Author: ForumIAS

Curbing the khaps Context Recent SC guidelines against Khaps (Refer to the article in yesterday’s brief for the guidelines) Other factors contributing towards honour killings besides caste system Entrenched social prejudices, feudal structures and patriarchal attitudes Measures taken by courts against these feudal bodies 24 hour helplines The High Courts of Punjab and Haryana and… Continue reading Curbing the khaps

Himalayas warmest on record: researchers What has happened? Recent decades have been the wettest and warmest on record in the Himalayas, say researchers who are alarmed that a “warming signature” has led to an overall rise in mercury level ‘Global warming impacting glaciers’ Rising temperatures in western Himalayas:They warn that the impact of global warming… Continue reading Himalayas warmest on record: researchers

GSAT-6A gives India bigger eye in the sky Context Launch of GSAT-6A by ISRO What has happened? The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully placed a communication satellite GSAT-6A in a geosynchronous transfer orbit. It was carried on board the GSLV F-08 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre A Communication Satellite Vikas Engine:The GSAT-6A is… Continue reading GSAT-6A gives India bigger eye in the sky

Major initiative to control BP, diabetes What has happened? The Health Department of Kerala is launching a major initiative as part of a national programme for developing a registry for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) with focus on management of diabetes and hypertension The State government has now chosen to integrate this programme, announced by the Ministry… Continue reading Major initiative to control BP, diabetes

‘Bharatmala to hit 25 toll projects’ Context The 44 new economic corridors (EC) proposed to be built under the Bharatmala network, designed on the shortest possible route connecting the origin and destination, would impact the existing highway networks by directly competing with a few stretches, including some existing Build Own Transfer (BOT) (toll) road projects,… Continue reading ‘Bharatmala to hit 25 toll projects’

Stay on trial will be valid only for six months: SC Context An indefinite freeze on corruption and criminal trials granted by constitutional courts, especially High Courts in the cases of the rich and powerful, have often led to delay and denial of the fundamental right to speedy justice, the Supreme Court has observed What… Continue reading Stay on trial will be valid only for six months: SC

Govt. to file review plea in SC against ruling on SC/ST Act Context Union Law Minister has said that the government is “preparing” to file a review petition against the top court’s ruling on the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 that puts a stop to immediate arrests in complaints… Continue reading Govt. to file review plea in SC against ruling on SC/ST Act

Keeping contracts alive Context The Specific Relief (Amendment) Bill 2017 Objective: to ensure completion of infrastructure projects What is the intended purpose of the bill? Project completion: The Bill intends to direct the courts away from the usual practice of closing a case after a grant of monetary damages to the injured party to the… Continue reading Keeping contracts alive

Tackling prejudice What has happened? Nearly a month after ShanaviPonnusamy, a transwoman from Tamil Nadu, wrote to the President alleging that Air India had denied her a cabin crew job despite her clearing the written exam, the Ministry of Social Justice sent a Bill on transgender rights to the Cabinet, with amendments as suggested by… Continue reading Tackling prejudice

Tamil Nadu to file contempt plea on Cauvery scheme What has happened? With the Central government not coming out with a scheme on the Cauvery issue within the six-week period stipulated by the Supreme Court — which ended on Thursday — the Tamil Nadu government has decided to approach the court with a contempt petition.… Continue reading Tamil Nadu to file contempt plea on Cauvery scheme