News:Asiatic Society of Mumbai has elected the first woman president in the 215 years of its existence.Professor Vispi Balaporia will head the institution. Facts: About Asiatic Society: Asiatic Society is a learned society whose activities include conducting historical research, awarding historians, and running an institute of postgraduate studies. The societies library is home to over… Continue reading Explained: Now with first woman president, what is Asiatic Society, Mumbai
Author: ForumIAS
External benchmark-based lending must: RBI
News:The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has made it mandatory for banks to link all new floating rate personal or retail loans and floating rate loans to MSMEs to an external benchmark rate from October 1st,2019. Facts: The RBI has given the options to banks for external benchmark rates which are (a) RBI repo rate… Continue reading External benchmark-based lending must: RBI
Army mountaineering team successfully scales Mt. Kun
News:The Indian Army has successfully conducted a mountaineering expedition to Mount Kun. Facts: Mount Kun is the second-highest peak in between the Zanskar and Kargil regions of Ladakh. The mountain was first climbed in 1913.It is a part of the Nun Kun mountain massif in the Himalayas. Nun (7135 m) is the highest peak in… Continue reading Army mountaineering team successfully scales Mt. Kun
Prime Minister’s Visit to Russia
News:Indian Prime Minister is on a visit to Russia as the guest of honour at Eastern Economic Forum(EEF).The bilateral summit was held on the sidelines of the EEF. Facts: India and Russia has agreed to open a maritime route between the ports of Chennai and Vladivostok to ensure connectivity between the two countries.A Memorandum of… Continue reading Prime Minister’s Visit to Russia
Dawood, Masood Azhar among 4 declared ‘individual terrorists’ under amended law
News:The Central Government has decided to declare Masood Azhar, Hafiz Saeed, Zaki-ur-Rehman-Lakhvi and Dawood Ibrahim as individual terrorists under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act,2019. Facts: Parliament has passed the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill 2019. The Bill amends the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act,1967 providing special procedures to deal with terrorist activities and individuals and groups… Continue reading Dawood, Masood Azhar among 4 declared ‘individual terrorists’ under amended law
Kartarpur: Final deal stalled over service fee from pilgrims, access to Indian officials
News:Indian and Pakistan officials are holding discussions to finalise the remaining modalities of Kartarpur corridor. Facts: The Kartarpur Corridor is a 4km long proposed corridor comprising border gates,road and a bridge to link Dera Baba Nanak gurdwara in Gurdaspur district in India to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan.It is aimed at allowing the easy… Continue reading Kartarpur: Final deal stalled over service fee from pilgrims, access to Indian officials
India among top 10 nations in gold reserves
News: According to the latest release by the World Gold Council, India has ranked 10th in the country list with total gold reserves of 618.2 tonnes. Facts: USA has been ranked 1st with total gold reserves of 8,133.5 tonnes followed by Germany, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Italy, France, Russia and China. Pakistan holds the 45th… Continue reading India among top 10 nations in gold reserves
Answers: Mains Marathon – UPSC Mains Current Affairs Questions – September 4, 2019
Q.1) “Indian citizens hold relatively low trust in the civil services and bureaucracy.” Discuss various reasons behind this. Suggest some measures to enhance bureaucratic efficiency in India. Answers Q.2) “Inspite of surplus food production, millions of Indian citizens die to due to hunger.” Comment. Answers Q.3) Discuss the growing importance of Eurasia for India’s changing… Continue reading Answers: Mains Marathon – UPSC Mains Current Affairs Questions – September 4, 2019
Supreme Court to study plea for food for all
News: The Supreme Court has agreed to examine a plea urging the court to direct the Chief Secretaries across the country to formulate schemes for the implementation of community kitchens to combat starvation deaths. Facts: The petition highlighted the success of various state-funded community kitchens addressing the problem of hunger and malnutrition across India. Example:… Continue reading Supreme Court to study plea for food for all
Hurricane Dorian
News: Hurricane Dorian made a landfall at Abacos Islands in the Bahamas. Facts: Hurricane Dorian is a Category 5 hurricane –the highest on the Saffir-Simpson scale. It had a wind speed of around 285 kilometres/hour at landfall. About Hurricanes: Hurricanes are name given to tropical cyclones occurring in the Atlantic Ocean. To qualify as a… Continue reading Hurricane Dorian
