Author: ForumIAS

Dialling The Wrong Number:  Context: The Union government’s order to re-verification of cellphone subscribers What is the issue all about? The government has directed the telecom operators to re-verify cellphone subscribers The notice threatened disconnection of cellphone connections if a user failed to link their Aadhaar prior February 28, 2018 Why is the order being… Continue reading Dialling The Wrong Number: 

Turn the economic ship around:  Brief Overview of the article The article talks about the problems faced by humanity in the form of poverty, unemployment and inequality and the failure of the current economic system to find a solution to them. The article puts forward the idea of a new economic system known as ‘social… Continue reading Turn the economic ship around: 

A Blinkered Justice:  Issue The article examines Punjab and Haryana High Court’s observations in an order in a rape case, characterising the victim as a person with a “promiscuous attitude and a voyeuristic mind”. The observation by the High court seems disturbing and disappointing. About the case The case relates to a rape incident that… Continue reading A Blinkered Justice: 

Time for a Reserve Bank of India ‘dot plot’:  Context: For the smooth running of Monetary Policy Committee, dot plot is an useful tool. What is Monetary Policy Committee? On 22 September 2016, India’s monetary policy framework took a significant step forward, with the formation of the monetary policy committee (MPC). The committee was created… Continue reading Time for a Reserve Bank of India ‘dot plot’: 

How financial services incumbents can keep up:  Context Disruption in India’s financial services business could follow a two-way path, gradually and suddenly. What is the best example of such disruptions? Uber and Airbnb have disrupted the transportation and hotel industry; a union of factors is creating the opportunity to disrupt India’s financial services. What are… Continue reading How financial services incumbents can keep up: 

Of new ecosystems and more competition: Context Instead of adding skills and services in-house, companies are proactively partnering with other organizations What is happening? There is a fundamental shift in industry today of ecosystems, rather than individual firms, competing with each other. Companies are looking outside their organizations to acquire skills and capabilities rather than… Continue reading Of new ecosystems and more competition:

What stimulus?:  Context: Ways to revive the Indian economy Why there is an expectation of a fiscal stimulus amongst a large section of industry and economists? There is no sign of revival in corporate investment or exports There is a slow-down in private consumption due to jobless scenario What should the government do? The government… Continue reading What stimulus?: 

New foray into the great game:  Context: The question of a larger Indian role in securing Afghanistan is expected to figure prominently in the talks between the visiting US Defense Secretary James Mattis and the Indian leadership. Introduction: The visit of Mattis is likely to give a concrete shape on expanding India-US security cooperation in… Continue reading New foray into the great game: 

Case for a fiscal push:  Context Policies should focus on recapitalizing banks, giving incentives to sectors like telecom and housing, and alleviating the disruption caused by demonetization and GST. Need for a counter-cyclical fiscal policy Any talk of a fiscal stimulus is sure to make the purist amongst economists raise a red flag. Even policy-makers… Continue reading Case for a fiscal push: 

India, S. Korea to upgrade FTA at ‘earliest’:   Context: There is low utilisation of the FTA by India due to the complicated provisions in the India-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and South Korea’s regulations. What are the complications? Going by the FTA, Indian English language teachers should be getting opportunities to teach in primary… Continue reading India, S. Korea to upgrade FTA at ‘earliest’: