Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT):

GS Paper 2: Topics Covered: Important International institutions.   Context: As tensions exacerbate between Washington and Moscow over Ukraine, political commentators say that the United States could, as a last resort, exclude Russia from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT).   What happens if one is excluded from SWIFT? If a country is …

Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA):

GS Paper 2: Topics Covered: Bilateral Relations.   Context: The interim trade agreement between India and Australia is unlikely to include items that both sides consider “sensitive”. The Indian and Australian negotiators will have the final “interim agreement” ready in 30 days and that the agreement will be a “win-win” document.   Background: Both sides …

Char Dham:

GS Paper 2: Topics Covered: Indian culture – salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.   Context: Veteran environmentalist Ravi Chopra has resigned as chairman of the Supreme Court’s High Powered Committee (HPC) on the Char Dham project, saying that his “belief that the HPC could protect this fragile …

Mekedatu issue:

GS Paper 2: Topics Covered: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.   Context: Tamil Nadu has rejected the idea for an exclusive discussion by the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) on the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir-cum-Drinking Water Project proposed by Karnataka. Tamil Nadu reiterated …

Uniform Civil Code:

GS Paper 2: Topics Covered: Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.   Context: Amid the row over wearing hijab in schools and colleges, Union Minister and BJP leader Giriraj Singh has said the Uniform Civil Code is the “need of the hour” and it should be discussed both in …

Anti-defection law:

GS Paper 2: Topics Covered: Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.   Context: West Bengal Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee has dismissed the petition filed by Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari seeking Mukul Roy’s disqualification as an MLA under the anti-defection law for switching sides after elections. Roy, a …