Author: ForumIAS

Making up for lost time Context: Justice Trudeau , Canada’s  Prime Minister’s visit to India. Introduction: This is his first trip to India after he became Prime Minister in 2015. Khalistani issue: The ‘Khalistani’ issue has figured prominently between India and Canada at all levels. However, Canadian political leaders and parties continue to mollycoddle the… Continue reading Making up for lost time

A deepening crisis Context: In 1966, the Kothari Commission had recommended that India should target at spending 6% of its GDP on education. However, even after 5 decades, India’s spending on education remains very low. Why in news? When it comes to the education, Union Budget 2018 has offered a marginal increase on different routine… Continue reading A deepening crisis

You value a rape at ₹6,500, ‘shocked’ SC asks M.P. govt. Context: Are you doing charity by paying ₹6,500 to a rape victim, asked the Supreme Court on Thursday after going through an affidavit filed by the Madhya Pradesh government on the compensation given under the Nirbhaya Fund scheme. Introduction: The Supreme Court said that… Continue reading You value a rape at ₹6,500, ‘shocked’ SC asks M.P. govt.

Dealing with hijacking Context: India had repealed Anti-Hijacking Act of 1982 in 2016 The need for new stricter law: The hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC-814 in 1999 and the 9/11 attacks in the U.S., in which aircraft were used as missiles, made India realize that it needs to tighten the 1982 anti-hijacking law. The… Continue reading Dealing with hijacking

Chandrayaan-II to be launched in April Context: India’s second moon mission, Chandrayaan-II, which would land a rover on the lunar surface is expected to be launched in April this year. Chandrayaan-I discovered water on the moon and this will mission will be  an extension of that. About Chandrayaan II: Chandrayaan-II would cost about Rs. 800… Continue reading Chandrayaan-II to be launched in April

Solar alliance biggest win since Paris accord, says PM Context: Recently at the inaugural session of the World Sustainable Development Summit, PM Modi has said that the biggest development on tackling climate change since the Paris Accord of 2015 has been the International Solar Alliance. About International Solar Alliance (ISA) The ISA was launched on… Continue reading Solar alliance biggest win since Paris accord, says PM

Brewing higher profits and saving birds on the farm Context: According to a recently published research in the journal Scientific Reports, Arabica coffee helps both farmers and wild birds in the Ghats. Issues with Robusta Plantations around the World: Native trees are cut down to grow Robusta, in order to give it more sunlight. Thus… Continue reading Brewing higher profits and saving birds on the farm

Case histories Context: The government’s intention to launch the world’s largest health insurance programme, the National Health Protection Scheme, raises an important issue. Issues: 1-   Should the focus be on the demand side of health-care finance when the supply side, the public health infrastructure, is in a shambles? Experience with insurance schemes, such as… Continue reading Case histories

Not a prescription for the poor Context: The National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) is being hailed as the biggest takeaway for the aam aadmi in this year’s Budget. Problems: The Budget promised to provide insurance coverage to an estimated 50 crore poor beneficiaries through the NHPS. There are two problems with this claim. Old scheme:… Continue reading Not a prescription for the poor

How did system allow PNB fraud, asks CVC Context: The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), India’s apex body for checking corruption in the government, has summoned senior officials from the Reserve Bank of India, the Finance Ministry, along with the Chief Vigilance Officer of Punjab National Bank (PNB), early next week to assess how the ₹11,500… Continue reading How did system allow PNB fraud, asks CVC