospital to a private company to… Continue reading A strange hybrid: 

Failing India’s children:  Context: The government’s proposal to amend the Right to Education Act and allow States to drop the no-detention policy at the primary and middle school levels will have far-reaching negative consequences for the education scenario. The proposal, which will give States the choice to detain children in classes 5 and 8, does… Continue reading Failing India’s children: 

Towards a clean-up:  Context The Swachh Bharat Mission is a high-profile national programme enjoying extraordinary political and budgetary support with some achievement and challenges of its own. Survey reports With its subsidy-based mass toilet-building programme, it has put up millions of individual house latrines in rural areas. A government-commissioned survey evaluates that the coverage now… Continue reading Towards a clean-up: 

UAE joins chorus of concern over Doklam:  Context Any military escalation between India and China would be “potentially very disruptive” for the region, said Anwar Gargash, the visiting Minister of Foreign Affairs from the United Arab Emirates. Gargash discussing Doklam issue Mr. Gargash discussed the current standoff at Doklam with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj… Continue reading UAE joins chorus of concern over Doklam: 

It’s time to focus on the toxic air we breathe:  NITI Aayog’s draft energy policy ignores the health impacts of energy choices. Issues related to subsidies Context: On June 27, 2017, the Niti Aayog released the draft National Energy Policy. But the draft energy policy ignores the health impacts of energy choices Draft policy ignores… Continue reading It’s time to focus on the toxic air we breathe: 

GST and the remapping of India: Context: The Goods and Services Tax (GST) will unify the nation into a common economic market, obviating the need for goods to be taxed each time they cross a state border. New regime:  New tax regime could bring a shift in production and storage centres New tax regime could… Continue reading GST and the remapping of India:

Britain seeks investments from India in housing, realty sector ‘beyond London’: Introduction: The British government is seeking Indian investment to to support its drive to create more affordable housing across the country. The Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Greg Hands,  is keen on getting investment from India beyond London particularly in real estate,… Continue reading Britain seeks investments from India in housing, realty sector ‘beyond London’:

Amended Banking Regulation Bill gets elders’ nod: Context: Parliament passes bill empowering RBI to recover NPAs Introduction: The Rajya Sabha on Thursday passed the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, which empowers the Reserve Bank of India to issue instruction to the banks to act against major defaulters. Background: The bill, earlier passed by the Lok Sabha,… Continue reading Amended Banking Regulation Bill gets elders’ nod:

Note ban dents RBI income: Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday announced that it will transfer Rs 30,659 crore as surplus to the government for the year ended June 2017, less than half the amount transferred last year. Introduction:  The RBI’s central board, which met on Thursday, approved the amount to be… Continue reading Note ban dents RBI income: