Author: ForumIAS

Rearranging the BRICS:  The forum is less about ideological posturing, more about repositioning India in changing great power equations. India and neighbors Raja Mandala: Rearranging the BRICS Context Building a multipolar world is one of the central themes of India’s foreign policy and BRICS has been the main forum for the pursuit of that objective.… Continue reading Rearranging the BRICS: 

BRICS declares Lashkar, Jaish as global terror groups:  Context The BRICS grouping indisputably named Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) as terror organizations This move emphasizes a shift in China’s situation  with regard to ties with Pakistan Which organizations have been designated as terrorist organizations? A joint communiqué released at the BRICS summit further listed the… Continue reading BRICS declares Lashkar, Jaish as global terror groups: 

Is a progressive GST possible?: Context: A higher rate of consumption based tax like GST hurts the poor. Introduction: India is the second-most generous country, among 20 major countries What is the current scenario of India’s direct tax regime? India has one of the lowest direct tax to GDP (Gross Domestic Product) ratios in the… Continue reading Is a progressive GST possible?: 

‘Undersea line from Iran to port cheap gas’: Context Indian must push for a trans-national deep water gas pipeline from Iran bypassing Pakistani EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone). What is the plan? South Asia Gas Enterprise Pvt. Ltd. (SAGE) is looking to lay the underline sea pipeline, travelling first to Oman and them to the coast… Continue reading ‘Undersea line from Iran to port cheap gas’: 

There is a Rohingya in all of us: Context    The Centre refused to revise its stance on deporting Rohingya immigrants from India. What is the present-day situation? Rohingya are being forced to flee the violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state. The Minister of State for Home Affairs informed Parliament that 40,000 Rohingya are yet to… Continue reading There is a Rohingya in all of us: 

Back on track: Context India and China have put up a united front in the BRICS summit. Both have proposed a revival of the Panchsheel principles of peaceful cooperation. What is the significance of the BRICS meet for India and China? India and China have signaled that they are trying to put the bitterness of… Continue reading Back on track: 

Modi’s 10 ‘noble commitments’ for BRICS: Context PM Modi suggested 10 commitments to be made by BRICS member countries:- What are those 10 commitments? Creating a safer world by organised and coordinated action on at least three issues: counter-terrorism, cyber security and disaster management. Creating a greener world by taking concerted action on countering climate… Continue reading Modi’s 10 ‘noble commitments’ for BRICS: 

In Constitution, a range of ‘special provisions’ for states other than Jammu & Kashmir, too: 06-09-2017 In Constitution, a range of ‘special provisions’ for states other than J&K too. Context Article 370 that grants special autonomous status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) has always been debated. However, Jammu & Kashmir is not… Continue reading In Constitution, a range of ‘special provisions’ for states other than Jammu & Kashmir, too: 

Modi-Xi meet flags ‘forward looking’ ties, border peace: CONTEXT Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping had a one on one meeting during the BRICS 2017 summit in Xiamen, China. This happened in the backdrop of the recently resolved Doklam standoff in the Sikkim sector. NEED TO AVOID SITUATIONS LIKE THE RECENT STANDOFF The… Continue reading Modi-Xi meet flags ‘forward looking’ ties, border peace: 

The promise of fiscal money : Context The authority and responsibility of drafting and implementing monetary policies lies solely in the hands of the Central Banks. Thus, there exists independence of central banks from elected governments. But the concern is – it actually possible for central bank to be independent of the government? What is… Continue reading The promise of fiscal money :