Author: ForumIAS

CAG flags Railways’ parlous finances Context High Operating Costs of Indian Railways Wrong value reported in 2016-17 The reported operating ratio of 96.5% in 2016-17 Correct Value 99.54% if the actual expenditure on pension payments was taken into account, according to the CAG report tabled in Parliament. What does this mean? An operating ratio of… Continue reading CAG flags Railways’ parlous finances

Post-scam, RBI stops issue of LoUs What happened? In the wake of an escalating controversy over the Nirav Modi-centred scam at the Punjab National Bank (PNB), the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to discontinue the practice of providing guarantees by issuing letters of undertaking (LoUs) and letters of comfort (LoCs) for trade credits… Continue reading Post-scam, RBI stops issue of LoUs

Aadhaar link deadline extended indefinitely What happened? In a relief for citizens, the Supreme Court indefinitely extended the deadline for linking Aadhaar with mobile phones, tatkal passports and for opening bank accounts from March 31, 2018 till the Constitution Bench led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra pronounces its final verdict on the validity… Continue reading Aadhaar link deadline extended indefinitely

Legal experts divided over SC ruling on foreign law firms Context SC’s recent ruling of not allowing the foreign firms to practice in India Arguments against the ruling Liberalization of legal sector: There is a question that pertains to liberalization of the legal sector in accordance with WTO initiated global trade negotiations No intent to… Continue reading Legal experts divided over SC ruling on foreign law firms

SC shuts the door on foreign law firms What happened? Keeping India’s legal market exclusively for Indians, the Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that foreign law firms or foreign lawyers cannot practise law in the country either on the litigation or non-litigation side. What this means? This means overseas lawyers or firms cannot open offices… Continue reading SC shuts the door on foreign law firms

The French connections Context Growing partnership and cooperation between India and France Long relationship Both India and France share a similar world view Cooperation in the space sector has continued since the 1960s when France helped India set up the Sriharikota launch site, followed by liquid engine development and hosting of payloads France was the… Continue reading The French connections

Warming may ‘threaten’ half of species in 33 key regions Context The analysis commissioned by WWF and published in science journal Climatic Change What was the focus of the report? The report focused on 33 so-called “Priority Places” which host some of the world’s richest and most unusual terrestrial species, including iconic, endangered, or endemic plants… Continue reading Warming may ‘threaten’ half of species in 33 key regions

How much plastic is there in your packaged water? Context A worldwide study by Orb Media, a U.S.-based journalistic organisation Results of the study The study has found out that, A single bottle can hold dozens, or possibly even thousands, of microscopic plastic particles Contamination: Tests on more than 250 bottles from 11 brands reveal… Continue reading How much plastic is there in your packaged water?

Hawking, 1942-2018 Context Passing away of Stephen Hawking Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Stephen Hawking diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, an incurable motor neuron disease was given only two years to live His Breakthroughs Luckily, the type of ALS he had progressed slowly, and over time he made many discoveries that marked him among the great physicists… Continue reading Hawking, 1942-2018

A political choice Context The “surgical operation” earlier this month killing the mastermind of the Sunjuwan Army camp attack (Jammu) was lauded as a major victory for Indian security forces, but for some observers, it is surprising that such a seemingly provocative episode closed with such a measured response Author’s contention Authors contend that both… Continue reading A political choice