9 PM Current Affairs Brief – January 24, 2018

CPI(M) plans impeachment motion against CJI Context CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said here on Tuesday that the party was trying to build a consensus on moving an impeachment motion against Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra in the budget session of Parliament. Yechury says party is in discussion with other Opposition parties on the possibility of… Continue reading CPI(M) plans impeachment motion against CJI

Making our roads safe Context The process of introducing legislation for road safety has been in the making for the past four years. The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha in 2017. The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2017, will rectify systemic issues If passed by the Rajya Sabha, it will be the… Continue reading Making our roads safe

Reform with caution  Context The Centre must act on the Malimath report on criminal law revamp, but with due care Revisiting Malimath Committee Report The Centre’s decision to revisit the 2003 report of the Justice V.S. Malimath Committee on reforming the criminal justice system needs to be examined through the prism of civil rights. Controversial… Continue reading Reform with caution 

Constitute Mahanadi tribunal: SC Context The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Centre to set up a tribunal within a month to resolve the long-standing dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh over the sharing of Mahanadi water. Constitute tribunal A Bench of Justices S.A. Bobde and L. Nageswara Rao asked the Centre to constitute the tribunal… Continue reading Constitute Mahanadi tribunal: SC

Dont probe Hadiyas Choice of Partner: SC Context The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to stay away from prying into Hadiya’s choice to marry Shafin Jahan “The court cannot question her choice,” said the Chief Justice. The apex court was hearing an oral request made by Jahan, the man who married… Continue reading Dont probe Hadiyas Choice of Partner: SC

Padmaavat order will not be recalled, declares SC Context The Supreme Court declined a plea by Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh governments to modify its decision to allow film ‘Padmaavat’ to be screened in theatres. A 100 or 200 people cannot take to the streets and seek a ban’ The State governments approached the apex court… Continue reading Padmaavat order will not be recalled, declares SC

SAARC can learn from ASEAN experience Context ASEAN has achieved the same level of peace and prosperity without going to war, as the Europeans did. At the same time there is no other region on Planet Earth that is so diverse. Kishore Mahbubani’s latest book The ASEAN miracle advocates a Nobel peace prize for the regional grouping.… Continue reading SAARC can learn from ASEAN experience

Infrastructure is an issue for Asean, India Context Infrastructure and connectivity are among the major challenges facing India and Asean-member countries that are looking to further boost trade ties, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry C.R. Chaudhary said on Tuesday. Trilateral highway In the works are construction of a trilateral highway — India-Myanmar-Thailand —… Continue reading Infrastructure is an issue for Asean, India

Japan for greater ties with India in food processing Context Japanese Ambassador to India Kenji Hiramatsu on Tuesday said there was plenty of room to expand India-Japan ties, especially in  food processing, urban development, environment and sanitation as well as medicine. However, he wanted the Indian government to address the concerns of Japanese firms including on… Continue reading Japan for greater ties with India in food processing

India ASEAN cultural ties a living link: Sushma Swaraj Context India’s cultural relation with Southeast Asia is centuries old and serves as a living link between the two sides, said the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday. Ms. Swaraj made the reference as she launched the final phase of events leading to the ASEAN-India… Continue reading India ASEAN cultural ties a living link: Sushma Swaraj

PM calls protectionism as dangerous as terrorism Context Sending out a strong message against protectionism and inward-focused economic policies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said such tendencies can be as dangerous as terrorism and climate change as he pitched for creating a “heaven of freedom.” At World Economic Forum’s annual summit in Davos, he… Continue reading PM calls protectionism as dangerous as terrorism

Awaiting SC nod on Aadhaar link Context The newly appointed Chief Election Commissioner, O.P. Rawat, on Tuesday said the electoral body would resume the exercise of linking voter identity cards to the Aadhaar database when  the SC gave the go ahead. On electoral bonds On electoral bonds, Mr. Rawat said the Commission had communicated its concerns to the… Continue reading Awaiting SC nod on Aadhaar link

Indian economy can be in top 3: Jaitley Context India will likely be among the top three economies in the world in the next 25 years, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Tuesday, adding that India has shown an ability to grow during adversity. ‘Global integration has brought more resources’ “India has moved from the… Continue reading Indian economy can be in top 3: Jaitley

A risky recovery — on IMF’s global growth predictions  Context Abroad-based recovery in global growth may be gathering steam, but the price the world will have to pay for it is still unknown. According to the IMF’s January update of the World Economic Outlook, the global economy is all set to clock its best growth… Continue reading A risky recovery — on IMF’s global growth predictions 

Growth was dipped below the 30 year average  Context The former Chief Economic Adviser on India’s current slowdown in economic growth and the mix of policies needed to reignite it The former Chief Economic Adviser on India’s current slowdown in economic growth and the mix of policies needed to reignite it A vocal critic of… Continue reading Growth was dipped below the 30 year average 

A scheme that draws scientists but leaves them in the lurch  Context A scholarship scheme managed by the Centre’s Department of Science and Technology (DST) to help young, talented scientists embark on independent research careers at Indian labs is drawing flak with complaints of harassment, tardy fund disbursal and concerns that the scheme hasn’t catalysed… Continue reading A scheme that draws scientists but leaves them in the lurch