Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate, has been elected as the 17th Vice-President of India. He secured a decisive victory with 452 first preferential votes, defeating the Opposition's joint candidate, Justice B. Sudershan Reddy, who received 300 votes. The election saw a high turnout, with 98.2% of the total electorate casting their ballots. While the Opposition claimed a "moral victory" due to an improved vote share compared to 2022, reports of cross-voting from Opposition ranks bolstered the NDA's tally. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the VP-elect, expressing confidence in his ability to strengthen constitutional values.
C.P. Radhakrishnan won the election by a margin of 152 votes against Justice B. Sudershan Reddy.
The Vice-President is elected by an electoral college consisting of members from both Houses of Parliament.
The election was conducted via the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote.
Exam Points
C.P. Radhakrishnan is the 17th Vice-President of India.
The total electoral college comprised 788 electors (543 from Lok Sabha and 245 from Rajya Sabha).
Radhakrishnan secured 452 votes, while the runner-up secured 300 votes.
The Supreme Court of India has ordered the Election Commission of India (ECI) to include Aadhaar as one of the 12 valid documents for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar’s electoral rolls. This intervention follows the exclusion of over 65 lakh electors from the draft rolls. The ECI had previously argued that Aadhaar was proof of residency rather than citizenship, but the Court dismissed this, noting that other accepted documents also do not conclusively prove citizenship. The ruling emphasizes that procedural rigidity must not disenfranchise eligible citizens, particularly marginalized groups, women, and migrant workers who rely heavily on Aadhaar for identification.
The Supreme Court ruled that Aadhaar must be accepted as a valid document for voter verification to ensure inclusivity.
The ECI's previous exclusion of Aadhaar led to the removal of 65 lakh potential voters from Bihar's draft rolls.
Statistical analysis revealed disproportionate removal of women and migrant workers during the revision process.
Exam Points
Aadhaar is held by nearly 90% of Bihar's population compared to passports held by only 2%.
Over 65 lakh electors were initially excluded from the draft roll during the SIR exercise.
Aadhaar is now officially recognized as the 12th valid document for voter verification in this context.
China continues to dominate the global rare earth market, producing over 60% of the world's supply and controlling 92% of global refining capacity. Rare earth elements (REEs) are a group of 17 metals essential for high-tech applications, including electric vehicles, wind turbines, and defense systems. Recently, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology introduced stricter controls to centralize oversight of extraction and refining. This move, along with export restrictions on key elements like neodymium and dysprosium, poses significant challenges for countries like India and the U.S., which are heavily dependent on Chinese imports for their green energy and technology sectors.
China produces over 60% of global rare earths and holds nearly half of the world's reserves.
Rare earth elements are categorized into Light Rare Earths (LREEs) and Heavy Rare Earths (HREEs).
India is highly dependent on China, with over 75% of its rare earth imports coming from there since 2021.
Exam Points
China controls 92% of the global refining capacity for rare earth elements.
There are 17 rare earth elements, including lanthanum, cerium, and neodymium.
China supplies nearly 30% of the global demand for rare earth exports.
The Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs has requested a "factual report" from the Andaman and Nicobar administration regarding a complaint by the Tribal Council of Little and Great Nicobar. The Council alleges that forest rights under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006 were not settled before 13,000 hectares of forest land were diverted for the ₹81,000-crore Great Nicobar project. While the administration claims tribal rights are protected under the 1956 Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Act, the Council asserts their consent was obtained under pressure and later withdrawn. The dispute highlights the tension between large-scale infrastructure development and indigenous land rights.
The Tribal Council claims the Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006 was bypassed for the Great Nicobar project.
Approximately 13,000 hectares of forest land are being diverted for a project valued at ₹81,000 crore.
The administration argues that the 1956 Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Act allows for unilateral land diversion.
Exam Points
The Great Nicobar project is a ₹81,000-crore infrastructure initiative.
The Forest Rights Act (FRA) was enacted in 2006.
The Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Act (PATA) was established in 1956.
The Indian government has granted manufacturing licences to five firms for AdFalciVax, the country's first indigenous multi-stage malaria vaccine. Developed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Immunology (NII), the vaccine targets the Plasmodium falciparum parasite before it enters the bloodstream. This recombinant chimeric vaccine is designed to be affordable, stable at room temperature for nine months, and effective in preventing both infection and community transmission. This development is a significant milestone for India, which accounts for 66% of malaria cases in the South-East Asia region.
AdFalciVax is India's first indigenous multi-stage vaccine targeting the Plasmodium falciparum parasite.
The vaccine was developed through a collaboration between ICMR and the National Institute of Immunology (NII).
Licences were granted to five firms, including Zydus Lifesciences, Biological E, and Panacea Biotec.
Exam Points
The vaccine is named AdFalciVax.
India accounts for 1.4% of the global malaria case burden.
The vaccine remains effective for more than nine months at room temperature.
Indonesia has experienced violent protests following the death of a delivery worker during demonstrations against the government. Initially sparked by changes to housing allowances for legislators, the unrest evolved into a broader movement against economic inequality and austerity measures. President Prabowo Subianto's administration has implemented significant budget cuts to fund flagship programs like free school meals, leading to reduced spending on public works and education. Despite a declining Gini coefficient, Indonesia remains one of the most unequal countries globally, with the four wealthiest individuals holding more wealth than the bottom 100 million citizens.
Protests in Indonesia were fueled by budget cuts to public services and education to fund a 'free meal' program.
Indonesia ranks sixth globally in terms of wealth inequality according to Oxfam reports.
The unrest has led to a cabinet reshuffle and concerns regarding the country's sovereign credit profile.
Exam Points
Indonesia's government announced a fiscal cut of 306 trillion rupiah ($18.8 billion).
The four richest people in Indonesia have more wealth than the bottom 100 million citizens.
The protests escalated following the death of 21-year-old Affan Kurniawan.
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