GS-1
Social Issues
A Blinkered Justice: (Indian Express, Editorial)
Rape laws have changed but the temptation to shame and blame the victim remains.
Turn the economic ship around: (The Hindu, Editorial)
We need to apply the potential of social business to solve problems of inequality and unemployment.
GS-2
Government Policies
Dialling The Wrong Number: (Indian Express, Editorial)
The DOT circulars seeking Aadhaar-Mobile linking have no legal force.
India and Neighbors
Afghan overture: (The Hindu, Editorial)
India’s decision to expand security assistance to Kabul has a nuanced geopolitical message.
International groupings and agreements
Japan keen on friendship with northeast: (The Hindu)
Tokyo will invest in infrastructure, education and people-to-people sectors, apart from inviting 25 youth from region to the country this year.
GS-3
Infrastructure and investment models
Private players may run rail lines: (The Hindu)
The Union government is open to the idea of giving operations of railway lines to private players for enhancing competition.
Cropping pattern, Agriculture, e-technology
Tech boost for soil quality scheme: (The Hindu)
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is looking to link the programme with a research project at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay that uses sophisticated imaging techniques and can picture the nutrient balance of a patch of land without necessarily collecting soil sample.
Indian Economy
A sketchy roadmap: (Indian Express, Editorial)
- NITI Aayog’s three year agenda does not recognise the role of trade policy in agriculture.
- It is silent on money-guzzling food and fertiliser subsidies.
‘GSTN tweaked features, handled robust return filing’: (The Hindu)
Portal handled 1.3 lakh tax return filings and payments per hour on last day.
‘GST: MSMEs to gain via better competitiveness’: (The Hindu)
- The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is all set to enhance the competitiveness of the almost five crore Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
- It will account for 25% of employment, 40% of industrial output and 45% of exports of the country.
Who’s lending to Indian businesses?: (The Hindu)
- Reserve Bank of India’s recently released annual report for 2016-17 shows that many new sources of finance are springing up.
- Domestic businesses are increasingly turning to the bond markets, Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs) and foreign direct investors to meet their funding needs.
All you need to know about Graded Surveillance Measure: (The Hindu)
- SEBI introduced the measure to keep a tab on securities that witness an abnormal price rise.
- It does not not commensurate with financial health and fundamentals of the company.
The faltering economy: (The Hindu, Editorial)
The Centre should capitalise on stable macros to push through tough structural reforms.
Prelims Related Facts
Navy’s dilemma: US-2 planes or helicopters?:
- The Navy’s urgent priorities include helicopters and minesweepers.
- India continues discussions with Japan for buying the US-2 amphibious aircraft though.
M777 broke due to faulty shell:
Probe blames ammunition supplied by the Ordnance Factory Board.
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