Author: ForumIAS

Tulsi and ashvagandha to purify Neknampur Lake in Hyderabad Context Use of hydroponics to clean the Neknampur lake in Hyderabad What is hydroponics? Science of growing plants without soil Floating Treatment Wetland (FTW) Gently floating on the surface of Neknampur Lake is an artificial ‘island’ made of meticulously chosen plant species. The island is a… Continue reading Tulsi and ashvagandha to purify Neknampur Lake in Hyderabad

Centre’s plan may boost farmers’ solar power use Context The Centre has announced a Rs1.4 lakh-crore scheme for promoting decentralized solar power production of up to 28,250 MW to help farmers, according to R. K. Singh, Minister of State for Power and New and Renewable Energy Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahaabhiyan or KUSUM scheme The… Continue reading Centre’s plan may boost farmers’ solar power use

Dust mitigation plan must for firms Context The Environment Ministry has made it mandatory for companies seeking environment clearance to ensure that they put in place a dust mitigation plan Required standards Roads leading to or at construction sites must be paved and black-topped There could be no soil excavation without adequate dust mitigation measures… Continue reading Dust mitigation plan must for firms

Lower minimum employment rule to spur jobs: leather sector Context The leather industry has welcomed the Budget proposal to cut the minimum period of employment The change Earlier the Minimum period of employment was 240 days Now, Minimum period of employment is 150 days Intention behind the move The move is aimed at creating new… Continue reading Lower minimum employment rule to spur jobs: leather sector

Scorpene submarine programme makes progress Context Defense – Scorpene Submarine programme Scorpene class submarines with India INS Kalvari Khanderi, the second Scorpene class submarine was launched in January 2017, and is currently undergoing the rigorous phase of sea trials and is also scheduled to be delivered shortly Karanj was launched on, 31 January 2018. Karanj… Continue reading Scorpene submarine programme makes progress

SC admits CPI(M)’s plea against electoral bonds Context The Supreme Court on Friday admitted a petition filed by the CPI(M) and party general secretary Sitaram Yechury to strike down the government’s Electoral Bond Scheme 2018 and amendments in the Finance Act, 2017, which allows for “unlimited donations from individuals and foreign companies to political parties without any… Continue reading SC admits CPI(M)’s plea against electoral bonds

Supreme Court refers jallikattu challenge to Constitution Bench Context Jallikattu issue What happened? The Supreme Court on Friday referred to a Constitution Bench to decide whether the people of Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra can conserve jallikattu and bullock-cart races as their cultural right and demand their protection under Article 29 (1) of the Constitution. What… Continue reading Supreme Court refers jallikattu challenge to Constitution Bench

Forging a new nuclear deal  Context No progress on the India-US civil nuclear deal No sign of any concrete contract: There is no sign yet of any concrete contract between an American company and the Indian authorities to build a reactor. Reasons for the failure: GE-Hitachi refused to accept the formula on supplier liability Instead,… Continue reading Forging a new nuclear deal 

Get cracking: on implementing ‘Modicare’  Context Implementation roadmap for the new National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) launched in the budget Challenges before us These included transfer of resources to provinces, recruitment of health personnel, and purchase and distribution of medicines to the chosen units For-profit tertiary care sector Moreover, the steady growth of a for-profit… Continue reading Get cracking: on implementing ‘Modicare’ 

Link between sanitation, stunting questioned Context Relation between stunting and sanitation What is stunting? Stunting is the impaired growth and development that children experience from poor nutrition, repeated infection, and inadequate psychosocial stimulation Children are defined as stunted if their height-for-age is more than two standard deviations below the WHO Child Growth Standards median (source:… Continue reading Link between sanitation, stunting questioned