Must Read News Articles – April 18th, 2019

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GS 2

The limits of populism

A charismatic leader mesmerises the electorate, strikes an emotional chord and blurs the distinction between the leader and the led.

A crisis of credibility?

While nothing bars the EC from asserting its authority, it still needs institutional safeguards to protect its autonomy

For a free referee

The incumbent members of the EC may end up expending the accumulated trust in the institution if they do not consistently and unfailingly demonstrate efficiency and neutrality in enforcing the law and the MCC.

The ethical act of voting

It is the duty of having to act not for individual benefit, but for the benefit of the larger society

Indonesia’s Widodo set for re-election

Unofficial results put the incumbent in a comfortable lead over his rival, ex-General Prabowo Subianto

GS 3

Average rainfall hides weather extremes: report

While the Indian Meteorological Department has predicted a “normal” monsoon this year, a new report on disasters warns that the “average” rainfall figures hide extremes of floods and droughts across the country.

End of the runway

It is interesting that the present government, despite all the pressure that has been brought to bear on it, has kept away from all the action. Bailing out a private enterprise with public money is something that it would not want to be seen doing at this point in time.

‘Zinc deficiency rising in Indians’

Rising carbon dioxide levels can accelerate zinc deficiency in crops and thus in human consumption, cautions a new study titled ‘Inadequate zinc intake in India: past, present and future’ by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Position on Masood Azhar remains unchanged, says China

China on Wednesday said it was not facing any deadline to take a call on designating Masood Azhar, head of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group, as an international terrorist, and reiterated that progress was being made to achieve consensus on the issue in the 1267 committee of the United Nations Security Council.