Author: ForumIAS

WHO thumbs up for Swachh Bharat’s rural component News: The World Health Organisation(WHO) report released recently. Important facts: 2. Major highlights of the report: The Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin(SBM-G) will help in preventing more than three lakh deaths due to diarrhea and protein-energy malnutrition between 2014-October 2019. 3. India’s rural sanitation coverage escalated to 89.07%… Continue reading WHO thumbs up for Swachh Bharat’s rural component

Social media hub plan dropped News: The government’s proposal for social media communication hub plan dropped. Important facts: 2. The proposal was supposed to perform the following functions: Monitor social media traffic. Create a social media hub to create a technology architecture that merged mass surveillance with a capacity for disinformation. The proposal was supposed… Continue reading Social media hub plan dropped

Checking the new abnormal Article: Satvik Varma, litigation counsel, discussed the Supreme Court’s guidelines to address the lynching problem in India and also emphasized that anti-lynching laws are not sufficient to address cases of lynching. Important facts: 2. Recently, the Supreme Court observed that “it is the responsibility of the States to prevent untoward incidents… Continue reading Checking the new abnormal

Impasse ends News: The Centre has cleared the elevation of Justice K.M Joseph (Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice) to the Supreme Court. Important facts: 2. Justice Joseph’s name has been cleared along with the elevation of Chief Justices Indira Banerjee (Madras High Court) and Vineet Saran (Orissa High Court) to the Supreme Court. 3. Presidential warrants… Continue reading Impasse ends

Centre pushes for quota in promotion for SCs/STs News: Recently, the government began its push for providing “accelerated promotion with consequential seniority” for Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) members in public employment. Important facts: 2. Nagaraj  judgment 2006: As per Nagaraj judgment 2006 , the government cannot introduce a quota in promotion for its SC/ST… Continue reading Centre pushes for quota in promotion for SCs/STs

‘Solar duty may do more harm than good’ News: Recently, the government decided to impose a safeguard duty on the import of solar cells from China and Malaysia. Important facts: 2. The government implemented a 25% safeguard duty on solar cell imports from China and Malaysia for the period between July 30, 2018 and July… Continue reading ‘Solar duty may do more harm than good’

Anatomy of an outbreak Article:  R.Prasad, author, discussed how Congo learnt from the 2014 Ebola crisis and what measures is adopting in dealing with current crisis. Important facts: 2. The Democratic Republic of Congo noticed Ebola cases once again this year. 3. Last time the virus was discovered in 1976. 4. Although, the WHO announced… Continue reading Anatomy of an outbreak

Change gears News: The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, facing opposition in the Rajya Sabha. Important facts: 2. The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha last year. 3. The subject is included in the Concurrent list; Parliament can make a law defining powers available to the States. 4. Key changes in the  Bill : The… Continue reading Change gears

Clarifying asylum News: Recently, Eduador cut off Internet access to WikiLeaks Editor-in-Chief Julian Assange. Important facts: 2. In 2012, to avoid rape allegations, Mr . Assange skipped bail and entered the Ecuadorean embassy, where he has since remained protected by diplomatic asylum status. 3. While Swedish prosecutors have dropped their investigations, a U.K. judge refused… Continue reading Clarifying asylum

The economics of tax havens News: According to another recent paper, “The missing profits of nations”, by Ludvig Wier and others, about 40% of the profits earned by multinationals each year continue to be shifted to tax havens. Important facts: Organisations like Oxfam have often characterized tax havens as “anti-poor” since they help the rich… Continue reading The economics of tax havens