Author: ForumIAS

Criterion for giving minority tag to educational groups tweaked What has happened? Making it easier for educational institutions to get the minority tag, the Department of Primary and Secondary Education has tweaked the eligibility criterion to set up minority education institutions. New Rules The Karnataka Educational Institutions (Recognition of minority educational institutions terms and conditions)… Continue reading Criterion for giving minority tag to educational groups tweaked

39 Indians, abducted by IS in Iraq, are dead: Sushma What has happened? External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj informed the Rajya Sabha that the 39 Indians, who had been abducted in Iraq in 2014, are dead. DNA tests helped in identification Their bodies had been recovered from a mound in Badush, around 30 km from… Continue reading 39 Indians, abducted by IS in Iraq, are dead: Sushma

‘Assam rhinoceros data may have been doctored for funds’ Context An organization of whistleblowers in Assam armed with an RTI reply from the authorities of a national park, has said that rhinoceros census data may be getting doctored for ensuring the flow of foreign funds Info relevant from Pre 2018 perspective Indian Rhino Vision 2020… Continue reading ‘Assam rhinoceros data may have been doctored for funds’

Conserve every drop Context The grave water situation in Cape Town in South Africa is a wake-up call to everybody across the globe — from policymakers to the common man — that it cannot be business as usual when it comes to water usage. A similar crisis is looming large in other cities in the… Continue reading Conserve every drop 

US Fed hikes key interest rate; says economic outlook stronger Context The Federal Reserve on Thursday increased the benchmark interest rate a quarter point to a target range of 1.5 % to 1.75 %, citing a stronger US economic outlook in recent months Basis of hike Fiscal policy has become more simulative ongoing job gains… Continue reading US Fed hikes key interest rate; says economic outlook stronger

Tremendous’ response to OALP: DGH Context Interest in the Open Acreage Licensing Programme (OALP) and Discovered Small Fields (DSF), two key components of the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy, has been considerable as India works to reduce oil imports by at least 10%, by 2022, according to a senior government official What has happened? OALP:… Continue reading Tremendous’ response to OALP: DGH

Union Cabinet approves Ayushman Bharat health scheme Context The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the launch of the Ayushman Bharat — National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM), which was announced in the Budget Features of the scheme The scheme will provide a cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year It would take care of almost… Continue reading Union Cabinet approves Ayushman Bharat health scheme 

Read the distress signals  Context Reducing agrarian distress What should be done to alleviate agrarian distress in India? Accelerating industrial growth and improving the ease of doing business: The biggest priority is to reduce the workforce which depends on agriculture for its livelihood. This can only be done if ample job opportunities exist outside Banning… Continue reading Read the distress signals 

Southern pride Context At a press conference last week, when Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam working president M.K. Stalin was asked what he thought of the southern States combining to form “Dravida Nadu,” he replied, “If this happens, it is welcome and it will happen I believe.” Given the brouhaha (an overexcited reaction) around his remark, it… Continue reading Southern pride