Author: ForumIAS

Courts lack facilities, judge tells govt. What has happened? How people can expect justice to be delivered by courts that function from “dilapidated” buildings which do not offer basic facilities like water, toilets and electricity, Justice Madan B. Lokur said on Tuesday Background Justice Lokur, the fifth senior-most judge in the Supreme Court and a… Continue reading Courts lack facilities, judge tells govt.

Honour killing guillotines liberty: SC What has happened? Coming down heavily on crimes committed in the name of honour, the Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the choice of consenting adults to love and marry as a part of their fundamental rights Issues guidelines It issued a set of guidelines for authorities to safeguard young couples… Continue reading Honour killing guillotines liberty: SC

Rogue nation? Russia made headlines for all the wrong reasons this week, when a clutch of countries led by the U.S. expelled more than 100 of its diplomats and intelligence officers over suspicion that the Kremlin was behind a nerve agent attack on a Russian spy and defector to the U.K., Sergei Skripal, and his… Continue reading Rogue nation?

A game-changer for higher education What has happened? The Union Cabinet’s decision recently to not only continue with the Rashtriya UchchatarShiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) — ‘a Centrally sponsored scheme launched in 2013 to provide strategic funding to eligible State higher educational institutions’ — but also give it due importance augurs well for the system of higher… Continue reading A game-changer for higher education

‘Safe houses’ for couples facing khap panchayat ire What has happened? The district magistrate or police chief have to provide couples, who risk the wrath of khap panchayats, not only with logistics and protection at their wedding but also a “safe house” to stay during the first year of marriage. Supreme Court issues guidelines for… Continue reading ‘Safe houses’ for couples facing khap panchayat ire

Biggest space telescope launch delayed till 2020 What has happened? NASA has delayed the launch of its much awaited, $8 billion James Webb Space Telescope — set to be the world’s biggest space observatory — until at least May 2020. NASA says it won’t be ready before May 2020 as the project is undergoing final… Continue reading Biggest space telescope launch delayed till 2020

On the electric highway What has happened? The Central government is not pursuing plans for a separate policy on electric vehicles (EVs) although it did think of introducing one. It has now left it to the automotive industry to determine the scale and pace of a transition from fossil fuels to electric motors Does India… Continue reading On the electric highway

Out of favour Context More people are losing their love for Indian bonds. Foreign investors have been net sellers of over $1 billion in Indian debt this month, almost cancelling out inflows since the beginning of the year. Domestic investors were already spooked by a widening fiscal deficit, so foreign selling now has managed to… Continue reading Out of favour

A solar gear shift Context: The government needs to tilt its green manufacturing mix in favour of nascent industries of the future Champion sector The 2018 Economic Survey identifies renewable energy as a champion sector under the Make in India 2.0 programme Present situation India currently meets almost 90% of its annual requirement of solar… Continue reading A solar gear shift

Steps needed to improve collegium system, says SC What has happened? Urgent measures are required to improve the collegium system of appointment of judges, including the setting up of an independent secretariat, the Supreme Court highlighted in a judgment on Wednesday Main points of the judgment Corrective measures: “Corrective measures” needed to be taken against… Continue reading Steps needed to improve collegium system, says SC