18 April 2024, The Indian EXPRESS
Can UP interfaith live-in couples get police protection? Yes, no, maybe
Page no-1
GS2- Mechanisms, Laws, Institutions and Bodies constituted for the Protection and Betterment of the Vulnerable Sections
- Can interfaith couples in a consensual live-in relationship fearing a backlash get police protection in Uttar Pradesh? Yes, no, even maybe.
- This is because the answer depends on varying interpretations by the Allahabad High Court of a key provision in the state’s anti-conversion (also called 'love jihad') law, a scrutiny of court orders.
Intel, long night tek & a river crossing: How security men struck at Bastar Maoists, shot 29
Page no-1
GS3- Various Security Forces and Agencies and their Mandate
- A team of roughly 200 security personnel walked the hilly terrain of Abujhmad in the dead of night, covering a little under 50 kilometres to their destination and back.
- The trek led them to a hilltop, where they managed to surround 29 Naxals, including two divisional committee members of the CPI (Maoist), who were killed in an encounter on Tuesday afternoon.
- A day later, details have begun to emerge of what marks one of the largest anti-Naxal operations in Chhattishgarh’s Bastar region – a milestone in the state’s fight against Left Wing Extremism since it marks the entry of security forces into the Naxal stronghold of Abujhmad.
Heart disease linked to maternal deaths? A study tries to join dots
Page no-1
GS2- Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health
- It was only when 23-year-old Dhaanu* succumbed to heart failure during childbirth at a village in Tamil Nadu that her family realised that she had an undiagnosed congenital heart defect.
- Neither did they know that her death could have been prevented had she been screened in the early stages of her pregnancy.
- The primary health care centre in her village lacked diagnostics or a skilled obstetrician to read the warning signs.
- All that’s set to change with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) now funding a study to analyse the number of maternal deaths because of heart diseases and develop a treatment protocol to prevent future mortality.
- This is needed to further arrest India’s maternal mortality because the most common risk factors, like infections and excessive bleeding, have been controlled well while heart disease is emerging to be the next big risk factor.
Ahead of Musk visit, rules notified for FDI up to 100% in space
Page no-1
GS3- Effects of Liberalization on the Economy, Changes in Industrial Policy and their Effects on Industrial Growth
- The Finance Ministry has notified amended rules under the Foreign Exchange Management Act to operationalise its earlier decision to allow up to 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) for the space sector through three categories of liberalised entry routes.
- The notification dated April 16 comes ahead of Tesla chief Elon Musk's visit to India early next week where he is expected to meet space startups, make a push for his space venture Starlink’s plans and announce his electric vehicle (EV) investment plans.
Undiplomatic
Page no-8
GS2- Role of Civil Services in a Democracy
- Of course, Indian diplomats stationed overseas should showcase the values of Indian democracy, stand by them, defend them when they are under attack.
- A newspaper editorial, howsoever critical it may be, is hardly an attack that needs an Ambassador to get so riled up.
- But skins are thin these days and Indian Foreign Service officer and Ambassador to Ireland Akhilesh Mishra did get riled up.
- And in what looks like a zeal to appear more loyal than professional, he shot off a rejoinder that makes him look prickly, not exactly the mature voice representing a global power.
- The Irish Times editorial, headlined ‘Modi tightens his grip’, predicts a “comfortable third term” for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and argues that his “undoubted personal popularity and economic success will play the major part in his victory.”
- It then goes on to say that he has “leant heavily on a widespread crackdown on free speech and opposition parties” and refers to the role played by Central agencies and the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal.
What was behind the heavy rainfall that flooded Dubai
Page no-12
GS1- geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes
- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) recorded the heaviest rain ever after a severe thunderstorm hit the country on Monday (April 15) late night, killing at least one person, causing damage to homes and businesses, and bringing air travel to a standstill in Dubai.
- According to the state-run WAM news agency, the rain was "a hitoric weather event" that surpassed “anything documented since the start of data collection in 1949” – that was before the UAE was established in 1971.
The last 72-hour election drill
Page no-12
GS2- Salient Features of the Representation of People’s Act.
- Votes in the first phase of the Lok Sabha election will be cast on April 19.
- The most critical time in the election process includes the last day of campaign period (72 hours before the poll), the non-campaign period (the last 48 hours), and the poll day.
- Candidates are afforded the opportunity to make a final impression on the electorate, while the period of “election silence” allows voters to take a reflective pause.
- Several behind-the-scenes logistical and operational activities ensure that the elections are conducted smoothly.
- The scale of the exercise is immense — around 97 crore voters, 10.5 lakh polling stations, 1.5 crore polling officials and security staff, 55 lakh EVMs, and 4 lakh vehicles across the country — and timely and meticulous planning, rigorous implementation, and close supervision are essential to ensure free, fair, participative, and peaceful elections.
How a beam of sunlight was directed to the forehead of Lord Ram
Page no-12
GS3- Science and Technology- Developments and their Applications and Effects in Everyday Life
- A three-minute-long Surya Tilak ceremony — where a beam of sunlight was projected onto the forehead of Lord Ram’s idol — was performed at noon on Wednesday (April 17) in Ayodhya’s newly-built Ram temple, marking the occasion of Ram Navami.
- This was achieved using a special mirror-lens arrangement, designed by astronomers at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, that has been installed in the building by a team from the Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee.
