Author: ForumIAS

Raja Mandala: India’s China reset and BRI  Context At the annual Boao forum in Hainan this week, Chinese leader Xi Jinping is expected to present himself as the new champion of globalisation and castigate the unilateral economic actions of US President Donald Trump  New economic leader China might project itself as new global economic leader amidst… Continue reading Raja Mandala: India’s China reset and BRI

The Nepal reset Context Resetting Indo-Nepal ties  Way forward Completion of the ongoing process of updating the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship Nepal acknowledging that its citizens have benefited from the ease of employment and residence in India that the treaty provides India must recognise that as in all other developing economies, Nepal’s aspirational… Continue reading The Nepal reset

A register by the people Context The draft National Forest Policy identifies threats to forests, but does not provide systems for public involvement. Question asked How much forest cover does India actually have? Data: State of Forests report Forest cover had increased in India by 0.21% in 2017 from 2015 but at the same time… Continue reading A register by the people

Banks seek review of RBI norms on restructuring of stressed assets What has happened? The central bank has issued new rules to ensure faster recovery of bad loans, as banks could recover only Rs 7,106 crore of written-off loans till December 31, 2017 while a total of Rs 84,272 crore worth of bad loans were written-off… Continue reading Banks seek review of RBI norms on restructuring of stressed assets

Internal e-waybills in 5 States from April 15 What has happened? The Union government on Tuesday announced that it would be rolling out the e-waybill system for intra-State transport of goods in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh on April 15 In phases The GST Council had said it would roll out the… Continue reading Internal e-waybills in 5 States from April 15

State election panels: Independent of central EC, with similar powers Context Amid a standoff between the Bengal State Election Commission and BJP over the withdrawal of a notification that had extended the last date for nominations in panchayat polls, Indian Express explains an SEC’s role and powers. What is a State Election Commission’s mandate? How is… Continue reading State election panels: Independent of central EC, with similar powers

Supreme order Context Judgment in Hadiya case is a robust defence of the individual’s rights against the writ of clan, community, family HC judgement The court had annulled the marriage of a 24-year-old adult, Hadiya, arguing that a girl her age was “weak and vulnerable,” and that “marriage being the most important decision in her life,… Continue reading Supreme order

A fresh deadline Context Devise a viable Cauvery scheme soon,stop disruptive protests What has happened? The Centre cannot continue to evade its legal obligation to create a mechanism to implement the Supreme Court’s final verdict in the Cauvery dispute. This was the broad message conveyed by the court on Monday when it admonished the government… Continue reading A fresh deadline

Aadhaar-PAN link doesn’t vitiate privacy’ What has happened? Noting that the usages like ‘legitimate State interest’ and ‘larger public interest’ mean one and the same, the UIDAI on Tuesday argued that linking of PAN card with Aadhaar does not amount to a violation of fundamental right to privacy. Arguments presented by UIDAI counsel Supreme Court… Continue reading Aadhaar-PAN link doesn’t vitiate privacy’