Author: ForumIAS

Protect patents Context The Delhi High Court (HC) judgment revoking Monsanto’s Bollgard-2 patent is fraught with problems What is Bollgard-2? Bollgard-2 is an insecticidal technology which uses a gene called Cry2Ab from the soil bacterium Bacillus Thuringiensis (Bt) When inserted into a cotton plant, the gene confers resistance against cotton pests Monsanto’s 2008 patent on… Continue reading Protect patents

Govt. approves sugarcane subsidy of Rs. 5.5 per quintal Context Sugar production has hit record highs this year, crossing domestic consumption prices, and leading to a crash in prices. Industry lobbyist Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) estimates that wholesale sugar prices have fallen by Rs. 9 per kg over the past five months, and the… Continue reading Govt. approves sugarcane subsidy of Rs. 5.5 per quintal

SC questions passage of Aadhaar Act as Money Bill What has happened? The Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned the government’s justification for passing the Aadhaar Act as a Money Bill SC countered govt’s argument on any body corporate That the sole intent of the Aadhaar Act is to act as a weapon for delivering subsidies… Continue reading SC questions passage of Aadhaar Act as Money Bill

Cabinet clears constitution of 11th pay panel What has happened? The Cabinet cleared the constitution of the 11th Pay Revision Commission on Wednesday. Nearly 4.30 lakh government employees will benefit from its recommendations Key points The Cabinet decided to form the A.P. Virtual Classroom Corporation to facilitate effective digital learning by students and help in… Continue reading Cabinet clears constitution of 11th pay panel

Collegium puts off decision on pressing Joseph’s case What has happened? The five-judge collegium led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra on Wednesday deferred its decision on the government’s objections to the elevation of Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court K.M. Joseph to the Supreme Court. What now? It may meet next week… Continue reading Collegium puts off decision on pressing Joseph’s case

India’s role in ending the Korean war Context India’s role in ending the Korean conflict of 1950s What has happened? Dramatic events that were inconceivable a few months back are now unfolding rapidly in the Korean peninsula. The Korean war of the early 1950s had never formally ended and an uneasy truce has prevailed for… Continue reading India’s role in ending the Korean war

The turning point in 1932 Context What separate electorate for Dalits would have done to the Hindu-Muslim equation, and therefore the prospect of Partition? Conclusion: It might have kept India united How? Deep Insecurity among the Muslims The politics of the Muslim elite was driven primarily by a sense of deep insecurity due to the… Continue reading The turning point in 1932

New snake found in Western Ghats What has happened? Just 40 cm long and iridescent brown, Bhupathy’s shieldtail is the latest addition to the snake fauna of the Western Ghats. Location Bhupathy’s shieldtail has been observed only in the Anaikatty Hills of Tamil Nadu Uropeltis bhupathyi  The snake, currently observed only in the forests of… Continue reading New snake found in Western Ghats

Poor response in Alipore zoo to animal adoption scheme Context Most organisations and individuals have not renewed contract with the zoo  What has happened? Almost four years after the West Bengal government introduced a scheme to adopt animals in the Alipore Zoological Garden, the initiative seems to have lost steam with fewer individuals and companies… Continue reading Poor response in Alipore zoo to animal adoption scheme

Despite CA’s closure, U.K. to continue investigation What has happened? The closure of Cambridge Analytica (CA) and the associated firm SCL Elections will not have any impact on two U.K. investigations into the data analytics company.  Investigations to continue irrespective of the closure of the firm Britain’s Information Commissioner’s Office, which is investigating SCL Group… Continue reading Despite CA’s closure, U.K. to continue investigation