Author: ForumIAS

Govt. mulls GST hike for farmers’ welfare fund News: GoM proposes to rise 1% GST as an alternative to sugar cess that had proposed earlier. Important facts: 2. Rise in GST will helps to finance farmers welfare fund. 3. The states can use the amount to to fulfill the needs of all farmers as against the… Continue reading Govt. mulls GST hike for farmers’ welfare fund

Odhisa beach is Asia’s first to get ‘Blue Flag’ tag News: The Chandrabhaga beach on the Konark coast of Odhisa is set to become Asia’s first beach with a ‘Blue Flag’ Certification Important Facts: 2. About Blue Flag Tag: Blue Flag tag is given to environmental- friendly, clean beaches which are equipped with amenities of… Continue reading Odhisa beach is Asia’s first to get ‘Blue Flag’ tag

Agni-5 successfully Test-fired News: Recently, Agni-V was successfully test-fired off the Odisha coast Important Facts: 2. The missile was launched from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Dr Abdul Kalam Island (Wheeler Island) in the Bay of Bengal 3. This was the sixth trial of the state-of-the-art Agni-5; second in its pre-induction configuration 4. Agni-V… Continue reading Agni-5 successfully Test-fired

Fuel fractions: on petrol, diesel prices News: Prices of petrol and diesel recently get reduced by Rs one paisa per litre after reduction in oil price in international market. Important facts: 2. It is advised that both central and state government should cut the tax on petrol and diesel to give benefits to consumers. 3.… Continue reading Fuel fractions: on petrol, diesel prices

About a small Mauritian island Article: Political scientist Francois Verges and historian Vijay Prasad observes India’ s changing commitment to secure Indian ocean as a zone of peace Important facts: Recently, a group of Mauritians island along with few formed the Islanders Coalition for Peace which calls for declaration of Indian Ocean as a zone… Continue reading About a small Mauritian island

Rise in boys dropping out of madrasas in Bengal News: Almost 70% of students taking the High Madrasah examination in 2018 in West Bengal were girls. Important facts: 2. The reasons behind high numbers of girls are: Schemes promoting girls education namely Kanyashree, condistional cash transfer scheme, Sabuj Sathi. High drop-out of boys or their… Continue reading Rise in boys dropping out of madrasas in Bengal

A race to save Hyderabad’s Ashoorkhana News: Hyderabad’s Badshahi Ashoorkhana gets a renovation before the onset of monsoon. Important facts: 2. Badshahi Ashoorkhana is a pilgrimage site. 3. It turns into a house of mourning during Muharram. 4. The Ashoorkhana is said to be 400 years old, built in 1611. 5. It was built by… Continue reading A race to save Hyderabad’s Ashoorkhana

44% of Afghan Children are out of School- Report News: According to a study conducted by UNICEF, USAID and Samuel Hall think-tank, nearly 44% children in Afghanistan are out of school Important Facts: 2. 3.7 million children in the age-group 7-17 are out of school 3. Most of the children out of school are girls.… Continue reading 44% of Afghan Children are out of School- Report

To be an environmental world power Article Kanak Mani Dixit, Kathmandu based journalist, talked about the need of environmental cooperation in South Asia. Important Analysis The northern half of subcontinent from Brahmaputra basin to Indus- Ganga plain are running through environmental distress. All around the globe, people across the border are joining hand to save… Continue reading To be an environmental world power