TODAY DAY ON September 25, 2024
News Headlines for CAT, CLAT and IPM aspirants

Source : The Hindu

J&K second phase Assembly election: Security stepped up at polling booths

More than 13,000 polling staff on Tuesday (September 24, 2024) took positions at 3,500 polling stations set up across 26 Assembly constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir, where voting will be held on Wednesday in the second phase polls in the Union Territory. The security forces personnel comprising police, armed police and Central armed paramilitary forces left for the polling stations early morning, the officials said.

In final address at U.N. Assembly, Joe Biden says world is at ‘inflection point’

In his fourth and final address to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) as U.S. President, Joe Biden said the world was at an inflection point. He asked the warring parties in West Asia to accept the peace deal and urged continued support for Ukraine. Mr. Biden used his speech to outline some of his decisions in office and to warn of future challenges, even as he expressed optimism about facing them. Addressing the 79th session of the Assembly, Mr Biden also used his speech to explain his decision not to run for a second term.

Unemployment rate stagnant, reveals government survey

The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for the period between July 2023 and June 2024, released by the Labour Bureau on Monday (September 23, 2024), reported no major change in the unemployment rate, and there is minor increase in the distribution of workers in agriculture and the manufacturing sector shows no growth in giving jobs compared to past years. The participation of women workforce has also improved. The Centre had faced criticism for growing unemployment rate and decrease in the number of women in jobs.

Centre asks Supreme Court not to hear pleas against immunity to husbands in marital rape cases this week

The Centre urged the Supreme Court not to hear this week the pleas on the vexed legal question of whether a husband should enjoy immunity from prosecution for the offence of rape if he forces his wife, who is not a minor, to have sex. The submission to this effect was made by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta before a bench headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chadrachud at the fag end of day’s proceedings.

MUDA case: Karnataka High Court dismisses Siddaramaiah’s plea

In a major setback to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the High Court of Karnataka upheld the Governor’s action of grating permission to conduct an investigation against him on the allegation of illegalities in allotment of 14 sites worth ₹56 crore to his wife Parvathi by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).

Indian Railways to overhaul ageing signalling systems for enhanced safety

Worried over many signalling systems remaining functional beyond their recommended lifespan, the Indian Railways has decided to replace signal assets that have outlived their codal life. In a directive to General Managers of all Zonal Railways, the Ministry of Railways emphasised the urgent need to prioritise the replacement of signal assets nearing or surpassing their codal life. To avoid delays, this critical work would be carried out independently, without impacting the ongoing infrastructure projects, including track doubling and the construction of third or fourth lines.

Bangladesh returns BSF jawan after talks

A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan, who had inadvertently crossed over to Bangladesh, was returned by the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) after a flag meeting. The incident was reported around 10.30 a.m. in north Bengal when BSF constable Upal Kumar Das reportedly entered Bangladesh while he was patrolling the area.

Sri Lanka President Dissanayake picks MP and former academic Harini Amarasuriya as PM

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake appointed MP and former academic Harini Amarasuriya as Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister, as part of a four-member Cabinet under him that will lead policy until likely parliamentary elections before the end of the year. 

Israel seeks 10,000 more skilled construction workers from India

Israel is seeking up to 10,000 skilled Indian workers in its latest eight-day recruitment drive that is on going and will end on September 25 in Industrial Training Institute, Aundh in Pune. Officials in Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship said that the current phase of recruitment builds upon the initial drive conducted earlier this year in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana.

Thai king signs same-sex marriage into law

The Thai king has signed same-sex marriage into law, the official Royal Gazette announced, making Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia and the biggest place in Asia to recognise marriage equality. King Maha Vajiralongkorn gave royal assent to the new law, passed by parliament in June, which will take effect in 120 days — meaning the first weddings are expected to take place in January.

‘Don’t drag us into your agenda’: Supreme Court slams NCPCR over plea seeking SIT probe against missionaries

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (September 24, 2024) told NCPCR not to drag the apex court in its agenda over a plea seeking an SIT probe into cases of children allegedly sold by shelter homes in Jharkhand of the Missionaries of Charity founded by Mother Teresa. Slamming the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), a bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh dismissed the plea filed by the child rights body. It said the relief sought is vague and omnibus, and it cannot be considered.

‘Good beginning’: India on Pact of the Future’s language on UNSC reforms

India said that a U.N. summit document for the first time containing a detailed paragraph on Security Council reform is a “good beginning” and New Delhi looks forward eventually to the beginning of text-based negotiations in a fixed time frame to reform the 15-nation body. World leaders on Sunday (September 22, 2024) adopted by consensus the ‘Pact of the Future’, promising to “reform the Security Council, recognising the urgent need to make it more representative, inclusive, transparent, efficient, effective, democratic and accountable”. U.N. officials have described the language in the ‘Pact of the Future’ on the long-pending Security Council reforms as “groundbreaking”.

Dialogue on with States, police, NIA on preventing train sabotage bids: Railway Minister Vaishnaw

Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday (September 24, 2024) said the railway administration is on alert for potential train sabotage bids and is holding talks with authorities and police in several states to prevent any untoward incident. The central government treats security threats with utmost seriousness and strict action will be taken against anyone attempting to sabotage trains, the Railway Minister told reporters at the Jaipur airport. “This is our commitment,” he added.

West Bengal seeks urgent hearing of reservation case in Supreme Court

The West Bengal government on Tuesday (September 24, 2024) sought an urgent hearing of its pending appeal against a Calcutta High Court decision striking down the inclusion of several castes, largely Muslim communities, in the State’s Other Backward Classes (OBC) List. Appearing before a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for West Bengal, said the appointments to the public services of the State were held up due to the uncertainty in the case following the May 22 judgment of the High Court and the consequent appeal pending in the apex court.

Supreme Court asks Commission of Air Quality Management to apprise it about steps taken to curb pollution, stubble burning

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (September 24, 2024) asked the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas to explain the steps being taken to curb air pollution due to crop residue burning. A bench of Justices Abha S. Oka and Augustine George Masih asked the CAQM to apprise about the steps on September 27, when the issue will be taken up for hearing. Senior advocate Aprajita Singh, who is assisting the court as amicus curiae, referred to some newspaper reports and said it appears that stubble burning has started in neighbouring states of Delhi.

‘Spitting and mixing of urine in eatables’: U.P. restaurants told to install CCTVs, eateries to display names of proprietors

Taking cognisance of incidents of spitting and mixing of urine in eatables in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday (September 24, 2024) directed that the name and address of operators, proprietors and managers should be mandatorily displayed at all food centres. He also directed that chefs and waiters should wear masks and gloves besides making installation of CCTVs in hotels and restaurants mandatory. Addressing a high-level meeting in Lucknow, Mr. Adityanath said the presence of human waste in food items was disgusting and ordered strict action against those who adulterate food items with human waste or dirty things, an official statement said.

Lebanon says death toll in Israel’s strikes reaches 558

Lebanese health authorities on Tuesday (September 24, 2024) raised the death toll from two days of Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah militants to 558, including 50 children and 94 women. Palestinian officials in Gaza, meanwhile, said a new Israeli strike killed at least seven people in the southern city of Khan Younis. Israel’s military says it will do “whatever is necessary” to push Hezbollah away from Lebanon’s border with Israel. The two countries have been trading fire since the Israel-Hamas war began. On Monday (September 23, 2024), Israel launched hundreds of airstrikes in southern and eastern Lebanon, killing nearly 500 people and wounding more than 1,600 others.

Netanyahu accuses Hezbollah of using civilians as human shields

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hezbollah has been using Lebanese civilians as human shields, addressing residents of the neighbouring nation in a video statement shortly after the Israeli army announced it had struck 800 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. “It placed rockets in your living rooms and missiles in your garage,” he said. He also warned Lebanese people to move away from danger as the Israeli military pounded Hezbollah targets in the country’s south and east on Monday (September 23, 2024).

Sensex hits 85,000 level for first time before closing flat; FMCG, banking shares drag

Benchmark Sensex scaled the 85,000 level and Nifty breached the 26,000 mark for the first time before paring gains to close flat in a volatile session on Tuesday (September 24, 2024), dragged by losses in FMCG and select banking shares. The 30-share BSE benchmark declined by 14.57 points or 0.02% to settle at 84,914.04, snapping its three-day record-breaking run.

New BCCI secretary appointment not on Apex Council agenda as Jay Shah prepares for ICC chair

The BCCI Apex Council will meet on Wednesday (September 25, 2024) to discuss a variety of issues related to the Board’s functioning but the appointment of a new secretary to replace the outgoing Jay Shah is not on the agenda. It will be the last apex council meet before the Board’s 93rd Annual General Meeting in Bengaluru in five days’ time. The appointment of a new secretary has become necessary after Shah was unanimously elected as the next ICC Chairman.