Author: ForumIAS

India gets admission into Wassenaar Arrangement Context Wassenaar arrangement admits India as its member What has happened? The Plenary meeting of the Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) held on 6 to 7 December 2017 in Vienna, Austria, has decided to admit India, which will become the Arrangement’s 42nd participating state. The necessary procedural arrangements for India’s admission… Continue reading India gets admission into Wassenaar Arrangement

Living in a world of emerging antimicrobial resistance Context Antimicrobial resistance Author’s question Author states that until now, India’s fight against antibiotic-resistance was focussed on getting people to cut down on unnecessary antibiotic consumption but, for the first time, the 2017 National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance talks about limiting antibiotics in effluent being dumped… Continue reading Living in a world of emerging antimicrobial resistance 

Incidence of anaemia high among tribal people in Coonoor Context Moving away from traditional diet might be a reason Admitted to a hospital It has been a week since M. Rani, a 40-year-old Kurumbar woman residing in Kil Sembakarai in Coonoor, received a blood transfusion at the Coonoor Government Hospital. Rani, who complained of dizziness… Continue reading Incidence of anaemia high among tribal people in Coonoor

NASA probes AI for space connect  Context NASA scientists are planning to use artificial intelligence (AI) to better manage the increasing communications between its spacecraft and the Earth. At Present NASA spacecraft typically rely on human-controlled radio systems to communicate with the Earth. Cognitive radio, the infusion of artificial intelligence into space communications networks, could… Continue reading NASA probes AI for space connect 

PT related news: ICAN receives Nobel Peace Prize (The Hindu) Context The leader of the group that won this year’s Nobel Peace Prize urged nuclear nations to adopt a United Nations treaty banning atomic weapons in order to prevent “the end of us” ICAN ICAN is a coalition of 468 grassroots non-governmental groups that campaigned for… Continue reading PT related news:

How marine organisms degrade plastic bags  Context: They add to spread of microplastics A single plastic grocery bag could be shredded by marine organisms into over one million microscopic fragments, a study has found Amphipod: Orchestiagammarellus Marine scientists at the University of Plymouth examined the rate at which bags were broken down by the amphipod… Continue reading How marine organisms degrade plastic bags 

WTO: diverse views fuel bleak prospect for outcomes  Context India, China, South Africa lead developing nations in seeking commitment to ‘multilateralism, development agenda’ Backdrop The World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Buenos Aires meeting commenced amid concerns on support for anti-globalisation, protectionism and bilateralism Expectations of the majority member nations Reaffirming commitment to multilateralism and rules-based trading… Continue reading WTO: diverse views fuel bleak prospect for outcomes 

Crunch time at WTO: On farm subsidies Context India faces a tough challenge on farm issues at the Buenos Aires ministerial meet Backdrop World Trade Organisation’s 11th biennial Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires Joint Proposal from India and China With the backing of more than 100 countries, a joint proposal from India and China to… Continue reading Crunch time at WTO: On farm subsidies

Breaking the silence  Context The report, on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act, looked into the reasons why most cases end up in acquittal; the conviction rate is below 20 per cent, it noted Why most cases end up in acquittal under POCSO? Victims turned hostile succumbing to pressure from the accused… Continue reading Breaking the silence 

Arbitrary and irrational  Context Bill to criminalise triple talaq Backdrop On August 22, 2017, a five judge Bench of the Supreme Court, in a majority 3:2 judgment, set aside the practice of Talaq-e-Biddat (triple talaq) The minority view of Chief Justice J.S. Khehar, who led the Bench, and Justice S. Abdul Nazeer was that triple… Continue reading Arbitrary and irrational