TRUMP RENEWS OFFER TO MEDIATE ON KASHMIR, BUT SKIRTS CAA
India and the United States on Tuesday strengthened their partnership with agreements on healthcare and energy, and issued a joint statement that designated the two countries as “Comprehensive Global Strategic partners The statement followed bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump, during which the latter renewed his offer to mediate […]
DONALD TRUMP CALLS MODI A ‘TRUE FRIEND’, LAVISHES PRAISE ON PM
U.S. President Donald Trump, on his maiden visit to India on 24th February 2020, heaped praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a “true friend”, and said his rise from a humble background as a teaseller to India’s Prime Minister “underscores India’s limitless promise”. Mr. Trump’s lavish praise, while addressing a mammoth crowd at […]
ENERGY TO DOMINATE INDIA-U.S. RELATIONS
Why in news? Energy could take over from Defence as the strongest link in the Indo-U.S. relationship – with talks over increasing India’s imports of U.S. oil and gas, a clean energy deal including an MoU on building pipeline infrastructure for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) between American oil company ExxonMobil, gas transportation technology company Chart […]
MOST FEARED MILITARY EQUIPMENT ON OFFER
Why in news? While announcing that defence deals worth around $3 billion would be signed during his visit, Mr. Trump offered a range of high-tech defence equipment to India, on 24th February 2020. Details The deals are for 24 MH-60R Multi-Role Helicopters for the Navy worth $2.2 billion and six AH-64E Apache attack helicopters for […]
CHINA FACES ITS BIGGEST HEALTH EMERGENCY SINCE 1949: XI
Why in news? The COVID19 epidemic that has killed over 2,400 people is communist China’s “largest public health emergency” since its founding in 1949, President Xi Jinping COVID and world economy The deadly COVID19 outbreak could put the recovery of an already fragile global economy at risk, the IMF warned on Sunday, as G20 financial […]
PAKISTAN RETAINED IN FATF’S GREY LIST
Why in news? Pakistan has been retained on the “grey list” of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for another four months, with a stern warning from the global watchdog that met in Paris (February 19-21) to complete the 27-point action plan it has been given by June 2020 or face being put on the “black list” […]
ARTICLE 371
Why in news? Union Home Minister told that Centre won’t dilute Article 371 Background/details Most of the States that have been accorded special provisions under Article 371 are in the northeast and the special status aims to preserve their tribal culture. Article 371(A) states that no act of Parliament shall apply to the State of […]
SC PASSES INTERIM ORDER ON MAHADAYI TRIBUNAL’S AWARD
Why in news? The Supreme Court passed an interim order allowing an application by the State of Karnataka to notify the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal’s award. The implementation of the award would, however, be subject to the final judgment of the Supreme Court in the civil appeals filed by Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra, challenging the […]
CAA WILL CAUSE MUSLIMS TO FACE EXCLUSION: U.S. PANEL
Why in news? Days before U.S. President Donald Trump is due in India, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released a fact sheet on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). “There are serious concerns that the CAA serves as a protective measure for non-Muslims in case of exclusion from a nationwide National Register […]
OVER 50% INMATES IN TIHAR JAIL FROM BACKWARD CLASSES IN 2018
Why in news? Over 50% inmates in Tihar prison belong to Schedule Caste, Schedule Tribe and from Other Backward Classes (OBC), as per Prison Statistics 2018. The data was recently shared by the Ministry of Home Affairs