[RSTV Archive] PMGKAY- Shielding the vulnerable in crisis

In a major relief to the poor amid the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, PM has announced that the government has extended the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) to distribute wheat and rice-free of cost to around 80 crore people till November this year. Background After the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic last year in… Continue reading

[Burning Issue] Rise of DarkNet/Darkweb

Context The dark web refers to websites on the darknet, a network built over the internet which provides added anonymity. Many users surf the dark web due to its greater privacy levels compared to the regular internet, AKA the ‘clear web’. It can also, however, offer a platform to criminals looking to trade illegal goods and orchestrate… Continue reading

[RSTV Archive] Multilateral Institutions – Need for reforms

Context Recently BRICS Foreign Ministers summit was organized. During the conclusion, they acknowledged that the current international challenges should be addressed through reinvigorated and reformed multilateral systems. Multilateralism: The spirit of global governance/cooperation In international relations, multilateralism refers to an alliance of multiple countries pursuing a common goal. Multilateralism, in the form of membership in… Continue reading

How to prepare Polity for IAS Prelims?| Fill up Samanvaya for a free 1-1 mentorship session

Click here to fill the Samanvaya form for 1-1 mentorship. We will call you within 24 hours. (Also provided at the bottom of the article) It’s been said, tried and tested multiple times that reading Laxmikant is inevitable for UPSC prep. In Fact we must use this book as the pretext for our preparation for Polity.… Continue reading

[Burning Issue] India and NATO

When the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) leaders meet later this year, they will debate the recommendations from a group of experts that advocates, among other things, extending a formal offer of partnership to India. Such an idea has been discussed before but has always delayed on India’s aversion to entanglement in rival geopolitical blocs.… Continue reading

[Burning Issue] Development Financial Institutions (DFIs)Bill

Finance Minister has introduced the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) Bill 2021 in the Lok Sabha to pave way for setting up a government-owned DFI to fund infra projects. NaBFID Bill The NaBFID Bill, 2021 was introduced in Lok Sabha on March 22, 2021. The Bill seeks to establish the National Bank… Continue reading

[Burning Issue] Centre versus State in Delhi

The passage of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (GNCT Bill) sets the stage for a new cycle of confrontation between the Centre and the Delhi government. The issue, which was at the heart of the ruling governments frequent run-ins with the Centre during much of its first term, was… Continue reading

[Burning Issue] 50 Years of India-Bangladesh Ties

Yesterday PM Modi took off for Bangladesh on a two-day trip to mark the centenary celebrations of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan. This will be PM Modi’s first visit abroad since the coronavirus pandemic and is an example of the importance New Delhi gives to its ties with… Continue reading

[Burning Issue] India-Pakistan Peace Talks

The winds of a tentative peace are once again blowing from Pakistan. India and Pakistan surprised the world last month with a rare joint commitment to respect a 2003 cease-fire agreement. Background Pakistan has been aggressively pushing for ‘peace’ talks with India. The selected PM Imran Khan says peace with Pakistan will give India direct… Continue reading

[Burning Issue] Domicile Reservations in Private Sector

Two weeks back, the Haryana Governor gave his assent to the Bill providing 75% reservation in the private sector to job seekers from the state. And much recently Jharkhand government announced 75% reservation in private sector jobs with a salary of up to Rs 30,000 for locals. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court had sought responses from… Continue reading

[Burning Issue] Quadrilateral Security Dialogue

In a display of multilateral bonhomie, the Quad alliance — India, US, Japan and Australia —have held its first-ever leaders’ summit with an aim to counter China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Quadrilateral Security Dialogue: A Backgrounder Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or the Quad is an informal strategic forum between the United States, Japan, India… Continue reading

[Burning Issue] New IT Rules 2021

For the first time, the union government, under the ambit of the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021, has brought in detailed guidelines for digital content on both digital media and Over The Top (OTT) platforms. In this issue of BI, we provide you with an overview of its contents, the… Continue reading

[Burning Issue] Women’s Safety and India

We are a booming economy and our GDP numbers are a testimony to that fact. But despite this, India, the world’s largest democracy, is failing to ensure basic fundamental rights to its citizens. Most importantly, we have failed to ensure our women’s right against exploitation. We are failing them by the minute. Perhaps, the second.… Continue reading

[Burning Issue] Highlights of the 15th Finance Commission Report 2021-26

This year’s Union budget was accompanied by the unveiling of the Fifteenth Finance Commission’s report for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26. This report outlines some crucial recommendations for state governments, covering tax devolution, grants from the Centre, and the guidelines for the borrowings that they are permitted to incur over the medium-term. Context The Finance… Continue reading

[Burning Issue] Climate Resilient Agriculture

India is witnessing a historic mass mobilization of farmers against three new farm laws. The country’s government maintains that these laws are the cure for a longstanding agrarian crisis. While this claim has been analysed from several angles, the environmental angle has often been overlooked. This is no small oversight since the agrarian crisis in… Continue reading

[Burning Issues] Chamoli Disaster

A massive glacier burst at Chamoli in Uttarakhand has yet again brought back our focus to the dangers of climate change. At least 58 people are confirmed to have been killed and more than 150 are missing. Background The flash flood began on 7 February 2021 in the environs of the Nanda Devi National Park… Continue reading

[Burning Issue] Key Highlights of Economic Survey 2020-21

Union Minister for Finance recently presented the Economic Survey 2020-21 in the Parliament. The key highlights are as follows: [1] Saving Lives and Livelihoods amidst a Once-in-a-Century Crisis India focused on saving lives and livelihoods by its willingness to take short-term pain for long-term gain, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic Response stemmed from… Continue reading

[Burning Issue] Myanmar Coup

In the early hours of day, Myanmar’s military, also known as the Tatmadaw staged a bloodless coup which brought the country’s recent and limited experiment with democracy to an end. Tens of thousands of protesters poured onto the streets across Myanmar in the biggest anti-coup rallies with deteriorating situation amidst internet ban. India voiced a… Continue reading

[Burning Issue] Highlights of Union Budget 2021-22

“Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark.” – Rabindranath Tagore (quoted by FM in her Budget Speech) The Union Minister for Finance has finally presented the Union Budget 2021-22 in Parliament, which is the first budget of this new decade and also a digital one in… Continue reading

[Burning Issue] Regime change in the US

This January 20th officially marked the end of the Trump era in US politics as Joe Biden took over from him to become the 46th president of the United States of America. This major event is seen worldwide as undoing or a reset of American regressive protectionist policies and moves by Donald Trump. The world… Continue reading

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