Category: Mains 2016 Initiative

The Parliament has recently passed Surrogacy (Regulation) bill, 2016 which seeks to ban all forms of commercial surrogacy in India. What is Surrogacy? Surrogacy is the practice of bearing a child by a woman on behalf of another woman or a couple who does not want to conceive. It is one of the methods under…

    India and US signed a key defense pact – the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in Washington this year, which is a significant step towards deeper Indo-US ties. Background: There are 3 agreements that US enters into with its close defense partners and allies. These are – 1. LSA – Logistics Support…

The Indus Water Treaty (IWT) is a treaty of water-distribution between India and Pakistan, brokered by the World Bank (then the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development).The treaty was signed in Karachi on September 19, 1960 by the then Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru and the then President of Pakistan, General Ayub Khan. Presently,…

Archives Education, including vocational educational, is in the concurrent list of Indian Constitution. Education (for 6-14 years of children) is a fundamental right according to Article 21A of the Indian constitution. Right to Education act was enacted to put it into effect. Other provisions, in the constitution, related to education are Article 45, 15(3), 15(4),…

Archives Context: The Minister of Women & Child Development Smt. Maneka Gandhi released the draft “Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2016” on May 30th 2016, for stakeholders consultations and comments. Objective: The Bill aims to prevent trafficking of persons and to provide protection and rehabilitation to the victims of trafficking and to…

Archives The Union Cabinet has given its ex-post facto approval for amendments to the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 by introducing the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in Parliament. The Act regulates the employment of women during the period of childbirth and provides maternity benefits. The Act applies to factory, mines, plantations, shops and other establishments.…

Archives The process of procuring weapons and equipment for the military of a country plays a very crucial role in the defense preparedness of that country. Sadly, this crucial process has not been very efficient in India. WHY? 1. Dependence on Imports – No country can become a super-power without being self-reliant in weapons manufacturing.…

Health Care Factsheet Article 47 under part IV (DPSP) states that “Duty of the State to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living and to improve public health”. Health is a state subject under 7th schedule of the constitution. India’s total healthcare expenditure is 4.1% of its GDP (1.2% public expenditure) which…