Author: ForumIAS

SC overrules Emergency-era habeas corpus verdict: Context A nine-judge Bench condemned the decision in the infamous ADM Jabalpur case, better known as the habeas corpus case, as “seriously flawed.” Explanation The Supreme Court’s judgement in 1976 is considered the darkest hour when it said citizens had no right to life and liberty during the Emergency… Continue reading SC overrules Emergency-era habeas corpus verdict:

How the numbers compute:  Context In one common judgment, two of the five judges held that triple talaq was an element of statutory law, the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937 and, being arbitrary, was unconstitutional. Ration of 3:2 “By a majority of 3:2 the practice of ‘talaq-e-biddat’ – triple talaq is set aside”.… Continue reading How the numbers compute: 

Privacy is a fundamental right, declares SC:  Context Privacy is vital to life and liberty and an inherent part of the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution was declared by a nine-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in a unanimous verdict. The court’s decision The court held that privacy is a natural right present… Continue reading Privacy is a fundamental right, declares SC: 

Claims on Bt cotton need to be probed, says panel:  Context: A Parliamentary panel headed by Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury in a report released on Friday said the government agencies have portrayed “a rosy picture” on Bt Cotton which is far removed from the truth. Key highlights: The report of the Standing Committee on Science… Continue reading Claims on Bt cotton need to be probed, says panel: 

MPs fret over trade deficit with ASEAN: Context The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce has questioned the government for suggesting that the country’s increasing trade deficit with ASEAN nations is due to imports of essential commodities and has strongly recommended that India seek better market access for its products and services with the 10-nation bloc.… Continue reading MPs fret over trade deficit with ASEAN:

Curtailing the legislature:  Context:    The Delhi High Court has entertained the PWD Secretary PIL which has stayed the investigation by privileges committee of the Delhi State Legislature on misrepresentation of facts to the privilege committee by PWD Secretary. Background: Justice P.N. Bhagwati handled the first Public Interest Litigation case in the Supreme Court in 1979.… Continue reading Curtailing the legislature: 

Political freedoms necessary: SC: Context: The Supreme Court in its privacy judgment on Thursday, said that a free environment for exercising political freedoms such as the right to dissent is necessary to end the malaise of corruption and diversion of funds and welfare benefits. Court’s judgment: The court said “Government leaders in authoritarian states” who… Continue reading Political freedoms necessary: SC:

Caste in new moulds:  Context: The Union cabinet’s decision to set up a commission to explore the creation of subcategories in the central list of the Other Backward Classes is a move in the right direction. This step has been taken with the proposals submitted by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the National… Continue reading Caste in new moulds: 

Ocean forecasting system unveiled: Context The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) of the Ministry of Earth Sciences here inaugurated the Ocean Forecasting System for Comoros, Madagascar, and Mozambique at the third Ministerial Meeting of Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning. Why is it required? The ocean forecast and early warning information on high… Continue reading Ocean forecasting system unveiled:

develop novel ‘dot’ system to improve cancer detection: Context Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) have developed a proof-of-concept nanosystem that dramatically improves the visualization of tumors. Explanation The article published in Nature Communications mentions that the platform achieves a five-fold increase over existing tumor-specific optical imaging methods. This novel approach produces… Continue reading develop novel ‘dot’ system to improve cancer detection: