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There is a growing tendency in India to aggrandise Muslim religious organisations for their tokenistic gestures. For instance, the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) is thought to have embraced secular polity because it no longer considers it against Islam to participate in democratic elections, and the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind (JUH) is praised for …

A day before her appearance in front of the Enforcement Directorate in the Delhi liquor policy case, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K. Kavitha launched a six-hour hunger strike on March 10 seeking early passage of the long-pending Women’s Reservation Bill. The protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi was inaugurated by …

The study is part of a long-term project called the ‘Consortium on Vulnerability to Externalising Disorders and Addictions’ (C-Veda). It aims to follow up those tested over decades, and evaluate the effect of biological and environmental risk on cognitive development. Brain development progresses from childhood to early adulthood with wide-ranging …

Tamil Nadu has pioneered an initiative across the State to reduce the mortality rate among people with tuberculosis. The initiative — TN-KET (Tamil Nadu Kasanoi Erappila Thittam, meaning TB death-free project) — which began in April 2022 in 2,500-odd public healthcare facilities that diagnosed TB in 30 districts, has already …

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina on Saturday virtually inaugurated the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline that will bring diesel from Assam’s Numaligarh refinery’s marketing depot in Siliguri to Parbatipur in northern Bangladesh. Welcoming the initiative, Ms. Hasina thanked Mr. Modi and the Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta …

In an effort to encourage investors to set up units to produce ethanol for blending with petrol, the State government on Saturday said investors could obtain almost all the requisite standard clearances within 30 days. The Tamil Nadu Ethanol Blending Policy (EBP) 2023, released on Saturday by the Industries Department, …

The influence of James Cameron, the Canadian-American filmmaker, whose cinema has frequently explored the mysteries of the deep ocean, looms large on scientists at the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) in Chennai. Ananda Ramadass asks this correspondent. The documentary charts Mr. Cameron’s solitary, 10,000-metre journey down the Marianna Trench …

During a visit to the U.K. last week, WhatsApp’s head Will Cathcart said that WhatsApp would not comply with the country’s proposed Online Safety Bill (OSB) which will in effect outlaw end-to-end (E2E) encryption. Mr. Cathcart said that it was the first time a “liberal democracy” was attempting to block …

Horseshoe crabs are disappearing off Odisha’s coast. Horseshoe crabs are marine and brackish water arthropods of the family. Despite their name, they are not true crabs or crustaceans, they are chelicerates, most closely related to arachnids such as spiders, ticks, and scorpions. Horseshoe crabs live primarily in and around shallow coastal waters on soft, sandy or muddy bottoms. They are generally found …

The issue of holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and the State Assemblies has been referred to the Law Commission for further examination. Currently, elections to the state assemblies and the Lok Sabha are held separately. Whenever the incumbent government’s five-year term ends or whenever it is dissolved due to various reasons. The idea of “One Nation, One …

Congress moves privilege motion against Prime Minister Parliamentary privileges are certain rights and immunities enjoyed by members of Parliament, individually and collectively. Without these they cannot discharge their functions efficiently and effectively. When any of these rights and immunities are disregarded, the offence is called a breach of privilege and is punishable under law of Parliament. A notice is moved in the form of …

The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for war crimes for Russian  President. The court says Putin bears individual criminal responsibility for the abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children since Russia’s full-scale invasion began. Russia has defended the transfers on humanitarian grounds. What is the International Criminal Court? The International Criminal Court is an intergovernmental organization and international tribunal. It is the first and only permanent international …

herSTART platform to encourage women entrepreneurs inaugurated recently The ‘herSTART’ platform will boost innovation and start-up efforts of women entrepreneurs and also help them connect with various government and private enterprises. The platform will include: a digital platform to provide resources and training modules free of cost to aspiring women entrepreneurs, a digital community for them, and a digital publication to spread their …

Key provisions: The Bill provides for the prevention of offenses against advocates, such as assault, grievous hurt, criminal force and criminal intimidation, along with damage or loss to their property. The objective of the Bill is to prohibit increasing “violence” and “false implications” against advocates in the state. The Act also deems these offenses as cognizable, …

The Prime Minister of India has informed that PM MITRA mega textile parks would be set up in some states which will boost the textiles sector in line with 5F (Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign) vision. Ministry of Textiles78 Aim: The PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and …

The President of India recently launched Unnathi programme. The President inaugurated the silver jubilee celebration of ‘Kudumbashree’ – one of the largest women’s self-help networks in the world. She also launched ‘Unnathi’ Programme. It is an umbrella programme to create opportunities for employment and self-employment, among the youth belonging to SC and ST communities. SOURCE: THE HINDU, THE ECONOMIC TIMES, PIB

The time limit fixed by the Supreme Court for the constitution of an inter-State river water disputes tribunal for Pennaiyar river expired and Tamil Nadu is waiting for the Centre’s next course of action. In 2018, Tamil Nadu filed an original suit against Karnataka constructing check-dams and diversionary structures on the river. In 2019, …

The US military said its MQ-9 Reaper drone crashed into the Black Sea after a Russian Su-27 fighter jet damaged its propeller. It is a remotely piloted drone. It can reach up to 50,000 feet for more than 27 hours, gathering intelligence with cameras, sensors and radars. It can also carry precision strikes. Black Sea ·        The Black Sea is a mediterranean …

The failure of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank in the US raises questions on the safety of depositors’ wealth everywhere but such failures are unlikely in the Indian system. What is the basis for the confidence in the resilience of Indian banks? Domestic banks have a different balance sheet structure. …

1,400-year religious protection of sika deer in Japan have made them genetically unique Key details: Nara has a long history and connection with sika deer, with classic Japanese poems about the deer being composed there 1,200 years ago. These deer are revered in this area as the messengers of the (Shinto) gods in Kasugataisha Shrine. Deer are still considered sacred creatures by …