Author: ForumIAS

IPFT team to meet Rajnath over separate state demand  Context A 10-member delegation of Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) would leave for New Delhi on Tuesday to hold talks with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and the top brass of BJP over its contentious separate state demand Backdrop Twenty seats in 60-member Tripura Assembly are… Continue reading IPFT team to meet Rajnath over separate state demand 

Unseemly haste  Context The triple talaq Bill and the fantasy of legislative-judicial collaboration Author’s contention Author contends that the Bill is at odds with the very judgment that it purports to reinforce Contradictions Terms triple talaq an illegal divorce: The statement of objects and reasons accompanying the Bill indicates that it is meant to give… Continue reading Unseemly haste 

US drastically cut aid to Pakistan in the Obama years  Context U.S. President Donald Trump’s New Year tweet is indicative that his administration is not satisfied by Pakistan’s response on terror. A month ago, U.S. Secretary of Defence James Mattis had told Pakistan during a visit that it “must redouble its efforts to confront militants… Continue reading US drastically cut aid to Pakistan in the Obama years 

Seize the Asian century  Context The old economic order is dead, but India and China must take the lead to preserve its successes Three decades of success No other period in human history has seen as many people lifted out of absolute poverty as in the three decades since the mid-1980s. That is largely because… Continue reading Seize the Asian century 

US foolishly gave money to Pakistan  Context Pakistan was U.S. President Donald Trump’s target of ire on January 1 as he threatened to stop U.S. aid to Islamabad What has Mr Trump said? The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have… Continue reading US foolishly gave money to Pakistan 

Warming may turn quarter of earth arid  Context Over a quarter of the world’s land could become significantly drier even if global warming is limited to the target of two degree Celsius, according to scientists including one of Indian origin Threat could be curbed if temperature is limited to 1.5 degrees The change would cause… Continue reading Warming may turn quarter of earth arid 

Ministry gives final nod for Barak missiles, bombs’  Context The Defence Ministry on Tuesday gave the final approvals for the procurement of 131 Barak missiles for the Navy and 240 precision-guided munitions (PGM) for the Indian Air Force (IAF), together estimated at ₹1,714 crore. The proposals were cleared by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the Ministry… Continue reading Ministry gives final nod for Barak missiles, bombs’ 

On the ledger  Context Expenditure data underline the government’s challenge on fiscal consolidation Fiscal deficit increased Eight months into the financial year, or until end November, the Union government’s fiscal deficit — the amount by which its expenditure exceeds revenue — had already overshot the year’s budget target by a significant ₹65,573 crore Some Insights: And as… Continue reading On the ledger 

Factory activity quickens in Dec: PMI  Context Manufacturing activity quickened to the fastest pace in five years in December, bolstered by a sharp rise in output and new orders, according to a private sector survey. ‘Survey reading of 54.7 shows fastest pace of expansion in five years; GST pushes up raw material costs’ The Nikkei… Continue reading Factory activity quickens in Dec: PMI 

How a British war memorial became a symbol of Dalit pride  Context Ambedkar’s visit to the battle site on January 1, 1927, revitalised the memory of the battle for the Dalit community, making it a rallying point and an assertion of pride. The History The Koregaon Ranstambh (victory pillar) is an obelisk in Bhima-Koregaon village… Continue reading How a British war memorial became a symbol of Dalit pride