Author: ForumIAS

New direct tax law coming(TH) Context Panel, led by CBDT Member Arbind Modi, given 6 months to review IT Act 1961 What has happened? Government has constituted a task force under CBDT member Arbind Modi to review the country’s 56-year old Income Tax law and suggest a new law to replace it. Terms of reference… Continue reading New direct tax law coming(TH)

Time to change the House rules(TH Ed) Context Parliament and State legislatures need to meet more regularly Shorter winter session In the last few years, the winter session usually started in the third or fourth week of November and closed just before Christmas In 2013, the last winter session of the previous Lok Sabha started… Continue reading Time to change the House rules(TH Ed)

Cabinet nod to women cell to support skills, jobs and health(IE) Context The move, aimed at bringing gender empowerment under focus ahead of the 2019 elections, will ostensibly help the BJP to justify its promise of SabkaSaath, Sabka Vikas What has happened? The Union Cabinet has given approval for setting up of the Pradhan Mantri Mahila… Continue reading Cabinet nod to women cell to support skills, jobs and health(IE)

Amendment related to bamboo in non-forest areas gets Cabinet nod(IE) Context The Section in question includes bamboo, along with “skumps, brush-wood and canes”, within the ambit of “tree” Useful Fact India has the largest area under bamboo cultivation and is the second richest in terms of bamboo genetic resources after China What has happened? No need… Continue reading Amendment related to bamboo in non-forest areas gets Cabinet nod(IE)

Gram panchayat certificate no proof of citizenship: SC(TH) Context A certificate of residency issued by a gram panchayat is not a document of citizenship and is “meaningless” unless supported by some other valid record to make a claim for inclusion in the National Register of Citizenship (NRC), the Supreme Court said Citizenship in India Citizenship… Continue reading Gram panchayat certificate no proof of citizenship: SC(TH)

Bankruptcy code to be amended(TH) Context The Union Cabinet has approved a proposal to promulgate an Ordinance to amend the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) Objective The move is intended to strengthen the IBC. It will Prevent certain persons from regaining control: Prevent certain persons — including wilful defaulters, disqualified directors, those who have indulged… Continue reading Bankruptcy code to be amended(TH)

Salaries of judges set to increase(TH) Context The Union Cabinet has approved hikes in the salaries of High Court and Supreme Court judges What has happened? Union cabinet has approved a hike in the salaries of HC & SC judges Acts to be amended Following acts would need to be amended as a result, The… Continue reading Salaries of judges set to increase(TH)

Pak.court frees Hafiz Saeed(TH) Context Saeed, a declared terrorist by the U.N., the U.S. and India for his involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, had been under house arrest since January 2017 What has happened? A Pakistani court has ordered the release of Hafiz Saeed, the chief of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and one of the alleged… Continue reading Pak.court frees Hafiz Saeed(TH)

 Inclusive lessons (TH Ed) Context Educational under-representation & low political participation of disadvantaged Indian Muslim women Divisions Author states that if we have to achieve equality amongst Muslims we need to take into account the actual divisions that exist b/w Muslim men & women and upper-class (Ashraf) and other (Ajlaf) Muslims Facts As per 2011 census,… Continue reading  Inclusive lessons (TH Ed)

Unite to fight dark forces in digital space: PM (TH) Context Modi calls for sharing of information and coordination among nations and creation of cyber warriors to ensure safety Backdrop The Global Conference on Cyber Space (GCCS), attended by delegates from 131 countries Key Points from PM’s address: Striking a balance Possible to strike a… Continue reading Unite to fight dark forces in digital space: PM (TH)