Blog

1. Court Ruling on Hijab Recently, six students were banned from entering a college in Karnataka’s Udupi district for wearing a hijab. The issue throws up legal questions on reading the freedom of religion and whether the right to wear a hijab is constitutionally protected or not. Government’s arguments: In Fathima Tasneem v State ofRead more

1. India Oman Relations Background: The two countries across the Arabian Sea are linked by geography, history and culture and enjoy warm and cordial relations, which are attributed to historical maritime trade linkages. Strategic partnership was established in 2008 and Oman has been a key pillar of India’s West Asia Policy. Areas of cooperation: PoliticalRead more

1. How boiling oil prices Impact Budget India is the world’s third largest oil importer. It imports 86% of its crude oil requirements to make the petrol and diesel. Iraq is the top oil supplier. Saudi Arabia, UAE, Nigeria and the US are other key sellers. Therefore, any geopolitical tension affecting the supply of crudeRead more

1. Fed move and Indian markets The US Federal Reserve has signalled a possible hike in interest rates soon, leading to a nervous reaction in Indian markets. Impacts on India: When interest rates rise in US, the gap between those and rates in countries such as India reduces, giving less incentive for foreign investors toRead more

1. Taxing Drama (Retrospective Taxation) It allows a country to pass a rule on taxing certain products, items or services and deals and charge companies from a time behind the date on which the law is passed. Countries use this route to correct any anomalies in their taxation policies that have, in the past, allowedRead more

1. Spread in the Community (Community transmission) India has acknowledged that the Covid-19 pandemic is now in the community transmission stage. It is a stage where it becomes difficult to establish the chain of infections, or determine who infected whom. Stages of spread according to WHO: No active cases: If no new cases are detectedRead more

1. Ranking of States on Faster Green Nods The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Changehas decided to rank states, specifically the state Environment Impact Assessment Authorities (SEIAAs), based on the speed with which they grant Environmental Clearances (EC) to development projects. It was decided to incentivize states through a star-rating system based on EC grantefficiency and timeliness. The SEIAARead more

1. IAS officers and central posting The centre has proposed amendments to IAS Cadre rules (1954) to exercise greater control in central deputation of IAS officers. Current role: “A cadre officer may, with the concurrence of the State Governments concerned and the Central Government, be deputed for service under the Central Government or another StateRead more

1. The Manufacturing Opportunity Contribution to GDP: 17% Employment: 12% of the workforce  Need: India has 3Ds- democracy, demography and demand for growth of this sector Can reduce dependence of people on agriculture(reduction if disguised unemployment ) and create new employment opportunities Increasing middle class and young population provides an attractive market for manufacturers LowRead more

1. Marital rape Sec 375 of IPC: forceful sexual intercourse or sexual acts by a man with his own wife, the wife not being 18 years, is not rape. Reasons to criminalize it: Basic rights of women violated, violation of FR art 21, art 14. Various judgements have recognized right to abstain from sexual activityRead more