{"id":40330,"date":"2025-04-03T19:05:38","date_gmt":"2025-04-03T13:35:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=40330"},"modified":"2025-04-03T20:51:46","modified_gmt":"2025-04-03T15:21:46","slug":"news-in-short-3-04-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/03-04-2025\/news-in-short-3-04-2025","title":{"rendered":"News In Short-3-04-2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS1\/ History, Famous Personalities<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>April 3 marks the death anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha Empire.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (1630-1680)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Birth: <\/strong>Born as <strong>Shivaji Bhosale<\/strong>, he is widely revered for his progressive leadership, military strategies, and fight for <strong>Swarajya (self-rule)<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He was influenced by Maharashtra saints like <strong>Tukaram, Dnyaneshwar, and Ramdas<\/strong>, who advocated social equality and spiritual awakening.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Coronation (1674)<\/strong>: He crowned himself at <strong>Raigad Fort<\/strong>, marking the beginning of the <strong>\u2018Rajyabhisheka Era\u2019<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Administrative Reforms<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Established the <strong>Ashta Pradhan Mandal<\/strong> (a council of eight ministers) to assist in governance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reformed the <strong>revenue system<\/strong>, replacing the <strong>Jagirdari system<\/strong> with the <strong>Ryotwari system<\/strong> to ensure direct taxation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Military &amp; Naval Strength<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Engaged in <strong>alliances and conflicts<\/strong> with the <strong>Mughals, Bijapur Sultanate, Golkonda Sultanate, and European powers<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Built a <strong>strong naval force<\/strong> to secure trade routes, protect coastal territories, and challenge European dominance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Legacy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Indian Navy&#8217;s<strong> INS Shivaji<\/strong>, the UNESCO World Heritage Site\u2014<strong>Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus <\/strong>(formerly known as Victoria Terminus) are named after him.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In 1890\u2019s<strong> B<\/strong><strong>al Gangadhar Tilak<\/strong> started the <strong>Shivaji festival<\/strong> to stimulate nationalism among young Maharashtrians by holding up the example of Shivaji for emulation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The<strong> Indian Navy&#8217;s new Ensign and new design<\/strong> for Admirals&#8217; shoulder piece are inspired by the legendary Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/when-is\/chhatrapati-shivaji-maharaj-death-anniversary-2025-all-you-need-to-know-9921465\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">IE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>North Sentinel Island<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS1\/ Places In News<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A US citizen has been arrested for illegally entering North Sentinel Island of Andaman, home to one of the world&#8217;s last uncontacted tribes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Location:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Situated in the Bay of Bengal.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Part of the South Andaman administrative district, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lies approximately 50 km west of Port Blair.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Geographic Features:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Encircled by coral reefs, making maritime access extremely difficult.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bordered by white-sand beaches, mangrove forests, and dense tropical vegetation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake uplifted the island, exposing more coral reefs, thus expanding its landmass.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sentinelese \u2013 Indigenous Inhabitants:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>One of the last uncontacted peoples on Earth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Known for rejecting all outside contact; aggressive toward intruders.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Live as hunter-gatherers, using bows, arrows, spears, and dugout canoes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Population size (estimated 50\u2013150).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Legal Protection &amp; Governance:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Andaman &amp; Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956: <\/strong>Prohibits travel within 5 nautical miles (9 km) of the island.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>No prosecution of Sentinelese for defensive aggression.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Restricted Area Permit (RAP)<\/strong>: RAP requirement was revoked in 2018 for 29 islands, but North Sentinel remains off-limits.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>No tourism, filming, fishing, or visits allowed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: TH<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Katchatheevu Island<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus :GS 1\/Places&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly passed a resolution urging the Union government to take steps to retrieve the<strong> Katchatheevu island from Sri Lanka<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>As it is crucial for protecting Tamil Nadu fishermen&#8217;s traditional fishing rights and alleviating the hardships caused by the Sri Lankan Navy&#8217;s actions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Katchatheevu<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Katchatheevu is a small, uninhabited island covering approximately 285 acres in the Palk Strait, situated between Tamil Nadu, India, and northern Sri Lanka.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It lies 14.5 km south of Delft Island and about 16 km northeast of Rameswaram.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The island is barren, lacking drinking water or infrastructure, except for a Catholic church dedicated to St. Anthony.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"acb6c2\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Katchatheevu-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Katchatheevu\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-40331\" style=\"--dominant-color: #acb6c2; width:462px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Katchatheevu-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Katchatheevu-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Katchatheevu-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Katchatheevu-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Katchatheevu.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Dispute<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>&nbsp;It began in 1921 between the British colonial governments of Madras and Ceylon and it was resolved through two bilateral agreements signed in 1974 and 1976 by India and Sri Lanka.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These agreements established that Katchatheevu belongs to Sri Lanka and defined the maritime boundaries between the two countries, including their exclusive economic zones (EEZs).&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The agreement also allowed Indian fishermen to visit Katchatheevu for the annual St. Anthony\u2019s festival, but prohibited fishing activities in Sri Lankan waters.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Do you know ?<\/strong><br>&#8211; India\u2019s gains from the agreements included diplomatic advantages with Sri Lanka, especially during a time when Sri Lanka was strengthening ties with China.<br>&#8211; Additionally, India secured sovereign rights over the Wadge Bank near Kanniyakumari, which holds valuable marine resources.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Governments Stand<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Union government has consistently rejected demands for retrieval, arguing that the<strong> 1974 and 1976 agreements<\/strong> resolved the matter, with Katchatheevu now firmly under Sri Lankan jurisdiction.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The issue remains unresolved in the Supreme Court, with the Union government asserting that no Indian territory was ceded to Sri Lanka.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Source :TH<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>President of Chile Visit to India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/IR<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The President of Chile <\/strong>is on a state visit to India, marking<strong> 76 years of diplomatic ties.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Discussions:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Trade and Economic Relations: <\/strong>The expansion of the India-Chile Preferential Trade Agreement (2017) was highlighted.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Both leaders launched negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to deepen economic integration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mining and Critical Minerals: <\/strong>They discussed cooperation in critical minerals for emerging technologies and clean energy.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A key agreement for cooperation between CODELCO (Chile\u2019s National Copper Corporation) and Hindustan Copper Limited was concluded.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>CODELCO, the world\u2019s largest copper producer, aims to expand its market in India and reduce reliance on China.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Antarctic Cooperation: <\/strong>A Letter of Intent was signed to strengthen Antarctic cooperation and scientific exchanges.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Chile<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Chile is a<strong> long, narrow country on the west coast of South America.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Its coastline stretches over 6,437 km but is only about 91 km wide.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cape Horn:<\/strong> Located at the southern tip of South America, Cape Horn is known for high winds and treacherous waves.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The world&#8217;s driest desert is the Atacama Desert,<\/strong> located in northern Chile.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chile is located along a <strong>highly seismic and volcanic zone<\/strong>, part of the <strong>Pacific Ring of Fire<\/strong>, due to the <strong>subduction of the Nazca and Antarctic plates<\/strong> in the South American plate.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Escondida is the largest copper mine in the world, producing over 5% of global supplies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Chile is also rich in mineral resources <strong>such as lithium.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img data-dominant-color=\"cae3ec\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #cae3ec;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"521\" height=\"296\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/04\/chile-pic.webp\" alt=\"chile\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-40332\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/04\/chile-pic.webp 521w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/04\/chile-pic-300x170.webp 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 521px) 100vw, 521px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2117396\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>PIB<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Fluoride Pollution Crisis in Sonbhadra<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Health<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The incidents of<strong> fluoride poisoning<\/strong> seen in groundwater of Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The contamination is 5 to 6 times higher than the<strong> prescribed safe limit.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Fluoride<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Fluoride is a <strong>naturally occurring, non-biodegradable pollutant found in minerals, soil, water, and air.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is also released during the <strong>burning of coal bricks.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The World Health Organization sets the maximum safe level of fluoride in <strong>drinking water at 1.5 mg\/liter.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In safe doses, <strong>fluoride helps prevent tooth decay <\/strong>and supports bone health.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>In excessive amounts, it causes<\/strong> dental and skeletal fluorosis, joint pain and stiffness &amp; bone deformities. It also poses risks to wildlife and ecosystems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/long-reads\/sonbhadra-groundwater-excess-fluoride-residents-sicker-govt-report-9916047\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>IE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Fiscal Health Index (FHI) 2025<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Governance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>NITI Aayog, in collaboration with the Press Information Bureau, has released the <strong>Fiscal Health Index (FHI) 2025.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>FHI initiative assesses the <strong>fiscal health of states in India.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The analysis covers 18 major states <\/strong>that contribute significantly to India\u2019s GDP, demography, public expenditure, revenues, and fiscal stability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sub Indices:<\/strong> Quality of Expenditure, Revenue Mobilisation, Fiscal Prudence, Debt Index, and Debt Sustainability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Data for the index is sourced from the C<strong>omptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) for the 2022-23 financial year.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e6e6e7\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e6e6e7;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"585\" height=\"174\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Fiscal-Health-Index-FHI-2025.webp\" alt=\"Fiscal Health Index FHI 2025\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-40333\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Fiscal-Health-Index-FHI-2025.webp 585w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Fiscal-Health-Index-FHI-2025-300x89.webp 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 585px) 100vw, 585px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Findings<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Odisha ranks 1st in the FHI<\/strong>, followed by Chhattisgarh, Goa, Jharkhand, and Gujarat.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>States account for about two-thirds of public spending and one-third of total revenue, influencing the nation&#8217;s economic stability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Debt Concerns: <\/strong>West Bengal and Punjab face growing debt burdens and increasing debt-to-GSDP ratios.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img data-dominant-color=\"143f9a\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #143f9a;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"506\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Debt-Concerns.png\" alt=\"Debt Concerns\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-40334\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Debt-Concerns.png 506w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Debt-Concerns-300x100.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 506px) 100vw, 506px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pib.gov.in\/PressNoteDetails.aspx?NoteId=154090&amp;ModuleId=3&amp;reg=3&amp;lang=1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>PIB<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>SC Observations on Disqualification<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus :GS 2\/Governance&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Recently, the Supreme Court of India addressed petitions regarding the delayed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/editorial-analysis\/25-03-2023\/disqualification-of-a-lawmaker\">disqualification <\/a>proceedings of 10 Telangana MLAs who defected to the ruling Congress party.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About law on <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/editorial-analysis\/25-03-2023\/disqualification-of-a-lawmaker\"><strong>disqualification<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The disqualification of sitting members of a legislature is governed by <strong>Article 102 of the Indian Constitution <\/strong>and <strong>Section 8 of the Representation of the People (RP)<\/strong> Act, 1951.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The RP Act does not specify the authority responsible for this declaration, but<strong> Article 103 of the Constitution<\/strong> states that the President must decide if a sitting member becomes disqualified due to a conviction.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A sitting member can be disqualified if convicted of certain offenses and sentenced to at least two years of imprisonment.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Section 8 of the RP Act lists various offenses for which conviction can lead to disqualification, including <strong>promoting enmity, bribery, rape, and corruption, among others.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Supreme courts ruling&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Supreme Court&#8217;s 2013 Lily Thomas judgment struck down Section 8(4) of the RP Act, which allowed a sitting member three months to appeal their conviction before disqualification could take effect.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Court ruled that Parliament could not make special provisions for sitting members, as both candidates and sitting members are equally liable to disqualification under Article 102.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Latest Developments<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Recently, the Supreme Court&nbsp; emphasized that a Speaker <strong>cannot use indecision to undermine the objective of the anti-defection law (Tenth Schedule)<\/strong> and that courts are not powerless in such situations.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>While the Court cannot direct a Speaker on how to decide, it can mandate that disqualification petitions be resolved within a reasonable timeframe.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Supreme Court has previously intervened in similar cases to push Speakers to decide on long-pending disqualification petitions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Do you know?<\/strong><br>&#8211; The <strong>Tenth Schedule was&nbsp; introduced in 1985<\/strong> through the <strong>52nd Constitutional Amendment<\/strong>, was designed to curb political instability caused by defections of legislators, which often led to the collapse of elected governments.&nbsp;<br>&#8211; The law mandates the disqualification of legislators who voluntarily leave their party or vote against their party&#8217;s instructions.&nbsp;<br>&#8211; Initially, the Schedule allowed exceptions, such as if one-third of a party&#8217;s members split or if a party merged with another with the approval of two-thirds of its members. However, the provision allowing splits (para 3) was removed in 2003 to strengthen the law.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Source :TH<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>India\u2019s 10-year Bond Yields Declined<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Economy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India\u2019s benchmark <strong>10-year bond yields fell sharply by nine basis points (bps) to 6.49% year-on-year after the RBI <\/strong>announced it would buy Rs 80,000 crore worth of bonds in April.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Indian Bond Yields: <\/strong>Indian bond yields fell by 24 bps since March.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The 10-year yield has dropped 62 bps so far in FY 2024-25, its largest drop in five years.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Indian Banking Sector Liquidity: <\/strong>Improved liquidity in India has led to falling bond yields, with Treasury bill cut-offs nearing 6.30%.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The 10-year bond yield is expected to drop further depending on liquidity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is Bond Yield?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Bond yield <\/strong>is the <strong>return an investor can expect to earn from a bond,<\/strong> expressed as an annual percentage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Types of Bond Yields:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Current Yield: <\/strong>Annual coupon payment divided by the bond\u2019s current market price.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Yield to Maturity (YTM): <\/strong>Total return if the bond is held until maturity, including coupon payments and any capital gain\/loss.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Yield to Call (YTC):<\/strong> Yield assuming the bond is called (redeemed early) before maturity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Yield to Worst (YTW): <\/strong>Lowest yield possible if the bond is called or matures early.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Bond Price Relation: <\/strong>Price and yield are inversely related and as the price of a bond goes up, its yield goes down.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Indicator:<\/strong> Bond yields reflect the return on investment and are influenced by interest rates and economic conditions.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/business\/india-10-year-bond-yields-decline-rbi-policy-review-9920931\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>IE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Purchasing Managers&#8217; Index (PMI)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus :GS 3\/Economy&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Manufacturing activity in India saw a notable improvement in March 2025, with the <strong>Seasonally Adjusted Purchasing Managers Index (PMI)<\/strong> rising to 58.1, the highest in eight months, up from 56.3 in February.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The increase was mainly driven by a rise in new orders, with the new orders index reaching an eight-month high of 61.5.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Purchasing Managers&#8217; Index (PMI)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The PMI primarily measures the condition of a country\u2019s sectors, including manufacturing, services and overall business activity, through monthly surveys of respondents in different countries.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is a type of economic indicator which is compiled by agencies such as S&amp;P Global, HSBC and others, using data from major companies representing key global economies.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The index varies between 0 and 100; a reading above 50 is a sign of progress, whereas below <strong>50 shows a decline in the overall production activity.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source :TH<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>April 3 marks the death anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha Empire.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40330","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40330","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40330"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40330\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40343,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40330\/revisions\/40343"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40330"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40330"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40330"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}