TODAY NEWS ON August 02, 2024
News Headlines for CAT,CLAT and IPM aspirants

Source: The Hindu

No one alive in Wayanad disaster zone: Army

The rescue and disaster teams engaged in the rescue and search operations at Chooralmala in Wayanad have recovered 189 bodies including 85 men, 76 women and 27 children and 100 body parts from various locations, according to the Revenue department. The gender of a body is yet to be identified.

Evolve policy to remove quota for SCs, STs in creamy layer: judges

A majority of four judges on a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court on August 1 called for the need to evolve a “different” set of criteria to exclude the ‘creamy layer’ among the Scheduled Castes (SC) and the Scheduled Tribes (ST) from reservation benefits.

Paris Olympics day 6 highlights

Swapnil Kusale won India’s third medal — all of which have been bronze medals in shooting — at the Paris Olympics after a stellar comeback in the men’s 50m rifle three positions final.But Kusale’s medal was the lone bright spot for most of the day as Indian athletes lost in most other sports they competed.

NEET-UG paper leak: CBI files first chargesheet against 13 accused

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday filed its first chargesheet against 13 accused persons in connection with the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) 2024 paper leak case of Patna in Bihar. The probe agency has so far arrested 40 persons, including several medical students, for their alleged involvement in the racket.

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich released as U.S., Russia complete biggest prisoner swap in post-Soviet history

The United States and Russia completed their biggest prisoner swap in post-Soviet history on August 1, with Moscow releasing Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and Michigan corporate security executive Paul Whelan in a multinational deal that set some two dozen people free, according to officials in Türkiye, where the exchange took place.

India does not believe in ‘expansionism’: PM Modi

India does not believe in “expansionism”, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday indirectly referring to Chinese activities in the South China Sea. Welcoming the Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Mr. Modi indirectly referred to China and highlighted the importance of freedom of navigation.

After furore, Customs Department removes punitive tax on laboratory chemicals

In a relief to scientists and researchers across the country, the Finance Ministry has clarified that all imported ‘laboratory chemicals,’ except denatured ethanol, will be taxed at 10% instead of 150% as was first proposed in the Union Budget of July 23.

Supreme Court judges’ take on creamy layer among SCs causes uproar

Observations by Supreme Court judges on August 1 calling for carving out a “creamy layer” to be excluded from the Scheduled Caste (SC) quota for jobs and education have caused widespread confusion among large sections of vocal Dalit communities across the country over what such a “creamy layer” could look like for SCs.

Calls for revenge echo at Haniyeh’s funeral; Tehran vows ‘punishment’

Iran held a funeral ceremony on August 1 with calls for revenge after the killing in Tehran of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in a strike blamed on Israel.

Paris Olympics: Sindhu’s dream shattered, Satwik-Chirag come unstuck

It was a day of massive disappointment for India on the badminton courts of the Olympics at the Porte de La Chapelle arena here on Thursday.

Two-time medallist P.V. Sindhu’s dream of a historic third medal remained unfulfilled while a strong medal hope, the Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty pair, could not rise to the expectations.

Govt tables National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, in Lok Sabha

The Union Government on August 1 tabled the contentious Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, in the Lok Sabha, seeking to replace an ordinance related to the control of services in the national capital. The proposed legislation, which has brought the Delhi Government and the Centre at loggerheads, empowers the Delhi Lieutenant Governor to have a final say in recommendations regarding the transfer and posting of Delhi Government officials, received the nod of the Union Cabinet on July 25.

Aung San Suu Kyi has some of her prison sentences reduced by Myanmar’s military-led government

Myanmar’s military-led government has reduced the prison sentences of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a clemency connected to a religious holiday in the Buddhist-majority country, state media said on August 1. Former President Win Myint also had his sentence reduced as part of the clemency granted to more than 7,000 prisoners. But Suu Kyi (78) still must serve a total of 27 years out of the 33 she was originally imprisoned for.

NCB busts India’s largest darknet-based LSD smuggling syndicate

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has busted the country’s largest darknet-based Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) smuggling syndicate named “Zambada cartel” with the arrest of three accused persons. This is the second such detection by the agency in the recent past. NCB Deputy Director-General Gyaneshwar Singh on August 1 said the cartel had planned to set up its first LSD outlet in India with a minimum stock of 1 lakh LSD blots, with international to-and-fro facilities.

Data | Hurdles to overcome before becoming ‘Digital India’

The digital payments system in India has grown significantly in recent years. Every neighbourhood kirana store now has a QR code scanner. Has the United Payments Interface (UPI) revolutionised how Indians carry out economic transactions? Has the popularity and ease of digital transactions brought about financial inclusion across the country? Where does India stand vis-à-vis other countries?

At ₹14,359 crore, assets of Karnataka MLAs is highest among all States: ADR

The total assets of the 223 MLAs in Karnataka stands at a staggering ₹14,359 crore. This is the highest among all States and Union Territories in India. Karnataka is followed by Maharashtra at a distant second, where the assets of all its 284 MLAs amount to ₹6,679 crore, and Andhra Pradesh, whose 174 MLAs have assets amounting to ₹4,914 crore. This was revealed on August 1 by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch (NEW), which analysed the self-sworn affidavits of sitting MLAs in State Assemblies and Union Territories across India.

Patna High Court upholds Bihar’s caste-based survey in the State

The Patna High Court on August 1 upheld the Bihar caste-based survey (CBS) in the State. A Division Bench of Chief Justice K.V. Chandran dismissed the petitions filed against the decision of the State government to conduct the survey. The court allowed the State government to continue with the survey in Bihar. The Patna High Court on May 4 stayed the caste-based census in its interim order while hearing a petition challenging and seeking an interim stay on the survey.

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef off UNESCO danger list, still under ‘serious threat’

A UNESCO heritage committee on August 1 stopped short of listing Australia’s Great Barrier Reef as a site that is “in danger” but warned the world’s biggest coral reef ecosystem remained under “serious threat” from pollution and the warming of oceans. Australia has been lobbying for years to keep the reef - which contributes about A$6 billion ($4 billion) to the economy and supports 64,000 jobs - off the endangered list as it could lead to losing the heritage status, taking some shine off its attraction for tourists.

GST revenues register three-month high in July

India’s gross revenues from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) hit a three-month high to cross ₹1.65 lakh crore in July. However, at 10.8%, it was the slowest uptick in collections since July 2021 compared to revenues from the same month last year. Revenues from domestic transactions and services imports grew 15% in July, which marked the fifth occasion that GST revenues have crossed the ₹1.6-lakh-crore mark during a month. Sequentially, July’s collections, for transactions undertaken in June, were 2.2% higher than the previous month’s GST kitty.

Madras High Court directs Chennai Traffic Police to crack down on road rule violators

The Madras High Court on Tuesday concurred with Greater Chennai Traffic Police (GCTP) that it may not be possible to ensure lane discipline among motorists on all roads in the city due to congestion and various other factors, but stressed that it was the duty of the police personnel to ensure the smooth flow of traffic so that the road users do not undergo hassles. Disposing of a public interest litigation (PIL) petition, Chief Justice S.V. Gangapurwala and Justice P.D. Audikesavalu wrote: “Traffic management, no doubt, is a complex issue wherein a greater efficiency would be required to maintain the same... We cannot expect marking of lanes for different category of vehicles at congested places or places where there is overcrowding.”