Author: ForumIAS

Growing forests  Context A scientific national plan to expand good green cover is absolutely essential Author’s contention Author states that the disclosure in Parliament that the Centre is not ready with the rules to implement the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016 demonstrates that the government’s resolve to meet a variety of environmental objectives, including major commitments under… Continue reading Growing forests 

‘Bitcoin too small in India to be regulated’  Context Bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies will see increasing use in India, according to industry players, who say that, right now, the sector is too small to be regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) or Finance Ministry Price volatility Bitcoin companies also say that volatility in… Continue reading ‘Bitcoin too small in India to be regulated’ 

SEBI tightens rating agency, MF norms  Context Tightening of norms by SEBI What has happened? The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has tightened the norms for credit rating agencies (CRAs) and mutual funds (MFs) to reduce instances of conflict of interest It also allowed complete integration of stock and commodity exchanges to enable… Continue reading SEBI tightens rating agency, MF norms 

Testing times  Context Financial Stability report released by RBI News The Central government has been working hard to address India’s twin balance sheet problem, but it hasn’t had much to show in the form of results. The Financial Stability Report released by the Reserve Bank of India, for one, suggests that India is still far… Continue reading Testing times 

India leads in global milk production  Context Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh on Thursday said during the past three years, India has outpaced the global milk production with an annual growth rate of 5.53% compared with the 2.09% achieved globally The occasion He was speaking at the Consultative Committee meeting on Dairy Development held… Continue reading India leads in global milk production 

Listen to these four girls  Context The tragic suicide of students in Panapakkam in Tamil Nadu points to the crisis that grips India’s education system  Child psychology If you consult a typical textbook on adolescent psychology, you will find such emotions to be common The text will probably dwell on identity, self-worth and petulance Teachers… Continue reading Listen to these four girls 

WHO to classify ‘gaming disorder’ as mental health condition  Context With more and more youngsters getting hooked on video games, both online and offline, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is set to classify gaming disorder as a mental health condition next year. Nearly 7% of population that was studied exhibited symptoms of depression and anxiety,… Continue reading WHO to classify ‘gaming disorder’ as mental health condition 

The old order changeth not  Context Many redundant laws have been repealed. But much of the deadwood waits to be removed, especially in states. Government has done its part The government has identified around 1,800 laws that require to be removed from the statute books In the past three years, Parliament has repealed about 1,200 obsolete… Continue reading The old order changeth not 

Legal excess  Context The triple talaq bill is a textbook case of overcriminalisation Quote Every punishment which does not arise from absolute necessity, says Montesquieu, is tyrannical Only as a last resort In fact, criminal law should be used only as a “last resort” (ultima ratio) and only for the “most reprehensible wrongs”.  Excessive use… Continue reading Legal excess 

Bill to criminalise triple talaq passed in Lok Sabha   Context Amidst protests from a few political parties, including those close to the BJP, the Lok Sabha on Thursday passed by voice vote the Bill that makes instant triple talaq or talaq-e-biddat a criminal offence, with a jail term of up to three years.  Govt. refuses Congress’s plea… Continue reading Bill to criminalise triple talaq passed in Lok Sabha