Category: Featured Editorials

Why in news? Recently, the Supreme Court diluted the provision of SC/ST act on the pretext of its misuse. About SC/ST Act, 1989: Act was constituted to: 1-To prevent discrimination against SC and STs. 2-To prevent atrocities against SC and STs. 3-To provide relief and rehabilitation to the victims. Changes made by SCs verdict Provisions:… Continue reading Apex Court issues directions to prevent SC/ST Act

Context: Days after data analytics firm Cambridge Analytica (CA), a subsidiary of the U.K.-based SCL Group, was suspended by social media company Facebook for not deleting user data obtained from an app developer for the platform, the controversy reached Indian shores with both the BJP and the Congress trading charges of the other having used… Continue reading Data protection in India: An overview

Context: The Parliament recently passed the Payment of Gratuity Bill, 2018 that will empower the government to fix the amount of tax-free gratuity and the period of maternity leave with an executive order. Background: 21st August 1972: The Payment of Gratuity Act was passed by Indian Parliament in 21 August 1972 and came in force… Continue reading Parliament passed the Payment of Gratuity Bill, 2018.

Context: As availability of safe water is becoming a major challenge, it is pertinent for all stakeholders to collectively act for better management of the water resources. Water Crisis in India:  Key statistics A Water Aid report in 2016 ranked India among the worst countries in the world for the number of people without safe… Continue reading India’s Looming Water Crisis

Context: The Supreme Court of India on March 20th, 2018 issued directions to prevent the misuse of provisions of Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989 (SC/ST Act). Background: The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989 (SC/ST Act), which protects Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes from casteist… Continue reading Supreme Court issues directions to prevent SC/ST Act

Context: The National Medical Commission Bill seeks to make structural changes in an exploitative health-care system. Introduction: However, Indian Medical Association (IMA) has strongly opposed the bill. The NMC bill seeks to replace the apex medical education regulator, the Medical Council of India (MCI), with a new body National Medical Commission (NMC). It is against… Continue reading India’s healthcare system in crisis

Context: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s recent state visit to India has strengthened the prospects of India-Iran relations. Background: 15th – 17th February, 2018: Hassan Rouhani, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, paid his first State Visit to India from 15-17 February 2018. President Hassan Rouhani’s visit took place against the background of rising tensions in… Continue reading Iranian President’s visit to India: an opportunity to review bilateral ties

Background: 6th March, 2018: On 6th March, 2018, around 40,000 farmers in and around Maharashtra marched to Mumbai from Nasik. 12th March, 2018: The march ended at March 12th at the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha. Members of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), the farmers’ wing of Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM), along with other farmers’ unions are… Continue reading Farmers march to Mumbai is a reflection of India’s agrarian crisis

Context: A fresh plea was filed in the Supreme Court seeking to declare as “illegal” and “unconstitutional” the practices of polygamy and ‘nikah halala’ among the Muslim community. What has happened? The petition was filed by a Delhi-based woman. The petition has said that by virtue of Muslim Personal Law, section 494 of IPC (marrying… Continue reading Fresh plea in Supreme Court to declare polygamy in Islam illegal

Context: French President Emmanuel Macron’s ‘fairly successful’ visit to India paves way for a ‘clear roadmap’ for heightened Indo-French engagement over a range of areas from clean energy, education, trade, space, defence ties to maritime cooperation and geopolitics. Background: 10th march, 2018: French President Emmanuel Macron had arrived in India on 10th march, 2018. His… Continue reading French President ‘fairly successful’ visit to India: important highlights