The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2019 Stringent punishments under POCSO Act In a historic decision to protect the children from Sexual offences, the Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi has approved the Amendments in the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. It will make punishment more stringent for… Continue reading [Burning Issue] The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2019

Application of Behavioural Economics in India The Economic Survey 2019 has drawn on Nobel Laureate Richard Thaler’s Behavioural Economics Theory to lay out what it describes as an “ambitious agenda” for behaviour change that will bring in social change, which in turn, will help India transit to a $5 trillion economy by 2024-25. Programmes such… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Application of Behavioural Economics in India

Triple Talaq Summary: The Supreme Court is all set to begin hearing arguments in Shayara Bano v. Union of India, which has popularly come to be known as the “triple talaq case”. This case, in which the constitutional validity of certain practices of Muslim personal law such as triple talaq, polygamy, and nikah halala has… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Triple Talaq

CONTEXT In early June, at a NITI Aayog meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi set a clear and bold economic target — to grow India into a $5 trillion economy by 2024. It is now for ‘Team India’, as the meeting was bannered, to translate this target into a plan and policies and programmes. What does… Continue reading [Burning Issue] 5 trillion Economy

News India has begun pre legislative consultations on a “Space Activities Bill” that is designed to encourage domestic private rocket and satellite companies to offer services for Indian and global customers. About the Space Activities Bill, 2017 The Bill will address the liability issues arising from their space activities, in a suitable/ rational manner, in… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Space Activities Bill

News The IT Ministry’s Bill on data protection is scheduled to be introduced in Parliament during the current session. Worldwide, the data flow debate is playing out at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and G20. Background RBI had in April last year asked payments firms to adhere to data localization norms, suggesting these companies had… Continue reading [Burning Issue ] Data localization

Bt Brinjal In News A month ago, Bt brinjal to resist the brinjal fruit and shoot borer (an insect), was found growing illegally in Haryana. This was a different Bt brinjal from the one developed by the Indian company, Mahyco, in which Monsanto has a 26% stake. What are Genetically Modified (GM) crops? GM is… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Bt Brinjal

India and SCO News PK Modi departed for the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek to attend a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the then security and economic architecture in the Eurasian region dissolved and new structures had to come up. The original… Continue reading [Burning Issue] India And Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) An epidemic of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) has broken out in five north Bihar districts, with more than 50 children having died in the last nine days. Locally known as Chamki Bukhar, at least 400 children have died in the last one decade due to AES in these districts. What is… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES)

CONTEXT Following the submission of the draft National Education Policy 2019, there were protests against the three language formula. The controversial provision was thus revised by Dr Kasturirangan-led committee that submitted it. From the perspective of higher education, its main strength is that it has got its basics right — it appears to have a… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Draft National Education Policy

Nitrogen Pollution While nitrogen is the dominant gas in the atmosphere, it is inert and doesn’t react. However, when it is released as part of compounds from agriculture, sewage and biological waste, nitrogen is considered reactive. It may be polluting and even exert a potent greenhouse gas effect. Nitrous oxide (N2O) is 300 times more… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Nitrogen Pollution in India

Model Code of Conduct What is MCC? These are the guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India for conduct of political parties and candidates during elections mainly with respect to speeches, polling day, polling booths, election manifestos, processions and general conduct. Aim: To ensure free and fair elections. When it comes into force? The… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Model Code Of Conduct

What is Nyay This would be a flat transfer of ₹6,000 a month to identified poor households. There has been little word on how the Congress expects to finance NYAY. A ballpark estimate of the fiscal expenditure, to transfer ₹72,000 every year to the poorest 20% of the approximately 25 crore Indian households, would be… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Nyuntam Aay Yojna : NYAY

CONTEXT India has tested the Anti-Satellite System(A-SAT) from Dr A P J Abdul Kalam Island, formerly known as Wheeler Island, an island off the coast of Odisha. The test was named as Mission Shakti. It has successfully destroyed a live satellite in the Low Earth Orbit(an altitude of 300 km). With this test India is… Continue reading [Burning Issue] ASAT; An overview

Context: Recently, opposition parties discussed future course of action on the issue of alleged tampering of EVMs. They raised their concern regarding EVMs with Election Commission. Credibility of EVMs were questioned in the previous General elections of Parliament and State Assemblies. About: Out of 120 democratic countries only 25 have experimented with or used electronic… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Concerns with Electronic Voting Machine

NITI Aayog –CRITICAL ANALYSIS Introduction: The Government had replaced Planning Commission with institution NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India).  The reason had mentioned that specific to the planning process, there is a need to separate as well as energize the distinct ‘process’ of governance from the ‘strategy’ of governance. An important evolutionary change from the past will be replacing a centre-to-state… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Niti Ayog – A critical Analysis