Author: ForumIAS

‘Can commit $2 bn in guarantees for India’  Context The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency — an arm of the World Bank group — which provides non-commercial guarantees, has supported 110 countries with $19 billion in guarantees across 850 projects. MIGA’s guarantees can trigger about five times as much in FDI, says its CEO MIGA’s CEO… Continue reading ‘Can commit $2 bn in guarantees for India’ 

PSBs asked to rationalise overseas, domestic branches  Context The finance ministry has asked public sector banks to look at rationalising their domestic and overseas branches as part of the reform process to strengthen their financials. FinMin move is part of process to bolster balance sheets The banks have been advised to pursue closure of loss-making… Continue reading PSBs asked to rationalise overseas, domestic branches 

Economy Individual insolvency code in phases: Sahoo  Context Steering the ‘smooth and fast-paced’ journey of the insolvency law, the IBBI is now looking to put in place the regime for individual insolvency in a phased manner, according to its Chairperson M.S. Sahoo. Guarantors are priority in phase one’ About 500 corporates have been admitted for… Continue reading Economy Individual insolvency code in phases: Sahoo 

‘Condonation of delay scheme only for bona fide directors’ Context Only bona fide directors will benefit from the proposed scheme that will provide a three-month window for defaulting companies to submit their filings, a senior government official said. Plan not open for directors of ‘struck-off’ firms, says Corporate Affairs Secretary The Condonation of Delay Scheme,… Continue reading ‘Condonation of delay scheme only for bona fide directors’

34 power projects in distress; Centre not to bear NPAs  Context Chhattisgarh accounts for 10 of the projects; government says contracting parties must honour the PPAs even if conditions turn difficult Backdrop Last week, the Ministry submitted a list of 34 such projects to a parliamentary panel on energy. Ten of them are in the… Continue reading 34 power projects in distress; Centre not to bear NPAs 

Power of the collective: on intimate partner violence  Context Self-help groups can help address the problem of intimate partner violence Self-help groups can help address the problem of intimate partner violence Violent acts, at the hands of a husband or a partner (intimate partner violence, or IPV), are distressingly common worldwide Beliefs These stem from… Continue reading Power of the collective: on intimate partner violence 

Skewed outlay for defence: panel  Context Expressing concern over the decreasing share of capital allocation in the defence budget compared with the revenue component, adversely the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence said the Defence Ministry should overhaul its planning and budgeting mechanism to ensure “a prudent and equitable distribution of funds to revenue and capital… Continue reading Skewed outlay for defence: panel 

Centre moves SC against fixed term for police chiefs  Context The Union government has filed an interlocutory application in the Supreme Court to amend a 2006 order of the court that is being used by the States to appoint “favourites” as Directors-General of Police. Says States are appointing ‘favourites’ The Union government has filed an… Continue reading Centre moves SC against fixed term for police chiefs 

A glimmer of hope? – on transgender identity  Context   Self-identification should be the basis for access to benefits and entitlements for transgender persons Self-identification should be the basis for access to benefits and entitlements for transgender persons Will the long years of waiting to recognise the identity of transgender persons finally end in this… Continue reading A glimmer of hope? – on transgender identity 

On the line: on India-China boundary talks  Context The meeting between the Special Representatives of India and China —  National Adviser Ajit Doval and State Councillor Yang Jiechi— on the boundary question on December 22, the 20th so far, was unique for a number of reasons Why this meeting was unique? After a period of… Continue reading On the line: on India-China boundary talks