Author: ForumIAS

Universal Basic Income is not feasible for India:  Context Universal basic income and it’s feasibility as a solution in India. What is Universal basic income? It is premised on the idea that a just society needs to guarantee to each individual a minimum income which they can count on, and which provides the  necessary material… Continue reading Universal Basic Income is not feasible for India: 

‘Free movement’ along Myanmar border: Context The Centre is putting in measures to facilitate free movement of Indian and Myanmar’s citizens within 16 km along the Myanmar border. What is the Free Movement regime? The FMR allows visa-free movement for people living within 16 km on either side of the border. How is FMR impacting… Continue reading ‘Free movement’ along Myanmar border:

Out of UNESCO:  Context The U.S.’s decision to quit UNESCO is an attempt to reassert geopolitical influence in West Asia. The U.S. withdrawal will become effective as of the end of December 2018. What is the significance of UNESCO? The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations… Continue reading Out of UNESCO: 

An embarrassment of riches:  Context: The finance minister, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on July 25, said that the bank is in the process of reconciling the notes to obviate any errors. Key points: According to media reports, by early January 2017, more than 90 per cent of the demonetised currency notes… Continue reading An embarrassment of riches: 

The Reserve Bank is off target: Context: One of the significant actions of the government of the day is to have moved monetary policy in India onto a “modern “plane. Introduction: The RBI has been reconfigured as an ‘inflation-targeting’ central bank. As part of this arrangement, it has been set an inflation target of 4%.… Continue reading The Reserve Bank is off target:

5 chemicals banned in firecrackers: Context The Supreme Court prohibited the use of five chemicals, labelled as toxic by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) ahead of the festive seasons of Dussehra and Deepavali. Judicial remark A Bench of Justices Madan B. Lokur and Deepak Gupta gave the order, that no firecrackers manufactured by the… Continue reading 5 chemicals banned in firecrackers:

The Manila envelope: Context India has decided to provide a financial assistance of $5,00,000 (Rs. 3.2 crore) to the Philippines to aid its fight against the Islamic State (IS) affiliated terror groups in the troubled Mindanao province. Emerging Security Provider For the first time India is sending assistance to another nation to help it fight… Continue reading The Manila envelope:

The difficult economics of the Indian farmer:  Context: Most farmers swim in a turbulent sea of risks against which they have almost no protection. Introduction: One way to reduce price risk is through price deficiency payment, which has been advocated by Niti Aayog Agriculture condition: The economist at HSBC showed in a recent report that… Continue reading The difficult economics of the Indian farmer: 

Manufacturing PMI at 47.9, records steepest contraction Context: Manufacturing activity in July slowed to 47.9, the lowest level since February 2009, according to the Nikkei Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index, due almost entirely to the introduction of Goods and services Tax on July 1. Introduction: The reading was lower than the 59.9 noticed in June. A… Continue reading Manufacturing PMI at 47.9, records steepest contraction

India and Bhutan are questioning the new normal’:  Context: China has settled most of the land boundary issues with most neighboring countries. But it still has issues with India and Bhutan and only only reciprocal withdrawal by India and China can ease the Doklam stand-off. The Issue: Bhutan maintains that Doklam is in Bhutanese territory;… Continue reading India and Bhutan are questioning the new normal’: