Top India and India-related News in Short
1. Registration Must For Live-in Partners: The Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code (UCC) makes it mandatory for partners in a live-in relationship to submit a statement to the Registrar, regardless of residency. The Registrar will conduct a “summary inquiry” to ensure the relationship doesn’t fall under specific categories (e.g., involving minors or married individuals). If either partner is under 21, parental consent is required for cohabitation.
2. UCC On Property Rights: The UCC brings equal property rights for sons and daughters. Also, it doesn’t make a distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children, and between adopted and biologically born children. The law gives equal property rights after death to spouses, children, and parents, which is a departure from previous laws.
3. EC Declares Ajit Faction Real NCP: The Election Commission of India (EC) has officially recognized the faction led by Ajit Pawar as the “real” Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). This decision grants Ajit Pawar’s group the NCP symbol, a “Wall Clock”, and settles the NCP dispute in their favor after a series of hearings over six months.
4. ED Raids Delhi Jal Board: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at 16 locations linked to officials of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and NBCC (India) Ltd. These raids are part of a money laundering probe related to violations and irregularities in at least two DJB contracts. The agency seized incriminating documents and cash during these searches.
5. Chanda Kochhar’s Arrest: The Bombay High Court declared the arrest of Chanda Kochhar, former CEO and MD of ICICI Bank, as illegal. She was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with alleged irregularities in loans provided to Videocon Group firms. The court confirmed her interim bail, emphasizing that her arrest violated mandated procedures under the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).
6. Allahabad High Court and Gyanvapi Mosque: The Allahabad High Court heard the Muslim Committee’s appeal against the Varanasi High Court order allowing Hindu prayers in the Gyanvapi mosque cellar. The court asked the Muslim side to prove their possession of the mosque in 1993. Justice Rohit Ranjan Agrawal emphasized that it must be on record that they were in possession of the cellar. The court dismissed arguments that the issue arose only in 2023 and questioned the barricading of the place.
7. PM Modi’s Energy Sector Investment Plan: During the India Energy Week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India is poised to attract a significant investment of $67 billion in its energy sector over the next 5 to 6 years. Emphasizing India’s robust economic growth, PM Modi invited global investors to participate in the country’s energy sector expansion.
8. India-Qatar Gas Deal Renewal: India has extended its 1999 contract with Qatar for gas shipment, securing more favorable terms and a lower rate. This move could potentially save $6 billion over 20 years. The renegotiation eliminates fixed charges, resulting in a $0.8 per unit reduction in gas costs. India, a significant player in global energy demand, leveraged its clout during negotiations.
9. SCs and STs List Modification in Jammu and Kashmir: The Lok Sabha recently passed The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which adds the Valmiki community as a synonym for Chura, Balmiki, Bhangi, and Mehtar communities in the SC list. Also, the Pahari Ethnic Group in the list of Scheduled Tribes in Jammu and Kashmir.
10. HDFC Bank Group’s Stakes in Private Lenders: HDFC Bank Group has secured approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to acquire stakes of up to 9.50 percent in six private lenders. This green light allows the group to invest in ICICI Bank, IndusInd Bank, Yes Bank, Axis Bank, Bandhan Bank, and Suryoday Small Finance Bank.
11. White Paper on UPA Rule’s Economic Management: The Narendra Modi-led NDA government plans to release a ‘White Paper’ detailing India’s economic challenges during the Congress-led UPA government from 2004 to 2014. It will highlight the negative impacts of that era and discuss potential positive steps that could have been taken.
12. Suspicious Boat from Kuwait near Mumbai: A boat from Kuwait was intercepted by the Mumbai Police near the Gateway of India. The boat carried three people and arrived in Mumbai via the Arabian Sea. Although nothing suspicious was found on the boat, the police registered a case for illegal entry. The trio, originally from Tamil Nadu, had gone to Kuwait for work but faced ill-treatment by their agent. The incident echoes heightened security concerns since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
13. Sharmistha Mukherjee’s Call for Leadership Change in Congress: Sharmistha Mukherjee, daughter of former President Pranab Mukherjee, believes it’s time for the Congress to seek leadership beyond the Nehru-Gandhi family. She highlights Rahul Gandhi’s unsuccessful track record in the last two Lok Sabha elections. Sharmistha emphasizes that if a party consistently loses under a specific leader, it’s crucial to consider alternative faces. The Congress secured 52 seats in 2019 and 44 seats in 2014, while the BJP increased its tally from 282 to 303 during the same period.
14. Priyanka Criticizes PM Modi for his Nehru Remarks: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for misrepresenting a speech by Jawaharlal Nehru. Modi had quoted Nehru’s Independence Day speech, suggesting that Nehru believed Indians were lazy and lacked intelligence. Priyanka called this act “shameful” and claimed it reflects the BJP’s bitterness towards the freedom movement and historical struggles for nation-building.
15. CJI on Malpractice in Chandigarh Mayor Poll: The Supreme Court sternly criticized the presiding officer of the Chandigarh mayoral election for his actions. In a video, the officer was seen defacing ballot papers, potentially influencing the results. Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud called this a “mockery of democracy” and vowed not to allow democracy to be harmed.
16. Indo-Myanmar Border Fencing: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has announced plans to fence the entire 1,643-kilometer-long border with Myanmar. This move aims to enhance surveillance and patrolling. Already, a 10 km stretch in Moreh, Manipur, has been fenced. Additionally, two pilot projects using a Hybrid Surveillance System (HSS) are underway, covering 1 km each in Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur. India’s commitment to building impenetrable borders underscores its strategic approach to security.
17. Glitch in UPI Payments: Digital payments through the popular UPI platform faced a hiccup due to internal technical issues in some banks. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) confirmed that its systems are working fine and it is collaborating with impacted banks for a swift resolution. While the NPCI didn’t name specific banks, HDFC Bank acknowledged difficulties but assured it’s now back in operation.
18. Indian Student Assaulted in Chicago: An Indian student from Hyderabad, studying information technology in Chicago, was brutally beaten by three unidentified assailants near his house. The victim, Syed Mazahir Ali, shared a bloodied video of his ordeal on social media. He was chased down by the attackers, who also pointed a gun at him. The Indian consulate is working with local authorities to investigate the case. Ali’s wife seeks assistance to travel to the US with their three minor children.
19. Karnataka CM And Ministers Protest In Delhi: The Opposition-ruled Karnataka Government, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, is staging a protest in New Delhi against the Centre’s alleged biased fiscal policies. The entire Karnataka Ministry will hold a sit-in at Jantar Mantar today. CM Siddaramaiah highlights that despite the Union budget’s growth, Karnataka’s allocation hasn’t seen a proportional increase.
20. Kerala Financially Unhealthy State, Center Tells SC: The Centre has informed the Supreme Court that Kerala is “one of the most financially unhealthy States.” The State’s debts impact the credit rating of the entire country. The Centre attributes Kerala’s fiscal woes to mismanagement of public finances, despite substantial resources provided by the Centre.