Author: ForumIAS

Blue, white, maroon and now orange Context The Hindu Explains: Orange Passports What is an ‘orange’ passport? Citizens who fall under the Emigration Check Required (ECR) category will soon have passports with orange jackets, instead of the dark blue that has so far been the colour of all passports under the ECR and non-ECR categories… Continue reading Blue, white, maroon and now orange

Breastfeeding linked to lower diabetes risk (Deccan chronicle) Context Women who breastfeed their babies for six months or more may be able to cut their risk of developing diabetes in the future by nearly half, according to a study Tuesday About the study The findings are from a three-decade US study of more than 1,200 white… Continue reading Breastfeeding linked to lower diabetes risk (Deccan chronicle)

Left behind Context ASER (Rural) report 2017 Author’s contention Author contends that if there is one strong message from the findings of the Annual Status of Education Report (Rural) 2017, it is that the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act should cover the entire spectrum of 18 years, and not confine itself… Continue reading Left behind

Early menopause results in higher risk of heart disease: study Context A recent UK study published in Heart, an international cardiology journal, has indicated that women who start their menstruation cycle at the age of 11 or earlier, or enter menopause before 47, have a higher risk of heart disease and stroke About the study The… Continue reading Early menopause results in higher risk of heart disease: study

India to set up $350 mn fund for solar projects to meet renewable energy target  (The Hindu) Context India will set up a $350 million fund to finance solar projects, Power Minister R.K. Singh said, as the country steps up efforts to achieve its ambitious target of adding 175 gigawatts (GW) in renewable energy by 2022 Backdrop… Continue reading India to set up $350 mn fund for solar projects to meet renewable energy target

2017 was the second or third warmest year Context Last year was the second or third warmest on record behind 2016, and the hottest without an extra dose of heat caused by an El Niño event in the Pacific Ocean, the United Nations (UN) said on Thursday. Average temperatures were 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels Average… Continue reading 2017 was the second or third warmest year

Disaster warning system for Odisha by March  Context The Early Warning Dissemination System (EWDS), a project that aims at establishing a fool-proof communication system to disseminate disaster warning up to the community level, is expected to be commissioned by this March It will alert a vast population along coast through loud sirens from towers installed… Continue reading Disaster warning system for Odisha by March 

Aadhaar contradicts the role of the state  Context The Aadhaar scheme contradicts the role of the state as the custodian of the citizens’ fundamental right of privacy. A duty is cast on the government and its agencies to protect the citizen’s crucial personal data from commercial exploitation by private corporates, petitioners challenging the scheme submitted in the… Continue reading Aadhaar contradicts the role of the state 

GST rates on 29 goods, 53 services cut  Context The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council has reduced the rates on 29 goods and 53 categories of services, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said following the Council’s meeting on Thursday. GST Council also mulls approaches to ease the burden of filing returns in order to boost… Continue reading GST rates on 29 goods, 53 services cut 

Bitcoins rally may be over  Context Bitcoin, the popular digital currency whose meteoric rise in price last year surprised many of its critics, has lost almost half its market value in just the last month. The price of bitcoin dropped from its lifetime high of over $19,300 in mid-December to below $9,300 on Wednesday and… Continue reading Bitcoins rally may be over