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GS: 2
International relations:
The self-blinding Russia prism(The Hindu Opinion)
The ‘Russia collusion’ narrative in the U.S. has rendered any diplomacy between the two countries impossible.
‘Can’t compare Sri Lanka refugees and Rohingya’(The Hindu)
Sri Lankan Tamil refugees, who fled the war in the island nation in the 1980s, stood on a “different footing” from the Rohingyas who seek shelter from persecution in native Myanmar. Any comparison between the two is misconceived, the Centre has told the Supreme Court.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to visit India next week(The Hindu)
India will host German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier next week. The visit is the first major outreach from Germany after the new government led by Chancellor Angela Merkel was sworn in on March 14.
Indian Constitution and Polity:
Won’t not touch Ram Sethu; will explore alternative route, Centre tells SC(The Hindu)
The Union government told the Supreme Court on Friday that it will not touch the Ram Sethu, an underwater coral formation in the Indian Ocean referred in mythology Ramayana, for the implementation of the Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project.
Arbitration and Conciliation Act: Proposed amendment by govt to put earlier changes on backburner, warns SC(Indian Express)
The court referred to the 2015 Act which was enacted “to provide for speedy disposal of cases relating to arbitration with least court intervention.” The amendment came in the backdrop of delays in arbitration caused by “interpretation of the provisions of the Act by courts in some cases…”.
GS: 3
Economy:
Higher trade deficit pushes up Q3 CAD to 2% of GDP at $13.5 bn(The Hindu)
The current account deficit (CAD) rose to 2% of the GDP or $13.5 billion in the December quarter, up from $8 billion or 1.4% in the year-ago period, on the back of higher trade deficit, according to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data.
‘Export promotion schemes opposed by U.S. not subsidies’(The Hindu)
Programmes such as the Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme offered by India for exporters, that have been challenged by the U.S. at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), are not subsidies, according to a senior Union Textile Ministry official.
Grounding of aircraft won’t hit services: Jayant Sinha(The Hindu)
Even as Indigo and GoAir announced cancellations of close to 630 domestic flights this month, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha on Friday said that it was important to note that this was just 2% of capacity and that with two new planes being added every week, the government expected supply-demand to be back in balance quickly.
CETC India starts work on solar unit(The Hindu)
CETC (India), an ancillary of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC), is setting up a solar photovoltaic cell (PVC) manufacturing park at Sri City, near here, according to a top official.
Science and Technology:
The long fight against TB(The Hindu Opinion)
To outsmart the disease, India must intercept infection, progression and transmission
Yesterday’s current affairs material by Forum IAS
7 PM Editorial: Farmers march to Mumbai is a reflection of India’s agrarian crisis
