SC on Right to protest and blocking roads indefinitely
Context: The Supreme Court said farmers had the right to protest, but roads cannot be blocked indefinitely. Relevance: GS-II: Polity and Constitution (Constitutional Provisions, Fundamental Rights) Dimensions of the Article: Understanding Right to protest and the Constitutional Provision Can Right to Protest be restricted? Related Supreme Court’s Judgements Understanding Right to protest and the Constitutional […]
Neither State not Union can bar CBI, Centre tells SC
Context: The Union Government told the Supreme Court that Mamata Banerjee’s government in West Bengal does not have any “absolute” power to keep the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) from investigating crimes inside the State. Relevance: GS-II: Polity and Constitution Dimensions of the Article: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Functions of CBI About the current […]
Energy transition poses inflation risks
Context: The one member of the RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to vote against continuing with the central bank’s ‘accommodative’ policy stance said that the ongoing worldwide transition to green energy poses a significant risk of triggering energy price shocks similar to the 1970s, which would accelerate inflation. Relevance: GS-III: Indian Economy (Growth and Development […]
Insulin and tissue health, 100 years of insulin discovery
Context: In a study that examined the effect of insulin – researchers have uncovered how insulin amounts shape the flow of information through the signalling network. It showed that abnormalities in insulin signalling impacts health and survival of tissues. 2021 is a year to celebrate, as it marks the centenary of the discovery of insulin […]
Jammu and Kashmir and the Public Safety Act (PSA)
Context: Post-civilian killings and in the days running up to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Srinagar – around 700 people have been detained in Jammu and Kashmir, including a few under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA). Relevance: GS-II: Governance (Government Policies and Innovations, Issues Arising Out of the Design and Implementation of […]
Reasons for India’s bouts of extreme weather
Context: Kerala and Uttarakhand have received incessant rainfall in October 2021 leading to doubts over the potential role of climate change behind these extreme weather events. In both these States and other states as well, over the last few years, there have been variations in the pattern and intensity of rainfall. Relevance: GS-III: Environment and […]
Disasters in Western Ghats
Context: Flash floods and landslides in the aftermath of heavy rains in the hilly regions of the Western Ghats in central Kerala districts of Kottayam, Idukki and Pathanamthitta has resulted in the loss of lives and property. Relevance: GS-III: Disaster and Management (Natural and Anthropogenic Disasters, Disaster Management in India), GS-I: Geography (Important Geophysical phenomena) […]
NDPS Act 1985 and possession of drugs explained
Context: Recently, a special court in Mumbai denied bail to Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, even though the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) did not find any drugs on him during his arrest. Relevance: GS-II: Social Justice and Governance (Government Policies and Interventions, Issues Arising Out of the Design and Implementation of […]
Citizens manipulated on social media, FB’s selective curbs
Context: Journalist Maria Ressa from the Philippines is one of two journalists to have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2021, along with Russian Editor Dmitry Muratov. Maria Ressa recently spoke about journalism in the age of authoritarianism, big tech and terrorism. Facebook in India has been selective in curbing hate speech, misinformation and […]
Rising trade, and rising tensions: India China
Context: India’s trade with China is rising to record levels in 2021 and set to cross the $100-billion mark for the first time. Hence, New Delhi faces a new challenge as it looks to recalibrate relations amid a more than year-long border crisis while remaining locked in a deep commercial embrace. On the investment front, […]