Author: ForumIAS

If the nuclear deal stays, it stays in full, says Rouhani Context Iran rejects U.S. proposal to rewrite the 2015 agreement What has happened? Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani rejected any hopes of rewriting a nuclear deal with world powers on Wednesday, after the leaders of the United States and France called for a new pact… Continue reading If the nuclear deal stays, it stays in full, says Rouhani

Resume DACA, says U.S. court Context Judge stays move to end the scheme, asks Trump govt. to accept new applications What has happened? In the biggest setback yet for the Donald Trump administration in its attempt to end a programme that shields some young adults from deportation, a federal judge ruled on Tuesday that the… Continue reading Resume DACA, says U.S. court

Koreas to talk peace What has happened? The leaders of North and South Korea Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in, will meet in the demilitarised zone between the two countries on Friday to discuss the ‘denuclearisation’ of the Korean peninsula and the official end to the Korean War (1950-53) which has technically still not concluded How… Continue reading Koreas to talk peace

The global nuclear cloud is darkening Context India should make a credible and objective intervention What has happened? The word ‘historic’ is appropriate to describe the April 27 summit between South Korean president Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. While there is considerable optimism that this meeting will mark the beginning of the… Continue reading The global nuclear cloud is darkening

World Bank loan for Biopharma Mission What has happened? The government has secured a loan of about Rs. 1,600 crore from the World Bank to develop new vaccines, medical devices and medicines Key points The money will be disbursed over five years and is part of the Department of Biotechnology-led National Biopharma Mission. The goal… Continue reading World Bank loan for Biopharma Mission

‘Simplifying Finance Bill must be the next big reform’ Context Interview excerpt with the new president of the Confederation of Indian Industry Rakesh Bharti Mittal What is the real progress you are seeing in fixing the twin balance sheet problem, especially on the company balance sheet side? There is good progress, especially on the company side… Continue reading ‘Simplifying Finance Bill must be the next big reform’

‘India to lose if oil prices climb more’ What has happened? India, along with other emerging economies like Turkey and the Philippines, will be a loser if the recent oil price rise continues, according to a Nomura report Affecting net oil importers with weak economic fundamentals The supply side-driven increase in crude oil prices is… Continue reading ‘India to lose if oil prices climb more’ 

Aadhaar-SIM linking based on SC orders’ What has happened? The government on Thursday insisted that the directives of the Department of Telecommunications to seed SIM cards with Aadhaar is based on “at least two Supreme Court orders” Constitution bench Attorney General K.K. Venugopal said one of the Supreme Court orders was from Justice D.Y. Chandrachud,… Continue reading Aadhaar-SIM linking based on SC orders’

‘States unable to implement farmer price support schemes’ Context Infrastructure and funding required What has happened? The Centre’s proposals to decentralise price support schemes for farmers are not viable as State governments do not possess the infrastructure or the willingness required to implement them, said S.K. Singh, additional managing director of the National Agricultural Cooperative… Continue reading ‘States unable to implement farmer price support schemes’ 

Unpacking the Dalit angst Context Reverence for Ambedkar requires fighting caste discrimination and safeguarding the Constitution BJP reveres Ambedkar Stung by the criticism over his government’s alleged inaction in defending the Scheduled Castes and Schedule Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, before the Supreme Court, Mr. Modi cited his reverence for Ambedkar as proof of… Continue reading Unpacking the Dalit angst