9 PM Current Affairs Brief – 22nd November, 2017

India pulls off a diplomatic coup, wins prized ICJ seat(TH) Context With Justice Dalveer Bhandari’s re-election, this will be the first time in the 70-year history of the U.N.that the U.K. will not be on the world judicial body. Multiple firsts This is the first time in the 70-year history of the United Nations that… Continue reading India pulls off a diplomatic coup, wins prized ICJ seat(TH)

Supreme court hearing: Constitution gives Delhi govt no executive powers, says Centre What has happened? Centre has told the Supreme Court that Delhi isnot a state and Article 239 AA (4) of the Constitution has not vested any exclusive executive powers on the National Capital Territory government Background A five-judge Constitution Bench SC was hearing the… Continue reading Supreme court hearing: Constitution gives Delhi govt no executive powers, says Centre

Be intolerant of intolerance(IE Ed) Context Author justifiesrecent SC judgement on petition urging for a ban on the movie ‘An insignificant man’ & criticizes the spate of violent outbursts against ‘Padmavati’ maker Sanjay Bhansali& actress DeepikaPadukone Right to free speech & expression Article 19 (1)(a) of the constitution guarantees freedom of speech and expression to the… Continue reading Be intolerant of intolerance(IE Ed)

No need for privacy in court, says SC(TH) Context SC has given a thumbs-up for audio and video recording of court proceedings Background In August 2017, the Supreme Court Bench of Justices Goel and U.U. Lalit had, suggested possibilities of having audio and video recordings of proceedings in the constitutional courts the Supreme Court and… Continue reading No need for privacy in court, says SC(TH)

Penal law soon on triple talaq(TH) Context A new legislation wrt Triple Talaq is on its way What has been done? A new committee has been set up by the Union Government to frame a new law under which the use of triple talaq or talaq-e-biddat for divorce between Muslim couples would attract punitive measures… Continue reading Penal law soon on triple talaq(TH)

Rohingya diplomacy (IE Ed) Context As per the author India should learn from the way China has handled the Rohingya issue Stage Chinese plan China recently issued a statement stating that both Myanmar & Bangladesh are its friends and Beijing is willing to play a constructive role to sort out the Rakhine state issue. It further… Continue reading Rohingya diplomacy (IE Ed)

Oldest stars in our galaxy discovered(TH) Context Article talks about the discovery of some of the oldest stars in our Milky Way galaxy by the astronomers Cool subdwarfs Scientists, in their study, focussed on old or “senior citizen” stars, also known as cool subdwarfs that are much older and cooler in temperature than the Sun… Continue reading Oldest stars in our galaxy discovered(TH)

India calls for stronger treaties to protect space assets(TH) Context Stressing international cooperation in space as in all domains of global commons, Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar called for strengthening global treaties to protect space-based assets and prevent militarisation of outer space What are global commons? The ‘Global Commons’ refers to resource domains or areas that… Continue reading India calls for stronger treaties to protect space assets(TH)

Rafale questions(IE) Context Government’s reluctance to share data on the price of the aircraft has raised several scenarios, none of them flattering to it Background of Rafale deal IAF raised a requirement: In August 2007, after the Indian Air Force (IAF) raised the requirement for a Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA), a request for… Continue reading Rafale questions(IE)

Low tariffs slowing new bid for winds, solar energy projects:ICRA(TH) Context The bidding for wind and solar energy projects is seeing a short-term slowdown, said rating agency ICRA Except few terms that need an explanation article makes a reference to the ICRA report which indicates a slowdown in capacity addition in the solar and wind… Continue reading Low tariffs slowing new bid for winds, solar energy projects:ICRA(TH)

WTO: India resolute on food security(TH) Context Article throws light on the stand that India is likely to take at the upcoming ministerial conference of WTO at Buenos Aires, Argentina in December India’s stand No to restrictions on subsidies: India is not going to agree to severe restrictions on its right to give price subsidies… Continue reading WTO: India resolute on food security(TH)