Author: ForumIAS

Ujjwala Yojana to benefit eight crore women now  Context: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the increase in the target for the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, meant to provide cooking-gas connections to rural women, to eight crore from the earlier five crore. The deadline for achieving the target is 2020. The Cabinet also approved an… Continue reading Ujjwala Yojana to benefit eight crore women now 

RBI holds rates on inflation risk Context: The Reserve Bank of India’s monetary policy committee on Wednesday decided to maintain status quo on the policy repo rate as it saw inflationary pressure building up in the economy. Key rates unchanged: The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) was headed by RBI Governor Urjit Patel The repo rate… Continue reading RBI holds rates on inflation risk

What’s wrong with one identity, asks SC Context: Aadhaar becomes the sole record by which a person can establish his identity. But questions have been raised on this theory of “one identity for one nation”. The argument: It has been argumented Government cannot reduce a citizen to just one identity, there is much more than… Continue reading What’s wrong with one identity, asks SC

Drama on the high seas, 30 years ago Context: In 1988, India intervened in the political crisis of Maldives to prevent an attempted against the then president Gayoom What was ‘Operation Cactus’? 30 years ago, in 1988, an intervention by the Indian armed forces  which was codenamed ‘Operation Cactus’ had crushed an attempted coup on… Continue reading Drama on the high seas, 30 years ago

Indian immigration conundrum  Context: The recent President Donald Trump harsh rhetoric on securing America’s borders, not only through the southern border wall with Mexico, but also stricter enforcement of controls over legal migration has created much disturbance among the Indian-Americans. The issue: Migration is the engine that powers the globally aspirational Indian of today. Historically,… Continue reading Indian immigration conundrum 

Sushma takes part in Saudi festival Context: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on 7th February participated in the national festival of Saudi Arabia and held bilateral discussions with the Saudi royals. About the Festival: Al Janadria is the national cultural festival of Saudi Arabia The festival began in 1985 under the patronage of the ruling… Continue reading Sushma takes part in Saudi festival

Khap menace Context: It is not the first time that the Supreme Court is impelled to remind khap panchayats and the society at large that they have no business interfering in the life choices of individuals regarding marriage and love. Supreme Court’s latest observations: The court’s latest observations are that khap panchayats should not act… Continue reading Khap menace

Big discoveries have small origins Context: The Economic Survey 2017-2018 has called for doubling research and development expenditure from its current level of about ₹1 lakh crore, amounting to 0.8% of the gross domestic product (GDP). Economic Survey:  Transforming Science and Technology in India. Key Highlights As per the Survey, investments in science in India… Continue reading Big discoveries have small origins

A boost to rural entrepreneurship Context: Amendments to the NABARD Act Introduction: The NABARD 1981 Act was enacted to establish a development bank to provide and regulate credit and other facilities in order to promote and develop agriculture, small-scale industries, cottage and village industries, handicrafts, and allied economic activities in rural areas. Why amendments were… Continue reading A boost to rural entrepreneurship

‘No curtailment in demand for funds under MGNREGA’ Context: No curtailment in demand for funds under MGNREGA, says Government to Supreme Court. Why in news? The Centre told the Supreme Court on Thursday that the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) was a “demand-driven scheme” and it has not curtailed the demand for… Continue reading ‘No curtailment in demand for funds under MGNREGA’