- TO FIX ECONOMY, BOOST CONSUMPTION
SUBJECT: ECONOMY
- Monitor sticky food inflation and its secondary effects.
- Boost private capex and disposable incomes.
- December 2024 inflation at 5.22% due to high prices of key products.
- Weak private investment and slowing government capex.
- Promote mass consumption and e-commerce growth.
- Enhance disposable incomes in the urban middle class
- 2025 projected to be “anything but ordinary” with uneven disinflation.
- Monitoring threats like weaponization of uncertainty in global trade
2. COURT ASKS CENTRE TO CONSIDER APPLICATION BY SRI LANKAN TAMIL OF INDIAN ORIGIN FOR CITIZENSHIP
SUBJECT: POLITY
- A Sri Lankan Tamil refugee of Indian origin seeks Indian citizenship.
- Petitioner born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka (1975), migrated to India in 1984 due to ethnic strife.
- Parents identified as Indian-origin Tamils but denied Sri Lankan citizenship, leaving them stateless.
- The petitioner has been living in India for over 40 years.
- Application for citizenship filed under Section 5(1)(a)of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
- The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court directed the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to consider her case within 12 weeks.
- The High Court emphasized: – The petitioner had fulfilled legal conditions under the Citizenship Act.
- The Ministry of Home Affairs should expedite the process and address statelessness.
- Indian Citizenship Rules: Case Analysis
- Constitutional Provisions: Article 5 to 11of the Constitution deals with citizenship in India.
- The petitioner seeks citizenship under Section 5(1)(a)of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
- Section 5(1)(a) of Citizenship Act, 1955:
- Eligibility: Registration as a citizen of India for persons of Indian origin residing in India for 7+ years.
- The petitioner qualifies based on long-term residence and proof of Indian origin.
3. SURVEY ADDS 24 NEW SPECIES TO MANNAR’S FAUNAL STOCK
SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENT
- 24 new species of birds, butterflies, and odonates recorded.
- Includes 11 new bird species, raising the total to 258 in Munnar Wildlife Division.
- Endemic butterflies like Nilgiri Clouded Yellow, Palni Bush-Brown, and documented
- Highlights the ecological richness of Mathikettan Shola National Park and surrounding areas.
- Conservation efforts vital for biodiversity protection
4. INDIA, EU EXPECTED TO MAKE MEANINGFUL PROGRESS ON FTA TALKS IN 2025 : DIPLOMATS
SUBJECT: BILATERAL
- Progress in Free Trade Agreement (FTA)negotiations expected in 2025.
- India-EU Relationship: Long-standing trade partners.
- Strategic focus areas include trade, economic growth, and geopolitics
- Bridging gaps in trade and economic policies.
- EU-India Summit scheduled for later in the year
- Strengthening India’s trade with the EU will boost economic growth and reduce dependency on other blocs
5. RNA, NOT DNA IS THE MAIN CAUSE OF ACUTE SUNBURN
SUBJECT: SCIENCE
- RNA, not DNA, is primarily affected by UV exposure, leading to skin inflammation and cell death
- The discovery shifts focus from DNA damage to RNA in understanding skin damage mechanisms.
- ZAK-alpha could be a potential therapeutic target for treating UV-induced skin conditions
- Insights into skin immunity and mechanisms underlying skin cancers.
- Development of RNA-based treatments to mitigate UV damage.
- Could influence sunscreen and dermatological product formulations targeting RNA protection.
