Author: ForumIAS

SC allows two minor rape survivors to abort foetuses:  Context: The Supreme Court recently permitted two minor rape survivors to medically terminate their pregnancies on the advice of the medical boards which examined them. Introduction: They had both passed the 20th week of pregnancy, until which the law allows abortion. The Bench, comprising Justices Amitava… Continue reading SC allows two minor rape survivors to abort foetuses: 

The need for reforms in healthcare finance:  Context Health insurance seems to be a risky path for India’s long-term strategy for health financing. What is the issue? The Centre and state governments are experimenting with several new and exciting ideas in healthcare reforms. The issue, however, is a serious reform agenda for health financing. The… Continue reading The need for reforms in healthcare finance: 

The missing jobs:  Context: According to a recent report, less than 10% of the youth who had received training under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana have obtained placement offers (offers, not jobs). The Real Problem of Jobs: Jobs are not simply a function of the country’s workforce acquiring formal skills making them employable. More… Continue reading The missing jobs: 

Globalization is not ending, it’s changing:  Context Globalization isn’t ending, it’s changing. World is witnessing emergence of a new global economy, an economy without borders driven by digital rocket boosters. What is happening? Companies that have learnt to thrive in this increasingly connected world have built large global businesses at astonishing speeds. Economic nationalism and… Continue reading Globalization is not ending, it’s changing: 

Shooting in the dark:  Context The Bullet train Project which is very much in news, needs to be evaluated considering all its dimensions to figure out whether it is a project that would be expensive to maintain and difficult to dispose off or will it leap-frog India into a new era of advanced technology. Background… Continue reading Shooting in the dark: 

Tax trauma:  Context: Glitches in the GST regime are increasing the anxiety among Indian businesses Introduction: India’s biggest tax overhaul since Independence, the roll out of the goods and services tax is off to a less than desirable start. The GST Network, its online backbone, is struggling to keep pace with the millions of invoices… Continue reading Tax trauma: 

Centre to hasten GST refunds:  Context The Centre on Friday termed as “wild estimates,” exporters claiming that working capital was getting blocked due to delay in Goods and Services Tax (GST) refunds. What is GST?  It is a destination based tax on consumption of goods and services.  It is proposed to be levied at all… Continue reading Centre to hasten GST refunds: 

A few sacks of rice:  Brief overview The article talks about how Indian government’s stance on the Rohingya issue is imprudent, myopic and untenable from the point of view of security, history and morality respectively. An imprudent policy from security point of view The Indian government has declared the Rohingya to be illegal immigrants not… Continue reading A few sacks of rice: 

‘It is for States to crack down on cow vigilantes’:  Overview The State governments have a responsibility to crack down on cow vigilante groups and prepare a counter-mechanism to act against and prosecute cow vigilantes. What has happened? A Supreme Court Bench (led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra) has ordered the Chief Secretaries… Continue reading ‘It is for States to crack down on cow vigilantes’: 

Hasina floats five-point peace plan:  Context: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has put forward a five-point proposal at the 72nd UN General Assembly (UNGA) to find a permanent solution to the Rohingya crisis What are the five proposals? Myanmar must stop the violence and the practice of ethnic cleansing in the Rakhine State permanently and… Continue reading Hasina floats five-point peace plan: