Author: ForumIAS

Pacific oceans’ 11 Context The US abandoned the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) following the Paris accord and Iran nuclear deal have raised suspicions about American commitment to well-negotiated treaties What led to the formation of the CPTPP? The United States solely contributed 60% of the combined Gross Domestic Product of the 12 members of the… Continue reading Pacific oceans’ 11

Next Door Nepal: Whose dam is it, anyway? Context: The Nepal government recently decided to annul the 1200-MW Budhi Gandaki Hydro project contract awarded to the Chinese firm Gejuwa, citing lack of transparency. Introduction: The annulment of the contract three weeks prior to the formation of the new government, expectedly, has triggered a debate. In… Continue reading Next Door Nepal: Whose dam is it, anyway?

Beyond the News- Tejas and beyond: How short the IAF is of fighters, what options it has now Context IAF is well short of the strength required to face up to a two-front threat. To be prepared for a two-front collusive threat, from China and Pakistan, is the government’s mandate for the IAF. What is… Continue reading Beyond the News- Tejas and beyond: How short the IAF is of fighters, what options it has now

Mullaperiyar: T.N. moves SC against parking project Context: The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) gave green signal to Kerala’s proposal of a mega car parking project in the water spread area of the Mullaperiyar dam. But the Tamil Nadu government raised a strong opposition against the decision. What is the project? The… Continue reading Mullaperiyar: T.N. moves SC against parking project

An app to get tiger count right Context In the forthcoming All-India Tiger Estimation, the authorities have planned to eliminate the process of manual recording of signs of the carnivore and other habitat details. Field data collection for tiger listing is set to go digital in order to reduce human error and provide more reliable… Continue reading An app to get tiger count right

A fine balance Context The GST’s anti-profiteering body must not become a tool of harassment About the National Anti-Profiteering Authority The National Anti-Profiteering Authority is empowered to crack down on firms that fail to pass on the ‘benefits’ of the tax regime to consumers. The authority can order businesses to reduce product prices or refund… Continue reading A fine balance

It’s the real economy Context: Moody’s has upgraded the Government of India’s local and foreign currency issuer ratings to Baa2 from Baa3 and changed the outlook on the rating to stable from positive. What are the benefits from the upgrade? The higher rating for India signals a lower risk grade for the government’s debt. It… Continue reading It’s the real economy

India Inc: who’s growing, who’s slowing Context Have demonetization and the rocky transition to GST brought Indian businesses to a grinding halt. Ever since the Central Statistics Office (CSO) released its GDP estimates for the April-June 2017 quarter, pegging growth at 5.7%, there has been a heated debate on the implementation of demonetization and GST.… Continue reading India Inc: who’s growing, who’s slowing

The danger of electoral bonds Context The electoral bonds characterstic of keeping secrecy and anonymity makes it an instrument to ease the flow of black money to political parties Paradise Papers leaks All these Indians on the Paradise Papers leaks had their association with shell companies set up to siphon vast sums of money out… Continue reading The danger of electoral bonds