2 April 2024, The Indian EXPRESS
Lanka minister says no word from India on island; Centre working on it: TN BJP
(Page no-1)
(GS 2- India and its Neighborhood Relations)
- India has not sent any official communication yet on the Katchatheevu island issue, a senior Sri Lanka minister told The Indian Express on Monday even as the BJP scaled up its attack on the Congress, accusing it and the DMK of giving away the island
SC refuses to stay order allowing puja in Gyanvapi cellar
(Page no-2)
(GS 2- Indian Constitution-Historical Underpinnings, Evolution, Features, Amendments, Significant Provisions and Basic Structure)
- The Supreme Court on Monday refused to stay the Hindu prayers in the southern cellar of the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi even as it ordered a "status quo" on the religious observances by both the Hindu and Muslim sides inside the mosque premises.
CJI for balance in probe needs of agencies, privacy rights
(Page no-7)
(GS 2- Structure, Organization and Functioning of the Judiciary)
- Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud on Monday disapproved of "unwarranted" confiscation of personal devices during raids by law-enforcing and investigating agencies, saying the need for searches and seizures for investigation had to be balanced with an individual's right to privacy.
Why SC barred unregulated soil extraction for linear projects
(Page no-9)
(GS 3- Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment)
- First, the court held that “completely unguided and blanket exemption” was arbitrary and violative of Article 14 because the 2020 notification did not define 'linear projects' or specify the quantum and the extraction area.
Why a former president of South Africa has been banned from polls
(Page no-9)
(GS 2- Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India's interests)
- South Africa’s Election Commission Thursday (March 28) barred former President Jacob Zuma from contesting in the country’s upcoming polls in May.
- While the commission did not provide a specific reason for the decision, it is likely to do with Zuma’s 2021 conviction and imprisonment. South Africa’s constitution does not allow an individual convicted for more than a year to hold public office. Zuma now has until April 2 to appeal against his ineligibility, South Africa’s Anadolu Agency reported.
RBI@90: snapshots from history
(Page no-9)
(GS 2- Statutory, Regulatory and various Quasi-judicial Bodies)
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which was established on April 1, 1935, is responsible for monetary stability, currency management, inflation targeting, regulating the banking system, and setting interest rates.
- The central bank’s story of the last 90 years includes ups and downs, but has generally been one of stellar achievement.
How India's first solar observatory was set up in Kodaikanat 125 yrs ago
(Page no-9)
(GS 3-Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology; Indigenization of Technology and Developing New Technology)
- In fact, the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory came into being through the relocation of the erstwhile Madras Observatory to a higher, sunnier location after the Great Famine of 1876-1878 in South India, which occurred after an intense drought and subsequent crop failure and led to the loss of 5.6 million-9.4 million lives.
The choice before EC
(Page no-10)
(GS 2-Appointment to various Constitutional Posts, Powers, Functions and Responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies)
- One of the heartening features of the press briefing by the Election Commission of India (EC) on the day general elections 2024 were announced was its emphasis on level playing field (LPF). The CEC said that the EC had circulated the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) to all political parties, requesting them to bring it to the notice of their star campaigners. It would be ruthless in dealing with complaints of action that disturbed the LPF, he said.
GST collections hit Rupees 1.78 cr in March; 2nd highest since roll-out
(Page no-13)
(GS 3- Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development)
- "Gross Good and Services Tax (GST) revenue for March 2024 witnessed the second highest collection ever at Rs 1.78 lakh crore, with a 11.5 per cent year-on-year growth. This surge was driven by a significant rise in GST collection from domestic transactions at 17.6 per cent," the ministry said in a statement.
