Author: ForumIAS

Nod awaited to induct jurist into Lokpal panel What has happened? The high-profile Lokpal selection committee, led by the Prime Minister, met on April 10 and the recommendations for the induction of an eminent jurist in the panel is awaiting approval, the government informed the Supreme Court on Tuesday Bench urges speed A Bench led… Continue reading Nod awaited to induct jurist into Lokpal panel

Law Commission favours simultaneous elections What has happened? A draft white paper released by the Law Commission of India on Tuesday recommends holding of simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and the Assemblies, possibly in 2019 Open to suggestions White paper would be circulated to “constitutional experts, academia, political parties, bureaucrats, students, etc.” The commission,… Continue reading Law Commission favours simultaneous elections

Non-alignment redux Context What non-alignment means to India depends on the prism through which it is viewed Background 18th mid-term ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) concluded in early April in Azerbaijan  Importance of NAM The idea behind non-alignment thus conceived was to promote peace and security in a global arena where superpowers were… Continue reading Non-alignment redux

The ‘new’ South Asia Context As China’s leverage increases, New Delhi has to reimagine its terms of engagement with neighbours Background CHOGM meet in London  India’s declining regional clout There is now the refrain that India has lost the plot in its immediate vicinity In Sri Lanka, domestic political developments are affecting India, while in… Continue reading The ‘new’ South Asia

India, Sweden agree upon ‘win-win’ joint action plan  What has happened? After a hectic day of bilateral parleys here, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Swedish counterpart, Stefan Löfven, on Tuesday agreed upon a joint action plan (JAP) for both countries to take forward a wide range of initiatives in defence, trade and investment, counterterrorism,… Continue reading India, Sweden agree upon ‘win-win’ joint action plan 

Olive Ridleys return for rare mass nesting What has happened? In a rare occurrence, Olive Ridley turtles turned up for mass nesting for the second time at the Rushikulya rookery on the Odisha coast in the early hours of Wednesday, where mass hatching of eggs of these endangered marine turtles is still continuing Needs study… Continue reading Olive Ridleys return for rare mass nesting

No pollution-reduction targets in Central plan What has happened? In a strange move that is unlikely to impress anyone concerned over the worsening air quality in our cities, the government has refrained from specifying pollution-reduction targets in its draft National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) Key points The draft NCAP will be open to public comments… Continue reading No pollution-reduction targets in Central plan

National portal to share research facilities soon Context Easy access to expensive equipment What has happened? The portal — Indian Science, Technology and Engineering Facilities Map (I-STEM) — will soon become operational. The government green signaled the project last month Online reservation system The institutions and organizations that have the equipment and facilities will provide… Continue reading National portal to share research facilities soon

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