Author: ForumIAS

Banks face Rs. 20,000 cr. bond losses: report Context: Indian bank are starting at Rs 20,000 crore losses in the bond portfolio in the January-March quarter, which is three times more than the losses incurred in the Oct-Dec quarter. Highlight from the report: As per the Credit Suisse(Swiss multinational financial services holding company, headquartered in… Continue reading Banks face Rs. 20,000 cr. bond losses: report

India-China trade hits a record $84.4 billion Context: The India-China bilateral trade has reached $84.44 billion last year. Rise in bilateral trade: The bilateral trade in 2017 rose by 18.63% year-on-year to reach $84.44 billion. The volume of bilateral trade for the first time touched $80 billion above the $71.18 billion registered last year. Prevailing… Continue reading India-China trade hits a record $84.4 billion

Cabinet approves easing spectrum cap Context: The Union Cabinet has approved relaxing the cap on spectrum holding by telcos Details: The Cabinet has also given telcos the option to extend the time period for payment of spectrum bought in auction to 16 years from the present 10 years. This is likely to help with the… Continue reading Cabinet approves easing spectrum cap

Aadhaar uncertainty can’t go on, says judge Context: Justice D.Y. Chandrachud highlighted the prevailing uncertainty and dangers, especially in the banking and financial sectors, of waiting till the “last minute” to extend the March 31 deadline for Aadhaar linkage. What is in news? Supreme Court: The Supreme Court expressed displeasure over banks, mobile phone companies… Continue reading Aadhaar uncertainty can’t go on, says judge

Centre’s reply sought on Rohingya Context: The Supreme Court has asked the government to reply to a plea by Rohingya refugees to treat them on a par with the Sri Lankan refugees in India as far as health care and education are concerned. Details: The court was informed by Prashant Bhushan, counsel for the Rohingya… Continue reading Centre’s reply sought on Rohingya

Sri Lanka must act firmly on anti-Muslim violence Context: It is time that the Sri Lanka’s government had decisively and impartially put down anti-Muslim violence. Background: In recent years, Muslims have been targeted by extreme right-wing groups, which are presumably looking for new enemies after the fall of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).… Continue reading Sri Lanka must act firmly on anti-Muslim violence

Balkrishna Doshi wins architecture’s top Pritzker Prize, first Indian to do so Context: Nonagenarian architect and reputed urban planner Balkrishna Doshi has been named this year’s winner of architecture’s highest honour — the Pritzker Prize. Why is it in news? Balkrishna Doshi is the first Indian to receive the award. Balkrishna Doshi’s contribution to architecture:… Continue reading Balkrishna Doshi wins architecture’s top Pritzker Prize, first Indian to do so

The power of numbers Context: Collecting data about sexual violence is a crucial step towards breaking the culture of silence Statistics Difference in perceptions about the prevalence of sexual harassment: When the India Human Development Survey (IHDS) asked men and women in over 40,000 households about how often young women in their neighbourhoods were harassed,… Continue reading The power of numbers

‘Provide safety to couples facing threat’ Context: The Centre suggested that couples facing a threat to their lives from relatives or community Panchayats like khap should have a provision to inform the officer who is registering their marriage. Why is it in news? The Centre acknowledged that ‘honour killing’ is neither separately defined nor classified… Continue reading ‘Provide safety to couples facing threat’

WHO launches plan for cheaper TB drugs Context: The World Health Organization (WHO) recently invited pharmaceutical companies around the world to submit proposals to manufacture affordable version of newer medicines for treatment of drug resistant tuberculosis. Introduction: India has nearly 1.3 lakh DR-TB patients. However, the Health Ministry gets only 10,000 doses of Bedaquiline and… Continue reading WHO launches plan for cheaper TB drugs