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GS: 1
Society and women related issues:
Woman who had twins via surrogacy given leave(The Hindu)
The Central Administrative Tribunal has come to the aid of a woman, working in the Ministry of Law & Justice, who was denied maternity leave as she had begotten her children through surrogacy.
Plea to raise minimum age for marriage(The Hindu)
Population explosion was a growing menace to fundamental rights, and one of the steps to check this was to raise the minimum age for marriage, a petition filed in the Supreme Court said. It is likely to be listed before a Bench led by Chief Justice Dipak Misra.
GS: 2
International relations:
India to help build nuclear plant in Bangladesh(The Hindu)
India, Bangladesh and Russia have signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation in the construction of the Rooppur nuclear power plant in Bangladesh.
‘Gwadar, Chabahar not comparable’(The Hindu)
The development of the Chabahar port in Iran is a commercial enterprise, whereas that of the Gwadar port in Pakistan by China is a strategic venture with long-term implications on the region, former Union Minister Manish Tewari has said.
Indian Constitution and Polity:
KRMB panel allows AP to draw 9 tmc ft water for irrigation(The Hindu)
The row over utilisation of Krishna waters between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana has subsided for the time being with the three-member committee of Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) allowing them to avail 33 tmc ft water till the month-end for meeting immediate irrigation needs.
Ministry denies vendetta against Prasar Bharati(The Hindu)
The Prasar Bharati is bound by the government’s general financial rules and must sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Information & Broadcasting Ministry on financial targets and timelines for activities to use grants in a financial year, the Ministry said in a statement on Friday. The organisation had not signed the MoU despite repeated reminders, the Ministry said.
Fear of forfeiture(The Hindu Opinion)
Given the apparent ease with which economic offenders flee India and cock a snook at the banking and judicial systems, the proposed law to seize their wealth is undoubtedly a welcome measure.
‘Present laws adequate to deal with defaulters’(The Hindu)
A day after the Centre announced a new Bill to deal with fugitive economic offenders, the Congress on Friday said the move was to “deflect attention from the bank scams that happened under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s watch.”
GS: 3
Economy:
‘Effective regulation need of the hour in banking sector’(The Hindu)
What the banking sector needs right now is effective regulation and supervision and not increased privatisation, a group of prominent economists said on Friday.
Science and Technology:
Staying ahead of the double helix(The Hindu Opinion)
The Delhi High Court recently ruled against discrimination in health insurance by United India Insurance Company involving a person with a heart condition which was perceived to be a genetic disorder. The court held, “Discrimination in health insurance against individuals based on their genetic disposition or genetic heritage, in the absence of appropriate genetic testing and laying down of intelligible differentia, is unconstitutional.”
