Author: ForumIAS

How the 2G controversy shaped telecom policy, impacted industry  Context Earlier this year, the Reserve Bank of India red-flagged the telecom industry and asked banks to review their exposure to the sector. Revamp of Telecom Sector: Changes The cancellation of telecom licences by the Supreme Court in 2012 in the 2G case prompted the key stakeholders… Continue reading How the 2G controversy shaped telecom policy, impacted industry 

Raise social security budget, Jaitley told  Context Sixty of India’s leading development economists wrote to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday asking for a big increase in the budget allocation for social security pensions and maternity entitlements. Economists for higher widow pension Sixty of India’s leading development economists wrote to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on… Continue reading Raise social security budget, Jaitley told 

‘PSBs not meeting recap target’  Context The Finance Ministry on Wednesday said it had not provided the entire amount towards capital infusion in public sector banks as most of them failed to meet the performance target. Indradhanush Plan As part of the Indradhanush Plan to revitalise state-owned lenders, the government had proposed to infuse Rs.… Continue reading ‘PSBs not meeting recap target’ 

The outlook for oil in 2018  Context The price of oil rose this year as the supply-cut agreement signed by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in 2016 managed to survive despite a lot of speculation otherwise. A bull market looks unlikely  How did oil fare in 2017? The price of oil rose this… Continue reading The outlook for oil in 2018 

Rising crude oil prices, fiscal slippage a concern, says Patel  Context Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel voiced concern over rising crude oil prices and fiscal slippage, during the meeting of the fifth bi-monthly monetary policy review held earlier this month. Uncertainties persist on fiscal, external fronts: RBI Governor The recent upturn in crude… Continue reading Rising crude oil prices, fiscal slippage a concern, says Patel 

No systemic risk due to bitcoins as yet: Tyagi  Context Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Chairman Ajay Tyagi said that while bitcoins could not be ignored, the cryptocurrency had so far not posed any systemic risk and the government has formed a panel to look into it. Panel looking into virtual currency Regulators,… Continue reading No systemic risk due to bitcoins as yet: Tyagi 

Another tool of resolution  Context The Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill does not take away from the government’s implicit guarantee to depositors. The Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill does not take away from the government’s implicit guarantee to depositors The reason we need bank resolutions and also a special law to deal with… Continue reading Another tool of resolution 

No plan to take away J&K’s special status, says Centre  Context The government informed Parliament on Wednesday that there was no proposal as of now for abolition of Articles 35A and 370 which give special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Article 370 gives autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir The reply came in response to… Continue reading No plan to take away J&K’s special status, says Centre 

Ryan student to be tried as an adult  Context The 16-year-old student of the Ryan International School, apprehended in connection with the murder of his schoolmate Pradhyuman Thakur, will be tried as an adult, the Juvenile Justice Board said here on Wednesday. The Judgement Pronouncing its judgment around noon, the court said the juvenile in… Continue reading Ryan student to be tried as an adult 

Cleaning up  Context A permanent mechanism is needed to review laws and weed out the obsolete ones A permanent mechanism is needed to review laws and weed out the obsolete ones If law-making is a long and tedious process, it appears that unmaking existing laws is an equally arduous task  Backdrop In the latest round,… Continue reading Cleaning up