Published By: Sukanya Nandy
Last Updated: February 18, 2024, 13:13 IST
UPSC GK Capsule: Check out the top news events of last week to prepare for the exams (Representative Image)
From the Farmers’ Protest to Supreme Court rulign out Electoral Bond Scheme, we have curated a recap of the most important news stories of last week
Keeping yourself updated on global events is significant for anyone preparing for a recruiting exam. Many recruitment examinations, like UPSC, SBI Bank PO, or others, demand a well-rounded knowledge base with a dedicated section for general awareness or current affairs to assess candidates’ knowledge of national and international events, government policies, economic trends, social issues, and scientific advancements. Hence we have curated a recap of the most important news stories of the last week.
Supreme Court Strikes Down Electoral Bond Scheme
The Supreme Court ruled out the electoral bond scheme on Feb 15, which permits anonymous donations to political parties by purchasing electoral bonds from the State Bank of India (SBI), saying it violates citizens’ right to information. Calling electoral bonds ‘unconstitutional’, the SC said, “Infringement of the voter’s right to know is not equivalently justified by saying black money is being curbed.” CJI DY Chandrachud ruled, stating that the scheme violates freedom of speech and expression. The top court also ordered banks to stop issuing electoral bonds. It asked the SBI bank to submit a report on electoral bonds and the details of those encashed by political parties to the ECI by March 6.
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Farmers’ Protest: Shopkeepers, Traders Brace for Tough Times at Singhu Border
The massive 2020 agitation of farmers against the now-repealed three farm laws resulted in heavy losses for them, traders, and shopkeepers. This time, Delhi’s Singhu border is again bracing themselves for tough times with a fresh round of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march by Punjab farmers. Though the march that began on February 13 is now constrained at the Punjab-Haryana border, the multiple layers of barricades and concrete blocks at Singhu to stop farmers from entering the city have also limited cross-border movement for locals and shopkeepers. Notably, the march has been taken out to press the Centre for a legal guarantee for MSP, farm debt waiver, withdrawal of police cases and “justice” for Lakhimpur Kheri violence victims, and compensation for the families of the farmers who died during the 2020 agitation, among others.
Higher Education in Law Must Be Extended to Remote Rural Areas: CJI Chandrachud
Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, while speaking at the Dr Rajendra Prasad National Law University’s inauguration event, stated that university education in law should be extended to remote rural areas so that students from small towns do not miss out on the opportunity to become lawyers. Despite developments in legal education, the current legal education system favours only English-speaking urban children. “Law colleges and universities should design it keeping in mind children coming from diverse backgrounds,” he said. The CJI further urged the university to keep the medium of instruction in Hindi so that the brightest students from UP become the best lawyers.
TMC Leader Mahua Moitra Summoned By ED
The ED has summoned TMC leader Mahua Moitra in connection with the Foreign Exchange Management Act case. She has been asked to appear before the agency on Feb 19 to record her statement under the provisions of the FEMA once she deposes. It is to be noted that Moitra is being probed by the CBI too and a preliminary inquiry into the allegations is being conducted against Moitra on the reference from the Lokpal. Trinamool Congress leader was removed from the Lok Sabha after the Ethics Committee found her guilty of unethical conduct and contempt of the House by leaking her Lok Sabha credentials to unauthorised persons, which had an irrepressible impact on national security.
ISRO Set To Launch INSAT-3DS, India’s Latest Weather Satellite
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch its weather satellite INSAT-3DS board spacecraft Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV) F14, dubbed the ‘naughty boy.’ The launch of the GSLV-F14 rocket is scheduled for 5.35 PM from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. It will be the rocket’s 10th flight using the India-made cryogenic engine and its 16th overall mission, to deploy INSAT-3DS, a meteorological and disaster warning satellite. As mentioned by ISRO, the mission is fully funded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
