9 PM Current Affairs Brief – May 1st, 2018

Local democracy in disarray Context Twenty-five years after decentralised democratic governance was introduced, a look at why it has failed Social failure While the economic reforms that were launched almost simultaneously with the decentralisation reforms made tremendous headway, making India the fastest-growing economy in the world today, local democracy has not much to write home… Continue reading Local democracy in disarray

A dangerous incursion Context The opposition of the government to the elevation of Justice K.M. Joseph is on specious grounds What has happened? The government’s opposition to the elevation of the Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court, Justice K.M. Joseph, to the Supreme Court, as recommended by the Supreme Court collegium as far back… Continue reading A dangerous incursion

Take oath of office in given time: SC What has happened? Elected representatives should face “serious consequences” for not taking the oath of office within a specified time, the Supreme Court urged State Legislatures in a judgment The case The case concerned a no-confidence motion against Uttar Pradesh’s Kshettra panchayat pramukh. The pramukh said some… Continue reading Take oath of office in given time: SC

Korean thaw Context The stage is set for a truly historic meeting between Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump What has happened? The summit between the leaders of the two Koreas is perhaps the most significant step in decades towards securing peace on the peninsula. Kim Jong-un on Friday became the first North Korean leader since… Continue reading Korean thaw

NASA mission to the ‘heart’ of Mars Context NASA’s first-ever mission to study the deep interior of Mars is on schedule to launch this week InSight & MarCO InSight: The Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) is the first planetary mission to take off from the West Coast of U.S. It… Continue reading NASA mission to the ‘heart’ of Mars

Heavy rain spells doom for baby turtles Context Olive Ridley turtles What has happened? Hundreds of thousands of Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings were found buried alive after four days of persistent thundershowers in Odisha’s Gahirmatha Sanctuary compacted their sand-pit nests Loose sand is helpful The emergence of hatchlings depends on how loose the sand is.… Continue reading Heavy rain spells doom for baby turtles

Lake Victoria species under threat: report Context Report – “Freshwater biodiversity in the Lake Victoria Basin” by IUCN Observations made in the report Three quarters of freshwater species endemic to East Africa’s Lake Victoria basin face the threat of extinction, conservationists said on Monday, warning the biodiversity there was being “decimated” A full 20% of… Continue reading Lake Victoria species under threat: report

The cost of pollution Context Pollution is a challenge to developing countries which try to achieve rapid economic development without adequately managing the environment. In recent years, the pollution load has increased, sometimes beyond the carrying capacity of the environment. Though various measures have been adopted to manage pollution, significant progress has not been achieved… Continue reading The cost of pollution

Power Ministry feels no need to change electrification definition What has happened? The government had in September 2017 launched the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (Saubhagya), aimed at covering the last-mile connectivity of taking electricity to the household level. The target for the scheme is March 31, 2019. “Electrified village” Village is declared… Continue reading Power Ministry feels no need to change electrification definition

AFSPA will continue in Nagaland: Rijiju What has happened? Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said AFSPA, the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, will continue in Nagaland as it is a “special case” and the “peace agreement” hasn’t been finalised there yet. State to renew plea Nagaland’s Deputy Chief Minister Y. Patton said… Continue reading AFSPA will continue in Nagaland: Rijiju