TODAY NEWS ON December 18, 2024
News Headlines for CAT,CLAT and IPM aspirants  

Source : THE HINDU

Manipur SITs file chargesheets in just 6% of 3,023 cases

Nineteen months after ethnic violence erupted in Manipur, the 42 special investigation teams (SIT) constituted by the Supreme Court have filed chargesheets in only 6% of the 3,023 registered cases.

BJP leaders meet the lawyer defending the arrested ISKCON monk in Bangladesh

A delegation of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders on Tuesday (December 17, 2024) called on Bangladeshi lawyer Rabindra Ghosh, 75, who has been defending jailed Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, and lauded his efforts in defending the arrested ISKCON monk

After India trip, Dissanayake to visit China next month: Sri Lankan Foreign Minister

After his trip to India, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will visit China next month, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said, while adding that the newly elected government wants “win-win” ties with all countries.

Sewer, septic tank cleaning an occupation-based rather than caste-based activity, Centre tells Lok Sabha

Citing data from its first-ever survey of sewer and septic tank workers (SSWs) across cities and towns of India, the Union Social Justice Ministry on Tuesday (December 17, 2024) told Parliament that sewer and septic tank cleaning is “occupation-based activity rather than caste-based” work.

Centre mulls holding NEET-UG exam in online mode

The Union government is trying the possibilities of holding the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) for admission to undergraduate medical education in all medical institutions, presently held in offline mode, in online mode.

MGNREGA wages are not in consonance with the rising cost of living, says parliamentary panel

A parliamentary panel made a strong case for increasing wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), arguing that the current wages were not in “consonance with the rising cost of living”, and urged the government to link it with an index commensurate with national inflation.

Rohingya detainees: Report flags India’s violation of human rights

A new study on the condition of Rohingya refugee detainees in India, conducted by The Azadi Project, a U.S.-registered non-profit, and Refugees International, an American non-profit that advocates for displaced people, has flagged “gross violations of constitutional and human rights” and “a failure by India to adhere to its commitments to international human rights treaties.”

BJP likely to send notices to MPs absent during introduction of simultaneous elections

The BJP on Tuesday (December 17, 2024) indicated that it will be asking several of its MPs in the Lok Sabha on why they were absent from the House when voting for the introduction of the crucial “One Nation One Election” Bill was underway.

Agencies probe seizure of Starlink devices in Manipur

In a first, Starlink devices were seized in Manipur’s Imphal East on December 13 during a search operation by a joint team of security forces including the police and the Army.

Netanyahu says Israeli troops will occupy a buffer zone inside Syria for the foreseeable future

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday Israeli forces will stay in a buffer zone on the Syrian border, and specifically on the summit of Mount Hermon, “until another arrangement is found that will ensure Israel’s security.”

Prosecutors charge suspect with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO as an act of terrorism

The man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare’s CEO has been charged with murder as an act of terrorism, prosecutors said Tuesday as they worked to bring him to a New York court from from a Pennsylvania jail.

Bills on simultaneous polls referred to JPC: Live updates

The 129th Constitution Amendment bill, seeking to implement simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, has been referred to a joint parliamentary committee after Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced it in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday after a brief discussion.

NTA to focus only on entrance exam for higher education, says Dharmendra Pradhan

The National Testing Agency (NTA) will not conduct any recruitment exams starting 2025 and will focus on only higher education entrance exams, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Tuesday (December 17, 2024). The move is part of examination reforms based on recommendation of a high level panel set up earlier this year following alleged leak of medical entrance NEET exam and series of cancellations of other exams due to suspected leaks and other glitches.

Ukraine claims blast in Moscow that killed Russian military’s chemical weapons chief

The head of the Russian Army’s chemical weapons division was killed on Tuesday (December 17, 2024) in a brazen attack in Moscow claimed by Kyiv — the most senior military figure assassinated in Russia yet as the Kremlin’s campaign in Ukraine drags on. Igor Kirillov was killed along with his assistant when an explosive device attached to a scooter went off outside an apartment building in southeastern Moscow, Russian and Ukrainian officials said.

Lower Q2 GDP growth a temporary blip; economy to improve in coming quarters, says Nirmala Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday (December 17, 2024) said the lower-than-expected GDP growth of 5.4% in the second quarter was a “temporary blip” and the economy will see healthy growth in the coming quarters. Replying to a debate in the Lok Sabha on the first batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants, she said India has seen “steady and sustained” growth and its GDP growth rate has averaged 8.3% in the last three years.

India stands in solidarity with France, ready to extend all possible assistance: PM Modi on Cyclone Chido

Expressing sadness over the devastation caused by Cyclone Chido in Mayotte, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (December 17, 2024) said India stands in solidarity with France and is ready to extend all possible assistance.