- Culture
- Modern Indian history
- The Freedom Struggle
- Post-independence
- Indian Society
A. population and associated issues
B. poverty and developmental issues
C.urbanization
Ā Ā 7. Geographical features
8.Indian Constitution
9. Polity
10. Governance
A. institutions
B. regulatory
C. Government policies
D. role of NGOs
E. measures
11. Social Justice
A. Welfare schemes
B Health
C. Education
SC stays HC order striking down law regulating madrasas
The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the operation of an Allahabad High Court judgment which struck down a 20yearold Uttar Pradesh law regulating madrasas and ordered the transfer of their students to regular schools.
A threejudge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud decided to freeze the implementation of the High Court judgment of March 22 in an interim order even as the Uttar Pradesh government said it had learnt to āacceptā the verdict.
The State claimed to have fought tooth and nail for the survival of the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madrasa Education Act, 2004 in the High Court. However, it has now reconciled to the High Courtās point of view that the Act threatened the
The Allahabad HC had struck down the law and directed the transfer of students to āregularā schools
principles of secularism and was violative of the Basic Structure of the Constitution.
Additional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraj, for Uttar Pradesh, said the course of instruction provided in madrasas did not involve broadbased subjects such as maths, science, and social studies. But the court countered the Stateās logic, asking how the striking down of a law regulating madrasas would ensure that students were instructed in maths, science, social studies, languages and history.
āThe remedy would not be to strike down the Madrasa Board Act, but to issue suitable directions to enable students pursuing their education in madrasas to access the quality of education made available by the State in other institutions,ā Chief Justice Chandrachud dictated in the order for the Bench.
The court said if the State had a ālegitimate public interestā in all students, including those in madrasas, it ought to ensure that āthey receive education of a requisite quality and standard which make them qualified to pursue a dignified existenceā. Issuing notice to Uttar Pradesh, the court said it would hear detailed arguments in the second week of July. The court said it was left to the choice of students and their parents to stay back or leave madrasas to join mainstream schools. However, it was unwarranted on the part of the High Court to direct their transfer to āregularā schools.
Mr. Nataraj, for Uttar Pradesh, tried to reason that the madrasas had not been shut down after all. He argued that Article 28(1) of the Constitution prohibited religious instruction in educational institutions wholly maintained out of State funds.
The petitioners argued that imparting religious instruction in secular institutions was not proscribed in the Constitution. Besides, subjects other than Islamic theology are taught in madrasas, the petitioners submitted.
They said without the Board, madrasa education would continue unregulated. In his order, the Chief Justice said the High Court seemed to have āconflated the concept of madrasa education with the regulatory powers attached to the Boardā. The reasoning was prima facie misconceived.
D. Human Resources
E. poverty and hunger
12. International relations
A. India and its neighbourhood
B. groupings and agreements
India abstains from UN vote on ceasefire, arms embargo
India on Friday abstained on a resolution at the Human Rights Council that called upon Israel for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and the states to implement an arms embargo, which was adopted by the 47member Council. While Indiaās abstention is believed to be in line with previous votes on any HRC resolutions that call for āaccountabilityā, it did vote in favour of three other resolutions that criticised Israel for human rights violations against Palestinians, Israelās occupation of Syrian Golan, and called for the Palestinian right to selfdetermination.
All four resolutions were introduced at the HRC in Geneva by Pakistan on behalf of the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation.
While the Ministry of External Affairs did not issue any explanation for the vote, it is understood to follow previous abstentions on similar resolutions, and also in line with its vote at the UNGA in October 2023, since the HRC resolution (A/HRC/55/L.30) failed to condemn Hamas, while condemning Israelās killing of more than 33,000 Palestinians, blockade of food and humanitarian aid into the area, and āforcible transferā of civilians from one part of Gaza to another in the past six months.
Stop selling or shipping arms to Israel, UNHRC tells nations
he UNās top human rights body called on countries to stop selling or shipping weapons to Israel in a resolution passed on Friday that aims to help prevent rights violations against Palestinians amid Israelās blistering military campaign in Gaza.
The 47membercountry Human Rights Council voted 286 in favour of the resolution, with 13 abstentions.
The sweeping measure takes aim at an array of Israeli actions such as impeding access to water and limiting shipments of humanitarian aid into Palestinian areas. It also calls on UNbacked independent investigators to report on shipments of weapons, munitions and ādual useā items ā that have both civilian and military applications ā that could be used by Israel against Palestinians.
While nonbinding, the resolution is bound to raise international pressure on Israel as a sign of widespread concern about its military campaign in Gaza, begun in response to the attacks in Israel by armed militants on October 7, that has led to the killings of nearly 33,000 Palestinians.
India continues to lead the charts in positive dope cases
India continues to hold on to its dubious distinction of being one of the leading countries with dope offenders.
According to the recently released 2022 statistics by the World AntiDoping Agency (WADA), out of 3865 samples handled by National AntiDoping Agency (NADA), 125 (3.2 %) tested positive ā the most in any country.
Russian (10186 samples) and American (6782) agencies have reported 85 and 84 positive results respectively.
NADAās figures also record the highest percentage of positive results for 2000plus samples tested by an agency and joint highest for 1000plus samples. The South African agency has 2.9 % (2033 samples) and the Vietnamese agency has 3.2 % (1105 samples) of positive tests.
As far as NADAās figures are concerned, some disciplines, including athletics, boxing, wrestling and weightlifting, in which India has medalled in the Olympics have also contributed to this.
Wrestling has registered 6.3 % (18) positive results from 285 samples.
Other countries with a higher percentage in wrestling are Egypt (7), Pakistan (16.7), Guatemala (25) and Tajikistan (25). Egypt has tested only 43 samples, while the rest three have tested samples in single digits.
A glance at the figures of the previous years point to a disturbing trend in India.
C.Indian diaspora
13. Economic Development
A. Government Budgeting
RBI keeps repo rate on hold as food prices remain high
The spike in food prices has kept the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) worried even though overall inflation has moderated to a certain extent. On Friday, the central bankās Monetary Policy Committee decided to keep the policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) unchanged at 6.50%.
This is the seventh time that the rates have been kept on hold.
āThe Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) remains focused on aligning inflation to the target on a durable basis. We derive satisfaction from the progress made under disinflation. But the task is not yet finished,ā RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said at a postmeeting press conference.
The MPC also decided to remain focused on the withdrawal of accommodation to ensure that inflation progressively aligns with the target, while supporting growth.
In his monetary policy statement, Mr. Das said, āFood price uncertainties continue to weigh on the inflation trajectory going forward. A record rabi wheat production would help temper price pressure and replenish the buffer stocks. Moreover, early indication of a normal monsoon augurs well for the kharif season.āias academy in chennai
B. industrial
E.issues
14. Technology
15. Environment
16. Security
INS SHARDA AWARDED ON THE SPOT UNIT CITATION Ā FOR ANTI PIRACY OPERATIONS
Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, during his visit to Southern Naval Command, Kochi, awarded ‘On the Spot Unit Citation’ to INS Sharda for successful conduct of anti-piracy operations. The ship was involved in the safe release of all 19 crew members (11 Iranian & 08 Pakistani) of Iranian fishing vessel Omari which was held hostage by pirates off East coast of Somalia.
The ship was tasked to investigate the Iranian fishing vessel Omari that was likely hijacked by pirates. Based on surveillance inputs of naval RPA, the ship intercepted the vessel and maintained a covert trail throughout the night. During early morning hours of 02 Feb 24, the ship’s integral helo and subsequently Prahar team was launched. The aggressive posture of ship coerced the pirates to safely release the crew and boat. The swift and decisive actions of the ship resulted in rescue of hijacked fishing vessel and its crew from Somali pirates. The relentless effort of the ship, mission deployed for anti-piracy operations saved precious lives at sea upholding Indian Navy’s resolve to enhancing security and safety of seafarers in the Indian Ocean Region.
The CNS interacted with Team Sharda and commended them for responding to piracy attack with alacrity leading to safe and successful conduct of operations at sea under challenging conditions. During his address, he complimented the professional approach of crew which resulted in recognition and acclaim of Indian Navy as the preferred security partner in the region.ias academy in chennai
17. Disaster Management