Author: ForumIAS

WTO: India hardens stand on e-commerce Context No to negotiations on binding rules in e-commerce; terms ‘investment facilitation and proposed norms on small firms’ as non-trade issues. What happened? India has hardened its position at the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) meeting here not only on issues relating to e-commerce, but also against investment facilitation as… Continue reading WTO: India hardens stand on e-commerce

FRDI: ‘Depositors will be protected’ Context Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has categorically asserted that depositors would be “fully protected” in the event of a bank failure. Backdrop: Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill 2017 is before the Joint Committee of Parliament Mounting concerns about a proposed ‘bail-in’ clause in a draft legislation on financial resolution bail-in’ clause, which allows for the cancellation or modification of bank deposits to shore up… Continue reading FRDI: ‘Depositors will be protected’

No WTO deal without food security: India Context India has said it cannot envisage any negotiated outcome, at the ongoing meeting of the World Trade Organisation’s apex decision-making body, which does not include successful resolution of the food security right issue. Only Unconditional Solution acceptable India has already made it clear that it will not accept a ‘permanent solution’ with… Continue reading No WTO deal without food security: India

Need all-out push on terror: RIC Context Agreeing to uphold the rule of law in international affairs, Russia, India and China commended the victory of the Moscow-led counter-terrorism operation in Syria. Syrian-led, Syrian-owned After the 15th trilateral meeting of the three Foreign Ministers held here under the RIC grouping, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and… Continue reading Need all-out push on terror: RIC

In an elite club: On India’s Wassenaar entry Context India’s admittance into the Wassenaar Arrangement, a multilateral export control regime, as its 42nd participating member is a big step forward in its quest for formal acceptance as a responsible nuclear power. Fact This has come a year after India made the request for membership Wassenaar… Continue reading In an elite club: On India’s Wassenaar entry

The power play in peacekeeping Context Though Indian troops have led the way, the returns in UN power play have been low. The contrast with China is stark No Media Coverage to UN Peacekeeping Operations Media coverage of peacekeeping operations is an area with many gaps Recent Incidence Consider for example, an incident last week,… Continue reading The power play in peacekeeping

Powering rural healthcare  Context Around 38 million Indians rely on health facilities without electricity. Without access to regular power supply, numerous life-saving interventions cannot be undertaken What has happened? A study, ‘Powering Primary Healthcare through Solar in India: Lessons from Chhattisgarh’, published recently by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) and supported by Oxfam India… Continue reading Powering rural healthcare 

Max, Fortis effect: IMA for self-regulation for doctors Context No hospital can force its consultants to work on targets and the choice of drugs and devices should rest with the doctors based on the affordability of a patient and not the hospital management What has happened? The Indian Medical Association has urged State governments to… Continue reading Max, Fortis effect: IMA for self-regulation for doctors

Investment facilitation, norms for small firms gain push at WTO talks Context Ongoing WTO’s Nairobi ministerial News Midway through the negotiations involving 164 World Trade Organisation (WTO) member nations being held here, India is holding its ground on issues such as food security as well as the centrality of development in the talks However, a notable group of countries, including Pakistan and China,… Continue reading Investment facilitation, norms for small firms gain push at WTO talks

Ministry clarifies tax norms for IT exports: Context The Finance Ministry has clarified that apprehensions related to the negative effects of certain tax demands on the software industry were without basis Clarification Government issued the following statement “It was reported in certain sections of the press that tax officials had raised tax demand in respect of export of IT/IT enabled… Continue reading Ministry clarifies tax norms for IT exports: