Author: ForumIAS

First step in a long journey Context The National Medical Commission Bill seeks to make structural changes in an exploitative health-care system Some Problems that NMC bill seeks to address India needs 3,00,000 more doctors in order to meet the World Health Organisation standard of the ideal doctor-population ratio. There is an 81% shortage of… Continue reading First step in a long journey

Treaty that backfired? Context The Shimla Agreement of 1972 India’s objectives behind Shimla Agreement Alasting solution to the Kashmir issue Or, failing that, an agreement that would constrain Pakistan from involving third parties in discussions about the future of Kashmir New Beginnings It was hoped that the Agreement would allow for a new beginning in… Continue reading Treaty that backfired?

U.S. wants India on board to ease Rohingya crisis What has happened? Amid growing worries about the coming monsoon that could flood a third of the main Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazaar in Bangladesh, Washington has offered to partner with New Delhi on joint efforts to assist Bangladesh Background Recent visit to the region by Deputy Assistant… Continue reading U.S. wants India on board to ease Rohingya crisis

Situation not ripe for pilgrimage, Pakistan told Context Row over denial of visas to pilgrims from Pakistan to Ajmer Reason given by India Prevailing circumstances are not suitable for pilgrimage between India and Pakistan Pakistan’s view: India violated the protocol The visit was to take place under the 1974 Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious… Continue reading Situation not ripe for pilgrimage, Pakistan told

A move to equivalence Context Recent agreement on “mutual recognition of educational qualifications” between India and France It provides an opportunity for India to refine its policy on higher education by inking such pacts with other countries, thereby seamlessly integrating the Indian student community across the world Current policy framework: Problem of Degree Recognition Dealt… Continue reading A move to equivalence

26-week maternity leave for women contract employees What has happened? In a significant verdict, the Kerala High Court has ruled that women contract employees working in government funded projects are entitled to 26 weeks of maternity leave as applicable to women employees under the service rules. Kerala’s view The State government contended that the petitioners… Continue reading 26-week maternity leave for women contract employees

India joins Europe’s satellite data sharing pool Context India has joined Europe’s mega global arrangement of sharing data from earth observation satellites, called Copernicus What has happened? An agreement between European Commission and ISRO means data from a band of Indian remote sensing satellites will be available to the European Copernicus programme, while designated Indian… Continue reading India joins Europe’s satellite data sharing pool

World’s last male northern white rhino dies in Kenya Context Sudan, the last male northern white rhino, has died in Kenya at the age of 45, after becoming a symbol of efforts to save his sub-species from extinction, a fate that only science can now prevent Backdrop When Sudan was born in 1973 in the… Continue reading World’s last male northern white rhino dies in Kenya

Awash in water crises Context As World Water Day draws closer (March 22), this year’s World Water Development Report makes it clear that nature-based solutions — which are also aligned with the principles and aims of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — can offer answers to our most pressing water-related challenges. Business-as-usual approaches to… Continue reading Awash in water crises

‘Move out, move up approach could ease India’s farm crisis’ Context View of the head of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) ahead of release of annual global food policy report Views Indian must adopt policies that facilitate sections of farmers to ‘move out’ of rural areas to urban areas and the remaining ones… Continue reading ‘Move out, move up approach could ease India’s farm crisis’