ForumIAS announcing GS Foundation Program for UPSC CSE 2025-26 from 19 April. Click Here for more information.
ForumIAS Answer Writing Focus Group (AWFG) for Mains 2024 commencing from 24th June 2024. The Entrance Test for the program will be held on 28th April 2024 at 9 AM. To know more about the program visit: https://forumias.com/blog/awfg2024
GS-2
Tally EVM-VVPAT slips before final counting, Oppn. tells EC
Twenty-two opposition parties have met the Election Commission (EC) demanding that tallying of the Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips in five polling stations in each Assembly segment with the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) be done prior to counting votes cast in EVMs.
EC to set up control room for EVM complaints
Faced with widespread Opposition allegations of EVM swapping and tampering, the Election Commission has announced that an EVM control room (011- 23052123) will be set up at the Nirvachan Sadan for handling any EVM-related complaints till the completion of counting.
Supreme Court cautions couples on divorce terms
The Supreme Court has said a couple who choose to divorce by mutual consent will be susceptible to contempt of court if they do not abide by the various conditions of compromise finalised by the court
SC rejects plea for 100% EVM-VVPAT verification
The Supreme Court has dismissed a writ petition for 100% random physical verification of EVM-VVPAT in the Lok Sabha polls of 2019.
Japanese award for Shyam Saran
Japan has bestowed a national award on former Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran in recognition of his contribution to strengthening Japan-India ties
Chinese-built drones may steal data, warns U.S.
USA has warned that Chinese-made drones could be giving spy agencies in Beijing “unfettered access” to stolen data, according to a report in American media.
Forget the deal, return our water, Maharashtra tells Karnataka
Maharashtra will not sign a water-for-water agreement with Karnataka till it gets back over six thousand million cubic feet (6 tmcft) of pending supply from Karnataka which has only returned 0.078 tmcft of the total 6.787 tmcft diverted to it since 2016.
West Nile fever cases in Kozhikode go unnoticed?
A month after a boy from Malappuram died of West Nile fever in March, four cases of the infection have been reported from within the Kozhikode Corporation limits too.
UN lowers India’s FY20 GDP growth forecast
The United Nations (UN) has lowered its forecast for India’s GDP growth in 2019-20 to 7.1% from its estimate in January of 7.5%, citing an overall slowdown in global growth.
IRDAI panel for simplifying fire cover norms
A working group of insurance regulator IRDAI, that revisited the structure of products providing cover to homes, offices, commercial establishments and MSMEs, has recommended many changes, from simplification of the policy wordings and provision of adequate cover to insuring homes in multi-storeyed apartments for total saleable price.
GS-3
This World Turtle Day, spotlight on freshwater turtles
Throwing a spotlight on freshwater turtles ahead of World Turtle Day on May 23, the India Biodiversity Portal has initiated a ‘Turtle Spotting Week’ as part of a unique exercise to document the creatures across India.
Pakistani fishing vessel caught after hot pursuit, 200 kg heroin seized
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has seized heroin, estimated to be worth between Rs. 800 and Rs. 1,000 crore in the international market, from a Pakistani fishing vessel off the Gujarat coast.
