TODAY NEWS ON May 02, 2024

News Headlines for CAT, CLAT and IPM aspirants

Supreme Court declines to receive government plea on ‘administrative allocation’ of spectrum

The Supreme Court has declined to receive an application by the Centre to allow the administrative allocation of spectrum. The Registrar found the application for clarification misconceived. Spectrum, a scarce natural resource, is allocated to private players only through open, transparent auction. The law was laid down on this issue by the Supreme Court 12 years ago in the 2G spectrum judgment.

In Gujarat, PM Modi asks Congress to give in writing that it would not allow quotas for Muslims

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 1 asked the Opposition Congress to give in writing to the people of the country that it would not introduce religion-based reservations. He also asked the Congress to take a pledge that it would not try to change the Constitution of the country. Mr. Modi slammed the Opposition party for the idea of “imposing inheritance tax” and told people in Gujarat’s Banaskantha that “if you have two buffaloes, the Congress will take away one if voted to power”.

BJP video removed from Instagram after ‘hate speech’ complaints

A Bharatiya Janata Party video posted from its official handle @bjp4india on Instagram on April 30 reiterating Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on Muslims was taken down from the platform after many users reported the clip for hate speech. The video repeats the BJP’s rhetoric on the Congress party “empowering people who belong to the very same community [of] invaders, terrorists, robbers and thieves [who] used to loot all our treasures.”

KCR barred from electioneering for 48 hours for making derogatory comments against Congress leaders

The Election Commission of India has barred Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) president K. Chandrasekhar Rao from holding any public meetings, rallies, shows and interviews as well as making “public utterances” in print, electronic and social media for a period of 48 hours starting 8 p.m. on Wednesday (May 1).

PM Modi’s photo removed from CoWIN certificates

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photo has been removed from CoWIN certificates issued for COVID-19 vaccinations. The certificates, issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, have long borne images of Mr. Modi, with a quote saying, “Together, India will defeat COVID-19.” The quote remains, with an attribution to the Prime Minister, sans his name.

Manipur groups to hold events on May 3 to mark one year of ethnic conflict

Kuki-Zo and Meitei civil society organisations in Manipur have planned to hold events on May 3 to mark one year of the ethnic conflict in the State, albeit in completely different terms. While the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) in Churachandpur and the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), apex body of Kuki tribes in the State, are marking the day as one of “remembrance” for their fallen and “awakening” of their people, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a valley-based civil society organisation, is observing it as “the day illegal immigrants backed by narco-terrorists began their aggression”, making an appeal to track down over 35 of their people who are still missing.

U.S. ‘working with India’ to probe report on Pannun

The U.S. expects “accountability” and is raising concerns over the Pannun case with New Delhi regularly, said the State Department, responding for the first time to the latest details reported by TheWashington Post this week. Both the White House and the State department have responded to the report, that named an Indian intelligence official for allegedly ordering the assassination of a Khalistani activist in New York in June 2023, and also claimed that U.S. authorities believe that the R&AW chief and National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval were aware of the plot.

Embracing hostage families, Blinken urges Hamas to accept ‘very strong’ deal

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Hamas on May 1 to accept a “very strong” ceasefire-for-hostages offer as he vowed to put a priority on families seeking to reunite with loved ones. Mr. Blinken, who also met privately with hostage families, told them that freeing the hostages seized by militants on October 7 was “at the heart of everything we’re trying to do”.

India, Maldives hold talks to enhance trade cooperation

India on May 1 said it looked forward to strengthening bilateral economic cooperation with the Maldives as its envoy held discussions with a senior minister of the archipelagic nation .Mohamed Saeed, Maldives’ Minister of Economic Development and Trade, met with Munu Mahawar, Indian High Commissioner to the archipelago nation on Tuesday.

DGCA deregisters all 54 Go First aircraft following HC order

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday deregistered all 54 Go First aircraft following a Delhi High Court order last week, in which the court had given the country’s aviation regulator five days to do so.

Salman Khan house firing | Accused Anuj Thapan dies in hospital after attempt to end his life in police custody

One of the accused, Anuj Thapan (32), who was arrested in connection with firing outside Bollywood actor Salman Khan, died in a hospital where he was rushed to after attempting to end his life inside the lock-up of Mumbai Police’s crime branch, on May 1 afternoon. The deceased Anuj Thapan, ended his life inside the toilet of the lock-up using a bedsheet. He was rushed to the State-run GT Hospital, where he was declared dead during treatment, the official said.

Bomb threat to about 100 schools in Delhi and Noida; seems to be a hoax, don’t panic, says police

Panic gripped schools in the national capital after about 100 of them received bomb threats here on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 morning, police officials said. Around 100 schools in both Delhi and Noida received emails threatening a bomb attack on Wednesday early morning. The Delhi and Noida police are currently conducting searches with bomb disposal and dog squads, and have evacuated the premises, police said. Meanwhile, investigation agencies suspect that the email originated from a server located in Russia, sources said. Sources say a single IP address was used to send the email to all schools.

Plea in Supreme Court to set up medical panel to investigate Covishield ‘risk factors’

The controversy over the safety aspects of the Covishield vaccine reached the Supreme Court on May 1 with a petition seeking the constitution of an expert medical panel to study the risk factors. “More than 175 crore doses of Covishield have been administered in India. After Covid 19 there have been an increase in deaths due to heart attack and sudden collapse of persons. There have been a number of cases of heart attack even in youngsters. Now after the document filed in UK court by the developer of Covishield, we are compelled to think on the risk and hazardous consequences of Covishield vaccine which have been administered to the citizens at a large number,” the petition filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari said.

Two Indian spies expelled from Australia for trying to ‘steal secrets’ in 2020: Australian media

Australia expelled two Indian spies in 2020 for allegedly trying to “steal secrets” about sensitive defence projects and airport security, the Australian media reported on April 30. While The Australian and The Sydney Morning Herald said two Indian spies were booted out, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation did not mention any number. “Indian spies were kicked out of Australia after being caught trying to steal secrets about sensitive defence projects and airport security, as well as classified information on Australia’s trade relationships,” the ABC report said.

In a first, U.K. sends asylum seeker to Rwanda

In a first, a migrant whose asylum application was rejected by the United Kingdom was sent to Rwanda under a voluntary scheme, according to reports in the British press. The unnamed man, who was relocated under a scheme that pays migrants £3,000 to leave, took a commercial flight out of the U.K. on April 30 and arrived in the Rwandan capital of Kigali, according to The Sun, which first reported the story.

In fresh high, gross GST revenues shoot past ₹2.1 lakh crore in April

Year-end compliances lifted India’s gross Goods and Services Tax revenues past a record ₹2.1 lakh crore in April, reflecting a 12.4% growth over the previous record tally of ₹1.87 lakh crore in the same month last year. Net of refunds, GST revenues for the month were at ₹1.92 lakh crore, 17.1% higher than April 2023’s collection. Revenues from domestic transactions grew 13.4%, the Finance Ministry said, while goods imports yielded an 8.3% uptick in the indirect tax collection, helping GST inflows “breach the landmark milestone of ₹2 lakh crore”.

Eight IPL players named in Afghanistan T20 World Cup squad

Eight players featuring in the ongoing Indian Premier League have been named in the 15-member Afghanistan T20 World Cup squad to be led by star all-rounder Rashid Khan. Hashmatullah Shahidi, who captained Afghanistan at the 2023 ODI World Cup, has been left out of the squad named by the Afghanistan Cricket Board. Left-handed opener Hazratullah Zazai, Sediqullah Atal and Mohammad Saleem Safi have been named as travelling reserves for the marquee event to be played in the USA and the Caribbean from June 2.

IPL-17 | Punjab Kings continues to rule Chennai Super Kings

Punjab Kings spinners Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar’s miserly spell during the middle overs set the foundation for their side’s seven-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings at the MAC Stadium on Wednesday.

Bopanna-Ebden pair knocked out of Madrid Masters

Rohan Bopanna, seeded No.1 in partnership with Matthew Ebden, was beaten 7-6(4), 7-5 by Sebastian Korda and Jordan Thompson in the doubles first round of the €9,249,713 ATP Masters tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain