9 PM Current Affairs Brief – 21th November, 2017

Rigid alliances will be avoided: India Context Joining the first official-level meeting of the new quadrilateral grouping in the Asia Pacific region, India stressed that it will avoid rigid geopolitical alliances. What shall be India’s new policy? Launching a new policy-oriented club for diplomats in view of the global uncertainties, India will have an “open-minded… Continue reading Rigid alliances will be avoided: India

China condemns Kovind’s Arunachal trip Context: China is of the view that India should refrain from complicating the border dispute when bilateral relations are at a crucial stage. This came up in the light of the President Ram Nath Kovind’s recent visit to Arunachal Pradesh. What is the argument? China has always been objecting the… Continue reading China condemns Kovind’s Arunachal trip

In ICJ, it’s down to the wire for India, U.K Context The 12th round of voting to break the deadlock between India’s Dalveer Bhandari and Britain’s Christopher Greenwood for re-election to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), will be a test of the depth and durability of New Delhi’s international partnerships. Majority required The winning… Continue reading In ICJ, it’s down to the wire for India, U.K

Losing the war, winning the peace(The Hindu) Context The article talks about the 1962 war, which proved to be a catastrophic defeat for India About the war The Chinese assault on the Thagla Ridge early in the morning of October 20, 1962, which turned simmering military tensions into open war. The way the authorities and… Continue reading Losing the war, winning the peace(The Hindu)

Raja Mandala: New ripples in the oceans Context: Even though the Indo-Pacific quad  brings India, United States, Japan and Australia together, India needs to observe the bilateral maritime security cooperation with Paris in the Indian Ocean. What is the importance of India-France partnership? The India-France partnership has never been more urgent than it is today.… Continue reading Raja Mandala: New ripples in the oceans

Split term between India, UK, suggests Thailand envoy Context Thailand’s ambassador to India Chutintorn Gongsakdi has suggested a unique way out for the elections of a judge at the International Court of Justice by splitting the term of the judge between India and the UK. Suggestions The ambassador advised that the term should be split… Continue reading Split term between India, UK, suggests Thailand envoy

ISRO open doors to private sector Context Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently issued a tender to the private industry for Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIT) of 30-35 satellites. How would the tendering be done? ISRO has issued a Request For Proposal (RFP) to the private industry to build 30-35 satellites over three years. Under… Continue reading ISRO open doors to private sector

Beyond the News- Tejas and beyond: How short the IAF is of fighters, what options it has now Context IAF is well short of the strength required to face up to a two-front threat. To be prepared for a two-front collusive threat, from China and Pakistan, is the government’s mandate for the IAF. What is… Continue reading Beyond the News- Tejas and beyond: How short the IAF is of fighters, what options it has now

Mullaperiyar: T.N. moves SC against parking project Context: The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) gave green signal to Kerala’s proposal of a mega car parking project in the water spread area of the Mullaperiyar dam. But the Tamil Nadu government raised a strong opposition against the decision. What is the project? The… Continue reading Mullaperiyar: T.N. moves SC against parking project

An app to get tiger count right Context In the forthcoming All-India Tiger Estimation, the authorities have planned to eliminate the process of manual recording of signs of the carnivore and other habitat details. Field data collection for tiger listing is set to go digital in order to reduce human error and provide more reliable… Continue reading An app to get tiger count right

A fine balance Context The GST’s anti-profiteering body must not become a tool of harassment About the National Anti-Profiteering Authority The National Anti-Profiteering Authority is empowered to crack down on firms that fail to pass on the ‘benefits’ of the tax regime to consumers. The authority can order businesses to reduce product prices or refund… Continue reading A fine balance

It’s the real economy Context: Moody’s has upgraded the Government of India’s local and foreign currency issuer ratings to Baa2 from Baa3 and changed the outlook on the rating to stable from positive. What are the benefits from the upgrade? The higher rating for India signals a lower risk grade for the government’s debt. It… Continue reading It’s the real economy

India Inc: who’s growing, who’s slowing Context Have demonetization and the rocky transition to GST brought Indian businesses to a grinding halt. Ever since the Central Statistics Office (CSO) released its GDP estimates for the April-June 2017 quarter, pegging growth at 5.7%, there has been a heated debate on the implementation of demonetization and GST.… Continue reading India Inc: who’s growing, who’s slowing

The danger of electoral bonds Context The electoral bonds characterstic of keeping secrecy and anonymity makes it an instrument to ease the flow of black money to political parties Paradise Papers leaks All these Indians on the Paradise Papers leaks had their association with shell companies set up to siphon vast sums of money out… Continue reading The danger of electoral bonds

Infra status for logistic sector  Context: The Centre has granted infrastructure status to the logistics sector. It allows availing loans at competitive terms that come along with the status. What is the reason for this grant? High logistics cost reduces the competitiveness of Indian goods both in domestic as well as export markets. Thus, development… Continue reading Infra status for logistic sector 

Farm policies for India(Indian Express) Context Farmers from across the country are out on Delhi’s streets agitating just as the discussions for the 2018 budget are beginning. Government policies designed The “one-size-fits-all” policy created for the farm sector is self-destructive in design and programmes meant to double farmer incomes are collapsing. The Pradhan Mantri Fasal… Continue reading Farm policies for India