Table of Contents
Islands apart
Ties between India and the Maldives have nosedived, to the benefit of neither
Presidential election- Which India has been calling for, is a point of contention
From March 2015 when PM Modi cancelled a visit in a show of disapproval of the treatment of Mohamed Nasheed
Since then, India has called out many actions of Mr. Yameen‟s government,
including the conduct of polls, treatment of the judiciary and, in February, his
declaration of a state of emergency
Rejected Mr. Yameen‟s offer to send an envoy to explain his decision.
India-Maldives ties had been strongest: strategic relations and people-to-people engagement
Signals a marked downturn in defence cooperation between two countries, which normally
coordinate maritime and EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) patrols together.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Indians offered employment in the Maldives at resorts, hospitals and
colleges have been denied work visas for the past few months.
Few years ago, the Maldives affirmed an “India First” policy.
The fact that Maldives is the only country in the neighbourhood that Mr. Modi hasn‟t visited
India has been the first port of call in crisis for Maldivian leaders; when Mr. Nasheed
was deposed in 2012, it was at the Indian embassy that he sought refuge.
It‟s time to restore the bilateral trust.
The changing nature of violence
The police must develop “smart tactics‟ to deal with popular unrest and threats of the new era
Thoothukudi on May 22 and 23
Industry vs. environment– Sterlite‟s copper smelters
Iron mines in Goa
Mother of all environmental tragedies remains the Bhopal Gas Tragedy of 1984.
Most recent Dalit uprising; – Farmers‟ woes across the country;- The rape of young women
and children; – Issues revolving around tradition versus modernity;
The outsider versus insider syndrome, especially in the Northeast
Number of deaths in the police firing were unusually high for a situation of this kind, but no
one has definitively disputed that the firing did not take place according to prescribed law
and order procedures
This is the age of “high voltage‟ revolt, basically – system is being “manipulated” in favour
of the rich, the powerful, and the big multinationals.
New „smart tactics‟ have to be developed….Simply blaming the police is no answer to the gro
wing volumes of protests everywhere.
Is it time to modify regulation to accommodate app-based
services? They hold the potential to ease our congestion and
air quality challenges. Explain
Decongesting(भीड़) our cities
It’s time to modify regulation to accommodate(समायोजित) app-based public transport services
India has witnessed a rapid growth in the number of motor vehicles, from a mere 5.4 million
in 1981 to 210 million in 2015.
This furious(अजत क्रु द्ध) pace of motorisation has led to
Severe traffic congestion
Air pollution- Adversely impacting the well-being of the people,
The energy security of the country, and
The economic efficiency of cities.
Public transport uses less road space, consumes less fuel and emits less pollutants on a per
passenger basis.
Hence, India has invested large amounts in high quality metro systems in cities such as
Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad
Clearly, people who can afford cars and motorbikes –If public transport could offer them these
conveniences, commuting choices might just shift
After all, no one likes to drive
On crowded streets
Struggle to find parking at crowded destinations
Shared mobility options and app-based ride providers become importantshare the ride with
other passengers to save costs.
Unfortunately, services like the app-based mini-buses do not find favour with regulatorsunder
the Motor Vehicles Act makes it difficult for them to secure permits.
They are neither “stage carriages” nor “contract carriages”
Metro rail users who shift to app-based services do so because last-mile connectivity- reasons
that personal motor vehicle users did not shift to metro travel
Is it time then to modify regulation to accommodate app-based services, and hence
ensure that they operate in a safe and equitable manner- floor price(न्यूनतम मूल्य) could be set
for these services.
Developments in technology have given us new services that were not possible earlier.
They are serving a public purpose and people are taking to them in a big way.
They hold the potential to ease our congestion and air quality challenges.
New Asian constellation(नक्षत्र)
The SCO summit gave India fresh leads to engage with Central Asia, China and Pakistan
Earlier this month, the picturesque city of Qingdao became the perfect venue for a summit of
eight Eurasian nations
India and Pakistan were the talk of the town as they were making their maiden appearance
as full members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
China and Russia have been the pillars of the SCO… Chinese President Xi Jinping, his Russian
counterpart Vladimir Putin, and PM Modi became instant stars of an aspirational event.
G-7 vs SCO
The SCO summit also gave India fresh leads to engage with Central Asia- Landlocked
Uzbekistan will now funnel goods through the Iranian port of Chabahar
Prelims Focus Facts-News Analysis
President rejects Tamil Nadu‟s plea to release Rajiv case convicts
Decision taken on the advice of Home Ministry; Ram Nath Kovind tells State that the Centre “
doesn‟t concur with its view”
7 prisoners convicted for the assassination of former PM Rajiv Gandhi on May 21, 1991.
Prelims Focus Facts-News Analysis
Prelims Focus Facts-News Analysis
India calls UN report on Kashmir fallacious(ग़लत)
Cong. backs govt. stand on UN report
India is facing its worst water crisis: NITI Aayog
Shujaat Bukhari killing an act of terror: Rajnath
Couples in live-in relations
cannot adopt, says Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA)
‘N. Korea sanctions to remain until total denuclearisation’
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says President Trump has been clear about it
Will back AI with funds till disinvestment is done: Sinha
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