9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – August 24, 2017

Why India fails to deliver health and education:  Context The tragic death of scores of children recently at the BRD Medical College hospital in Gorakhpur has reopened the discussion on India’s weak state capacity. India’s failure In the last 70 years, the Indian state has clearly failed at delivering quality education and public health to… Continue reading Why India fails to deliver health and education: 

Understanding work:  Context The Global Commission on the Future of Work, established on Monday, has a critical role in addressing the decent jobs deficit that affects the lives of roughly three billion working people. International Labour Organisation (ILO) The body, which includes two representatives from India, is to present a report at the 2019 commemoration… Continue reading Understanding work: 

The Trump discontinuity:  Context New Delhi wonder if Washington has the political will to carry through the promised pressure on Pakistan to stop hosting terror sanctuaries on its soil. What’s there for India in the bag? For Delhi, it is about seizing the opportunity opened up by Trump’s new policy to raise India’s profile in… Continue reading The Trump discontinuity: 

Two cheers for the Supreme Court: (The Hindu, Editorial)summary & Understanding context of SC ruling on triple talaq: Divorce rate of Muslim women is thrice that of men:  Context By a majority decision, instantaneous triple talaq is now invalid, a significant victory that is the result of many decades of struggle by the Muslim women’s… Continue reading Two cheers for the Supreme Court: (The Hindu, Editorial)summary & Understanding context of SC ruling on triple talaq: Divorce rate of Muslim women is thrice that of men: 

Moss serves as a cheap pollution monitor: Context Delicate mosses found on rocks and trees in cities around the world can now be used to measure the impact of atmospheric change and could prove a low-cost way to monitor urban pollution, as per Japanese scientists. Explanation The “bio-indicator” retorts to pollution or drought-stress by changing… Continue reading Moss serves as a cheap pollution monitor:

Tax, in the bigger picture:  Context The national debate on GST is a case in point. GST has to be weighed upon a broader taxation policy perspective. The question of taxation policy as a whole India’s tax-GDP ratio is 18 per cent which compares miserably when with developed countries (between 30 per cent and 40… Continue reading Tax, in the bigger picture: 

‘GST may hit natural rubber prices hard’:  Context The lack of demand from micro and small industries due to ambiguity on Goods and Services Tax (GST), prices of natural rubber are likely to decline in the coming months. The dipping prices of rubber The price has dipped from Rs. 143 per kg in April this… Continue reading ‘GST may hit natural rubber prices hard’: 

New mechanism to spur PSB mergers: Context: The Cabinet approved ‘in-principle’ the constitution of an alternative mechanism, likely to be a ministerial group, that will oversee the proposals for mergers among banks. Explanation: As of today, there are 20 public sector banks plus the State Bank of India (SBI). Adding SBI’s five subsidiaries and Bharatiya… Continue reading New mechanism to spur PSB mergers: