9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – August 26, 2017

Caste in new moulds:  Context: The Union cabinet’s decision to set up a commission to explore the creation of subcategories in the central list of the Other Backward Classes is a move in the right direction. This step has been taken with the proposals submitted by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the National… Continue reading Caste in new moulds: 

MPs fret over trade deficit with ASEAN: Context The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce has questioned the government for suggesting that the country’s increasing trade deficit with ASEAN nations is due to imports of essential commodities and has strongly recommended that India seek better market access for its products and services with the 10-nation bloc.… Continue reading MPs fret over trade deficit with ASEAN:

Curtailing the legislature:  Context:    The Delhi High Court has entertained the PWD Secretary PIL which has stayed the investigation by privileges committee of the Delhi State Legislature on misrepresentation of facts to the privilege committee by PWD Secretary. Background: Justice P.N. Bhagwati handled the first Public Interest Litigation case in the Supreme Court in 1979.… Continue reading Curtailing the legislature: 

Political freedoms necessary: SC: Context: The Supreme Court in its privacy judgment on Thursday, said that a free environment for exercising political freedoms such as the right to dissent is necessary to end the malaise of corruption and diversion of funds and welfare benefits. Court’s judgment: The court said “Government leaders in authoritarian states” who… Continue reading Political freedoms necessary: SC:

Claims on Bt cotton need to be probed, says panel:  Context: A Parliamentary panel headed by Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury in a report released on Friday said the government agencies have portrayed “a rosy picture” on Bt Cotton which is far removed from the truth. Key highlights: The report of the Standing Committee on Science… Continue reading Claims on Bt cotton need to be probed, says panel: