ForumIAS announcing GS Foundation Program for UPSC CSE 2025-26 from 19 April. Click Here for more information.
ForumIAS Answer Writing Focus Group (AWFG) for Mains 2024 commencing from 24th June 2024. The Entrance Test for the program will be held on 28th April 2024 at 9 AM. To know more about the program visit: https://forumias.com/blog/awfg2024
GS-2
‘Draft Education Policy gives boost to research’
K. Kasturirangan, chairman, Drafting Committee, National Education Policy 2019, has said that the draft education policy recommends merger of 900 universities and 40,000 colleges into around 15,000 large, well-resourced, vibrant multidisciplinary institutions and the higher education institutions (HEIs) in the country would move towards becoming three types of universities.
SC to decide if illegal migrants can be given the status of refugees
The Supreme Court agreed to examine a “substantial question” put forth by the Union government as to whether illegal immigrants can even be considered for ‘refugee’ status.
UN report backs India’s stand on Pakistan-based militant groups: activists
While India has rejected the ‘Update’ of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) report on Jammu and Kashmir, human rights activists have pointed out that it includes several unprecedented references to rights violations and constitutional changes undertaken by Pakistani authorities and militant groups.
Maratha reservation is more appeasement than justice
Maratha reservation borders on class legislation rather than signifying reasonable classification
A new report, ‘Food and Nutrition Security Analysis, India, 2019’, authored by the Government of India and the United Nations World Food Programme, paints a picture of hunger and malnutrition amongst children in large pockets of India
Taliban, Afghan negotiators agree on road map for peace
The United States and the Taliban are getting closer to a deal that is expected to be centred on a U.S. promise to withdraw troops in exchange for a Taliban promise not to let Afghanistan be used as a base for terrorism
‘Indian tariffs not acceptable’
U.S. President Donald Trump launched a fresh attack on India for imposing tariffs on American products
GS-3
CPCB pulls up 52 firms over handling of waste
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has pulled up 52 companies — including Amazon, Flipkart, Danone Foods and Beverages and Patanjali Ayurved Limited — for not specifying a timeline or a plan to collect the plastic waste that results from their business activities.
France to impose green tax on plane tickets from 2020
The French government is to impose a tax of up to €18 on plane tickets for all flights from airports in France to fund less-polluting transportation projects
