Student activists say their fight for justice continues
Summary:
A Delhi court has discharged student activists Sharjeel Imam, Safoora Zargar, Chanda Yadav and seven others in the 2019 Jamia Nagar violence case. Asif Iqbal Tanha, who spent 13 months in jail, stated that the protests at Jamia were peaceful and that the court has stood for the rights of the common citizen. The activists' family members expressed gratitude over the court's order and believe that the judiciary is restoring their faith. The mental and financial burden caused by the case was acknowledged, but the fight for justice will continue.
Sisodia writes to FM, seeks grant of ₹927 crore for G-20 preparations
Summary:
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has written to the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman seeking a grant of ₹927 crore for the Delhi government to take up special development works for the G-20 Summit. Sisodia claimed that various departments have outlined plans for infrastructure development and beautification of spots where G-20 events are scheduled, and that the Delhi government requires the funds to complete these preparations. Sisodia also added that the Centre has not given the Delhi government any financial support and that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi does not receive funds based on the size of the population under its jurisdiction. Sisodia has requested Sitharaman to provide the necessary funds from the Central government in light of the importance of the summit.
Centre clears appointment of five SC judges
Summary:
President Droupadi Murmu has signed the warrants of appointment for five new judges to the Supreme Court. The new judges, who will be inducted after a swearing-in ceremony on Monday, are Chief Justices Pankaj Mithal, Sanjay Karol and P.V. Sanjay Kumar of the Rajasthan, Patna, and Manipur High Courts respectively, Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah of the Patna court, and Justice Manoj Misra of the Allahabad court. The appointments come a day after a warning from the Supreme Court Bench regarding the delay of judicial appointments and transfers. The appointments were recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium on December 13 and cleared by the Prime Minister's Office on February 2. The strength of the Supreme Court will go up from 27 to 32, leaving two vacancies, with a sanctioned strength of 34 judges. This is the second time so many judges have been appointed in one batch, the first being on August 26, 2021. The apex court has an opportunity to function with its full strength if the government clears two other names proposed by the Supreme Court Collegium on January 31.
Tripura Assembly election an uphill battle for BJP
Summary:
The upcoming assembly election in Tripura has created an air of unpredictability due to a triangular contest between the BJP, the Left Front-Congress, and the Tipra Motha. It will be a challenging election for the BJP, who is seeking to retain power, as it faces off against the Left Front and Congress, who have struck a seat-sharing deal to prevent anti-BJP votes from splitting. The BJP also attempted to forge an alliance with the Tipra Motha, but it failed due to a lack of written assurance on the party's demand for a Greater Tipraland State. The Tipra Motha holds sway in 20 constituencies reserved for the Scheduled Tribes, and its decision to contest 22 of the 40 non-tribal seats is seen as upsetting the calculations of both the BJP and the Left Front-Congress combine. Political scientists believe the Tipra Motha could damage the BJP's prospects, especially in the non-tribal seats.
Easing an albatross off the neck of great Indian bustard
Summary:
A Supreme Court-appointed committee has recommended that nearly 800 km of proposed power lines in Rajasthan and Gujarat be either re-routed or buried underground to protect the endangered Great Indian Bustard bird. This accounts for 10% of the total length of the lines, which are meant to transfer solar power into the grid but have been harming the birds. The private and public power companies and the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) argued that burying the lines would be expensive and impractical and would raise the cost of solar power. In April 2021, the Supreme Court ordered that all low-voltage power lines in priority zones be buried, but significant steps appear to have not been taken to comply with the order, according to a report.
India joins UAE, France for trilateral on clean energy, counter-pandemic steps
Summary:
India, France, and the UAE have announced a trilateral cooperation initiative to collaborate on nuclear energy and opportunities in the Indian Ocean region, as well as addressing issues of climate change and biodiversity. The three countries' Foreign Ministers held a telephonic conversation and agreed to work together in the fields of solar and nuclear energy. The trilateral initiative will serve as a platform for the execution of cooperation projects in energy and climate change, with a focus on the Indian Ocean region. The countries have also agreed to cooperate in defense preparation, countering infectious diseases, and to encourage cooperation in organizations such as WHO, Gavi, and Unitaid. The countries will also work towards implementing the "One Health" approach and support the development of local capacities in biomedical innovation and production within developing countries.
U.S., China exchange barbs over ‘high altitude surveillance balloon’
Summary:
The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken cancelled his visit to China after a Chinese surveillance balloon was detected in the US airspace. Blinken called it an "unacceptable action" and a violation of US sovereignty and international law. The Chinese Foreign Ministry described the balloon as intended for meteorological use and expressed regret that it had deviated from its planned course. Both sides exchanged sharp remarks over the incident, which has added to already tense relations between the US and China. The US Department of Defense is continuing to track the balloon, which is described as a "high-altitude surveillance balloon".
Ukraine, Russia swap prisoners; bodies of U.K. volunteers returned
Summary:
Ukraine and Russia have exchanged nearly 200 prisoners of war in a swap, with the bodies of two British volunteers being sent back to Ukraine. 116 Ukrainians and 63 Russian POWs were released. The bodies of the two British volunteer aid workers who were killed in eastern Ukraine in January were also returned to Ukraine.
Climate change will increase hydropower generation
Summary:
The article reports on a study done by researchers from IIT Gandhinagar on the hydroclimatic changes in 46 major dams in India and their implications for hydropower generation. The researchers found that under a warmer climate, due to an increase in precipitation, hydropower production is likely to increase by 9-36% for most dams. However, this increase comes with a risk of high in-flow into the dams due to extreme rainfall, which could cause challenges for reservoir operations and even flooding. The study also found that north and central India are projected to experience higher warming and increased precipitation compared to south India, which will alter the inflow and hydropower generation more in north and central India.
Is Govt. on track on "fiscal deficit targets?
Summary:
The 2023-24 Union Budget in India, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, aims for a decline in the fiscal deficit to 5.9% of GDP in FY24, compared to 6.4% in FY23. The government plans to continue on the path of fiscal consolidation and reach a fiscal deficit below 4.5% by 2025-26. To finance the fiscal deficit, the government plans to borrow from dated securities, small savings and other sources. Some major allocations, such as food, fertilizer and petroleum subsidies, have been reduced compared to the previous year. The Budget aims to increase capital spending and infrastructure investment to boost economic growth, which is seen as crucial for sustained growth recovery. The government remains committed to its path of fiscal consolidation, despite revenue uncertainties and various risks, and is financing the fiscal deficit through internal market borrowings and small savings.