Category: Featured Editorials

Context The government has reconstituted a Multi-Agency Group led by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) chairman to probe cases relating to the ‘Paradise Papers’ data disclosure. What are Paradise Papers? Paradise papers is a cache of 13.4 million documents obtained by German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung and investigated by the International Consortium of Investigative… Continue reading The case of Paradise Papers

Context Commerce and Industry Ministry is planning to expand exports by increasingagri-exports. What benefits will it incur? Increasing agri – exports will help increase India’s export basket and would also expand farmers’ incomes and amend farm distress. This objective is achievable, provided there is a paradigm shift in policy-making from being obsessively consumer-oriented toaccording greater… Continue reading Expanding exports of agri – exports

Context: Contract farming in India has huge investment opportunities for global super-market chains considering India as a major outsourcing hub. Introduction: At World Food India 2017, Prime Minister of India asked the private sector to invest more in the contract farming, raw material sourcing and creating agri linkages. During three-day mega event from 3rd November… Continue reading Contract farming and food processing sector in India

Context: India has been ranked a low 108 out 144 countries on the gender equality scale, slipping from 87 last year, according to the Global Gender Gap Index (2017) released by the World Economic Forum (WEF) recently. Introduction: India’s rank slipped 21 places, behind neighbours China and Bangladesh, primarily due to less participation of women… Continue reading India’s dismal performance on Global Gender Gap Index

Context: The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) stated that use of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) for management of malnutrition is not an accepted policy of the Government of India. Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) Severe acute malnutrition is defined by a very low weight for height. It is identified by visible severe wasting… Continue reading No green signal for ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) in India

Context In the light of upcoming visit of French President Emmanuel Macron’s to India wide-ranging talks were held which aimed at further boosting defence and security ties, with a focus on co-development of military platforms, and enhancing cooperation in the maritime sphere. What were the keys issues discussed? Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her French… Continue reading The upcoming meet of India and France

Context: The Centre has instructed the States not to deny Public Distribution System benefits to any person who does not have Aadhaar or has not linked the ration card to the 12-digit biometric identifier It also asked the States not to delete eligible households from the list of beneficiaries for non-possession of Aadhaar. Ministry’s decision:… Continue reading Challenges of Aadhar-An overview

Context: A petition was filed in the Supreme Court pointing out the vagueness in the procedure for removal of Election Commissioners. The petitioner added that the ambiguity on the removal procedure of the Election Commissioners might affect the functional independence of the Election Commission. What is Election Commission of India? The Election Commission was established… Continue reading The Election Commission of India-an Overview

Context: The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has relaxed standards for upcoming sewage treatment plants (STP), including those to come up on extremely polluted stretches of the Ganga. Introduction: Existing laws permit Biochemical oxygen demand (Bod) upto 30 mg/litre. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), (also called biological oxygen demand) is the amount of dissolved oxygen needed… Continue reading Waste disposal in India

Context Afghan President Ashraf Ghani shall hold detailed talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on security and stability in Afghanistan, and efforts to combat terrorism. How were the Indo-Afghanistan relations in the Ancient Days? India Afghanistan relations can be traced back to Indus Valley Civilization. The Seleucid empire controlled that part which is present day Afghanistan The historic Khyber Pass that… Continue reading India-Afghanistan relations: An overview