9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – August 22, 2017

More Than Toilets:  Context The prime minister’s flagship programme, the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), is progressing towards Gandhiji’s dream of a clean India with all its villages becoming Open Defecation Free (ODF). Three years of SBM Launched in October 2014 and scheduled to culminate by October 2, 2019, the 150th birth anniversary of Gandhiji, the… Continue reading More Than Toilets: 

Triple talaq lost staunchest support:  Context The Supreme Court has seen a climbdown in the position of Muslim bodies, from affirming that the practice helps separated couples to “move on” effortlessly to filing finally an affidavit that Muslim men who resort to instant talaq will be socially boycotted. The past two years of litigation over… Continue reading Triple talaq lost staunchest support: 

Will SC end personal laws’ immunity?:  Context The Supreme Court’s judgment on the constitutionality of triple talaq may also decide the age-old debate whether personal laws can be brought under the ambit of Article 13. Argument of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) While the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has argued… Continue reading Will SC end personal laws’ immunity?: 

Supreme Court to deliver verdict on triple talaq today:  Context A five-judge Supreme Court Bench, headed by Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar, will on Tuesday pronounce its judgment on the legality of the Islamic personal law practice of triple talaq. The decision of the court The court will be deciding if the law, which… Continue reading Supreme Court to deliver verdict on triple talaq today: 

How China gained from Partition:  Context The sundering of the political space in the Subcontinent gets a lot less attention in the narratives of independent India’s international relations than the sentimental accounts of Delhi’s non-alignment and moralpolitik. India and China since the mid-20th century India was divided in 1947 and China was united in 1949.… Continue reading How China gained from Partition: 

Rebooting India-Nepal ties:   & Next Door Nepal: Deuba’s diplomacy test Context Nepal is run by a revolving door of political leaders who have weakened the polity and economy over the years, but who did battle the odds to promulgate a new Constitution. India – China relationship With global geopolitics on the boil, and the Hindi-Chini… Continue reading Rebooting India-Nepal ties:   & Next Door Nepal: Deuba’s diplomacy test

China wants to go back to ‘1959 LAC’:  Context Following last week’s scuffle between troops of the two countries along the Pangong lake in Ladakh, China on Monday urged India to abide by the Line of Actual Control (LAC) position of 1959. Statement of Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying blamed… Continue reading China wants to go back to ‘1959 LAC’: 

Doklam standoff will be resolved soon:  Context Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh termed the ongoing standoff between the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the Indian Army at Doklam near the Bhutan-Sikkim-China trijunction a “deadlock”. Mr. Sigh’s statement Mr. Singh said the crisis, which has been going on for two months, will be resolved soon… Continue reading Doklam standoff will be resolved soon: 

Drones on a mission to restore Myanmar’s mangrove cover: Context Drones are turning into a savior for the fast-dwindling mangroves in Myanmar’s low-lying Ayeyarwady Delta, ravaged by decades of deforestation and conversion of land for agriculture and aquaculture. Losing Mangroves Mangroves protect coastlines in the face of storms and rising sea levels, absorb carbon from… Continue reading Drones on a mission to restore Myanmar’s mangrove cover:

China to relaunch one of world’s fastest bullet trains: Context After cutting back the speed of the Beijing to Shanghai bullet train following a deadly crash, China is set to relaunch it again. The world’s fastest bullet train New generation trains will service the route starting next month, making the 1,250-km journey from the capital… Continue reading China to relaunch one of world’s fastest bullet trains:

Navy gets amphibious landing craft: Context The second Landing Craft Utility L52 of Mk-IV class, an amphibious ship to transport combat equipment and troops of the Navy, designed and built by Garden Reach Ship Builders, was commissioned at Port Blair on Monday. Explanation These ships would be based in the Andaman and Nicobar Command and… Continue reading Navy gets amphibious landing craft: