Author: ForumIAS

Onus is on India to avoid escalation of conflict: China (China asks India to withdraw their troops) Context China on Tuesday renewed a call for India to withdraw its troops immediately from the disputed Doklam plateau in the Himalayan mountains. China speaks The given demand follows a report that Chinese forces recently held live firing… Continue reading Onus is on India to avoid escalation of conflict: China

Australia for ‘peaceful’ end to standoff: Context The ongoing India-China standoff in Doklam on the Sikkim-Bhutan-Tibet trijunction, now into its second month. Arguably it is the worst crisis between the two Asian giants ever since they fought a war in 1962. Current Scenario Both sides are sticking to their respectively stated “maximalist” position and asking… Continue reading Australia for ‘peaceful’ end to standoff:

Aadhaar: 9-judge Bench to consider whether privacy is a basic right:  (Nine- Judge Constitution Bench to hear Aadhaar petitions) Context: The Supreme Court decided to set up a nine-judge bench to decide whether right to privacy can be declared as a fundamental right under the Indian Constitution Introduction: A nine- judge Bench of the Supreme… Continue reading Aadhaar: 9-judge Bench to consider whether privacy is a basic right:

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)

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: