Author: ForumIAS

Was purandara Dasa born in a Malnad village? Context There is much speculation about where Purandara Dasa, regarded as the pitamaha of Carnatic music, was born. Now, an expert committee constituted by Kannada University, Hampi, has come to the conclusion that it was most likely a small village called Kshemapura (now called Keshavapura) at Araga hobli in… Continue reading Was purandara Dasa born in a Malnad village?

Australia seeks rescue ideas for reef  Context Australia is calling on the world’s top scientific minds to help save the Great Barrier Reef, offering hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund research into protecting the world’s largest living structure. Factors damaging Coral Reef Coral bleaching Farming runoff Development Predatory crown-of-thorns starfish Fund announced Australian government… Continue reading Australia seeks rescue ideas for reef 

Centre to seek comments on farm export policy draft  Context The Commerce Ministry will soon put out a draft Agricultural Export Policy for comments from the public, according to a senior official. Policy aims to boost produce shipments, value addition’ The proposed policy, which aims to boost shipments of farm items by identifying niche products… Continue reading Centre to seek comments on farm export policy draft 

Following the grain trail Context Many States have initiated ‘reforms’ of the public distribution system that are hurting millions of people India’s public distribution system (PDS) is in danger of being derailed in several States across the country. Biometric mix-ups: Jharkhand Jharkhand is a prime example of this problem Specific Reforms were undertaken By mid-2016,… Continue reading Following the grain trail

Goa plea against Mahadayi dams misleading: Karnataka Context Terming the Goa submission challenging Karnataka’s trans-basin diversion of Mahadayi waters into the Malaprabha reservoir as “misleading and contradictory”, State Water Resources Minister M.B. Patil said water has been shared with Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra from the Krishna basin by the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (KWDT) in… Continue reading Goa plea against Mahadayi dams misleading: Karnataka

Haj subsidies to be phased out: Naqvi  Context Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Tuesday announced the Centre would phase out subsidies for the annual Haj pilgrimage, two months after his Ministry had taken the decision. Dignity without appeasement It is part of the Modi government’s efforts to empower minorities with dignity… Continue reading Haj subsidies to be phased out: Naqvi 

Colour-coded passports draw flak in Kerala  Context The Central government’s decision to issue orange colour passports to persons requiring emigration check has evoked an angry reaction from leaders and organisations cutting across political lines in Kerala. Says Central govt decision is discriminatory and violative of human rights In a Facebook post, the Chief Minister said… Continue reading Colour-coded passports draw flak in Kerala 

Govt to revisit Malimath report  Context A 2003 report of a Committee on reforms in the criminal justice system that recommended admissibility of confessions made before a police officer as evidence in a court of law is being revisited by the Centre, a senior government official said. The Malimath panel had made 158 recommendations but these… Continue reading Govt to revisit Malimath report 

Rohingya refugees to return in 2 years  Context Bangladesh and Myanmar  have agreed to repatriate 650,000 Rohingya refugees, who fled Myanmar’s crisis-hit Rakhine province, in two years, according to an agreement signed between the two countries. Bangladesh, Myanmar sign deal The countries held the first meeting of a joint working group on the issue in… Continue reading Rohingya refugees to return in 2 years 

US deported 460 Indians in 2017  Context Tougher implementation of immigration laws in the U.S in the first year of Donald Trump presidency has resulted in 30 percent increase in arrests, compared to the previous year, but deportations have come down. While the overall number of undocumented people deported from the U.S in 2017 decreased… Continue reading US deported 460 Indians in 2017