Author: ForumIAS

Give us power to make rules, EC tells court  What has happened? The Election Commission of India told the Supreme Court that it should be given the power to make rules under the electoral law, instead of the Centre  Rulemaking authority should be given to EC Rulemaking authority under the Representation of the People Act… Continue reading Give us power to make rules, EC tells court

Ruling on SC/ST Act is causing great damage, Centre tells Supreme Court  Context In a note seeking a review, government says judgment is in conflict with the law  What has happened? The Supreme Court judgment banning immediate arrest of a person accused of insulting or injuring Dalits is causing disharmony and “great damage” to the… Continue reading Ruling on SC/ST Act is causing great damage, Centre tells Supreme Court

Centre to snuff out ‘toxic’ e-cigarettes  What has happened? The Centre has informed the Delhi High Court that it is in the process of issuing guidelines to ban the manufacture, import, sale and any kind of trade in e-cigarettes, dubbing it a “new emerging threat” New addictive emerging threat The flavouring agent in e-cigarettes was… Continue reading Centre to snuff out ‘toxic’ e-cigarettes

WHO directives call for support for breastfeeding  Context Health facilities requested to follow 10 important guidelines  What has happened? The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Thursday issued a new 10-step guidance to increase support for breastfeeding in health facilities that provide maternity and newborn services, which provide the… Continue reading WHO directives call for support for breastfeeding

North Indian reservoirs run dry as summer sets in What has happened? North India saw good rains last week, but its reservoirs are precariously deficit The total live storage now is 3.62 BCM (billion cubic metres), which is 20% of capacity The storage during the corresponding period last year was 23% and the average storage… Continue reading North Indian reservoirs run dry as summer sets in

Turtle with punk hairdo on endangered species list What has happened? Boasting a green, punk hairdo and the unusual ability to breathe through its backside, an Australian turtle has become famous overnight — but not only for its eccentricity.  Found in: Mary River, Queensland, Australia Scientific Name: Elusor macrurus Status: Latest creature to join the… Continue reading Turtle with punk hairdo on endangered species list

FRDI Bill: Banks’ loss is Postal dept.’s gain? What has happened? The Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance (FRDI) Bill, 2017, seems to have a positive impact on the Postal department, if the increase in the total deposits in post offices across the Andhra Pradesh Circle in the last two years is any indication. Switching to… Continue reading FRDI Bill: Banks’ loss is Postal dept.’s gain?

Preventing accidents Context The government had promised to address road safety issue but it has not been able to do so as the requisite amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act have not yet been passed Apathy of the governments Safety black spots on roads that were identified on the basis of fatal accidents between 2011… Continue reading Preventing accidents

SC to examine plea on ‘master of roster’ issue What has happened? The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to examine a petition filed by former Union Law Minister Shanti Bhushan to declare that the authority of the Chief Justice of India as “master of roster” should not be reduced to an absolute, singular and arbitrary… Continue reading SC to examine plea on ‘master of roster’ issue

Office-of-profit case: EC to hear AAP MLAs on May 17 What has happened? Pursuant to a Delhi High Court order setting aside the disqualification of 20 Aam Aadmi Party MLAs last month, the Election Commission will on May 17 resume an “oral hearing” on office-of-profit allegations against them. Notification quashed On March 23, the High… Continue reading Office-of-profit case: EC to hear AAP MLAs on May 17