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-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.
