Author: ForumIAS

Spike missile deal back on the table Context Israeli PM says scrapped $500 million deal is being revived. Agreement seen reflecting burgeoning defense, business ties Deal is still on India will buy Israel’s Spike anti-tank guided missiles, the Israeli media quoted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as saying, weeks after New Delhi scrapped the $500million defence… Continue reading Spike missile deal back on the table

No extra year Context By approaching the court, the Sri Lankan President looked too keen to extend his term By approaching the court, the Sri Lankan President looked too keen to extend his term The Sri Lankan Supreme Court’s ruling that President Maithripala Sirisena’s term will end when he completes five years in office comes as no… Continue reading No extra year

Long game in Syria Context The U.S.’s decision to create a new Kurdish-led border force in northeastern Syria to defend the areas captured from the Islamic State (IS) could open a new phase of conflict in in the country. Swathes of territory on the Syrian-Turkish border, mostly populated by the Kurds, are now controlled by… Continue reading Long game in Syria

Blue, white, maroon and now orange Context The Hindu Explains: Orange Passports What is an ‘orange’ passport? Citizens who fall under the Emigration Check Required (ECR) category will soon have passports with orange jackets, instead of the dark blue that has so far been the colour of all passports under the ECR and non-ECR categories… Continue reading Blue, white, maroon and now orange

Breastfeeding linked to lower diabetes risk (Deccan chronicle) Context Women who breastfeed their babies for six months or more may be able to cut their risk of developing diabetes in the future by nearly half, according to a study Tuesday About the study The findings are from a three-decade US study of more than 1,200 white… Continue reading Breastfeeding linked to lower diabetes risk (Deccan chronicle)

Left behind Context ASER (Rural) report 2017 Author’s contention Author contends that if there is one strong message from the findings of the Annual Status of Education Report (Rural) 2017, it is that the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act should cover the entire spectrum of 18 years, and not confine itself… Continue reading Left behind

Early menopause results in higher risk of heart disease: study Context A recent UK study published in Heart, an international cardiology journal, has indicated that women who start their menstruation cycle at the age of 11 or earlier, or enter menopause before 47, have a higher risk of heart disease and stroke About the study The… Continue reading Early menopause results in higher risk of heart disease: study

India to set up $350 mn fund for solar projects to meet renewable energy target  (The Hindu) Context India will set up a $350 million fund to finance solar projects, Power Minister R.K. Singh said, as the country steps up efforts to achieve its ambitious target of adding 175 gigawatts (GW) in renewable energy by 2022 Backdrop… Continue reading India to set up $350 mn fund for solar projects to meet renewable energy target

2017 was the second or third warmest year Context Last year was the second or third warmest on record behind 2016, and the hottest without an extra dose of heat caused by an El Niño event in the Pacific Ocean, the United Nations (UN) said on Thursday. Average temperatures were 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels Average… Continue reading 2017 was the second or third warmest year

Disaster warning system for Odisha by March  Context The Early Warning Dissemination System (EWDS), a project that aims at establishing a fool-proof communication system to disseminate disaster warning up to the community level, is expected to be commissioned by this March It will alert a vast population along coast through loud sirens from towers installed… Continue reading Disaster warning system for Odisha by March