Author: ForumIAS

Record diplomatic bodies UIN : Centre Context The government has clarified that sales or supply to foreign diplomatic missions or UN organisations will not have any additional effect on the supplier’s tax liability Supplies of such nature must be recorded along with the Unique Identification Number (UIN) of the recipient. What is Unique Identification Number… Continue reading Record diplomatic bodies UIN : Centre

The forgotten people Context The focus of the media has been on the Rohingya refugees in India. But the plight of Sri Lankan refugees, staying here for nearly 35 years, appears to have gone out of the public consciousness. The living condition of Sri Lankan refugees The condition of shelters, restrictions on movement, and limited… Continue reading The forgotten people

ASEAN summit: Modi hard-sells India as an attractive investment destination (The Hindu) And Eastern promise (The Hindu) Context Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Philippines to attend the ASEAN-India summit, the East Asia Summit and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership summit has put India centre-stage in the Asian region now referred to as “Indo-Pacific”. What… Continue reading ASEAN summit: Modi hard-sells India as an attractive investment destination (The Hindu) And Eastern promise (The Hindu)

Warm, warmer  Rich countries must pay more for plans to limit and deal with climate change Context: The recent 23rd conference of the UN Framework Convention on Climate change in Bonn reveals the fact that developing countries including India are focusing on the imperatives of ensuring adequate financing for mitigation and adaptation. What has been… Continue reading Warm, warmer 

The aim is pollution control, not theatre Context: The Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment, a statutory body set up under the Environment Protection Act as well as the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA), led the shift to compressed natural gas in Delhi, to reduce air pollution. Introduction: The Supreme Court asked the… Continue reading The aim is pollution control, not theatre

Rasogolla hits sweet spot, gets GI tag  Context: The Geographical Indication (GI) Registry and Intellectual Property India recently presented the Geographical Indication Tag status to Banglar Rasogolla of West Bengal and Mamallapuram stone sculptures of Tamil Nadu. Introduction: West Bengal was involved in a lengthy battle with Odisha , which too had claimed Rasogolla as… Continue reading Rasogolla hits sweet spot, gets GI tag 

Human rights and wrongs  Context: In a recent case in the Supreme Court, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) referred to itself as “a toothless tiger”. Introduction: The NHRC has on several occasions boasted of its independence, referring to its leadership comprising a former chief justice of the Supreme Court. The recent submissions to the… Continue reading Human rights and wrongs 

Manual scavenging law to be amended to hike compensation for deaths  Context he Union government is set to amend the rules of the legislation that outlaws manual scavenging to hike compensation to Rs 10 lakh each to families of those who die while cleaning sewers or septic tanks. What is the manual scavenging law about?… Continue reading Manual scavenging law to be amended to hike compensation for deaths 

A question of probity  Context: A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court led by the Chief Justice of India, in a case concerning corruption arising out of certain judicial proceedings, declared that the master who alone could decide what case goes to which judge in the Supreme Court. The registry published a circular notifying… Continue reading A question of probity 

Can Delhi get executive powers like other States  Context The Supreme Court questioned whether the constitutional scheme on division of executive powers between the Centre and the States can be made applicable to the Union Territory of Delhi. What did the supreme court state? A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India stated… Continue reading Can Delhi get executive powers like other States