Author: ForumIAS

House panel quizzes govt. on foreign policy  Context “India has always been there for the Maldives and will continue our commitment to be the ‘first’ friend,” said the MEA, which also acknowledged that the 2015 visit to the Maldives by Prime Minister Narendra Modi “was cancelled at the last minute due to political developments in… Continue reading House panel quizzes govt. on foreign policy 

Now, a big bubble theory  Context Scientists have said that the solar system could have formed in the bubbles produced by a giant, long-dead star, which was 40 to 50 times the size of the sun No consensus Despite the many impressive discoveries humans have made about the universe, scientists are yet to come to… Continue reading Now, a big bubble theory 

India to become fifth largset economy in 2018   Context India is set to overtake the United Kingdom and France to become the world’s fifth largest economy next year, a report said Tuesday News Currently ranked seventh, India will move up to fifth place in 2018 and vault to third spot by 2032, the Centre for… Continue reading India to become fifth largset economy in 2018  

Rs 40000 cr forest fund in limbo  Context More than a year after the Union government brought in a law to allow the States to access seamlessly nearly ₹40,000 crore for regenerating forest land lost to industry, it is still to frame rules to get the money disbursed, says a written reply given in the… Continue reading Rs 40000 cr forest fund in limbo 

IAS officers to reveal assets by January 31  Context All IAS officers have been asked to submit details of their assets by next month, failing which they would be denied vigilance clearances needed for promotions and foreign postings, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has said Directions issued The DoPT has written to all… Continue reading IAS officers to reveal assets by January 31 

How India rejects bad patents  Context In 2005, India made some remarkable amendments to the Indian Patents Act of 1970, to keep medicines affordable in the country. Since then we have faced a significant blowback not just from the global pharmaceutical industry but also from developed world including from the U.S. and the European Union. Strong… Continue reading How India rejects bad patents 

Activists pick holes in triple talaq bill  Context Triple Talaq bill What has happened? The Bhartiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA) that has been on the forefront of the battle against triple talaq is of a view that a range of changes are required in the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017 that… Continue reading Activists pick holes in triple talaq bill 

BCI mulls ban on practice by law makers  What has happened? An expert committee of the Bar Council of India is considering a plea to ban lawmakers — Members of Parliament and Members of the Assemblies — from doubling up as practising advocates, saying they are salaried public servants and cannot ride two horses at… Continue reading BCI mulls ban on practice by law makers 

Countering the growing inequality  Context Indian social policy must raise health and education levels all around, as China has done World Inequality Report The release recently of the World Inequality Report 2018 has brought into focus an aspect of economic progress in India. This is the continuous growth in inequality here since the mid-1980s To grasp this,… Continue reading Countering the growing inequality