SC moves to make festivals less noisy News: The Supreme Court (SC) has imposed conditions for the use and sale of firecrackers in the upcoming Diwali, Christmas and New year eve. Important Facts: A two-member bench held that only green or improved crackers would be used during religious festivals and other occasions, including weddings. The… Continue reading SC moves to make festivals less noisy
Author: ForumIAS
Environment pollution more hazardous than climate change, say experts
Environment pollution more hazardous than climate change, say experts News: According to experts from CARE (The Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment), unsafe environment poses greater risk to health than climate change. Important Facts: Extent of the problem Globally, there are an estimated five million potentially- contaminated sites that threaten… Continue reading Environment pollution more hazardous than climate change, say experts
Outcomes versus promises
Outcomes versus promises News: The article written by MK Narayanan discusses about India’s emerging relations with USA and to strike a right balance with Russia in this regard. Important Facts: Indo-Russia annual summit: Russian President Vladimir Putin visited India recently in an annual summit which demonstrated clear ‘mutuality of interests’ by following outcomes: The inking… Continue reading Outcomes versus promises
SBI gets board nod to raise 8000 crore
SBI gets board nod to raise 8000 crore Context The country’s largest lender SBI on Wednesday said its board had approved raising ₹8,000 crore through various sources, including masala bonds, to meet Basel III capital norms Masala bonds Masala bonds are rupee- denominated specialised debt instruments that can be floated in overseas markets only to… Continue reading SBI gets board nod to raise 8000 crore
Govt. to borrow more; fiscal deficit may widen
Govt. to borrow more; fiscal deficit may widen Context The Centre has decided to borrow an additional ₹50,000 crore in the last three months of this financial year, a move that some economists said could result in the government missing its budgeted fiscal deficit target of 3.2% of GDP Countermeasure The additional borrowing, which would… Continue reading Govt. to borrow more; fiscal deficit may widen
Nuclear weapons at a glance
Nuclear weapons at a glance Context Nuclear weapons What is the status of nuclear weapons in 2017? These are the lone category of weapons of mass destruction still to be outlawed, although the very first resolution of the UN General Assembly pledged was regarding their abolition The good news, in the form of the adoption… Continue reading Nuclear weapons at a glance
Delhi Air pollution
Through the smog – screen Context Delhi’s residents must take the blame for the city’s alarming pollution levels A new low? When Sri Lankan cricketers trooped out wearing pollution masks in the middle of a Test match at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground in Delhi, it heralded a new low for the city. Regular affair The desolation… Continue reading Delhi Air pollution
A very flawed law
A very flawed law Context The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill 2017, which is set to be tabled in Parliament today, is riddled with so many internal contradictions that one is left wondering what purpose it would serve. The proposed Bill criminalising instant talaq has no legal basis, and is riddled with… Continue reading A very flawed law
Cooperate on curbing online sex determination ads
Cooperate on curbing online sex determination ads The Supreme Court has held that the government has a role in controlling the virtual world and has ordered major online search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Microsoft to co-operate with the Centre to make concrete suggestions against publication of online pre-natal sex determination ads rather than… Continue reading Cooperate on curbing online sex determination ads
The diagnostic lens
The diagnostic lens Context A paper in the Indian journal Current Science suggests an unexpected cause for the inflammatory brain disease — encephalitis — found in Malkangiri district of Odisha. It’s time doctors updated their understanding of encephalitis For many years, this recurring outbreak, which killed over 100 children last year, was thought to be due to… Continue reading The diagnostic lens
