Author: ForumIAS

The challenge of reforming the UN:  Context Reforming the UN is an important agenda for United States. India is trying to expend its diplomatic capital on finding a seat at UN Security Council. It will have to articulate new ways to make UN more effective and efficient. Trump Administration on UN reforms Trump pledged that… Continue reading The challenge of reforming the UN: 

Turn the page to a new chapter:  Context In September, the BRICS Summit witnessed an especially important meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This was the first after the Dong Lang (Doklam) stand-off. What are the expectations? An important consensus has been reached to improve mutual trust, focus on… Continue reading Turn the page to a new chapter: 

Leg-up for PM’s pet housing project:  Context: Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Housing for all (Urban) Why is it in the news? People purchasing a low-end house from a private developer will be eligible for financial help under the ‘Housing For All’ scheme of the Union government What is the importance of this announcement? Pradhan… Continue reading Leg-up for PM’s pet housing project: 

SC allows two minor rape survivors to abort foetuses:  Context: The Supreme Court recently permitted two minor rape survivors to medically terminate their pregnancies on the advice of the medical boards which examined them. Introduction: They had both passed the 20th week of pregnancy, until which the law allows abortion. The Bench, comprising Justices Amitava… Continue reading SC allows two minor rape survivors to abort foetuses: 

The need for reforms in healthcare finance:  Context Health insurance seems to be a risky path for India’s long-term strategy for health financing. What is the issue? The Centre and state governments are experimenting with several new and exciting ideas in healthcare reforms. The issue, however, is a serious reform agenda for health financing. The… Continue reading The need for reforms in healthcare finance: 

The missing jobs:  Context: According to a recent report, less than 10% of the youth who had received training under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana have obtained placement offers (offers, not jobs). The Real Problem of Jobs: Jobs are not simply a function of the country’s workforce acquiring formal skills making them employable. More… Continue reading The missing jobs: 

Globalization is not ending, it’s changing:  Context Globalization isn’t ending, it’s changing. World is witnessing emergence of a new global economy, an economy without borders driven by digital rocket boosters. What is happening? Companies that have learnt to thrive in this increasingly connected world have built large global businesses at astonishing speeds. Economic nationalism and… Continue reading Globalization is not ending, it’s changing: 

Shooting in the dark:  Context The Bullet train Project which is very much in news, needs to be evaluated considering all its dimensions to figure out whether it is a project that would be expensive to maintain and difficult to dispose off or will it leap-frog India into a new era of advanced technology. Background… Continue reading Shooting in the dark: 

Tax trauma:  Context: Glitches in the GST regime are increasing the anxiety among Indian businesses Introduction: India’s biggest tax overhaul since Independence, the roll out of the goods and services tax is off to a less than desirable start. The GST Network, its online backbone, is struggling to keep pace with the millions of invoices… Continue reading Tax trauma: 

Centre to hasten GST refunds:  Context The Centre on Friday termed as “wild estimates,” exporters claiming that working capital was getting blocked due to delay in Goods and Services Tax (GST) refunds. What is GST?  It is a destination based tax on consumption of goods and services.  It is proposed to be levied at all… Continue reading Centre to hasten GST refunds: