Published By: Sukanya Nandy
Last Updated: March 17, 2024, 16:51 IST
Check out list of top news events from the past week (Representative Image)
UPSC GK Capsule: If you have missed the current affairs, prepare yourself for the upcoming recruitment exam with a quick recap of the most important news stories of the last week
It is quite important for aspirants to stay well-versed in current events if they are preparing for recruitment examinations, especially government exams in India, like UPSC, SBI Bank PO, or others. These exams have a dedicated section on general awareness or current affairs to assess candidates’ knowledge of global events, government policies, social issues, and scientific advancements. So, if you have missed the current affairs, prepare yourself for the upcoming recruitment exams with a quick recap of the most important news stories of the last week.
Electoral Bonds: SC Takes Exception To SBI For Not Disclosing Unique Number
A five-judge panel of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud overruled the State Bank of India’s (SBI) decision to not disclose the unique number of electoral bonds on Friday. While dictating the order, DY Chandrachud stated that SBI must disclose the unique alphanumeric numbers of the electoral bonds received by political parties and furnish to the ECI all details of the electoral bonds and redeemed, which will assist in identifying the buyers of the electoral bonds and the parties that encashed them. The court further directed the apex court’s registrar judicial to ensure that documents are scanned and digitised, and once completed, the original documents shall be sent to the Election Commission, which would then upload them on the website on or before March 17.
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval’s Visit to Israel
Indian national security adviser Ajit Doval met with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday to address the Israel-Hamas conflict. India informed on Friday that the visit to Israel was intended to promote peace and stability in West Asia in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict, which began in October. India has been calling for de-escalation of the situation and creating the beginning of direct peace talks towards a two-state solution to the Palestine issue. Notably, Hamas launched a surprise attack in southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,400 people and holding over 240 others captive. According to Gaza’s Hamas-run officials, the Israelis have killed over 29,000 people.
Citizenship Amendment Act: SC to Hear Pleas Seeking Stay
Following the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act rules, protests erupted in several states, pleading the Centre to put a stay on the rules. Recently, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the pleas to stay the operation of the controversial CAA, 2019 and its rules, which expedite the grant of Indian citizenship to non-Muslim migrants. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud and justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra took note of senior advocate Kapil Sibal’s submissions, appearing for the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), that once Indian citizenship is granted to migrant Hindus, it cannot be revoked, and so an early hearing was required. Notably, around 250 petitions challenging the provisions of the CAA have been filed with the top court, seeking a stay on the rules.
Bengaluru Water Crisis
Amid the severe water crisis in Bengaluru, residents have started going to nearby malls to use washrooms and tackle the prevalent water crisis. People in India’s ‘Silicon Valley’ have even switched to working from home and ordering takeout from restaurants instead of cooking at home to save water. In addition to that, people are forced to take showers on alternate days and rely on water tankers for their basic needs. Several eateries in the city are using disposable plates, cups, and glasses to serve customers to avoid excess use of water, while educational institutions have asked students to attend online classes due to an ’emergency’ for a week.
Rameshwaram Cafe Explosion: NIA Detains One Person
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) detained a suspect, identified as Shabbir, for questioning in connection with the Rameshwaram Cafe blast case. Last week, the team and the Central Crime Branch detained a cloth merchant from Ballari and a Popular Front of India (PFI) cadre in their joint investigation in the blast case. The investigating teams believed that the PFI cadre had a close association with some terrorist organisations. As per the sources, the Popular Front of India (PFI) cadre is alleged to have brainwashed many people, including the person who planted the bomb in the Rameshwaram cafe.
