9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – August 4, 2017

Is India a good neighbour?:  Context India’s foreign policy of late has come under sharp public scrutiny especially the direction in which it is moving. There is no single yardstick to measure foreign policy successes and failures but the absence of crises is broadly viewed as a sound criterion. Sour relations India shares an extremely… Continue reading Is India a good neighbour?: 

It’s time to enact an anti-lynching law: Context: With escalating numbers of lynching cases, the country needs a concrete anti-lynching law devoid of socio-political loopholes. The Act against lynching: The The National Campaign Against Mob Lynching’s (NCAML) draft Protection from Lynching Act, 2017 defines, for the first time in Indian legal history, the terms ‘lynching’,… Continue reading It’s time to enact an anti-lynching law:

The Iran question:  Context Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to Israel last month was labelled as de-hyphenating the traditional vector of Israel-Palestine in Indian strategic thinking in West Asia, without damaging relations with Arab states. The final say on this balancing, however, will be determined by Iran. Seen from a new prism The relative quiet… Continue reading The Iran question: 

The Bitcoin split is good for progress:  Context: Bitcoin cash, the new alternative cryptocurrency, is crashing Introduction:  On Tuesday, bitcoin split in two following a years-long battle in the community over the rules that should guide the cryptocurrency’s network The split resulted in the creation of new cryptocurrency, bitcoin cash, which has the same basic… Continue reading The Bitcoin split is good for progress: 

‘GPS facility to raise handset costs’:  Context The government has made it mandatory to install Global Positioning System (GPS) in all mobile phones, including feature phones that will be sold in India, from January 1, 2018 so as to locate subscribers in emergency situations especially for women Introduction: The Telecom Ministry will hold a meeting… Continue reading ‘GPS facility to raise handset costs’: 

‘Make In India’ yet to spur manufacturing, says panel:  Parliament Committee shows Concern about poor manufacturing growth Background: The Parliament Standing Committee on Commerce has reviewed the country’s low manufacturing growth despite initiatives such as Make In India, Startup India and FDI reforms that are now more than two years old The Parliament Standing Committee… Continue reading ‘Make In India’ yet to spur manufacturing, says panel: 

‘NPAs: Banks need more provisioning’:  Context A joint report by Assocham and rating agency Crisil says “Banks may require an incremental provisioning of 20% against cumulative debt of 50 large stressed assets worth over Rs. 4.3 lakh crore”. Introduction: These 50 large accounts are from the sectors such as construction, power and metals, among others… Continue reading ‘NPAs: Banks need more provisioning’: 

Centre pings rating agencies on economy in upgrade push:  Context The finance ministry has begun interacting with global rating agencies through teleconferences and e-mails on a more regular basis to give clarifications and updates regarding the economy. This is done so to convey India’s pitch for a sovereign rating upgrade better. India on FDI India… Continue reading Centre pings rating agencies on economy in upgrade push: 

A half-done reform:  Context: The government has informed Parliament about its decision to completely do away with the subsidy offered to cooking gas used for household purposes. Introduction: Recently, public sector oil companies were authorized to incrementally hike the “effective price” of LPG cylinders until the entire subsidy is wiped off by March next year.… Continue reading A half-done reform: 

Delhi reports ‘good’ air quality: Context: According to a report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), for the first time in two years, Delhi has seen two days of ‘good’ air quality in July, 2017. Explanation: The classifications are made depending on a part of 6-grade, color-coded Air Quality Index (AQI) that the government… Continue reading Delhi reports ‘good’ air quality:

Red light for Spanish racer’s dream run:  Context:  Despite a successful trail, the train from Spain that could have drastically shortened the duration of a journey appears to have come to a halt. The government is unable to move forward on its plan to rope in Spanish locomotive firm Talgo. The issue: A series of… Continue reading Red light for Spanish racer’s dream run: