Why in News Recently, the Union and State governments agreed to implement the direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme in the power sector for better targeting of electricity subsidies. Key features Under the scheme, electricity will be provided to consumers at market rates and those eligible get the subsidy amount directly in their bank accounts. The… Continue reading [Burning Issue] DBT in the Power Sector

  Why in News Supreme Court of India in Subramanian Swamy case upheld the validity of the criminal defamation law. The court pronounced its verdict on a batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code providing for criminal defamation. What is Defamation? Defamation refers to the act… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Criminal Defamation

Background Africa is a continent with various opportunities such as natural resources, demography and socio-economic development which attracts global attraction and competition. According to IMF, 11 of the world’s fastest-growing economies are in Africa, with many of the nations recording high growth rates. Various countries including India and China have been investing in Africa to… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Competition between India and China in Africa

Why in news? Recently, the government approved the establishment of India’s first mega coastal economic zone (CEZ) at Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) in Maharashtra. The CEZ will be located in the north Konkan region spread across Nasik, Thane, Mumbai, Pune, and Raigarh. It will be part of 14 mega CEZ under the National Perspective Plan… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Coastal Economic Zone

Why in News? The Parliament has amended the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 and passed Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2016 in July 2016. What is Child Labour? The term “child labour” is often defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act

Why in News The Law Commission has recommended that gambling and betting on sports, including cricket, be allowed as regulated activities taxable under the direct and indirect tax regimes and used as a source for attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) The commission’s report, “Legal Framework: Gambling and Sports Betting including Cricket in India”, recommends a number of… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Should Betting Be Legalised in India

What is Belt and Road Initiative? The Belt and Road Initiative is a Chinese foreign policy initiative launched by President Xi Jinping in 2013. It consists of two projects named Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB) and Maritime Silk Road (MSR). The objective is to build a trade, investment, and infrastructure network linking Asia with Europe… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Belt and Road Initiative

AYUSHMAN BHARAT – NATIONAL HEALTH PROTECTION MISSION What is Ayushman Bharat Scheme? The Government announced two major initiatives in health sector, as part of Ayushman Bharat programme. Health and Wellness Centre National Health Protection Scheme Aimed at making path breaking interventions to address healthcare problems holistically, in primary, secondary and tertiary care systems. Covers both prevention… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Ayushmaan Bharat

Why in News? In February 2018, India had joined the Ashgabat Agreement. What is Ashgabat Agreement? The Ashgabat agreement is a multimodal transport agreement that envisages the creation of an International Transport and Transit Corridor connecting Central Asia with the Persian Gulf. The corridor being multimodal will consist of road, rail and sea transport. Significance… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Ashgabat Agreement

Why in news? The court admitted a petition to drop adultery as a criminal offence from the statute book Section 497 of the IPC Section 497 of the IPC mandates that “Whoever has sexual intercourse with a person who is and whom he knows or has reason to believe to be the wife of another… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Adultery Law: Section 497 of the IPC

  Context According to RBI’s recent data The pile of bad loans, or stressed assets, is close to Rs10 lakh crore($154 billion) now, which is more than the GDP of at least 137 countries. And what’s more, it is only growing. Stressed assets, which include non-performing assets (NPAs) and restructured loans, form some 12% of the total loans in Indian… Continue reading [Burning Issue] NPA Crisis: Major Surgery Needed

Recent developments Maldives immigration authority has not been issuing work visas to Indians since March this year. This is retaliation from the Maldives for India’s condemnation of Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen’s declaration of emergency in February after the country’s Supreme Court reversed the conviction of opposition leader, Mohammed Nasheed, and others. The Maldives has also… Continue reading [Burning Issue] India-Maldives Relations

  How Telangana supports farmers with Rs 4,000 for every acre they own   Why in News An income support scheme for farmers in Telangana has earned the appreciation of outgoing Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian. It formally gives scope for the feasible framework at pan-India level. What Rythu Bandhu provides? Under Rythu Bandhu, the… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Income support model (Telengana)

Hybrid Electric Vehicles Conventional cars use an internal combustion engine for power. Battery electric vehicles only use an electric motor and battery, eschewing conventional engines altogether. Hybrid cars have the advantage of both of above type of vehicle. They have, in addition to the internal combustion engine, also an electric motor and a battery. If… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Hybrid Electric Vehicles & Fame Scheme

Cabinet approves the Trafficking of Persons Bill, 2018 Why in news The Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018, has been passed by the Lok Sabha recently. What is human trafficking? The action or practice of illegally transporting people from one country or area to another, typically for the purposes of forced labour… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Trafficking of Persons Bill, 2018

  Context In last 1 year at least 20 individuals have been lynched or beaten to death in incidents across India, where rumours on WhatsApp have inspired vigilante mobs to swarm visitors accused of being child kidnappers. Dozens more have been injured in similar attacks. Meaning Fake news refers to the deliberate creation of misinformation or hoaxes… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Fake News Menace in India

Why in news The Union Cabinet has approved The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill 2018. Key features of the Bill It allows law enforcement agencies to collect DNA samples, create “DNA profiles” and special databanks for forensic-criminal investigations. It states that all DNA data, including DNA samples, DNA profiles and records, will be only… Continue reading [Burning Issue] DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2018

Change in Plastic Waste Management Rules The Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change amended the Plastic Waste Management Rules (2016) According to the amendment, manufacturers, suppliers, and sellers of plastic (and plastic products) across the nation will now be required to phase out, over a period of two years, all such products which have no alternative… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Amendment in Plastic Waste Management Rules

Introduction India continues to be driven by the use of cash; less than 5% of all payments happen electronically, however, the finance minister, in 2016 budget speech, talked about the idea of making India a cashless society, with the aim of curbing the flow of black money. Even the RBI has also recently unveiled a… Continue reading [Burning Issue] Cashless Economy