9 PM Current Affairs Brief – May 4th, 2018

Need time for Cauvery scheme: Centre to SC  What has happened? Tamil Nadu argued that though the Cauvery tribunal had ordered the release of 2.5 tmcft each for April and May, Karnataka had released only 1.1 tmcft in April. Background Tamil Nadu has filed a contempt petition against the Centre for delaying the framing of… Continue reading Need time for Cauvery scheme: Centre to SC

SC upholds MCI notification Context Bid to prevent blocking of Post Graduate entrance medical seats What has happened? The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the validity of a April 9 notification issued by the Medical Council of India (MCI) making changes in the method of admissions to the postgraduate medical courses to arrest the blocking… Continue reading SC upholds MCI notification

Centre quotes SC order on Aadhaar What has happened? Recently, the Aadhaar Constitution Bench, led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, had questioned the government’s line that its efforts to mandatorily link SIMs with Aadhaar was based on a February 6, 2017 order of the Supreme Court. Centre’s stand The Centre insisted that its… Continue reading Centre quotes SC order on Aadhaar

Emerging irritant: on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor What has happened? The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is China’s ambitious project for increasing connectivity and economic cooperation within Eurasia. Since its announcement in 2013, the BRI has been positively received by many countries covered within its ambit. Indian concern regarding CPEC China’s insistence on establishing the CPEC… Continue reading Emerging irritant: on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

New snake found in Western Ghats What has happened? Just 40 cm long and iridescent brown, Bhupathy’s shieldtail is the latest addition to the snake fauna of the Western Ghats. Location Bhupathy’s shieldtail has been observed only in the Anaikatty Hills of Tamil Nadu Uropeltis bhupathyi  The snake, currently observed only in the forests of… Continue reading New snake found in Western Ghats

Poor response in Alipore zoo to animal adoption scheme Context Most organisations and individuals have not renewed contract with the zoo  What has happened? Almost four years after the West Bengal government introduced a scheme to adopt animals in the Alipore Zoological Garden, the initiative seems to have lost steam with fewer individuals and companies… Continue reading Poor response in Alipore zoo to animal adoption scheme

Despite CA’s closure, U.K. to continue investigation What has happened? The closure of Cambridge Analytica (CA) and the associated firm SCL Elections will not have any impact on two U.K. investigations into the data analytics company.  Investigations to continue irrespective of the closure of the firm Britain’s Information Commissioner’s Office, which is investigating SCL Group… Continue reading Despite CA’s closure, U.K. to continue investigation

AIIB not a threat, can cooperate: ADB president What has happened? The rise of China-led The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is not seen as a threat to Asian Development Bank (ADB) and in fact, both can cooperate to finance the large infrastructure funding needs, Takehiko Nakao, president of the ADB, said on Thursday. China’s… Continue reading AIIB not a threat, can cooperate: ADB president