Indian Prime Minister is attending the 2019 G20 Summit held in Osaka, Japan. The summit is the 14th such gathering.The theme of the G20 summit 2019 is human-centred future society. After this summit,India will become part of the troika that includes the next set of G20 chairs – Saudi Arabia (2020), Italy (2021) and India… Continue reading G-20 summit: Corruption key focus area, India works hard to get strong para into Osaka declaration
Author: ForumIAS
European heat wave? It’s the new normal
The countries across Europe are experiencing record-breaking heat waves.The heatwave has already caused flash floods and forest fires grounded planes and buckled train tracks and led to school closures and warnings over air quality. There is no universally accepted definition of a heatwave due to variations in climate conditions in different world regions.Typically though,they are… Continue reading European heat wave? It’s the new normal
Cut logistics cost to 9% of GDP, Goyal tells States
Commerce and Railways Minister has asked the various transport Ministries to find ways to reduce logistics costs in the country to 9% of GDP by 2022 from the current 14%. Commerce minister also reviewed the draft National Logistics Policy and the proposed action plan for implementation of the policy. The draft policy has been prepared… Continue reading Cut logistics cost to 9% of GDP, Goyal tells States
Government revamps WPI revision team
The government has reconstituted the working group tasked with revising the current wholesale price index (WPI). The terms of reference(ToR) of the working group are (a)select the most appropriate Base Year for the preparation of a new official series of Index Numbers of WPI and Producer Price Index (PPI) in India (b)review commodity basket of… Continue reading Government revamps WPI revision team
Govt to launch ‘One Nation One Ration Card’
The central government is working on a plan to launch a One Nation One Ration Card scheme for beneficiaries especially migrant workers to access the Public Distribution System(PDS) from any PDS shop across the country. The aim of the scheme is to provide freedom to beneficiaries as they will not be tied to one PDS… Continue reading Govt to launch ‘One Nation One Ration Card’
NPAs down, credit growth picking up: RBI
The Reserve Bank of India has released the Financial Stability Report. The report assessed that India’s financial system remains stable in the backdrop of improving resilience of the banking sector.However,the emerging trends in the global economy and geopolitical environment pose challenges. The report has said that the Gross non-performing assets in the banking system have… Continue reading NPAs down, credit growth picking up: RBI
CAT stays dismissal of two tax officials; govt transfers judicial member of tribunal
The Central Administrative Tribunal(CAT) has stayed the sacking of two of the 15 senior tax officials who were compulsorily retired over charges of corruption and inefficiency. Recently,the Central Government had compulsorily retired 15 senior customs and central excise officials. The orders issued by the Finance Ministry had invoked rule 56(j) of the Fundamental Rules.Rule 56… Continue reading CAT stays dismissal of two tax officials; govt transfers judicial member of tribunal
SEBI tightens norms for mutual fund investments
The Securities and Exchange Board of India(Sebi) has introduced more checks and balances for mutual funds(MFs) to secure investors and stem systemic risks. SEBI has said that mutual fund schemes can now invest only in listed debt or equity.The valuation of securities in debt funds will now be on mark-to-market basis instead of the earlier… Continue reading SEBI tightens norms for mutual fund investments
Environment ministry okays two-year construction order for Polavaram project
The Union Environment Ministry has extended the construction period for the Polavaram Multipurpose Project in Andhra Pradesh by two years. The Polavaram project is a major multi-purpose irrigation project being constructed on the Godavari River and spread across three states – Andhra Pradesh,Odisha and Chhattisgarh. A dam is currently under construction in West Godavari and… Continue reading Environment ministry okays two-year construction order for Polavaram project
Bombay High Court upholds reservation for Maratha community
The Bombay High Court has upheld the Maharashtra government’s decision to provide reservation to the Maratha community under the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act,2018. But the court reduced the 16% quota granted to the community to 12% in education and 13% in jobs as recommended by the State Backward Classes Commission(SBCC). The court… Continue reading Bombay High Court upholds reservation for Maratha community
