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GS: 1
Society and women related issues:
Female foeticide a shame: Modi(The Hindu)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated the expanded “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” programme in Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu district. He also launched the National Nutrition Mission, aimed at improving nutrition levels of women and children and reducing low birth weight by 2% each year.
Ringing in change, government style(The Hindu)
All government employees in Samba district of Jammu & Kashmir have been directed to download the “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” ringtone on their Jio mobile numbers. The order came from the office of Deputy Commissioner Sheetal Nanda on February 23, who demanded that a compliance report be filed within 24 hours.
GS: 2
International relations:
Chance for peace: on US and North Korea’s relations(The Hindu Opinion)
The U.S. should grab North Korea’s offer of talks, and enable an environment of trust
A new NAM for the new norm(The Hindu Opinion)
India must seek nonaligned partnerships which can work together outside the influence of the U.S., China and Russia
Trump says new tariffs will be ‘very fair’(The Hindu)
President Donald Trump vowed to be flexible toward “real friends” of the U.S. as the White House prepared on Thursday to roll out punitive trade tariffs — singling out Germany for criticism and adding Australia to a list of likely carve-outs.
China says ties with India continue to grow(The Hindu)
China on Thursday lauded Indian and Chinese leaders for demonstrating a “strategic vision” which had helped defuse last year’s Doklam crisis, and acknowledged that ties between the two countries were poised for a rapid transition.
Blue Star tribunal focusses on Indian sensitivities(The Hindu)
A tribunal on whether further details of British involvement in the run-up to the 1984 Operation Blue Star should be made public was set to conclude later on Thursday, as the issue of Indian sensitivities around Sikh separatism both past and present and its potential impact on U.K.-India bilateral relations took centre stage.
Indian Constitution and Polity:
SC restores Hadiya’s marriage(The Hindu)
The Supreme Court on Thursday set aside a Kerala High Court order annulling the marriage of Hadiya to Shafin Jahan, whom she had married after converting to Islam.
Karnataka govt. unveils State flag(The Hindu)
The Siddaramaiah government on Thursday unveiled the State flag ( nada dhwaja ) for Karnataka. If approved by the Centre, Karnataka will be the second State to have a flag after Jammu and Kashmir.
Protecting couples from mobs(The Hindu Opinion)
The Prohibition of Unlawful Assembly (Interference with the Freedom of Matrimonial Alliances) Bill has been doing the rounds among States for the past seven years. The proposed law, drafted by the Law Commission of India, is meant to penalise honour killings and uphold the right of adults to marry persons of their own choice without unlawful interference from caste panchayats or persons and relatives intent on harming the couple.
Union govt. to set up Arbitration Council(The Hindu)
In an effort to make India a global hub for arbitration, the government will set up an Arbitration Council that will grade institutions that offer alternative dispute resolution mechanism for commercial disputes.
GS: 3
Economy:
‘Centre to invite initial bids for Air India in a couple of weeks’(The Hindu)
Civil Aviation Secretary R.N. Choubey on Thursday said the Ministry was engaged in the “important task” of finding buyers for Air India and its subsidiaries as well as for Pawan Hans. He said he expected the expressions of interest to be issued within a couple of weeks.
‘India can bridge IT staff shortage in Japan’(The Hindu)
Japan is facing a shortage of 200,000 information technology professionals due to an ageing population and falling birth rate and India can fill the gap with its huge talent pool, a Japanese trade official said. “There are about 920,000 IT professionals in Japan,” Shigeki Maeda, executive vice-president of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), said in an interview on Thursday.
Science and Technology:
WHO launches plan for cheaper TB drugs(The Hindu)
The World Health Organization (WHO), on Tuesday, invited pharmaceutical companies around the world to submit proposals to manufacture affordable versions of newer medicines for treatment of drug resistant tuberculosis.
Yesterday’s current affairs material by Forum IAS
