Supreme Court forms taskforce to ensure doctor’s safety
The Supreme Court on Tuesday constituted a National Task Force ( NTF ) to work out modalities of safety measures for medical professionals . The nine member NT comprises senior doctors who will recommend security measures in hospitals ; infrastructural development including separate restrooms ; technological intervention to limit access to critical hospital areas ; CCTV cameras ; provision of night transport etc .
The three judge bench of Supreme Court ( SC ) headed by CJI D Y Chandrachud said ,” the nation cannnot wait for another rape and murder for bringing safety laws of medical professional and doctors “ .
The center was given one month time to collate date from states and UTs on security and infrastructure facilities on all government run hospital .
The court directed CBI , which is currently investigating the case to submit a status report by August 22 .
The court reached out to protesting doctors and medical professionals to resume work , saying their concerns will be addressed by the court .
West Bengal government has issued a order to engage reiterated police and army officials as security officials in state run healt facilities .
Doctors had welcomed top court’s intervention but said that the protest will continue .
After backlash Union government orders cancellation of lateral entry
UPSC in Tuesday cancelled the advertisement s on recruitment through lateral entry after Union government direction .
Union Minister Jitendra Singh in a letter to UPSC chairperson said “ Prime Minister Narendra Modi is of the firm belief that the process of lateral entry must be aligned with principles of equity and social justice enshrined in our constitution , particularly concerning the process of reservation .For the Hon’ble prime Minister , reservation in employement is a cornerstone of our social justice framework, aimed at addressing historical injustice . “ .
Mr Kumar wrote in a letter to UPSC chairperson .
UPSC had invited lateral entry applications for 45 post at secretary level in Union government ministries .
Opposition had cited that government was trying to bypass reservation through this .
NDA partner LJP chief ChiragPaswan had called that such recruitment without reservation for SC and ST communities was “ unacceptable “ .
After years of impasse , India , Malaysia raise strategic partnership , discuss entry into BRICs
India and Malaysia has decided to upgrade ties to “ comprehensive strategic partnership “ in Tuesday .
India would also work with Malaysia on its request to join the BRICS grouping .
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is on three day visit to India .
He met PM Modi , the two leaders discussed geopolitcal challenges along with tension in Indo Pacific .
PM Modi held Malaysia as an important partner of India in ASEAN .
This is the first visit of Malaysian PM after 2018 . The relation between the two countries had soured over Malaysia’s strong criticism to CItizenship Amendment Act ( CAA ). , J&K reorganisation act , and India’s request for extradition of Jakir Naik .
India Japan conduct 2 +2 dialogue with focus on Indo Pacific
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa , and Defense Minister Minaru Kilhara is in New Delhi for fres editoon of “ 2 + 2 “ dialogue .
EAM S Jaishankr and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh held meeting with the two counterparts .
The two sides hold discussion on defense cooperation and indo pacific .
India and Japan are special strategic and Global partners .
This was the third “ 2 + 2 “ ministerial dialogue between the two counties .
Trade , defence , cultural ties to be focus during PM’s visit to Poland
PM Modi’s visit to Warsaw on August 21 – 22 will be the first visit in 45 years by an Indian PM to Poland .
The trade and defence ties can be seen during agreements signed between two countries.
Poland helped India evacuate around 4,000 Indian students from Ukraine .
One of the Unique ties between the two countries dates back 1940s , when more than 6,000 polish women and children found refuge in the then princely states of Jamnagar and Kolhapur .
Poland will hold the next presidency of the EU council .
SC slams HC ‘suggestions’ given to adolescent girls
The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed an “ unwarranted “ suggestion made by a Calcutta High Court judge last year , in a case involving the POCSO Act .
SC revived the POCSO conviction of 20 year to a man who raped a 14 year old girl , but later married her .
The case is about sexual assault of a 14 year old girl by a 25 year old man in 2018 . POCSO court had sentenced the man for 20 years imprisonment on rape charges .
Calcutta High court set aside the sentence citing that the girl was living with the convict when her mother disowned her . The two were forced to marry and the girl has a child now .
The High Court urged adolescents, especially girls, to “ control their sexual desires “ .
The Supreme Court ( SC ) had taken motu cognisance of Calcutta High Court judgement in 2023 .
A bench of Justice A S OKa slammed high court of “ surprisingly carving out a non existing category of romantic cases in rape cases “ .
Justice Oka slammed the remarks made by the High court as “ unwarranted “ . Judges should avoid making their personal views in Judgements ,SC said .
The SC revived the conviction of the man charged under POCSO .
Ration shops to be named as ‘ Jan Poshan ‘ kendras
Fair price shops ( FPS ) also known as Ration shops will have a new name as Jan Poshan Kendras .
The kendras will offer a diverse range of nutritional items . It has to keep at least 50 % items that come under the nutritional category.
This was announced by Union Food Minister Prahlad Joshi .
A FPS is a shop which has been given a license by the government to distribute grains under the Public Distribution Scheme ( PDS ) .
Under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalayan Ann Yojna ( PMGKY ) , 35 kg of food grains is distributed free of cost to households .
Also the Public Distribution Scheme ( PDS ) to give chosen families 5 kg grains per person per family is provided at a highly has subsidised rate ( ₹2 per kg for wheat , ₹ 3 per kg for rice ) .
All these are done through FPS .
Polio cases in Meghalaya is vaccine derived , says Official
A two year old child from Tikrilla was found to have symptoms of polio nearly a week ago .
A senior officials in Union health ministry said that this was a very rare case of Vaccine derived polio .
The Oral Polio Vaccine ( OPV ) ,contains a week form of virus , this activated immune system against polio virus .
In very rare case the vaccine virus can survive for longer period of time causing vaccine derived polio .
India is a polio free country , declared by WHO .
World
‘ I gave my best ‘ says Biden as he passes torch to Harris .
At Democratic Convention in Chicago held on Monday , US president. Joe Biden passed the baton of presidetial election to Vice President Kamla Harris .
He said that he was not bitter opting out of the race , he did what he thought best to ensure his Republican opponent , Donald Trump does not return to the white house .
Former Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dipu Moni being probed for murder
‘ US has no right to intervene South China sea disputes ‘
China warned US on Tuesday to not “ intervene in South China disputes “ with Phillipines .
This comes after the coast guard ships of the China and Phillipines collided in South China Sea on Monday . The two counties accussed each other for the collision .
US had cited Chinese intervention in other countries freedom in South China Sea .
China’s Xi promises stronger Fiji ties in a world of turmoil
Fiji Prime Minister Sitveni Rebuka is on China’s visit . He met Chinese President Xi Jinping
The two countries signed several agreements related to trade and mainly investment by China in Fiji . China will also help build Fiji port .
Fiji is a island near Australia , for long US and Australia has dominated these islands. But China has started showing its presence in the region . Last year China signed a major defense pact with Solomon Island .
Science
Sunita and Barry will be on ISS longer than expected . What next ?
Barry Wimore and Sunita Williams will return to earth only in 2025 , NASA has said .
Boeing Starliner Crew Capsule had docked them to International Space Station ( ISS ) in June . The two were to return from ISS within a week .
Starliner’s helium leak and malfunctioning thrusters has caused this delay .
NASA has sent additional food and supplies to ISS .
Text / Context
On the ethanol blending programme
India is on its way to achieve 20 % ethanol blending by 2025 – 26 .
This will not only reduce Carbon emission but also increase rural economy forward demand of crops to make ethanol .
Ethanol in India is made from Sugarcane and Maize mainly . Increase in import of Maize is a concern as India already has surplus Sugarcane to make ethanol . Another concern is use of ethanol to make alcohol for beverages .
