The Election Commission announced a series of measures addressing concerns over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls across the country, including stopping physical hearings for unmapped voters. The poll body emphasized that decisions came after reports of rift within the EC and have the approval of the full commission. The Congress party urged the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognizance of the voter enrolment process under CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
The Election Commission announced remedial measures following criticism over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Physical hearings for unmapped voters or those with logical discrepancies have been stopped.
The declaration attached to Form 6 is now mandatory only during the current SIR process.
Exam Points
CEC: Gyanesh Kumar
Form 6 is used for fresh voter registration.
The SIR process was completed in 20 States and Union Territories.
At least 27 questions in this year's Civil Services Examination Prelims have come under dispute, with candidates claiming that answers in the provisional answer key are incorrect or ambiguous. At least two groups of aspirants have challenged the questions before the Central Administrative Tribunal. The candidates argue that several aspirants missed the cut-off for the Mains examination by only a few marks due to these contentious questions.
Candidates have challenged 27 questions from the Civil Services Examination Prelims.
Disputes have been raised before the Central Administrative Tribunal.
Aspirants claim discrepancies between the provisional answer key and standard reference sources like government websites.
Exam Points
Exam: Civil Services Examination (CSE) Prelims
Forum for challenge: Central Administrative Tribunal
Prelims exam date: May 24, Mains exam date: August
Bangladesh and the United States have signed a memorandum of understanding on strategic civil nuclear cooperation to deepen ties in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The agreement comes as Bangladesh seeks to diversify its long-term energy sources and develop its first nuclear power plant at Rooppur. The MoU records the shared position that civil nuclear cooperation must follow the highest standards of nuclear safety, security, safeguards, and non-proliferation.
Bangladesh and the US signed an MoU on strategic civil nuclear cooperation.
The agreement supports Bangladesh's efforts to diversify energy sources.
Bangladesh is currently developing its first nuclear power plant at Rooppur.
Exam Points
Nuclear power plant: Rooppur Power Plant
Signatories: Bangladesh Prime Minister's Adviser Rehan Asad and U.S. Under Secretary Jacob Helberg
The U.S. and China agreed to set up a trade council and extend outcomes of earlier talks in Kuala Lumpur, launching a dialogue on AI risks and benefits during President Xi Jinping's visit to the U.S. The two leaders agreed to a $30 billion reciprocal tariff-reduction arrangement. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end fighting in West Asia.
The U.S. and China agreed to a $30 billion reciprocal tariff-reduction arrangement.
Both nations established a dialogue on artificial intelligence risks and benefits.
U.S. President Donald Trump rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The United States and Greenland have signed a new security agreement that grants the U.S. broad rights to build military bases on the ice-covered island. The deal aims to monitor movement in frozen waters and check Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic region. Additionally, the agreement stipulates that no hostile powers can establish military facilities or invest in sensitive areas of the island.
The U.S. and Greenland signed a security agreement granting base-building rights.
The deal aims to counter Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic region.
Danish sovereignty and Greenland's self-governing rights are maintained under the pact.
The Delhi High Court held that a marriage recognised under Muslim personal law cannot confer immunity from prosecution under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act when the wife is below 18 at the time of sexual intercourse. Dismissing a petition seeking to quash an FIR, the court ruled that while personal law may determine marriage validity, it cannot create an exception to a criminal law enacted by Parliament.
The Delhi High Court ruled that personal law does not override the POCSO Act.
Marriage under Muslim personal law does not grant immunity from criminal prosecution for statutory rape.
The POCSO Act sets 18 as the age below which consent to sexual activity has no legal efficacy.
Exam Points
Act involved: Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)
Key legal principle: Age of consent is fixed at 18 years regardless of personal law.
Researchers from the University of Chicago have reported a new chemical reaction to replace carbon with nitrogen in types of molecules commonly encountered in medical research and industry under mild conditions. Previously, chemists banked on highly reactive intermediates called nitrenes, which could damage other parts of the molecule. The new method uses a triplet nitrene state to temporarily open rings and rearrange atoms without harming sensitive molecular structures.
Researchers developed a milder method to replace carbon with nitrogen atoms in organic molecules.
The technique uses triplet nitrenes to safely rearrange atom positions in ring structures.
The discovery avoids harsh reactive intermediates that typically damage sensitive drug molecules.
Exercising its Right of Reply at the UN General Assembly, India strongly criticised Pakistan, describing it as a 'puppet' regime and condemning its continued cross-border terrorism. First Secretary Petal Gahlot stated that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and will always remain so. India highlighted its counter-terrorism operations and warned that Pakistan's deceit will neither benefit it nor the world.
India exercised its Right of Reply at the UN General Assembly against Pakistan.
India condemned Pakistan's cross-border terrorism and 'falsehoods' regarding Jammu and Kashmir.
First Secretary Petal Gahlot reiterated that J&K is an integral part of India.
Exam Points
Indian diplomat: Petal Gahlot, First Secretary
Forum: United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
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