Author: ForumIAS

U.S. sanctions target Putin’s allies What has happened? The U.S. struck at the heart of President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle on Friday, imposing sanctions on seven of Russia’s most influential oligarchs and stoking a diplomatic crisis that some have dubbed a new Cold War. Total Targets In all, seven oligarchs, 12 companies they own or… Continue reading U.S. sanctions target Putin’s allies

Nepal PM pitches for Indian investments What has happened? Nepal’s economy at present depends heavily on global remittances, which make up about 30% of its GDP. More than four million Nepalese live and work outside the Indian subcontinent, with about five to seven million estimated to be living and working in India, crossing an open… Continue reading Nepal PM pitches for Indian investments

Smoke in the woods Context The new draft Forest Policy 2018 Different approaches Pre & Post independence: Forest policy in colonial India focussed on maximising products and revenues for the state through the imperial forest department as sole owner, protector and manager of the forest estate. In post independent India forests were seen as sources… Continue reading Smoke in the woods

Humanity’s first flight to sun in July: NASA Context NASA’s Parker Solar Probe — humanity’s first mission to the Sun — is undergoing final preparations for its launch scheduled for July 31 Launch by: Delta IV Heavy Launch Vehicle Launched from: NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida Objective of the mission It will orbit directly… Continue reading Humanity’s first flight to sun in July: NASA

‘LTCG tax to spur growth in fixed-income MFs’ Context Year 2017 was one of the most remarkable years for the mutual fund industry both in terms of growing the equity asset class, as well as systematic investment plans (SIP) as a mode of investing Prelims relevant info What is LTCG tax? It is the tax… Continue reading ‘LTCG tax to spur growth in fixed-income MFs’ 

Bad loan menace: auditors come under lens of RBI Context With the RBI cracking the whip on bad loans menace, more than three dozen chartered accountants (CAs) are under the scanner for allegedly conniving with promoters in defaulting as well as restructuring the stressed assets, sources said What is RBI looking into? The regulator is… Continue reading Bad loan menace: auditors come under lens of RBI 

Why Indian firms don’t innovate Context A large proportion of Indian companies just don’t have the policy or human resource capabilities to invest in innovation though the country fares favourably in terms of research and development (R&D) spending when compared with its peers, according to a top World Bank official Issues: Why Indian companies don’t… Continue reading Why Indian firms don’t innovate

EC to take a call on electoral bonds soon Context Electoral Bonds Backdrop The Union government notified the electoral bond scheme on January 2. The amendment to Section 29C of the Representation of the People Act has made it no longer mandatory for the parties to report the details of donations received through the bonds.… Continue reading EC to take a call on electoral bonds soon

A case to withdraw the triple talaq Bill Context The Bill in its current form has many procedural and legal infirmities What has happened? The Prime Minister’s lament to the outgoing Rajya Sabha MPs that they missed out on an opportunity to debate important issues such as the triple talaq Bill — the Muslim Women… Continue reading A case to withdraw the triple talaq Bill

Inclusion and the right to dignity Context The onus of battling discrimination must not fall on the shoulders of Dalits alone Recent events In January 2016 the death of Rohith Vemula, in July 2016 the public attacks on Dalits in Una, and earlier this year attacks on celebrations of the historic Bhima-Koregaon battle in Maharashtra… Continue reading Inclusion and the right to dignity