Author: ForumIAS

State election panels: Independent of central EC, with similar powers Context Amid a standoff between the Bengal State Election Commission and BJP over the withdrawal of a notification that had extended the last date for nominations in panchayat polls, Indian Express explains an SEC’s role and powers. What is a State Election Commission’s mandate? How is… Continue reading State election panels: Independent of central EC, with similar powers

Supreme order Context Judgment in Hadiya case is a robust defence of the individual’s rights against the writ of clan, community, family HC judgement The court had annulled the marriage of a 24-year-old adult, Hadiya, arguing that a girl her age was “weak and vulnerable,” and that “marriage being the most important decision in her life,… Continue reading Supreme order

A fresh deadline Context Devise a viable Cauvery scheme soon,stop disruptive protests What has happened? The Centre cannot continue to evade its legal obligation to create a mechanism to implement the Supreme Court’s final verdict in the Cauvery dispute. This was the broad message conveyed by the court on Monday when it admonished the government… Continue reading A fresh deadline

Aadhaar-PAN link doesn’t vitiate privacy’ What has happened? Noting that the usages like ‘legitimate State interest’ and ‘larger public interest’ mean one and the same, the UIDAI on Tuesday argued that linking of PAN card with Aadhaar does not amount to a violation of fundamental right to privacy. Arguments presented by UIDAI counsel Supreme Court… Continue reading Aadhaar-PAN link doesn’t vitiate privacy’

New norms for global projects Context Govt. departments must follow Indian rules in contracts What has happened? The Central Vigilance Commission has drawn up a new set of guidelines for projects funded by international agencies such as the World Bank, IMF and Asian Development Bank Govt departments to follow Indian rules The new guidelines will… Continue reading New norms for global projects

A new beginning with Nepal Context From all accounts, the Nepali PM’s visit went well but it will take pragmatism and patient nurturing on both sides to restore the trust and confidence Shift in Nepal PM of Nepal is shrewd enough to realise that his campaign rhetoric of Nepali nationalism with overt shades of anti-Indianism… Continue reading A new beginning with Nepal

Olive ridleys start hatching at Rushikulya What has happened? Sporadic hatching of olive ridley eggs has started at the mass nesting site at Rushikulya rookery coast in Ganjam district of Odisha Bit of a delay It was expected that mass hatching of eggs will start on the night of April 7 or 8 But it… Continue reading Olive ridleys start hatching at Rushikulya

‘Petroleum, Finance Ministers can award hydrocarbon blocks’ Context Cabinet move will expedite decision-making process relating to HELP What has happened? The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal to delegate the power to award hydrocarbon blocks to successful bidders under the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP) to Petroleum and and Finance Ministers HELP Under… Continue reading ‘Petroleum, Finance Ministers can award hydrocarbon blocks’

The rise and fall of bitcoin Context Cryptocurrencies have witnessed a massive fall in prices since they hit a peak in December last year. Bitcoin, by far the most popular cryptocurrency on the planet, is currently trading below $7,000 as compared to its peak price of over $19,000 — a loss of two-thirds of its… Continue reading The rise and fall of bitcoin

Facing the future of development Context The recent spate of peasant protests across wide swathes of the country points sharply to the unjust folly and sheer unviability of the path of development that India has embraced, especially in the reform era since the late 1980s Author’s contention Widening inequities between city dwellers and small, marginal… Continue reading Facing the future of development