Author: ForumIAS

Armed forces set to be reduced in Northeast Context The Home Ministry will conduct a “security audit” in the Northeast and chalk out a plan to reduce the number of Central armed police force personnel deployed there. State police to get more responsibility Insurgency related incidents in the Northeast had come down to 308 in… Continue reading Armed forces set to be reduced in Northeast

The oil risk  Context India needs to expedite steps that can help minimize the impact of higher oil prices Expensive energy As international oil prices head higher, India will have to brace itself for the economic risks of expensive energy The rise in international prices has been particularly sharp given that oil had been selling… Continue reading The oil risk 

Bad loans shrink from record peak Context India’s stock of soured bank loans shrank slightly in the quarter to September last year, the first pullback since a drive to clean up record levels of bad debt began in 2015 and signalling that tighter rules and a new bankruptcy code may be starting to show results. Regulator’s clean-up… Continue reading Bad loans shrink from record peak

Govt relaxes Atal pension plan norms Context The Centre would now allow small finance banks and payment banks to offer the Atal Pension Yojana (APY), which is expected to significantly increase the coverage of the scheme. Payment banks can offer the product To strengthen the existing channels of APY distribution, it is felt that these… Continue reading Govt relaxes Atal pension plan norms

Doklam blown out of proportion Context India’s Ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale has called for a new phase of dialogue between the countries to foster a stronger post-Doklam “partnership.” In an interview to the Global Times , ahead of the Republic Day, he said the stand-off last year should be viewed in a historical perspective. A Single… Continue reading Doklam blown out of proportion

The ASEAN embrace  Context Prime Minister Narendra Modi used India’s Republic Day to host heads of state/government of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). As India’s ‘Look East Policy’, matures into an ‘Act East Policy’, a strong relationship with ASEAN is no longer a policy option; rather it is an… Continue reading The ASEAN embrace 

India ASEAN target swift deal on RCEP Context With an aim to further trade ties, India and ASEAN on Friday agreed to target a swift conclusion to the comprehensive and mutually beneficial Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in 2018. Commit to use India’s $1-billion line of credit to enhance connectivity as per master plan for… Continue reading India ASEAN target swift deal on RCEP

Trump must walk the talk: Karzai Context Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai called upon U.S. President Donald Trump to “walk the talk” on curbing Pakistan’s support of extremist forces. Mr. Trump, in a tweet at the beginning of the year, had chastised Pakistan for giving “safe haven to terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan” Backdrop Jaipur… Continue reading Trump must walk the talk: Karzai

Natural partners in the Asian century Context There is a need for a fresh perspective in India’s China policy Continental shift Asia already accounts for almost half of the world’s population, half of the world’s container traffic, one-third of its bulk cargo and 40% of the world’s off-shore oil reserves. It is home to several… Continue reading Natural partners in the Asian century

ASEAN rising Context As leaders of the 10 countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations gathered in New Delhi this week, India’s ties with ASEAN got a dose of both symbolism and substance. The ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit, followed by their attendance at the Republic Day parade as joint chief guests, underlined the new consensus on the need… Continue reading ASEAN rising