9 PM Current Affairs Brief – April 12th, 2018

A promise falls short Context Four years after a landmark verdict, it is time to push for reforms to give transgender persons their rights A landmark judgement towards gender equality: National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India (2014 National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India is a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of India,… Continue reading A promise falls short

Heed the federal framework Context The Finance Commission must respect principles of equity and fairness in allocating resources between Centre, States Vital for unity The Centre’s capacity to mobilise resources is far greater than that of the States, but the States are required to undertake development expenditures that far exceed their revenue generating capabilities GST… Continue reading Heed the federal framework

Centre for relook at Haj bar on disabled What has happened? The Centre told the Delhi High Court on Wednesday that it has advised the Haj Committee of India to examine the “sensitive” provision that bars differently-abled persons from applying for the Haj pilgrimage New Haj policy According to the petition, the new Haj policy,… Continue reading Centre for relook at Haj bar on disabled

It is CJI’s right to allot cases: SC What has happened? A Supreme Court Bench led by Chief Justice Dipak Misra on Wednesday declared the Chief Justice of India as an “institution in himself” with “exclusive prerogative” to constitute Benches and allocate cases Bench observed There is no room for any “presumption of mistrust” against… Continue reading It is CJI’s right to allot cases: SC

Olive ridleys start hatching at Rushikulya What has happened? Sporadic hatching of olive ridley eggs has started at the mass nesting site at Rushikulya rookery coast in Ganjam district of Odisha Bit of a delay It was expected that mass hatching of eggs will start on the night of April 7 or 8 But it… Continue reading Olive ridleys start hatching at Rushikulya

‘Petroleum, Finance Ministers can award hydrocarbon blocks’ Context Cabinet move will expedite decision-making process relating to HELP What has happened? The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal to delegate the power to award hydrocarbon blocks to successful bidders under the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP) to Petroleum and and Finance Ministers HELP Under… Continue reading ‘Petroleum, Finance Ministers can award hydrocarbon blocks’

The rise and fall of bitcoin Context Cryptocurrencies have witnessed a massive fall in prices since they hit a peak in December last year. Bitcoin, by far the most popular cryptocurrency on the planet, is currently trading below $7,000 as compared to its peak price of over $19,000 — a loss of two-thirds of its… Continue reading The rise and fall of bitcoin

Facing the future of development Context The recent spate of peasant protests across wide swathes of the country points sharply to the unjust folly and sheer unviability of the path of development that India has embraced, especially in the reform era since the late 1980s Author’s contention Widening inequities between city dwellers and small, marginal… Continue reading Facing the future of development

Aadhaar linkage will protect people: UIDAI Context The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has told the Supreme Court that Aadhaar linkage seeks to protect people from crime Petitioners’ arguments & center’s responses Argument 1 Petitioners argued that insistence on Aadhaar for all stigmatises people. It creates a feeling among the public that all are… Continue reading Aadhaar linkage will protect people: UIDAI

‘99% of MGNREGA wages remain unpaid’ Context Ninety-nine per cent of MGNREGA wages have remained unpaid in April 2018, as per the findings of the NREGA Sangharsh Morcha that tracks the implementation of the rural employment guarantee law What has happened? NREGA Sangharsh Morcha in its release has brought out the delay in wage payments… Continue reading ‘99% of MGNREGA wages remain unpaid’