9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – July 20, 2017

Malabar naval exercise: Powerplay in the Indo-Pacific region: (Live Mint, Editorial) (Malabar Exercise – An Indo-Pacific Powerplay) Context: The 2017 Malabar exercise was the 21st edition of the exercise and conducted from 10 to 17 July 2017. This edition involved navies from India, USA and Japan. This exercise focused on Aircraft Carrier operations, Air defense,… Continue reading Malabar naval exercise: Powerplay in the Indo-Pacific region

U.S. blames Pakistan for going soft on Lashkar and Jaish The Country Reports on Terrorism Context The State Department’s annual ‘Country Reports on Terrorism’ released identifies that the Indian leadership expressed resolve to redouble efforts, in cooperation with the United States and other like-minded countries, to bring to justice the perpetrators of terrorism. The report… Continue reading U.S. blames Pakistan for going soft on Lashkar and Jaish

BITs and pieces of trade with Israel: (The Hindu, Editorial) India-Israel relationship: Trade and Potential BIT Context The bilateral relationship growing and potential of Investments seems increasing. Growing trade relations Bilateral merchandise trade increased from $200 million in 1992 to around $4 billion in 2016, an increase of 2,000% in 25 years. Cumulative foreign direct… Continue reading BITs and pieces of trade with Israel:

India hit by 34 ransomware attacks (CERT-In has advised remedial steps to contain damage) Context: A total of 34 incidents of infections from the two global ransomware attacks, WannaCry and Petya, were reported to the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) by organizations and individuals in the country. Introduction: WannaCry and Petya infected thousands of… Continue reading India hit by 34 ransomware attacks

Think beyond loan waivers:  (Farmer’s jeopardy – need to read between the lines) Context: The farmer’s distress in India needs to be addressed with a firm and concrete solution than farm loan waivers. Demerits of Indian Agriculture: Indian agriculture is characterised by low scale and low productivity. More than half of the area under cultivation does… Continue reading Think beyond loan waivers:

‘Banks may need to forgo Rs. 2.4 lakh crore’: (60% haircut needed to settle 50 large stressed assets with Rs 4 lakh cr debt: Crisil) Context: Banks may have to take a haircut of 60 per cent, worth ₹2.4 lakh crore, to settle 50 large stressed assets with debt of ₹4 lakh crore, according to… Continue reading ‘Banks may need to forgo Rs. 2.4 lakh crore’:

Ministry, NITI Aayog moot privatisation of select services in district hospitals (NITI Aayog’s Public Private Partnership) Context Under proposed PPP model of NITI Aayog, private players will get 30-year leases on space in district hospitals NITI Aayog and Health Ministry’s Stand As a part of a radical ‘privatisation project’, the Health Ministry and the NITI… Continue reading Ministry, NITI Aayog moot privatisation of select services in district hospitals (NITI Aayog’s Public Private Partnership)