- WONT DIRECTING CENTRE TO PROTECT BENGAL FROM VIOLENCE AMOUNT TO JUDICIAL INCURSION
SUBJECT: POLITY
- Supreme Court questioned if directing Centre to invoke Article 355in Bengal would be judicial overreach.
- Context:Plea for paramilitary deployment in Bengal due to protests over Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.
- Justice B.R. Gavai (next CJI) raised concerns about judiciary interfering with executive functions.
- Article 355:Union’s duty to protect states from internal disturbance, ensure constitutional governance.
- Debate:Can courts issue writ of mandamus to enforce Article 355 without encroaching on executive discretion?
- Related issues:Tamil Nadu Governor’s delay in bill assent; contempt proceedings against BJP MP Nishikant Dubey for remarks against SC, CJI Sanjiv Khanna.
- Another SC bench allowed withdrawal of plea for court-monitored SIT probe into Bengal violence.
2. THE ACCORD ON PATHOGEN ACCESS AND BENEFIT SHARING IS PATH BREAKING
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL
- WHO member states finalized Pandemic Agreement on April 16 for better pandemic preparedness.
- Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing System (PABS). ○ Countries sharing pathogen samples/genome sequences get equitable access to diagnostics, vaccines, treatments.
- Pharma companies to donate 10% production to WHO, offer 10% more at affordable prices.
- Negotiated over 3.5 years, 13 rounds; addresses COVID-19 inequities (vaccine hoarding by developed nations).
- Universal protection for health workers agreed upon.
- Technology transfer on mutually agreed terms, not voluntary/charity-based.
- Historical context: Echoes Indonesia’s H5N1 stand (mid-2000s) for fair vaccine access.
3. INDIA, CHINA AT 75 A TIME FOR STRATEGY NOT SENTIMENT
SUBJECT: BILATERAL
- 75 years of India-China diplomatic ties; calls for strategic, realpolitik-based engagement.
- Relationship defined by border tensions (e.g., Galwan 2020), military standoffs, economic interdependence.
- “China Lens”: India’s strategic decisions (border defence, connectivity) shaped by China.
- India’s LAC policy: 60,000+ troops in Eastern Ladakh, increased border infrastructure.
- Economic paradox:$100 billion+ trade in 2024-25; dependency on Chinese APIs, electronics.
- Goal:Decoupling without disruption, boosting domestic capacity.
- Competition in South Asia:China’s projects (Hambantota Port, Belt and Road) vs. India’s proactive diplomacy.
- U.S.-China tensions, Trump’s return add complexity; India prefers “multialignment.”
4. NEW PATHWAYS FOR INDIA’S CREATIVE ECONOMY
SUBJECT: ECONOMY
- Creative economy spans arts, design, tech; valued at $30 billion, employs 8% of workforce.
- Global creative exports:$1.4 trillion in 2022; India’s 2019 exports: $121 billion.
- Creative output grew 20% last year, contributing $11 billion.
- Grassroots innovations(e.g., mitti cool refrigerator) need investment, IP protection.
- Policy suggestions: “One district one innovation,” stronger IP framework.
- UNCTAD’s Creative Economy Outlook 2024 highlights India’s potential.
- Challenges:Lack of institutional support, capital access, weak IP enforcement.
5. BULLSEYE GALAXY WITH NINE RINGS MAY REVEAL DARK MATTER SECRETS
SUBJECT: GEOGRAPHY
- Bullseye Galaxy (LEDA 1312434):Nine rings from dwarf galaxy collision.
- 2.5x larger than Milky Way; 130,000 light-years from dwarf galaxy.
- Collision caused star formation ripples; gas trail confirms interaction.
- Potential early-stage giant low surface-brightness (GLSB) galaxy.
- GLSBs: Low hydrogen, high dark matter; ideal for dark matter research.
- Observed via Hubble, Keck; published in Astrophysical Journal Letters.
