Author: ForumIAS

No dilution of India, EU trade pact: Context: India and the European Union are yet to finalise a date for re-launching their Free Trade Agreement negotiations stalled since 2013. India – EU Foreign Trade Agreement (FTA) deadlock: EU was quite upbeat on pushing the talks, which had started in 2007, and finalize a date for… Continue reading No dilution of India, EU trade pact:

U.S. makes H-1B visa renewals tougher: Context: Fresh changes in rules notified by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for renewal of non-immigrant visas will severely impact H-1B visa holders. New Rules: The new rules are in line with the Donald Trump administration’s Buy American, Hire American Policy. An H-1B worker goes to the USCIS… Continue reading U.S. makes H-1B visa renewals tougher:

Centre to aid offshore e-commerce play: Context Centre plans to expand the footprint of the Indian e-commerce sector to tap potential markets outside the country, including Africa and Southeast Asia. What is the significance of expanding the ecommerce industry? Among several factors, a conscious patronization of online commerce, and an emergence of retail as a… Continue reading Centre to aid offshore e-commerce play:

Should robots be nationalised?:  Context: It is believed that If properly managed, the robotic revolution could be a chance to free millions of people from a system of exploitation of labour which is unprecedentedly inhumane. Artificial Intelligence: Artificial Intelligence is intelligent behaviour by machines, rather than the natural intelligence of humans and other animals. Artificial… Continue reading Should robots be nationalised?: 

Echoes at Doklam:  Context: Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiled his vision to make China a great power so that it “leads the world in terms of the composite national strength and international influence.” Introduction: Mr. Xi stressed that China did not “pose a threat to any other country”, he reiterated the centrality of China’s territorial… Continue reading Echoes at Doklam: 

Judges cannot decide on troop deployment: Centre:  Context Centre filed a petition in response to the Calcutta High Court order countermanding the Centre’s directive to withdraw certain companies from the two districts in West Bengal. What did the petition filed by the centre state? The court’s direction ignores and virtually obliterates the very concept of… Continue reading Judges cannot decide on troop deployment: Centre: 

Legal steps to guard digital payments:  Context: The Home Ministry has asked banks and e-wallet firms to furnish details of the extent of financial fraud reported in the past one year as digital transactions picked. Introduction:  The use of mobile wallets and online transactions has spiked since demonetisation.  A high-level committee of the Ministry convened… Continue reading Legal steps to guard digital payments: 

IIT team tracks urban heat island effect in 89 cities: Context: Between February and May, most of the Indian cities that are to be developed as Smart Cities have been found to be 1-5 degree C cooler during the day relative to the surrounding non-urban areas. Introduction: More than 60% of the total 89 urban… Continue reading IIT team tracks urban heat island effect in 89 cities:

The identity puzzle: DNA Bill:  Context:   The Law Commission of India submitted a draft of the DNA Based Technology (Use and Regulation) Bill, 2017 to the government earlier in the year. ‘The DNA Based Technology (Use and Regulation) Bill, 2017’ was prepared after examining various judicial pronouncements and constitutional provisions. The exercise was initiated by… Continue reading The identity puzzle: DNA Bill: 

A bold step in bank reform:  Context: The Government of India recently introduced the recapitalization of public sector banks. What are Non Performing Assets (NPAs)? A non performing asset (NPA) is a loan or advance for which the principal or interest payment remained overdue for a period of 90 days. Banks are required to classify… Continue reading A bold step in bank reform: