18 May 2024, The Indian EXPRESS
Expectation from India, as a leader of Global South, to take part in peace summit on Ukraine
Page no-5
GS2- Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India’s interests
- Switzerland wants Delhi to participate in the peace conference on Ukraine because of India’s global standing and as the leader of the Global South, its top diplomat said on Friday.
- In an interview to SHUBHAJIT ROY, State Secretary of Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Alexandre Fasel said he hopes Russia would participate in the second summit, and the peace conference in Switzerland will discuss the roadmap.
- New Delhi is yet to decide on the participation in the event. Fasel said Switzerland understands that the decision will be taken after the election results on June 4.
- He expressed confidence about an ambitious Indo-Swiss cooperation, filled with opportunities, as the free trade pact was signed in March this year.
SC: in the matter of personal liberty, each day counts
Page no- 5
GS2- Indian Constitution—Historical Underpinnings, Evolution, Features, Amendments, Significant Provisions and Basic Structure
- Every single day counts in matters of personal liberty, the Supreme Court said Friday as it expressed displeasure over the Delhi High Court keeping a bail petition undecided for nearly 11 months.
- A bench of Justices B R Gavai and Sandeep Mehta asked the High Court to decide on the bail application of Amandeep Singh Dhall, an accused in the Delhi liquor policy case, before the court closes for summer recess.
SC seeks poll panel’s response on plea for release of turnout data after each phase
Page no- 8
GS2- Salient Features of the Representation of People’s Act.
- The Supreme Court Friday sought the EC’s response to a petition asking the panel to upload booth-wise voter turnout numbers on its website soon after the conclusion of each phase of the Lok Sabha elections.
- A three-judge bench presided by CJI D Y Chandrachud initially expressed reluctance to interfere in the matter but agreed to list the petition before a vacation bench on May 24 to hear the EC’s reply.
Govt says Chabahar key to supplying Afghanistan aid
Page no- 9
GS2-India and its Neighborhood- Relations
- Days after the United States warned of sanctions following India and Iran sealing the deal on Chabahar port, India said on Friday that the US has shown an understanding of the importance of the Chabahar Port operations for continued humanitarian supplies to Afghanistan, and a “narrow view” should not be taken on the long-term agreement.
- Responding to questions on the port project, Ministry of External Affairs’ official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “The US has shown an understanding of the importance of the Chabahar port operations for continued humanitarian supplies to Afghanistan and to provide Afghanistan with economic alternatives.”
Hurdles on path of green
Page no- 10
GS3- Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation
- The recent heatwave has reminded us of the stark risks posed by climate change and highlighted the criticality of the efforts taken by the Conference of Parties (COP).
- The World Meteorological Organisation has confirmed that 2023 was the warmest year on record.
- This has brought the focus back on sectors like power and industry, which account for the bulk of carbon emissions.
- India is the third-largest carbon-emitting country and sectors like power, steel, cement, chemicals, fertilisers, refineries are facing heightened scrutiny.
Ease of compliance
Page no- 11
GS3- Effects of Liberalization on the Economy
- The monthly collection of GST reached its zenith last month — crossing the Rs 2 lakh crore mark for the first time.
- The exclusive focus on collections must not lead to a neglect of several chronic irritants and glitches in the day-to-day implementation of GST laws.
- One such problem is what can be called the time-limit conundrum in taking input tax credit.
Rules for political parties to use state-funded media during polls
Page no- 14
GS2- Salient Features of the Representation of People’s Act.
- Two Opposition leaders — Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and All India Forward Bloc leader G Devarajan — were asked to make certain changes to their speeches made on Doordarshan and All India Radio (AIR) during the allocated broadcast time in the run up to the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
- Yechury had to delete references to the electoral bond scheme, drop terms “communal authoritarian regime” and “draconian laws”, and replace “bankruptcy” (of governance) with “failure”.
- Devarajan was made to remove the word “Muslims” from his speech about the Citizenship Amendment Act.
The Narshimha Rao years
Page no- 14
GS1-Post-independence Consolidation and Reorganization within the country
- On May 21, 1991, six and a half years after Indira Gandhi was assassinated, Rajiv Gandhi was blown up by a suicide bomber of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
- India was in the middle of a Lok Sabha election, its polity was fractured, and its economy was in deep crisis.
- The election was held in three phases, on May 20, June 12, and June 15. In Punjab, votes were cast in February 1992.
- Unlike in 1984, Rajiv’s assassination did not bring an avalanche of sympathy votes for the Congress.
- But the party did return to power, with P V Narasimha Rao at the head of a minority government.
What happened during remand hearings? This is what a study suggests
Page no- 14
GS2- Structure, Organization and Functioning of the Judiciary
- The Supreme Court this week directed the release of jailed journalist Prabir Purkayastha on the ground that due-process safeguards were not followed in his arrest and detention, and that his constitutional rights had been violated.
- After arrest, Purkayastha was produced before a designated judge early in the morning, and sent to seven days’ police custody.
- He was not given an opportunity to defend himself through legal counsel of his choice, and not informed of the grounds of arrest, as required by Article 22 (1) of the Constitution.
All auto companies can make investments under EV policy
Page no- 15
GS3- Effects of Liberalization on the Economy
- Amid concerns raised by automakers already operating in India that the new electric vehicle (EV) policy favours new entrants such as Tesla, a senior government official on Friday clarified that the union government will allow existing automakers to make greenfield investment commitments under the new policy.
- The details will be part of the guidelines that are in the process of being finalised by the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI), the official said, adding that the second round of consultations to roll out the guidelines is set to start soon.
- The first round of consultations saw Tesla representatives join the process for the first time.
More than 70 lakh transactions on ONDC platform in April: DPIIT
Page no- 15
GS3- Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development
- Transactions on Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), a digital infrastructure launched in 2021 with an aim to democratise digital commerce, crossed 70 lakh in April this year, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) said on Friday.
- DPIIT said that over 5 lakh sellers have been onboarded on the platform, of which more than 70 per cent are small or medium sized sellers and that over 125 ecosystem stakeholders including startups, unicorns and businesses have signed Letter of Intent (LoI) to join ONDC.
