Author: ForumIAS

Assam, Manipur can now decide on AFSPA:  Context The Union Home Ministry is set to give up its power to impose the ‘disturbed areas’ tag on Assam and Manipur. Getting free from the tag The States are competent to decide whether they want to continue with it in entirety or impose it in a few… Continue reading Assam, Manipur can now decide on AFSPA: 

AI shows interest in overhauling defence planes:  Context: The Civil Aviation Ministry has written to the Defence Ministry asking them to facilitate the servicing of defence aircraft at Air India’s Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul(MRO) facilities. Introduction: Air India’s MRO unit, Air India Engineering Services Limited (AIESL) presently carries out MRO activities for commercial aircraft of… Continue reading AI shows interest in overhauling defence planes: 

Ministerial group to oversee disinvestment:  Context: The Union Cabinet has mandated a panel led by finance minister Arun Jaitley to oversee, accelerate strategic disinvestments in CPSEs Introduction The Cabinet on Wednesday empowered a ministerial group led by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to decide on details of strategic disinvestment of public sector firms.  The Cabinet Committee… Continue reading Ministerial group to oversee disinvestment: 

Naming a right:  Context: The nine-judge Bench determining whether a fundamental right to privacy exists will definitively shape the evolution of our Constitution. What is at stake is nothing less than the terms of a fundamental relationship between citizens of a constitutional democracy and the state. Explanation: A right to privacy embraces a wide range… Continue reading Naming a right: 

The private route:  Context NITI Aayog’s recent proposal for the partial privatization of district-level government hospitals has been criticized for commercializing health care. The proposal Under the proposal, private hospitals will be allowed to bid for 30-year leases that give them control over portions of government hospitals dedicated to treating non-communicable diseases. Critics maintain that… Continue reading The private route: 

Beyond the lament: & The health checklist: Context In the light of the recent deaths of several children over a short period in Gorakhpur, the country demands for equity in access to doctors, diagnostics and medicines in rural India. Explanation: The weak nature of rural India’s health systems and the extraordinary patient load on a… Continue reading Beyond the lament: & The health checklist:

Ancient species of giant sloth discovered: Mexican scientists have discovered the fossilised remains of a previously unknown species of giant sloth that lived 10,000 years ago and died at the bottom of a sinkhole. Context: Mexican scientists have discovered the fossilised remains of a previously unknown species of giant sloth that lived 10,000 years ago… Continue reading Ancient species of giant sloth discovered:

Army to get six Apache helicopters: Context: The Indian Army on 17th August, 2017 got a step closer to having its own dedicated fleet of attack helicopters, with the Defence Ministry approving the purchase of six AH-64 Apache attack helicopters from the U.S. Key facts about the purchase: The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared total… Continue reading Army to get six Apache helicopters:

E-toll lane on all national highways from Sept. 1: All toll plazas on national highways will have electronic toll collection facility with at least one lane dedicated to vehicles with electronic tag device, known as FASTags. Context: All toll plazas on national highways of India will have electronic toll collection facility with at least one… Continue reading E-toll lane on all national highways from Sept. 1:

Don’t be cautious, RBI:  Context The Reserve Bank of India’s decision to lower the repo rate was a move in the right direction. Importance of repo rate? The repo rate is the interest rate at which banks can borrow money from RBI for short durations. It stands to reason that, if this is lowered, banks… Continue reading Don’t be cautious, RBI: