{"id":42049,"date":"2025-04-25T21:08:41","date_gmt":"2025-04-25T15:38:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=42049"},"modified":"2025-04-25T21:09:21","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T15:39:21","slug":"news-in-short-25-04-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/25-04-2025\/news-in-short-25-04-2025","title":{"rendered":"News In Short-25-04-2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Vaikom Satyagrah<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS1\/Modern History<\/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 year 2024 marked the <strong>centenary year of Vaikom Satyagraha (1924).<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Vaikom Satyagraha<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Cause:<\/strong> The movement was initiated against the <strong>practice of untouchability<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In Vaikom in the <strong>erstwhile Travancore princely State, <\/strong>members of the lower castes, particularly Dalits, were denied the right to walk on roads leading to the Vaikom Shiva Temple.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Leadership:<\/strong> It was led by <strong>T.K. Madhavan, K. Kelappan,<\/strong> and other prominent leaders.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Mahatma Gandhi also supported the cause, sending his advice, although he did not physically participate in the protests initially.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>E.V. Ramasamy Periyar,<\/strong> a prominent social reformer and leader of the Self-Respect Movement, also lent support to the movement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Protest:<\/strong> Participants in the Satyagraha (non-violent resistance) demanded the right of Dalits to use public roads and approach the temple like other castes.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>They engaged in peaceful marches and acts of civil disobedience, despite facing violent opposition from upper-caste groups.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Outcome:<\/strong> After over a year of protest and negotiations, the Government eventually allowed Dalits to use the public roads leading to the temple, marking a victory for social equality and the end of caste-based discrimination in the region.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Significance: <\/strong>The Vaikom Satyagraha played a vital role in the social reform movement in Kerala and was an important part of the broader struggle against untouchability and caste oppression in India.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It also marked the<strong> first major organized movement against untouchability <\/strong>in the Indian independence movement.<\/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>SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/ International Relation<\/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 Indian government has announced that Pakistan nationals will not be permitted to travel to India under the <strong>SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES).<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It was <strong>launched in 1992 <\/strong>and it was decided that certain categories of dignitaries from SAARC countries should be entitled to a <strong>Special Travel document <\/strong>that would exempt them from visas within the region.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>Visa Stickers<\/strong> are issued by the respective Member states to the entitled categories of that <strong>particular country.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>validity of the Visa Sticker is generally for one year.<\/strong> The implementation is reviewed regularly by the Immigration Authorities of SAAR Member states.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The SAARC visa stickers were to ensure that their travel is <strong>not limited to any specific cities<\/strong> and would save them from the hassles like police reporting and filling of extra forms on entry in any of the eight SAARC countries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About SAARC<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established with the signing of the SAARC Charter in Dhaka on December 8, 1985.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>At present, SAARC comprises eight Member states: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.<\/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>World Malaria Day 2025<\/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>Every year, 25th April is observed as \u2018World Malaria Day\u2019.<\/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>It is a global initiative organised by the <strong>World Health Organisation (WHO)<\/strong> to raise awareness about malaria and promote actions to control, prevent, and ultimately eliminate the disease.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Theme: <\/strong>\u201cMalaria ends with us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite\u201d.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is Malaria?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Malaria <\/strong>is a life-threatening disease spread to humans by some types of mosquitoes. It is mostly found in tropical countries.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Transmission: <\/strong>It is caused by <strong>plasmodium protozoa.<\/strong>The plasmodium parasites spread through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.Blood transfusion and contaminated needles may also transmit malaria.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Types of parasites: <\/strong>There are 5 Plasmodium parasite species that cause malaria in humans and 2 of these species \u2013 <strong>P. falciparum and P. vivax <\/strong>\u2013 pose the greatest threat. The other malaria species which can infect humans are <strong>P. malariae, P. ovale and P. knowlesi.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>P. falciparum is the deadliest malaria parasite<\/strong> and the most prevalent on the African continent. P. vivax is the dominant malaria parasite in most countries outside of sub-Saharan Africa.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Symptoms:<\/strong> Fever and flu-like illness, including chills, headache, muscle ache and fatigue.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsonair.gov.in\/world-malaria-day-2025-who-calls-for-renewed-global-action-under-theme-malaria-ends-with-us\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>AIR<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>SC to Examine Concerns on POCSO Clause<\/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>The Supreme Court will examine concerns raised by Indira Jaising that mandatory reporting under Section 19 of POCSO is criminalising consensual adolescent sexual activity and threatening girls&#8217; right to health.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/editorial-analysis\/20-01-2023\/decade-of-the-pocso-act\"><strong><u>Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act, 2012, was enacted by the Government of India to protect children under 18 from sexual abuse and offences.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Act includes punishments based on the severity of the crime and was amended in 2019 to introduce<strong> harsher penalties, including the death penalty<\/strong>, for <strong>child sexual crimes, <\/strong>aiming to deter perpetrators.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In addition, the POCSO Rules, 2020, were notified, which include Rule-9 allowing Special Courts to order interim compensation for the child\u2019s relief or rehabilitation after the registration of the First Information Report (FIR).\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>&nbsp;This interim compensation can be adjusted against the final compensation, if applicable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Source &nbsp;:TH<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Tax Collected at Source<\/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>Luxury goods priced above \u20b910 lakh, such as handbags, watches, and sportswear are now subject to a 1% Tax Collected at Source (TCS) .<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Tax Collected at Source (TCS)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is an <strong>advance tax collected<\/strong> at the time of transactions, such as the sale of goods or foreign remittances.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is mentioned in section 206C of the Income Tax Act, 1961.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Under Budget 2025, TCS on goods sales will be phased out, but it will still apply to foreign remittances.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If the remittance exceeds a threshold, the remitter must pay the advance tax to the bank facilitating the transaction.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This is <strong>not an extra tax <\/strong>but can be adjusted against the <strong>tax liability when filing the return.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If the tax liability exceeds the TCS, the taxpayer must pay the balance;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>if it&#8217;s less, they are eligible for a refund. The threshold for TCS on remittances has been raised from \u20b97 lakh to \u20b910 lakh.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/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> TCS provision for luxury goods<\/strong> was introduced via the <strong>Finance Act, 2024, as part of the Budget presented in July, 2024.<\/strong><br>&#8211; It aims to monitor high-value spending, expand the tax base, and improve financial transparency.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source :TH<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Chlorpyrifos Pesticide<\/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>Indian experts have called for an <strong>immediate ban on chlorpyrifos, a toxic pesticide.<\/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>Chlorpyrifos, a pesticide classified as <strong>\u2018moderately hazardous\u2019 by the World Health Organization,<\/strong> continues to be used in India.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is used on a variety of crops, posing a serious threat to farmers, consumers, future generations and ecosystems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is linked to the irreversible <strong>brain damage in children<\/strong> and is <strong>banned in over 40 nations.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Stockholm Convention<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>World\u2019s leading policymakers and scientists will convene in Geneva for the 2025 Conferences of the <strong>Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS COP).&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Stockholm Convention,<\/strong> adopted in <strong>2001<\/strong>, aims to <strong>eliminate or restrict persistent organic pollutants<\/strong> \u2014 chemicals that cause long-term ecological and health damage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In addition to <strong>chlorpyrifos,<\/strong> delegates at the BRS COPs were expected to consider <strong>adding other pesticides to Annex III of the Rotterdam Convention.&nbsp;<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This step would strengthen <strong>transparency and accountability in the global trade of pesticides.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India ratified the <strong>Stockholm Convention and Rotterdam Convention in 2006.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Both the conventions are <strong>legally binding.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Rotterdam Convention<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Rotterdam Convention is a <strong>multilateral treaty to promote shared responsibilities in relation to importation of hazardous chemicals.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The convention promotes <strong>open exchange of information<\/strong> and calls on exporters of hazardous chemicals to <strong>use proper labeling, <\/strong>include directions on safe handling, and inform purchasers of any known restrictions or bans.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Signatory Nations can decide whether to allow or ban <\/strong>the importation of chemicals listed in the treaty, and exporting countries are obliged to make sure that producers within their jurisdiction comply.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.downtoearth.org.in\/agriculture\/india-must-act-against-chlorpyrifos-pesticide-ahead-of-global-chemical-summits-in-geneva-experts-urge\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>DTE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Palmyra<\/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>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Syrian civil war in 2011, turned Palmyra\u2019s strategic location into a conflict zone, leading to widespread destruction of its ancient monuments.<\/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>Location: Palmyra<\/strong> is an ancient city in central Syria, nestled in an oasis surrounded by palms and flanked by the <strong>northern and southern Palmyrene <\/strong>mountain ranges.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Historical Significance: <\/strong>It has been a site of human settlement since the Neolithic period. Historical documents first mention the city in the early <strong>second millennium BCE.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In the 1st century AD it was integrated into the <strong>Roman Empire<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Situated at a key junction on the <strong>Silk Road<\/strong>, Palmyra became a major trade and cultural hub, linking the Roman Empire with Persia, India, and China.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img data-dominant-color=\"d9d4ce\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #d9d4ce;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"318\" height=\"294\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Palmyra.png\" alt=\"Palmyra\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-42050\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Palmyra.png 318w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Palmyra-300x277.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 318px) 100vw, 318px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Architectural Significance: <\/strong>The site is a fusion of Graeco-Roman, local, and Persian architectural styles. Key features include;\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Grand colonnaded street (1100 metres)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Temple of Ba\u2019al<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Theatre, Agora, Diocletian&#8217;s Camp<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Funerary monuments and necropolis (Valley of the Tombs)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Roman aqueduct.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Palmyra was inscribed as a <strong>UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/ie\" rel=\"nofollow\"><strong>IE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<h3><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">The year 2024 marked the centenary year of Vaikom Satyagraha (1924).<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<h3><strong>About Vaikom Satyagraha<\/strong><\/h3>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Cause: The movement was initiated against the practice of untouchability.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">In Vaikom in the erstwhile Travancore princely State, members of the lower castes, particularly Dalits, were denied the right to walk on roads leading to the Vaikom Shiva Temple.\u00a0<\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/25-04-2025\/news-in-short-25-04-2025\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read More<\/a><\/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-42049","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\/42049","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=42049"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42049\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42062,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42049\/revisions\/42062"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42049"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42049"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42049"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}