Author: ForumIAS

Govt. to borrow more; fiscal deficit may widen  Context The Centre has decided to borrow an additional ₹50,000 crore in the last three months of this financial year, a move that some economists said could result in the government missing its budgeted fiscal deficit target of 3.2% of GDP Countermeasure The additional borrowing, which would… Continue reading Govt. to borrow more; fiscal deficit may widen 

Nuclear weapons at a glance   Context Nuclear weapons What is the status of nuclear weapons in 2017? These are the lone category of weapons of mass destruction still to be outlawed, although the very first resolution of the UN General Assembly pledged was regarding their abolition The good news, in the form of the adoption… Continue reading Nuclear weapons at a glance  

Through the smog – screen  Context Delhi’s residents must take the blame for the city’s alarming pollution levels A new low? When Sri Lankan cricketers trooped out wearing pollution masks in the middle of a Test match at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground in Delhi, it heralded a new low for the city. Regular affair The desolation… Continue reading Delhi Air pollution

A very flawed law  Context The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill 2017, which is set to be tabled in Parliament today, is riddled with so many internal contradictions that one is left wondering what purpose it would serve. The proposed Bill criminalising instant talaq has no legal basis, and is riddled with… Continue reading A very flawed law 

Cooperate on curbing online sex determination ads  The Supreme Court has held that the government has a role in controlling the virtual world and has ordered major online search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Microsoft to co-operate with the Centre to make concrete suggestions against publication of online pre-natal sex determination ads rather than… Continue reading Cooperate on curbing online sex determination ads 

The diagnostic lens  Context A paper in the Indian journal Current Science suggests an unexpected cause for the inflammatory brain disease — encephalitis — found in Malkangiri district of Odisha. It’s time doctors updated their understanding of encephalitis For many years, this recurring outbreak, which killed over 100 children last year, was thought to be due to… Continue reading The diagnostic lens 

Kabul- mumbai cargo service on  Context India and Afghanistan on Wednesday launched an air freight corridor service connecting Kabul with Mumbai. Afghan Vice-President Sarwar Danish flagged off the first flight of the dedicated service from Kabul, six months after a similar corridor connected the city with Delhi. Real, unimpeded connectivity for Afghan traders, says India envoy… Continue reading Kabul- mumbai cargo service on 

Israel takes India’s vote in its stride  Context Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to India in a fortnight will focus on taking cooperation on “the double-T’s” of Technology, including on agriculture and water conservation and on (Counter) Terrorism to the “next level”, according to officials familiar with the planning of the visit. Coming visit… Continue reading Israel takes India’s vote in its stride 

We are aware of Chinas maritime ambitions: India  Context The Centre on Wednesday informed the Lok Sabha that it was aware of China’s ambition to emerge as a “maritime power” and indicated that India maintained a “close watch” on all developments that threatened its security. Says it is always on the lookout for any threat… Continue reading We are aware of Chinas maritime ambitions: India 

Securing net neutrality  Context Net neutrality is at the core of an open Internet that does not allow for content discrimination by ISPs. Activists in India need to be on guard to prevent any emulation of the U.S. government’s decision here In less than a year, the Donald Trump presidency in the U.S. has administered… Continue reading Securing net neutrality