Author: ForumIAS

World’s smallest tape recorder built from bacteria Context Researchers have converted a natural bacterial immune system into the world’s smallest data recorder, laying the groundwork for a new class of technologies that use bacterial cells for everything from disease diagnosis to environmental monitoring CRISPR-Cas The Team created the microscopic data recorder by taking advantage of… Continue reading World’s smallest tape recorder built from bacteria

Sagardhwani retraces historic Indian Ocean expedition routes Context Marine acoustic research vessel INS Sagardhwani is riding a wave of history that charted the course of oceanographic research in the Indian Ocean. What Research to look at impact of monsoon and human activity on marine resources INS Sagardhwani The Kochi-based ship, operated by the Navy and equipped with… Continue reading Sagardhwani retraces historic Indian Ocean expedition routes

No proof required: Making RBI accountable Context The first year of operation of the Monetary Policy Committee has imposed considerable costs on the economy with very few benefits. What explains its decisions? Facts today The CPI inflation this fiscal year, at 2.7 per cent, is the lowest in the last 40 years, real policy rates are… Continue reading No proof required: Making RBI accountable

Centre to seek 20,000 MW of solar bids  Context 2,000 MW of wind power auction announced; solar manufacturing EoIs coming What The government is planning bids for a total of 20,000 MW of solar energy plants projects in this financial year, of which 3,600 MW have already been completed The Ministry is planning bids for… Continue reading Centre to seek 20,000 MW of solar bids 

S&P stands pat on its rating Context Standard & Poor’s (S&P) retained its BBB- rating for India’s sovereign with a ‘stable’ outlook, belying expectations that it may take a cue from rival Moody’s, which upgraded the country’s credit rating for the first time in 13 years Factors cited by S&P S&P cited India’s low per… Continue reading S&P stands pat on its rating

No fresh polls if NOTA votes exceed candidates’ Context Supreme Court rejects PIL petition, says elections are costly in the country Petitioners’ View If NOTA got the highest number of votes, it would amount to an expression of public dissatisfaction with the candidates in the fray. If this happened, the result should have to be… Continue reading No fresh polls if NOTA votes exceed candidates’

Rajnath to chair meet on Centre-State ties Context Home Minister Rajnath Singh will chair a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Inter-State Council (ISC)  to discuss the recommendations made by the Punchhi Commission on Centre-State relations. Punchhi Commission The Government of India constituted a Commission on Centre-State Relations under the chairmanship of Justice Madan… Continue reading Rajnath to chair meet on Centre-State ties

The mandates of natural justice Context Questions for the judiciary on the anniversary of India’s adoption of its Constitution Purpose in designating 26th November as Law Day (Constitution Day) To emphasise the role and importance of law in the life of our Republic To review the state of law and administration of justice, to suggest… Continue reading The mandates of natural justice

Plea contests jury trial in Parsi special courts Context Half a century after the case of a young Parsi war veteran, Commander K.M. Nanavati, sounded the death knell for the jury system in India, the Supreme Court on Friday agreed to take up the case of a Parsi woman, who has challenged the jury system… Continue reading Plea contests jury trial in Parsi special courts

Who’s hiding behind Padmavati? Context The violent assertion of Hindu masculinity is masked as concern for a woman Sati being Evangelised All disputes about history and myth are about the present. Nearly two centuries after sati was abolished, the myth of a woman who embraced death to protect medieval honour is being evangelised by an upper-caste… Continue reading Who’s hiding behind Padmavati?