Author: ForumIAS

Planning for electric mobility Context: The Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health, published by the peer- reviewed Lancet medical journals in October 2017, attributed to air pollution an estimated 6.5 million premature deaths globally, with 1.1 million being from India. World Health Organisation’s urban air quality database: In 2014, the World Health Organisation’s urban air… Continue reading Planning for electric mobility

DoT’s plan to spur synergy among 7 PSUs Context: The government unveiled a ‘strategic plan’ to enable seven state-owned companies under the Department of Telecom (DoT) to work closely with an aim of promoting greater operational synergy among them. Introduction: These PSUs will also look at pooling in resources to address new business opportunities in… Continue reading DoT’s plan to spur synergy among 7 PSUs

The next innovation Context: The potential of blockchain to bring about substantial economic transformation is the mirror image of the way the Internet revolutionised commerce, media and advertising in the previous decade. Blockchain: Blockchain can be described as a way for people to share the extra space and computational power in their computers to create… Continue reading The next innovation

An umbrella for the consumer Context: The Consumer Protection Bill, 2018 is a step towards providing ordinary consumers some protection of their interests and effective administration and settlement of disputes. Definition of consumer: The pending Bill, which will replace the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, defines the “consumer” as a person who buys any good or… Continue reading An umbrella for the consumer

SC against disclosure of IAS prelims marks Context: The Supreme Court has held that details of marks — raw and scaled — scored in the Civil Services Exam cannot be “mechanically” disclosed under Right to Information. Background: The decision came on an appeal filed by the Union Public Service Commission against a Delhi High Court… Continue reading SC against disclosure of IAS prelims marks

Cannot annul marriage between adults: SC) Context: A Bench, led by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, defined the limits of the court’s jurisdiction in the Hadiya case. Introduction: Ms. Hadiya, a 26-year-old homoeopathy student, had converted to Islam and then married a Muslim. The Kerala High Court had annulled Ms. Hadiya’s marriage to Shafin Jahan Her… Continue reading Cannot annul marriage between adults: SC

Two Benches refer land acquisition cases to CJI Context: A fight between two Benches of the Supreme Court has landed before the Chief Justice of India for final settlement What has happened? A three-judge Supreme Court Bench led by Justice Madan B. Lokur criticised another Bench for “tinkering with judicial discipline”. Justice Lokur’s Bench had… Continue reading Two Benches refer land acquisition cases to CJI

Pakistan moves against terrorists “superficial, reversible”: U.S Context: The Donald Trump administration is not satisfied with the measures taken by Pakistan in recent months to crack down on terrorist groups. What is in news? The U.S is concerned about tensions between India and Pakistan, “two nuclear armed states,” the onus is on Pakistan to create… Continue reading Pakistan moves against terrorists “superficial, reversible”: U.S

India is ignoring facts, says Maldives Context: India’s public statements regarding the suspension of democracy in the Maldives have ignored facts and ground realities, said the government of President Abdulla Yameen. Why is it in news? The public statements issued by the Government of India.. ignore the facts and ground realities with regard to the… Continue reading India is ignoring facts, says Maldives

India, Canada hold strategic dialogue Context: Ahead of India-Canada bilateral summit, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland held a strategic dialogue here on covering a wide range of bilateral issues. Area of discussions: The two leaders “had wide ranging discussions on strengthening relations in trade and investment, security and cyber… Continue reading India, Canada hold strategic dialogue