Current Affairs for UPSC Exams | 20 July 2019

Plea in Supreme Court for proper identification of minorities : (National)

The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Attorney-General of India to be served a copy of a writ petition filed by advocate AshwiniUpadhyay, who is seeking directions to the government to either frame guidelines for identification of minorities at States’ level or, in the alternative, to “declare Hindus as ‘Minority’ for States where they are real minority”.
A Bench led by Chief Justice of India RanjanGogoi was hearing the petitioner, represented by senior advocate MukulRohatgi, challenging a notification issued on October 23, 1993 under the “unbridled powers” of Section 2(c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act of 1992.
The petition said the October 1993 notification declared Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis as ‘Minority’ community without conducting any study, research or homework.
According to the petition minority benefits are given to religious communities in certain States where they are in fact a majority, whereas religious communities which are actually minorities in those States are not even given equal status.
“Denial of minority rights to real minorities and arbitrary/unreasonable disbursement of minority benefits to the majority, infringes upon fundamental right to prohibition of discrimination,” the petition said.

International energy agency praises Ujjawala scheme : (Economy)

Prime Minister NarendraModi'sUjjwala scheme for providing free cooking gas connection to poor came in for praise from the International Energy Agency (IEA). The Agency said it is a major achievement in improving the environment and health of women.
Speaking at a conference in New Delhi, IEA Executive Director FatihBirol said, providing access to LPG across India by 2020 is a major achievement. Mr Birol said it is not an energy issue, it is an economic issue and it is a social issue.
Launched by Modi on May 1, 2016, in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, PradhanMantriUjjwalaYojana (PMUY) aims to safeguard the health of women and children by providing free cooking gas (LPG) connection to poor families.

Highlands of Kaziranga saves animals from flood : (Science and technology)

Kaziranga National Park (KNP)’s man-made highlands have turned into islands of relative safety for the park’s animals as large parts of Assam remain inundated by flood waters.
Among the handful of species that have taken refuge in these patches of higher ground are the one-horned rhino and the water buffalo, while most other animals have moved to the hills of KarbiAnglong district just beyond a highway that runs along the southern fringe of the park.
Two decades ago, the Assam Forest Department constructed 111 highlands as an experiment. It helped keep a few animals above the water level but served little purpose when 75% or more of the park was flooded.
In 2017, the park authorities started work on 33 more highlands that were bigger in dimension. “The older ones were 100x40 metres in area and 4 metres high,” said Rohini B. Saikia, KNP’s Divisional Forest Officer. “The newer ones are 100x50 metres and 5 metres high,” Mr.Saikia added.
The new highlands, constructed at a cost of ₹13 crore, were designed scientifically with provision for adequate grass, and plants yielding fruits such as elephant apple and Indian gooseberry, said State Forest Minister ParimalSuklabaidya.

Indian men & women teams win at commonwealth table tennis : (Sports)

In Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship held in Cuttack today, India made a record by winning gold in both men’s and women’s category.
The Indian men won the final match defeating England 3-2. The Indian women team defeated England 3-0 in final match. The Indian women team won the gold for the first time in the history in the commonwealth games.

Page Nav