Key recommendations in the first report (2020-21 period) include:   Devolution of taxes to states The share of states in the centre’s taxes is recommended to be decreased from 42% during the 2015-20 period to 41% for 2020-21. The 1% decrease is to provide for the newly formed union territories of Jammu and… Continue reading [Burning Issue] 15th Finance Commission and its recommendations (Part II)

  Context The Finance Commission is a constitutional body formed by the President of India to give suggestions on centre-state financial relations. The 15th Finance Commission was required to submit two reports. The commission’s chairman is N. K. Singh, with its full-time members being Ajay Narayan Jha, Ashok Lahiri and Anoop Singh. The first report,… Continue reading [Burning Issue] 15th Finance Commission and its recommendations (Part I)

  Estimates Prominent themes of the Budget 2020     Agriculture A budget allocation of ₹2.83 lakh crore for the sector comprising agriculture and allied activities. Doubling farmers incomes by 2022. Agri-credit availability set at ₹15 lakh crore for 2020-21. Comprehensive measures for 100 water stressed districts. Provide 20 lakh farmers to set up standalone… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Highlights of the Union Budget 2020

  Context Finance Minister has said that the government will sell a part of its holding in Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) through an initial public offering (IPO). The government owns 100 per cent of LIC. The government’s move is a part of efforts to push through an aggressive disinvestment and asset monetisation programme.… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Divestment of LIC

Context With West Asia Peace plan the US plans to revive the stalled two-state talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Israel has consistently been encroaching more and more in the West Bank through its settlements. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, who had earlier spoken against the two-state solution, has accepted the Trump plan. Background After… Continue reading [Burning Issue] West Asia Peace Plan

  The MHA, the Assam government and the Bodo groups have signed an agreement to redraw and rename the Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD) in Assam, currently spread over four districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri. Several Bodo groups led have been demanding a separate land for the ethnic community since 1972, a movement… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Comprehensive Bodo Settlement Agreement

  An outbreak of a new Coronavirus that began in the Chinese city of Wuhan has already killed at least 106 people in China. Infections have been confirmed in many other countries. But of the 4,500 people who have so far contracted the virus, the vast majority live in China. With crumbling health infrastructure due… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Outbreak of Coronavirus

  Context The recently released ASER (Annual Status of Education Report) is an annual survey released by NGO Pratham. It aims to provide reliable annual estimates of children’s schooling status and basic learning levels for each state and rural district in India. It is the largest citizen-led survey in India and is also the only… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Annual Status of Education Report 2019

The Ministry of Home Affairs has presided over the signing of an agreement between Union Government, Governments of Tripura and Mizoram and Bru-Reang representatives to end the 23-year old Bru-Reang refugee crisis. 37,000 people of the Bru (or Reang) community were forced to flee their homes to neighbouring Tripura due to severe ethnic clashes in… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Bru– Reang Repatriation Agreement

  Nowadays, India is widely considered to be a world leader in cutting off access to the Net. Yet, there are no detailed official data on Internet shutdowns in India. Taking a serious note of the situation, the Supreme Court has for the first time set the stage for challenging such suspension orders before courts.… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Internet Shutdowns in India

Context In an attempt to attract investments in coal mining, the Union Cabinet approved the promulgation of Mineral Laws (Amendment) Ordinance 2020. With this India has opened up the coal sector completely for commercial mining for all local and global firms after easing restrictions on end-use and prior experience in auctions. The move is sought… Continue reading [Burning Issue] The Mineral Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020

Context Freedom of religion in India is a fundamental right guaranteed by Article 25-28 of the Constitution of India. The Supreme Court in a recent judgement has held that the state is well within its rights to introduce a regulatory regime in the “national interest” to provide minority educational institutions with well-qualified teachers in order… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Regulation of Minority Institutions

    Context Major General Qassem Soleimani, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander was killed in a US strike near Baghdad International airport. One of the most popular figures in Iran, Soleimani was known as the most powerful general in the Middle East and has been repeatedly touted as a possible presidential candidate. He was the… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Killing of General Qassem Soleimani and its global implications

Continued ….   Comparison with 2017 report The 2019 survey has found an increase of 5,188 sq km in total forest and tree cover in the country. Tree and forest cover together made up 24.56% (8,07,276 sq km) of India’s area. In the last assessment it was 24.39%. The nation’s tree and forest cover has… Continue reading [Burning Issue] India State of Forest Report 2019 : Part-II

Context Forests play an extremely important role in ensuring ecological balance and existence of life on the earth. However, rampant cutting of trees and thinning of forests has been taking place in the country due to activities related to development and infrastructure building, emphasise the environmental experts. Thus, in a bid to keep up the… Continue reading [Burning Issue] India State of Forest Report 2019 : Part-I

Context The Anti-Maritime Piracy Bill, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha by the Ministry of External Affairs, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar this month. The Bill provides for prevention of maritime piracy and prosecution of persons for such piracy-related crimes.  It provides for stringent punishment, including the death penalty, for those involved in piracy at sea. Why… Continue reading [Burning Issue] The Anti-Maritime Piracy Bill, 2019

Context The 25th annual talks under the UNFCCC referred to as the Conference of Parties (COP) ended in Madrid. The countries party to the Paris Agreement failed to agree on various important aspects regarding climate change like: rules and procedures to govern a global carbon market finance for losses caused by extreme weather events on… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Outcome of the Madrid Climate Talks