Category: Featured Editorials

Context: Despite being actively engaged in research and new innovations, over 35% people are not aware of intellectual property rights (IPR), a latest study revealed. About IPR IPR provide certain exclusive rights to the inventors or creators of that property, in order to enable them to reap commercial benefits from their creative efforts or reputation.… Continue reading Intellectual Property Rights

Context The Reef & Rainforest Research Centre (RRRC) has reported that some affected areas of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef are showing “substantial signs of recovery.” Corals: Coral polyps are small (0.25-12 inches), soft-bodied marine organisms. They belong to the group cnidaria Note: other cnidarians include hydras, jellyfish, and sea anemones The coral polyps share a… Continue reading Threats to Coral Reefs

Context The Commerce Ministry to carry out a fresh round of consultations with stakeholders to address concerns raised by many on the proposed e-commerce policy What is e-commerce? Electronic commerce or ecommerce is a term for any type of business, or commercial transaction that involves the transfer of information across the Internet. Types of e-commerce… Continue reading E-Commerce and Draft Policy

“Without urgent action we are heading for a post-antibiotic era, in which common infections and minor injuries can once again kill.” – WHO Why in news? Kerala – the first state to adopt a comprehensive policy on AMR in 2016 to fight growing antibiotic resistance – is now taking a big leap. What is AMR?… Continue reading Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

“Justice delayed is justice denied.”- English adage Context: The Supreme Court has recently set up a panel headed by a retired judge of the court to usher in drastic prison reforms and decongest overcrowded jails.It will examine the functioning of undertrial review committees, availability of legal aid and advice. Who are Undertrials? Undertrial is a… Continue reading Undertrials in India

“Hate the Crime and not the Criminal”-Mahatma Gandhi Context: The Supreme Court has constituted a three-member committee headed by Justice Amitava Roy to look into issues pertaining to jails in India and suggest reforms. Prison or jail:Itis a facility in which individuals are forcibly confined and denied a variety of freedoms under the authority of… Continue reading Prison Reforms

Context Recently the government has brought an ordinance that criminalises Instant Triple Talaq. Triple Talaq What is Instant Triple Talaq? It is a distorted form of Talaq used by a Muslim man to divorce his wife by just uttering ‘Talaq’ three times. It is irrevocable form of Talaq where there is no scope of reconciliation.… Continue reading TRIPLE TALAQ

Context: With growing concerns over sea-bed mining, parties to UNCLOS started negotiations to agree a treaty to protect the biodiversity of high sea and promote sustainable use of resources. What is seabed mining? Seabed mining is the process which involves extracting submerged minerals and resources from the sea floor, either by dredging sand or lifting… Continue reading Sea-Bed Mining

Context: Government of India decided to merge three Public Sector Banks namely – Bank of Baroda, Vijaya Bank and Dena bank into one single entity. Though termed Bank merger it being called as bank amalgamation. The resultant entity after amalgamation will be the third largest Public Sector Bank in India after State Bank of India… Continue reading Bank Merger and Bank Amalgamation

Why in news? Recently, Surrey Space Centre scheme, “RemoveDebris”, for removing orbiting debris successfully captured experimental test junk. The 100kg RemoveDebris satellite was launched to the station in April as cargo on a supply mission. What is Space Debris? The term ‘space debris’ does not have a unanimously accepted legal definition. It is generally used… Continue reading Space Debris