TODAY NEWS ON March 19, 2025

News Headlines For CAT, CLAT and IPM aspirants

Source: THE HINDU

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams return to Earth after 9 months stuck in space

Stuck in space no more, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams returned to Earth on Tuesday, hitching a different ride home to close out a saga that began with a bungled test flight more than nine months ago. Their SpaceX capsule parachuted into the Gulf of Mexico in the early evening, just hours after departing the International Space Station. Splashdown occurred off the coast of Tallahassee in the Florida Panhandle, bringing their unplanned odyssey to an end.

Putin agrees to pause strikes on Ukraine energy targets

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed during their call on Tuesday to seek a limited ceasefire against energy and infrastructure targets in the Russia-Ukraine war, according to the White House. The Kremlin said the two leaders had a “detailed and frank exchange of views”. Mr. Putin outlined a number of conditions for a possible ceasefire, including “the need to halt both forced mobilisation in Ukraine and the rearmament of the Ukrainian armed forces”.

HC refuses to stay ‘hate speech’ case against Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday declined to stay trial court proceedings against Delhi Law Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kapil Mishra for allegedly posting “communally polarising” messages on social media ahead of the 2020 Delhi Assembly election. Justice Ravinder Dudeja issued notice to Delhi Police on the Karawal Nagar MLA’s plea challenging a sessions court order dismissing his petition against a summons by a magisterial court in the case.

Spend more on healthcare, Rajya Sabha MPs tell Centre

The Union government’s Budget allocation for healthcare needs to be boosted so that it matches the health spending of other developing nations, Rajya Sabha MPs said during a debate on the Health Ministry on Tuesday. Pointing at serious lapses in the management of healthcare infrastructure across the country, MPs urged the Centre to play a proactive role to improve the situation.

Judicial probe will be initiated into Kulgam deaths, says J&K Deputy Chief Minister

The Jammu and Kashmir government announced on Tuesday that a judicial inquiry will be initiated into the mysterious deaths of two brothers and the disappearance of another local from south Kashmir’s Kulgam district. Deputy Chief Minister (DCM) Surinder Chowdhary, accompanied by J&K Minister Sakina Ittoo and Chief Minister’s adviser Nasir Aslam Wani, made the announcement after visiting the victims’ families in Kulgam’s Devsar area.

Supreme Court judges to visit Manipur relief camps on March 22

Six Supreme Court judges led by Justice B.R. Gavai are scheduled to visit relief camps in Manipur on March 22 as part of a National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) outreach to lend legal and humanitarian assistance in a State which has seen months of ethnic violence and suffering. Justice Gavai, who is the Executive Chairman of NALSA, would be accompanied by Justices Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, M.M. Sundresh, K.V. Viswanathan and N. Kotiswar Singh.

U.S. judge bars Elon Musk, DOGE from further efforts to shut down USAID

A federal judge on Tuesday blocked billionaire Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency from taking any more steps to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development, saying their efforts to close the agency likely violated the U.S. Constitution. In a preliminary ruling, U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang in Maryland ordered President Donald Trump’s adviser Mr. Musk and DOGE to restore access to USAID’s computer systems for the agency’s direct and contract employees, including thousands who have been placed on leave.

Netanyahu says Israeli strikes across Gaza that killed hundreds are ’only the beginning’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Tuesday’s airstrikes in Gaza are “only the beginning” and that all ceasefire negotiations will take place “under fire.” In a recorded statement broadcast on national television, Mr. Netanyahu said Israel would press ahead until it realizes all of its war goals — destroying Hamas and freeing all hostages held by the militant group.

Israel breaks Hamas ceasefire agreement as strikes across Gaza kill over 400

The Gaza Health Ministry has revised its death toll from Israeli strikes on Tuesday (March 18, 2025), saying a total of 404 people were killed. It had earlier reported 413 dead. It also revised the number of wounded to 562 from 660. It did not provide an explanation. The surprise bombardment shattered a ceasefire in place since January and threatened to fully reignite the 17-month-old war. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the strikes after Hamas refused Israeli demands to change the ceasefire agreement. Officials said the operation was open-ended and was expected to expand. The White House said it had been consulted and voiced support for Israel’s actions.

Sensex jumps 1,131 points; reclaims 75,000 mark on firm global markets

The BSE benchmark index Sensex jumped 1,131 points to revisit the 75,000 level on Tuesday (March 18, 2025) and the NSE Nifty surged 1.45% powered by widespread buying amid a bullish trend in global equities. Extending its previous day’s rally, the 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 1,131.31 points or 1.53% to settle at 75,301.26. During the day, it soared 1,215.81 points or 1.63% to 75,385.76.

Bill tabled to provide 4% quota for Muslims in public contracts in Karnataka

The Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill 2025 was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on March 18 to introduce a 4% reservation for Muslims in public contracts. On March 14, the State Cabinet approved an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act, reserving 4% of contracts for Muslims in civil works valued up to ₹2 crore, and goods and services contracts up to ₹1 crore.

Parliament clears ₹51,463 crore extra spending for FY25, Manipur Budget for FY26

Parliament on Tuesday (March 18, 2025) approved the supplementary demands for grants, which entails ₹51,463 crore additional spending in the current fiscal and the Manipur Budget for 2025-26 with the Rajya Sabha returning four bills to the Lok Sabha. Parliament also approved the ₹1,291 crore demands for excess grants for 2021-22 fiscal and the ₹1,861 crore supplementary demands for grants for Manipur in 2024-25.

Supreme Court to consider if Lokpal has jurisdiction over judges

A Bench of the Supreme Court’s senior-most judges headed by Justice B.R. Gavai on Tuesday (March 18, 2025) decided to examine in detail if judges of constitutional courts come within the jurisdiction of the country’s top ombudsman, Lokpal, like public functionaries including the Prime Minister, Union Ministers, Members of Parliament and Central government officials.