Author: ForumIAS

The cold facts:  Context: Ever since the influenza virus known as H1N1 ushered in India on 2009 pandemic, outbreaks have been an annual occurrence. But India’s surveillance systems are poor and underestimate the influenza burden substantially. How accurate are these official figures in India? The problem with these official figures is that they only capture… Continue reading The cold facts: 

GST: Disruptive but developmental:  Context GST is a regime that is bringing about changes in the national value system. What are the achievements of GST Council? The big unqualified win is the emergence of the GST Council as India’s first federal institution; genuinely federal and fully functional. In the last 70 years, despite repeated efforts,… Continue reading GST: Disruptive but developmental: 

‘India’s main challenge will be finding jobs amid automation’:  Context: India’s major challenge will be to find jobs for its working-age population, according to the chairman of U.K. based Institute for New Economic Thinkings, Lord Adair Tuner. Introduction: India’s working age population is forecast to increase from about 740 million to 1.3 billion by 2050.… Continue reading ‘India’s main challenge will be finding jobs amid automation’:

Strategy to revitalize PPPs in India:  Context India’s infrastructure deficit continues to persist despite the relative catch-up in recent years. What is the need of the hour? The Asian Development Bank, in its report titled “Meeting Asia’s Infrastructure Needs”, has estimated that $4.36 trillion is needed to fix India’s infrastructure deficit by 2030. That demands… Continue reading Strategy to revitalize PPPs in India: 

Recovery in energy demand not abiding’: Context There is a need for sustained energy demand recovery which is still absent What is the current scenario? The recent up-trend in electricity demand growth has led to a marginal improvement in the all India thermal PLF (plant load factor or capacity utilisation) to 59.9% for the first… Continue reading Recovery in energy demand not abiding’:

Awaiting police reforms:  Context Strong public opinion can move the political class in India to implement the 2006 Supreme Court directives. Background The Indian Police Foundation was inaugurated to mount pressure on State governments to implement the directions of the Supreme Court on police reforms (Prakash Singh v. Union of India). The court in 2006… Continue reading Awaiting police reforms: 

India set to ink $4.5-bn credit deal with Bangladesh:  Context: The Finance Minister’s visit to Bangladesh Why is it important? Both the countries will sign the third Line of Credit (LOC) agreement involving $4.5 billion The Line of Credit is primarily meant for the development of infrastructure and social sector This Line of Credit was… Continue reading India set to ink $4.5-bn credit deal with Bangladesh: 

Can India protect Rohingya, SC asks govt:  Context Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, who leads the three-judge Bench rejects Centre’s stance that decision to deport the community is outside the domain of the Supreme Court Government stand on rohingya’s refugee On  August 8, 2017 center communicated to all the States to identify Rohingya and… Continue reading Can India protect Rohingya, SC asks govt: 

3-fold rise in extreme rainfall events in Central India: Context: According to a study published in the journal ‘Nature Communications’, there has been an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall events across the Central Indian belt which extends from Gujarat in the west to Odisha and Assam in the east. What does… Continue reading 3-fold rise in extreme rainfall events in Central India:

RBI: Neutral over dovish:  Context: RBI has kept the repo rate unchanged at 6% What are the other recent declarations made by RBI? Reverse repo rate kept unchanged at 5.75 Marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate kept at 6.25 per cent Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) kept unchanged at 4% Statutory liquidity ratio… Continue reading RBI: Neutral over dovish: