Author: ForumIAS

Addressing India’s income inequality:  Context: Thomas Piketty and Lucas Cancel in their new paper “Indian Income Inequality 1922-2014: From British Raj to Billionaire Raj” has shown that income inequality in India at present is at its highest level since the creation of the Indian Income Tax Act in 1922 How is the recent data published… Continue reading Addressing India’s income inequality: 

M-777 gun suffers damage during test: Context An M-777 ultralight howitzer from the U.S. was damaged during field testing in Pokhran on September 2. How did this happen? During the firing, the projectile which was the fifth of the series exited the barrel in multiple pieces. The gun was manufactured by BAE Systems of the… Continue reading M-777 gun suffers damage during test:

Huge relief to Sivakasi fireworks makers as SC modifies ban order:  Context The Supreme Court on Tuesday modified its ban on the sale of firecrackers in the National Capital Region (NCR) as the step was too radical The apex court lifted its suspension of valid permanent licenses in the NCR, which included the entire National… Continue reading Huge relief to Sivakasi fireworks makers as SC modifies ban order: 

Towards a new financial resolution regime:  Context Recently introduced Financial and Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill, 2017 is seen as an effective and updated mechanism for resolving bankruptcy in financial firms. The Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill 2017, or FRDI Bill, is a positive affirmation of the lessons learned during the global financial crisis… Continue reading Towards a new financial resolution regime: 

Time for course correction: Context Central Statistics Office (CSO) released the estimates of the gross domestic product (GDP) for the first quarter (April – June) of 2017-18 and the growth rate has fallen below 6%. What are the significant figures? In Q1 of 2017-18, GDP grew by 5.7% whereas the economy grew at 7.1% in… Continue reading Time for course correction:

More than 1 lakh directors at shell firms identified for disqualification:  Context The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MoCA) has identified 1.06 lakh directors of ‘shell companies’ for disqualification under the relevant provisions of the Companies Act, 2013. Why is it done? To break the network of ‘shell companies’ and the fight against black money/money laundering… Continue reading More than 1 lakh directors at shell firms identified for disqualification: 

‘Stringent action to prevent data misuse’: Context: Government’s commitment to ensuring data protection. Introduction: The IT Minister assured that unauthorized use of data would be dealt with stringent actions. The Government wants to make data analytics a national movement. Why is such a stringent stand of the government required?   Big data analytics can help… Continue reading ‘Stringent action to prevent data misuse’:

A fragile ark that shelters 2,626 creatures:  Context: Zoological Survey of India produces first exhaustive compendium of animal diversity in the Sundarban islands and the threats it faces. Introduction:                   The Sundarbans is the only tiger-mangrove kingdom in the world and is home to globally threatened species such as the Bengal tiger, sea turtle, fishing… Continue reading A fragile ark that shelters 2,626 creatures: 

Articles Of Faith:  Supreme Court’s places of worship ruling betrays a selective reading of constitutional provisions. Context: Supreme Court judgment in State of Gujarat v Islamic Relief Committee. SC observed that a “substantial part of taxpayers’ money cannot be granted for repairing religious structures”. The Case: Under appeal before the apex court was the Gujarat… Continue reading Articles Of Faith: 

50 years before Doklam, there was Nathu La: Recalling a very different standoff:  Brief background Around five years after the 1962 war, India and China had clashed militarily, a conflict the Chinese rarely talk about. It took place at Nathu La, not far to the northwest of the Doklam plateau. More than 300 Chinese were… Continue reading 50 years before Doklam, there was Nathu La: Recalling a very different standoff: