Author: ForumIAS

Not by diktat alone Context Supreme Court does right to make playing of the national anthem before a film optional Removed Coercive element By making it optional for cinema halls to play the national anthem before every show, the Supreme Court has at last removed the coercive element it had unfortunately introduced by an interim order in… Continue reading Not by diktat alone

BCI notice to MPs MLAs on legal practice Context The Bar Council of India, the country’s apex lawyers’ body, on Wednesday asked Members of Parliament and State Assembly legislators, who double up as advocates, to respond on why they should not be banned  from legal practice. BCI notice to MPs, MLAs on legal practice An… Continue reading BCI notice to MPs MLAs on legal practice

China to fund base in Afghanistan Context China will fund construction of an Afghan counterterrorism base in Badakshan province to block cross-border infiltration of the ethnic Uyghur militants Counterterrosrim base in Badakshan to check cross-border infiltration Fergana News Agency (FNA) has quoted Gen. Dawlat Waziri of the Afghan Defence Ministry as saying that China will… Continue reading China to fund base in Afghanistan

A difficult year  Context Besides the Rohingya crisis, Myanmar is under scrutiny on press freedoms and the Panglong peace process Crucial 2018 for Myanmar The year 2017 did not proceed favourably for either the civilian government or the military establishment, which continues to hold considerable power over state institutions. International attention to the following issues:… Continue reading A difficult year 

Visa heartache Context The United States’ H-1B visa has for decades been a source of nail-biting tension in India. The latest case in point was a scare that President Donald Trump’s administration was toying with the idea of new regulations that would restrict extension of the visa by those awaiting a green card Fears of… Continue reading Visa heartache

SC asks for panels on Mullaperiyar dam Context Directions by the Supreme Court wrt Mullaiperiyar Dam Directions by SC The Supreme Court on Thursday directed Union government to set up a special committee to exclusively prepare disaster management plans wrt Mullaiperiyar Dam SC also directed Tamil Nadu, which owns the dam, and Kerala, where it is situated,… Continue reading SC asks for panels on Mullaperiyar dam

Space companies bet big on PSLV Context At least three overseas space companies have bet big on the PSLV-C40 launch of Friday. They each have put a 100-kg-class microsatellite on it as a testbed of their potential future constellations Other launches Also, at least two older constellation operators have brought new batches to be put… Continue reading Space companies bet big on PSLV

India UK hold trade talks in Brexit’s shadow, eye FTA Context Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu held talks with his British counterpart, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox on Thursday, as the two countries look for opportunities to boost trade and investment, including via a potential Free Trade Agreement, as Britain prepares to leave the European… Continue reading India UK hold trade talks in Brexit’s shadow, eye FTA

Ready for sale  Context The decision to allow 49% foreign stake in Air India sets the stage for its privatisation A key change in FDI norms Allowing up to 49% overseas ownership, including by a foreign airline, in Air India. This comes just a little more than six months after the Cabinet Committee on Economic… Continue reading Ready for sale 

Virtual Aadhar ID: too little. too late Context The move to introduce an “untested” virtual ID to address security concerns over Aadhaar database is a step in the right direction, but may be a case of too little, too late, according to experts, as many of the 119 crore Aadhaar holders have already shared their… Continue reading Virtual Aadhar ID: too little. too late