Author: ForumIAS

Centre proposes relaxation of coastal regulation zone norms Context States to get leeway in developing tourism, industrial infrastructure  What has happened? The Centre has allowed India’s coasts to be made more accessible to tourism and industrial infrastructure and given individual States considerable leeway to decide how they should plan such development, according to a draft… Continue reading Centre proposes relaxation of coastal regulation zone norms

More to cash crunch than supply issues Context Currency in circulation has grown slower in the past 2 years than GDP growth; digitisation has not helped cut the demand  What has happened? The unusual cash crunch situation in several States has thrown up a conundrum. Is this due to an unmet demand in cash supply… Continue reading More to cash crunch than supply issues

Minority institutions panel gets court relief Context NCMEI has jurisdiction to determine minority status: SC What has happened? The Supreme Court on Wednesday held that the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI) has original jurisdiction to determine which institution should be granted minority status SC observed Constitution granted a fundamental right to all minorities,… Continue reading Minority institutions panel gets court relief

Make BCCI a public body: law panel Context Commission also wants the cricket board to be brought under RTI Act for scrutiny by any citizen What has happened? The 90-year-old Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) should be declared a public body. The board and all its member cricket associations should be brought… Continue reading Make BCCI a public body: law panel

The soft power of India Context A mere wish to be praised as a global or regional power should not be allowed to guide our foreign policy What has happened? There is a lot of talk these days, not so much among government circles as among the ‘strategic community’, about India being a major or… Continue reading The soft power of India

Still using chemical weapons  Context On the latest suspected attack in Douma, Syria What has happened? The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is a Hague-based intergovernmental body that works for the elimination of chemical weapons. It was formed after the Chemical Weapons Convention — an arms control treaty that bans the production,… Continue reading Still using chemical weapons 

India, U.K. resolve to lower trade barriers What has happened? India and the U.K. on Wednesday decided to build on the recommendations of a joint trade review to reduce barriers. At his meeting with his British counterpart Theresa May, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged that there would be no dilution in the importance of… Continue reading India, U.K. resolve to lower trade barriers

Kailadevi tiger births a pointer to space crunch Context Overpopulation in Ranthambore forces the big cats to often move to the adjacent wildlife reserve What has happened? The birth of two tiger cubs in the Kailadevi wildlife sanctuary of Rajasthan’s Karauli district recently has gladdened wildlife enthusiasts across the country, but it also points to… Continue reading Kailadevi tiger births a pointer to space crunch

Should military spending be increased? Context India risks its national security withlow allocations to defence spending  What has happened? For a developing country that is committed to enhancing the quality of life of its citizens, defence is usually the last thing on the nation’s mind. Yet, no government that is committed to such a cause… Continue reading Should military spending be increased?

NSA to head new Defence panel What has happened? The new permanent higher defence management committee headed by the National Security Adviser can help improve India’s defence planning in the long term, but may end up having no noticeable impact if the present government does not return to power in 2019, several military sources and… Continue reading NSA to head new Defence panel