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GS: 2
International relations:
India, Sweden agree upon ‘win-win’ joint action plan(The Hindu)
After a hectic day of bilateral parleys here, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Swedish counterpart, Stefan Löfven, on Tuesday agreed upon a joint action plan (JAP) for both countries to take forward a wide range of initiatives in defence, trade and investment, counterterrorism, renewable energy, smart cities, women’s skill development, space and science and healthcare.
The ‘new’ South Asia(The Hindu Opinion)
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks to redefine the priorities of the Commonwealth at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London this week, India’s neighbourhood policy is coming under scrutiny. The visit of Nepali Prime Minister K.P. Oli to India earlier this month has led to suggestions that it could mark a new beginning in India-Nepal ties after the troubles of the past, and Mr. Modi is likely to visit Nepal soon in part to regain some of India’s lost strategic clout.
Non-alignment redux(The Hindu Opinion)
As the 18th mid-term ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) concluded in early April in Azerbaijan, the question of India’s non-alignment status resurfaced, even if the country’s official position on the matter has arguably remained unchanged over the years. Indeed, as a founding member of NAM, India has remained committed to the purposes and principles of the movement.
Indian Constitution and Polity:
Law Commission favours simultaneous elections((The Hindu)
A draft white paper released by the Law Commission of India on Tuesday recommends holding of simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and the Assemblies, possibly in 2019.
Nod awaited to induct jurist into Lokpal panel(The Hindu)
The high-profile Lokpal selection committee, led by the Prime Minister, met on April 10 and the recommendations for the induction of an eminent jurist in the panel is awaiting approval, the government informed the Supreme Court on Tuesday.
Sexual intercourse in long-term relationship not rape, says SC(The Hindu)
Sexual intercourse in the course of a long-term relationship cannot be classified as rape, the Supreme Court has held.
Clamour for death(The Hindu Opinion)
Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi has said her ministry will seek an amendment to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, to provide for death as the maximum punishment for the rape of those below 12.
GS: 3
Economy:
No deficit of currency, more being printed: RBI(The Hindu)
Amid the cash shortage reported from several parts of the country, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has assured that there is sufficient cash in the central bank’s vaults and in current chests, adding that the situation is being monitored closely.
Chasing the monsoon(The Hindu Opinion)
The forecast of a normal monsoon has brought relief all around. For farmers, the India Meteorological Department’s estimate that rainfall during the summer, between June and September, will be 97% of the 50-year average of 89 cm, is bound to raise fresh expectations.
‘India expected to grow at 7.4% in 2018’(The Hindu)
India is expected to grow at 7.4% in 2018 and 7.8% in 2019, leaving its nearest rival China behind respectively at 6.6% and 6.4% in the two years, the IMF said on Tuesday.
‘Corporate debt, a drag on investment’(The Hindu)
The corporate debt overhang and associated banking sector credit quality concerns exert a drag on investment in India, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Tuesday, in an apparent reference to the PNB scam involving diamantaire Nirav Modi.
Bharat-22 ETF may eye Rs. 10,000 cr.(The Hindu)
The Finance Ministry may come out with a Rs. 10,000-crore follow-on fund offer of the Bharat-22 exchange traded fund (ETF) as it looks to dilute stake in Coal India to meet the minimum public holding norm.
Environment:
NGT asks Ministry to finalise national policy on forest fires(The Hindu)
The National Green Tribunal has directed the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to finalise the National Policy on Forest Fire within two weeks, after noting that forest fires generally occur in the month of April.
Yesterday’s current affairs material by Forum IAS
7 PM Editorial: INDIA-EU Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement
