9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – September 18, 2017

Liberalization’s impact on gender discrimination:  Context Economic reforms have not reduced gender discrimination. What is the issue? Conventional wisdom suggests that gender discrimination should have declined in India because of the economic liberalization in early 1990s. Increased market competition forces firms to eliminate inefficient discriminatory practices, including gender discrimination. The room for hiring their own… Continue reading Liberalization’s impact on gender discrimination: 

India-Japan relations in good health: Context Visit of Japanese PM Shinzo Abe to India and the bonhomie between the two leaders. Reaffirmation of special ties. Factors that lead to the bonhomie The rise of China. The joint statement calls for “a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific region where sovereignty and international law are respected, and… Continue reading India-Japan relations in good health:

Reading the tea leaves:  Context: The emerging India-Japan alignment sets the stage for the reordering of the Asian strategic landscape Two trend lines The shift of the geopolitical centre of gravity from the Euro-Atlantic to the Indo-Pacific region and the rise of China. Most of the rivalries are being played out in the crowded geopolitical… Continue reading Reading the tea leaves: 

PDS digitisation moving at snail’s pace:  Context: The progress of the digitization of Public Distribution System What is the project all about? It was launched in 2012 at a cost of 884 crore to complete the automation of Public Distribution System – All fair price or ration shop To enable online monitoring of stock positions.… Continue reading PDS digitisation moving at snail’s pace: 

Tweaks to pact with S. Korea mooted: Context India is looking to plug loopholes in its Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with South Korea following concerns over a recent sudden surge in imports of gold and related articles from that country. What is the issue? There is a probability of ‘criminal angle’ behind the recent rapid… Continue reading Tweaks to pact with S. Korea mooted:

India under U.S. pressure to scale down ties with North Korea:  Context Following the North Korean missile tests, visiting U.S. officials have asked India to cut down ties with Pyongyang. Why such pressure? American pressure on the issue has been rising over the last few months even as India joined Japan last week in describing… Continue reading India under U.S. pressure to scale down ties with North Korea: 

The mysterious  windy Venus is revealed for the first time: Context For the first time, the night side of the Venus has been observed and how the atmosphere circulates on the night side of Venus on a global scale What are the characteristics of the night side of Venus? There is wind and cloud patterns… Continue reading The mysterious  windy Venus is revealed for the first time:

Al system can predict Alzheimer’s: Context The news is regarding the development of an artificial intelligence system that can accurately identify signs of Alzheimer’s disease almost 10 years before the clinical symptoms appear. About the research and its results Researchers have developed a machine-learning algorithm to discern structural changes in the brain caused by Alzheimer’s… Continue reading Al system can predict Alzheimer’s:

Time for caution:  Context Last week, the current account deficit (CAD) widened to a four-year high of $14.3 billion in the first quarter of the current financial year, standing at 2.4% of gross domestic product, compared to 0.1% last year. Causes of widening Current Account Deficit The widening CAD was driven by a  number of… Continue reading Time for caution: 

Decoding shell companies:  Context Recently, the Centre has initiated action against more than two lakh shell companies as part of Operation Clean Money. Also, SEBI has identified 331 companies and initiated action against them. Here is all you need to know about shell companies. What are shell companies? The Companies Act, 2013 has not defined… Continue reading Decoding shell companies: