Here is a list of all the top events of last week to help you prepare for UPSC (Representative/File Photo)
From the Rameshwaram Cafe blast suspects arrest to PM Modi’s meeting to review the preparedness for heatwave conditions, here’s a recap of the most important news stories of the last week
Many recruitment examinations demand a well-rounded knowledge of general awareness or current affairs to assess candidates’ knowledge of national and international events, government policies, and social issues. So, staying well versed and keeping yourself updated about current affairs is crucial for success in recruitment examinations. Hence, if you have missed out on the current affairs for this, fret not. We have got you covered.
From the Rameshwaram Café blast suspects arrest to PM Modi’s meeting to review the preparedness for heatwave conditions, here’s a recap of the most important news stories of the last week.
India To Have Defence Attaches In More Countries in Africa, Asia
In response to increasing geopolitical rivalry, India will post defence attaches in Mozambique, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Armenia, the Philippines, and Poland for the first time, as part of its broader policy initiative to strengthen strategic ties with key regions. New Delhi is also assigning a new defence attaché to Djibouti, a tiny African nation that serves as a vital maritime gateway to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and is regarded as a desirable location for military bases. The next defence attaché in Djibouti will be the second one to hold the post on the island country. Moreover, New Delhi intends to rationalise the strength of its teams of military officials in its embassy in Moscow and high commission in London.
SBI Refuses to Disclose Electoral Bonds Details
The State Bank of India (SBI) has refused to disclose the details of the electoral bonds submitted to the Election Commission (EC) under the RTI Act. The bank stated that it is personal information stored in a fiduciary capacity, even though the records are publicly available on the poll panel’s portal. The Supreme Court directed the SBI on February 15 to provide the EC with the complete details of the bonds purchased since April 12, 2019, citing that the electoral bond scheme was “unconstitutional and manifestly arbitrary.” Upon receiving the details from the bank, the EC was then required to publish the information on its website by March 13.
Bengaluru Blast Case Accused Nabbed from Kolkata
In a big win for the National Investigation Agency (NIA), two suspects in the Rameshwaram Cafe blast were apprehended from Kolkata on April 12. Mussavir Hussain Shazib and Abdul Matheen Taahaa allegedly carried out the blast on March 1. Mussavir Hussain Shazib, the key accused, planted the IED inside the Rameshwaram Cafe. Abdul Matheen Taahaa, on the other hand, is said to be the co-conspirator of the attack. Both suspects, originating from Thirthahalli in Shivamogga district of Karnataka, were traced in West Bengal’s Purba Medinipur district. Sources indicated that DNA samples were recovered from a baseball cap that was discarded at a religious place shortly after the blast. The NIA is expected to use the samples to confirm the identities of the arrested men.
‘Our Mission Has Stepped Up Outreach Initiative: MEA On Indian students’ Death in US
India has stepped up their student outreach initiatives in the United States given the increasing deaths of Indian students in a series of unfortunate incidents in the first three months of this year, according to MEA. Some ten-odd students have passed away since January, stated MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. He further said that a probe is underway in the cases linked to the law-and-order issue, and the embassy and consulates have reached out and extended all possible help. The worrisome spike in the number of Indian-origin students dying in the US has prompted the Indian diaspora body in the US to call on public and private organisations to take action.
PM Modi Chairs Meeting to Review Preparedness for Heat Wave Conditions
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the preparedness for heatwave conditions and called for all arms of governments at the central, state, and district levels to work in synergy amid a forecast for extreme weather conditions over most parts of the country during April–June. He also stressed the timely dissemination of essential information, education, and communication (IEC) awareness material, especially in regional languages, through all platforms such as television, radio, and social media. PM Modi also reviewed the preparation in hospitals in terms of the availability of essential medicines, ORS, drinking water, intravenous fluids, and ice packs.
