Author: ForumIAS

Chandrayaan-II to be launched in April Context: India’s second moon mission, Chandrayaan-II, which would land a rover on the lunar surface is expected to be launched in April this year. Chandrayaan-I discovered water on the moon and this will mission will be  an extension of that. About Chandrayaan II: Chandrayaan-II would cost about Rs. 800… Continue reading Chandrayaan-II to be launched in April

Solar alliance biggest win since Paris accord, says PM Context: Recently at the inaugural session of the World Sustainable Development Summit, PM Modi has said that the biggest development on tackling climate change since the Paris Accord of 2015 has been the International Solar Alliance. About International Solar Alliance (ISA) The ISA was launched on… Continue reading Solar alliance biggest win since Paris accord, says PM

Brewing higher profits and saving birds on the farm Context: According to a recently published research in the journal Scientific Reports, Arabica coffee helps both farmers and wild birds in the Ghats. Issues with Robusta Plantations around the World: Native trees are cut down to grow Robusta, in order to give it more sunlight. Thus… Continue reading Brewing higher profits and saving birds on the farm

Case histories Context: The government’s intention to launch the world’s largest health insurance programme, the National Health Protection Scheme, raises an important issue. Issues: 1-   Should the focus be on the demand side of health-care finance when the supply side, the public health infrastructure, is in a shambles? Experience with insurance schemes, such as… Continue reading Case histories

Not a prescription for the poor Context: The National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) is being hailed as the biggest takeaway for the aam aadmi in this year’s Budget. Problems: The Budget promised to provide insurance coverage to an estimated 50 crore poor beneficiaries through the NHPS. There are two problems with this claim. Old scheme:… Continue reading Not a prescription for the poor

How did system allow PNB fraud, asks CVC Context: The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), India’s apex body for checking corruption in the government, has summoned senior officials from the Reserve Bank of India, the Finance Ministry, along with the Chief Vigilance Officer of Punjab National Bank (PNB), early next week to assess how the ₹11,500… Continue reading How did system allow PNB fraud, asks CVC

‘Show source of income to contest polls’ Context: In a landmark judgement in poll reforms, the SC on Friday has ruled that politicians, their spouses and associates must declare their sources of income, along with their assets, in order to qualify for contesting elections. Details: The judgment, authored by Justice Chelameswar has observed that manifold… Continue reading ‘Show source of income to contest polls’

Guards get modern weapons to fight poaching Context: In a major initiative for wildlife protection, the forest guards in Assam were given modern weapons to check poaching of rhinos, tigers and other wild animals. What is in news? Altogether 74 rhinos have been killed by poachers since 2015 and 316 poachers arrested during 2015-17. Thus,… Continue reading Guards get modern weapons to fight poaching

Cryptoassets: regulation in the air? Context: Despite repeated cautions by the Reserve Bank of India and the Finance Ministry about the risks associated with investing in cryptocurrencies ,  and their illegality when used as actual currency, the crypto-industry is still pretty enthusiastic about India and maintains that even the government’s negative stance has been exaggerated.… Continue reading Cryptoassets: regulation in the air?

Slowly, but surely, AI use is rising across industries Context: Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been subjected to debates including concerns around machines overtaking, or even replacing, the human workforce. Expanding boundaries through Artificial Intelligence(AI): According to the IDC Cognitive User Adoption Survey (2017), an overwhelming majority of Indian organisations (nearly 70%) — have either adopted… Continue reading Slowly, but surely, AI use is rising across industries