INDIA’S CURRENT ACCOUNT DEFICIT EASES TO 0.2% OF GDP
Focus: GS-III Indian Economy, Economic Development, Prelims Why in news? India’s current account deficit almost got wiped out in the December quarter standing at just $1.4 billion due to lower trade deficit and a rise in net services receipts, according to data released by Reserve Bank of India on 12th March 2020. Details Private transfer […]
WORLD STOCKS PLUNGE INTO BEAR MARKET, OIL SLUMPS – CONSUMERS TO GAIN FROM CHEAP OIL?
Focus: GS-III Indian Economy, Industry and Infrastructure, Prelims Why in news? Global stocks plunged into a bear market and oil slumped further on 12th March 2020, after stimulus efforts from the European Central Bank failed to calm investors alarmed by U.S. moves overnight to restrict travel from Europe over the spread of COVID-19. The price […]
RBI OPENS DOLLAR-SWAP WINDOW
Focus: GS-III Indian Economy Why in news? The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has opened a six-month dollar sell-buy swap window to pump liquidity in the foreign exchange market — the first move following financial markets in India and across the globe experiencing turbulence over the spread of COVID-19, which could lead to a slowdown […]
RETAIL INFLATION EASES TO, INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION QUICKENS
Focus: GS-III Indian Economy, Prelims Why in news? Retail inflation based on the Consumer Price Index slowed to 6.58% in February, while the industrial production growth as measured in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) quickened to 2% in January amid subdued performance by the manufacturing sector, official data released on 12th March 2020 showed. […]
BILLS ON BANKRUPTCY CODE, MINERAL LAW GET RAJYA SABHA NOD
Focus: GS-II Governance Why in news? The Rajya Sabha has passed two Bills — the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2020 and the Mineral Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020. Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2020 The bill seeks to remove bottlenecks and streamline the corporate insolvency resolution process. It aims to provide protection to […]
NO DOUBTFUL CATEGORY IN NPR
Focus: GS-II Governance Why in news? Union home minister on 12th March 2020, sought to allay fears over National Population Register (NPR) and assured the Upper House of Parliament that no one, including Muslims, will be marked as D (doubtful citizen) during the updation of National Population Register (NPR). National Population Register (NPR) It is […]
M.P. SPEAKER SERVES NOTICE ON 13 REBEL MLAs
Focus: GS-II Governance Why in news? Amid the political turmoil in Madhya Pradesh, Assembly Speaker has served notice on 13 rebel MLAs, asking them to appear before him immediately and attest that they had resigned of their own accord as legislators. The Speaker has asked the MLAs to verify in person that they had submitted […]
ROLE OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL AND ELECTED GOVERNMENT IS INTERTWINED
Focus: GS-II Governance, Prelims Why in news? The Madras High Court on 12th March 2020, said a government is “a trustee for the little man who should not have a perception that the running of the government is a gigantic conspiracy”. It held that the role of Puducherry’s Lieutenant Governor and that of an elected […]
PESTICIDE SECTOR HIT BY INPUT ISSUES
Focus: GS-III Indian Economy Why in news? The Indian pesticide industry is heavily dependent on Chinese imports for raw materials, and could be heavily impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak, according to an analysis prepared by the Agriculture Ministry. The Ministry estimates that domestic inventories may be sufficient for the kharif sowing season, but any further […]
FORCIBLE DISPOSSESSION OF A PERSON’S PROPERTY IS A HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION
Focus: GS-II Governance, Prelims Why in news? The Supreme Court has reiterated that forcible dispossession of a person of his private property without due process of law is a human right violation. In a recent judgment by a Bench led by Justice S.K. Kaul, the court stressed, quoting from its judgments, that right to property […]