Conviction of Hafiz Saeed

The Lashkar-e-Taiba founder (LeT) and Jamat-ud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed was convicted by a Pakistan court in two terror-financing cases and sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison concurrently. Why such move? With pressure from the international community building up, Pakistan has been trying to convince the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to prevent it… Continue reading

New Umbrella Entity (NUE) for Retail Payment Systems

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed to set up a new pan-India new umbrella entity (NUE) or entities focussing on retail payment systems with a minimum paid-up capital of Rs 500 crore. New Umbrella Entity (NUE) The proposed entity will set up, manage and operate new payment systems especially in the retail space.… Continue reading

Novel Coronavirus renamed as COVID-19 by WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) gave an official name to the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The death toll from the virus has now crossed 1,000 and the disease has infected tens of thousands of people, the majority of them in China. COVID-19 The disease will be called “COVID-19”; the “CO” stands for coronavirus,… Continue reading

‘2 Billion Kilometers to Safety’ campaign

The UN Refugee Agency UNHCR has announced a new global campaign urging people worldwide to cover the total distance travelled by refugees each year – 2 billion kilometers – by running, jogging or walking. About the campaign The “2 Billion Kilometers to Safety” campaign vies to encourage people to support refugees by championing individual… Continue reading

Six years on, Lokpal is a non-starter

Context More than six years after the Lokpal law received the President’s assent, the institution of the Lokpal is yet to play any significant role in tackling corruption in the country. Delay in appointment Five-year delay in appointment: For more than five years, the chairperson and members of the Lokpal were not appointed. LoP issue:… Continue reading

A new approach on investment

Context When Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomes U.S. President Donald Trump to India this month the two leaders are expected to sign a first-ever trade agreement. What will be on the agenda of the trade deal? GSP issues: The restoration of India’s Generalised System of Preferences benefits, Pricing of medical devices. And agriculture trade are… Continue reading

Shun fiscal adventurism

Context In the run-up to the budget, there was enormous pressure on the finance minister to launch a fiscal stimulus so as to pump-prime the economy. That she did not succumb to the temptation is a big relief. Why fiscal stimulus is unwarranted? There is already considerable stimulus in the system. Excessive fiscal deficit: To her… Continue reading

Private Members Bill

A member in Rajya Sabha appeared to abandon his plan of introducing a private member’s Bill on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), a code that would be applicable to all religious communities in personal matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption. Private Member’s Bill A private member’s Bill is different from a government Bill… Continue reading

Arsenic Contamination

As the geography of arsenic contamination spreads, there is an urgent need for governments to reorient mitigation measures. That’s because the focus till now has only been on drinking water, but new research says arsenic has contaminated our food chain. Arsenic contamination of water Arsenic contamination in groundwater is one of the most crippling issues… Continue reading

SuperCam on Mars Rover 2020

In its mission to Mars this summer, NASA is sending a new laser-toting robot called SuperCam as one of seven instruments aboard the Mars 2020 rover. SuperCam Called SuperCam, the robot is used for studying mineralogy and chemistry from up to about 7 metres away. It might help scientists find signs of fossilized microbial… Continue reading

Reservation as right: on Supreme Court judgment

Context The recent Supreme Court judgment, that there is no fundamental right to claim reservation in promotions, has caused some political alarm. Received wisdom in affirmative action jurisprudence Presence of sound legal framework for a reservation: The received wisdom in affirmative action jurisprudence is that a series of Constitution amendments and judgments have created a sound… Continue reading

A mix Indian health care can do without

Context In India, multiple policy pronouncements over the last few years have expressed an implicit intent to emulate certain features of the U.S. health system which is one of the most prodigal health systems, and it is a well-known reality that it is infamously poor-performing. Emulating the U.S. health system in India and problems in… Continue reading

Explained: Uniform Civil Code — the debate, the status

Last week, while hearing a matter relating to properties of a Goan, the Supreme Court described Goa as a “shining example” with a Uniform Civil Code, observed that the founders of the Constitution had “hoped and expected” a UCC for India but there has been no attempt at framing one. What is a Uniform Civil… Continue reading

Fine-tuning the Surrogacy Bill

Context In a recent report, a Select Committee of Parliament has recommended that the contentious clause limiting surrogacy only to “close relatives” to be removed from the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019. These recommendations aim to make the benefits of modern technology more easily available to infertile couples. A look at the genesis of the Bill,… Continue reading

[pib] 13th COP of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)

The 13th Conference of Parties (COP) of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) is going to be hosted by India at Gandhinagar in Gujarat. 13th COP of CMS The theme of CMS COP13 in India is, “Migratory species connect the planet and we welcome them home. The CMS… Continue reading

[pib] National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage

Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) is preparing the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage SNA is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Culture is the nodal agency for the Scheme for ‘Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage and Diverse Cultural Traditions of India’. As of now, SNA is collaborating with… Continue reading

[pib] Godavari and Cauvery River Linking Project

The draft Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Godavari and Cauvery River Linking Project has been completed by National Water Development Agency (NWDA). Godavari– Cauvery Link Project The project consists of 3 links viz., Godavari (Inchampalli/Janampet) – Krishna (Nagarjunasagar), Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) – Pennar (Somasila) and Pennar (Somasila) – Cauvery (Grand Anicut). This proposal to… Continue reading

[pib] Exercise AJEYA WARRIOR-2020

Fifth edition of Joint Military Exercise AJEYA WARRIOR-2020 between India and United Kingdom will be conducted at Salisbury Plains, United Kingdom. Ex. AJEYA WARRIOR Exercise AJEYA WARRIOR with United Kingdom is an important exercise in terms of the security challenges faced by both the nations in the realm of changing facets of global terrorism. The… Continue reading

India’s rerun of its protectionist folly mars the liberalization era

Context The latest budget’s import tariff hikes signal that a three-decade commitment to trade openness has been all but abandoned. Detrimental effects of protectionism In brief, both economic theory and a vast weight of evidence point to the detrimental effects of protectionism. These are- Fostering inefficiency: Far from jump-starting the domestic industry, tariffs, quotas and… Continue reading

Seeking a more progressive abortion law

Context The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Bill doesn’t do enough to secure women’s choices and interests. Deaths due to unsafe abortion and previous attempts to legislate Deaths due to unsafe abortions: Recent reports have shown that more than 10 women die every day due to unsafe abortions in India. And backward abortion laws only contribute to women… Continue reading

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