Author: ForumIAS

Core sector growth accelerates to 6.7% in January Context:  Growth in the country’s core sector accelerated to 6.7% in January, 2018 from 3.4% a year ago. Introduction: The growth in eight core sectors, which comprise 40.27% of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), was 4.2% in December and 7.4%… Continue reading Core sector growth accelerates to 6.7% in January

Manufacturing sector growth falls to 4-month low in Feb.: PMI Context: India’s manufacturing sector activity fell to a four-month low in February, as factory output and new business orders rose at a slower pace, according to a monthly survey. Nikkei India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI): The Nikkei India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) fell… Continue reading Manufacturing sector growth falls to 4-month low in Feb.: PMI

Rupee weakens as dollar demand rises after fraud Context:  A marked increase in demand for dollars has been pushing the rupee lower in recent sessions as banks exercise increased caution over issuing buyer’s credit, letter of credit (LC) and similar instruments for trade finance in the wake of the fraud uncovered at Punjab National Bank… Continue reading Rupee weakens as dollar demand rises after fraud

GDP surges in third quarter Context: According to official data, the GDP growth has accelerated in the third quarter from the preceding ones in 2017-18 Details: GDP growth in the third quarter of financial year 2017-18 was 7.2% Growth in GDP was at 6.5% in the second quarter of the current financial year. Growth in… Continue reading GDP surges in third quarter

Against human rights Context: Rule of law is the fundamental principle of governance of any civilised liberal democracy but  the Uttar Pradesh government looks somewhat determined to disregard the first principles of the criminal justice system. More in news: Police encounters have become routine in U.P. In December, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had introduced in… Continue reading Against human rights

An ode to a dying language Context:  India is one of the great repositories of languages. Death of a culture The death of a language in particular has a particular poignancy. Newspapers often report the death of a last tribal speaker, scarcely mentioning the death of a culture that preceded it. There is a hypocrisy… Continue reading An ode to a dying language

E-way bills redux: next step for GST Council Context: The group of ministers assessing technology issues related to the Goods and Services Tax regime has proposed rolling out on April 1 the e-way bill system. What is the purpose of the e-way bill system? To track inter-State movement of goods above the value of ₹50,000… Continue reading E-way bills redux: next step for GST Council

United by a common purpose Context: The Constitution Bench in the land acquisition case must show us that the court still respects rules of precedent Provision in Land Act: A provision in the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (LARR Act) is being replaced the Land Acquisition… Continue reading United by a common purpose

Pharma promotions tax exempt: tribunal Context: A recent decision of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal’s Pune bench allowing pharmaceutical companies to account for their spending on doctors as a deductible expenditure has sparked off a fresh debate on ethics. More in news: Since the companies are out of the purview of the Medical Council of… Continue reading Pharma promotions tax exempt: tribunal