Author: ForumIAS

Hubris of science:  It has become an ideology of the powerful. Democratic societies need a plurality of knowledge systems. Context: The recent ‘March for Science’ in Delhi on 9th August, 2017 has caught the criticisms of many. Explanation: Science fights dogmas and practices, it gives us clarity of understanding, and the power to demystify and… Continue reading Hubris of science: 

GIS-enabled portal maps land-related information Context: In a little over six months beginning February, the Centre has brought out an online database developed by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) and the National e-Governance Division in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology as well as the BISAG – an institute for space… Continue reading GIS-enabled portal maps land-related information

Investors ‘shell’ shocked over SEBI order:  Context: A recent order from market regulator SEBI  brought to a halt trading in more than 170 actively traded stocks on the stock exchanges. These firms formed part of a larger group of 331 ‘shell’ companies whose names the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) shared with the regulator for… Continue reading Investors ‘shell’ shocked over SEBI order: 

How low can interest rates go?:  Context: The interest rate on the one-year term deposit in India’s largest bank has nosedived from 9% in July 2014 to 6.5% now.  Interest rates on the three-year term deposit have dropped from 8.75% to 6.25%. Introduction: In pegging down their deposit rates, banks have taken their cues from… Continue reading How low can interest rates go?: 

India, China to join Indian Ocean exercise:  Context The Indian Navy will be joining the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in a maiden maritime search and rescue exercise, chaired by Bangladesh at the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) in November this year. The details of the exercise Bangladesh, the current Chair, is arranging a maiden… Continue reading India, China to join Indian Ocean exercise: 

How Artificial Intelligence is reshaping art and music: Called deep neural networks, complex mathematical systems allow machines to learn specific behaviour by analysing vast amounts of data. Context: What is called deep neural networks; Douglas Eck has come up with a complex mathematical systems allow machines to learn specific behaviour by analysing vast amounts of… Continue reading How Artificial Intelligence is reshaping art and music:

A messy GST, and the road ahead:  Context: The government has clarified this week that food takeaways from air-conditioned restaurants will be taxed at 18% even when the customer is handed over the food in an area that does not have air-conditioning. Introduction:  Some of the decisions taken by the GST Council earlier this month… Continue reading A messy GST, and the road ahead: 

  Undoing the economic partition: ( Context: Seven decades after Independence, transcending the tragedy of Partition remains the single biggest national challenge for India. Introduction: The structural religious tension, engendered by Partition has been aggravated by the unending conflict between India and Pakistan, the successor states of the undivided Subcontinent. India-Pakistan trade:  The political division… Continue reading Undoing the economic partition: 

Caution from a sobering Survey:  Given the macroeconomic context, India should have recorded higher economic growth this year. Context: Given the macroeconomic context, India should have recorded higher economic growth this year. Indian Economic Survey, 2017 Part 2: This was the year when oil prices and inflation were moderate, monsoon rains were abundant, inbound foreign… Continue reading Caution from a sobering Survey: 

No case for an all India judicial service:  Context The proposal to create an All-India Judicial Service (AIJS) along the lines of the All India Services (AIS) is one that has been endlessly debated since the idea was first mooted by the Law Commission in the 1950s. Why is it so debated? The same arguments… Continue reading No case for an all India judicial service: