Published By: Sukanya Nandy
Last Updated: January 28, 2024, 10:37 IST
UPSC GK Capsule: Top events of this week (Representative image)
UPSC GK Capsule: Keeping up with the latest news not only aids in exam preparation but also enhances one’s performance in the general knowledge section
Recent days have witnessed significant events, ranging from France’s commitment to enrol 30,000 Indian students by 2030 to developments in the Gyanvapi Mosque case. Staying abreast of current affairs is crucial, especially for those preparing for recruitment exams, as general knowledge often plays a vital role in such assessments. Keeping up with the latest news not only aids in exam preparation but also enhances one’s performance in the general knowledge section. Here is a concise overview of the noteworthy highlights from this week that can be valuable for upcoming exams.
France Aims To Enrol 30,000 Indian Students By 2030:
France is actively striving to position itself as a more attractive destination for Indian students, diverging from the traditionally favoured choices of the United Kingdom and Canada. President Emmanuel Macron announced on his official X (formerly Twitter) account an ambitious plan to welcome 30,000 Indian students to France by 2030. “30,000 Indian students in France in 2030. It’s a very ambitious target, but I am determined to make it happen,” the post shared by President Macron read.
AISHE Report:
According to the newly released All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) for 2021-22, more women than men have enrolled in higher education over the last eight years. Women have accounted for 55% of the total increase in higher education enrollment (91 lakh) since 2014-15. According to the most recent survey report, women account for 48%, or 2.07 crore, of the total enrollment of 4.33 crore. Female enrolment increased slightly by 2.01 crore from 1.88 crore in 2019-20. In 2014-15, women accounted for 46% of total enrollments (3.42 crore). Women’s enrollment has steadily increased since 2014-15, according to the AISHE report.
Aligarh Muslim University’s Minority Status:
In addressing the long-running controversy surrounding Aligarh Muslim University’s minority status, the Supreme Court declared on January 23 that it would investigate whether the university’s “denominational character” was lost when it was granted university status under the 1920 AMU Act. A seven-judge constitution bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud questioned whether the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) Act, 1920 had the effect of renouncing the university’s status as an institution governed by a religious minority. The Apex Court ruled that simply being granted university status does not imply that it has given up its minority status.
Padma Awards:
On January 25, the central government announced the Padma Awards and Assam’s Parbati Barua was among the recipients. She will be awarded the Padma Shri for her efforts to control the man-elephant conflict in Assam. Parbati Barua, born into a royal family, chose a challenging life. She is known as the ‘Lady Mahout of India’ (elk tamer and caretaker). Daughter of Prakritish Chandra Barua, the last king of Gauripur, she is well-known for her elephant-taming skills. In addition to the Assam Gaurav award from the Assam government, she received the Global 500-Roll of Honour from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The Gyanvapi Mosque Case:
In the ongoing dispute over the Gyanvapi Mosque, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) survey has reportedly indicated the existence of a large Hindu temple before the construction of the mosque in Varanasi. The lawyers representing the Hindu side presented this claim on January 25. Vishnu Shankar Jain asserted that the current mosque structure incorporates some pillars from its predecessor, as revealed in the ASI survey report. On January 24, a Varanasi court ruled that the ASI report related to the Gyanvapi Masjid case should be made public and shared with both parties involved.
