- A RESTORATION OF SANITY TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM
SUBJECT: POLITY
- State of Tamil Nadu vs. The Governor of Tamil Nadu and Anr.
- Context: Governor R.N. Ravi withheld assent to 10 Bills passed by Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly for years without decision.
- Assembly passed the Bills again and sent them again. Governor forwarded to President instead of giving assent. Supreme Court Verdict (April 8, 2025)
- Landmark ruling: Bills passed by State Assembly twice and withheld without reason must be deemed assented.
- President’s assent cannot override democratic legislative will when not constitutionally warranted.
- The Court invoked Article 142to ensure all 10 withheld Bills were considered passed.
- Interpretation of Article 200
- The Governor has no veto or absolute power under Article 200.
- He must act within a reasonable time and follow the course of:
- Giving assent
- Withholding assent
- Returning the Bill for reconsideration
- Reserving for the President
- Issue with President’s Role
- The Governor’s act of forwarding Bills to the President after State’s reconsideration—was held unconstitutional.
- President’s withholding of assent in such a case was declared ultra vires, as the constitutional path had been exhausted.
2. SPOKE TO ELIN MUSK ON COLLABORATION IN TECHNOLOGY
SUBJECT: BILATERAL
- PM Narendra Modi spoke to Elon Musk, discussing avenues of collaboration in technology and innovation.
- Recalled earlier in-person meeting in Washington DC in February 2024. Highlighted India’s commitment to strengthening ties with the U.S. in advanced tech domains.
- Focus Areas
- Talks revolved around expanding India-U.S. technology partnerships.
- Possible collaborations likely include:
- Electric mobility(Tesla)
- Satellite internet connectivity(Starlink)
- Innovation ecosystems
- Market Entry by Elon Musk’s Companies Tesla is exploring the Indian EV market actively. Starlink’s entry is pending approval from the Department of Telecommunications for satellite internet services.
- Starlink team recently met with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal for policy-level discussions.
3. INDIA SLAMS DHAKA’S DISINGENOUS CALL ON PROTECTING RIGHTS OF INDIAN MUSLIMS
SUBJECT: NATIONAL
- India rejected Bangladesh’s comment on protecting rights of Indian Muslims as “disguised and disingenuous”.
- External Affairs Ministry emphasized that Bangladesh should focus on protecting its own minorities, referencing ongoing persecution of minorities in Bangladesh.
- Triggering Event
- Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor, refuted Indian allegations about Bangladeshi citizens being involved in Murshidabad anti Waqf Act protests.
- Called on India to protect Muslim rights following communal unrest.
- Communal Violence & Waqf Act Backdrop Protests in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district were linked to opposition to Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025.
- Allegations surfaced about foreign elements from Bangladesh being involved in fueling the unrest.
- India’s Diplomatic Stand India highlighted its concerns over minority attacks in Bangladesh, post the political shift in Dhaka on August 5, 2024.
- Cited repeated incidents of violence and intimidation against religious minorities in Bangladesh.
4. ARBITRARY TAKEDOWN ORDERS ON WIKIPEDIA WILL STIFLE FLOW OF INFORMATION
SUBJECT: SOCIAL ISSUES
- Supreme Court overturned Delhi High Court’s directive to Wikimedia to take down a Wikipedia article based on a defamation case filed by Asian News International (ANI).
- The HC had called the Wikipedia page defamatory due to references that were allegedly editorials/opinionated, placing a “higher responsibility” on Wikipedia.
- Supreme Court’s Stand
- Observed that: HC’s takedown direction was too broad.
- Removing all false/misleading content could punish the open, user-driven model of Wikipedia.
- Directed ANI to file a specific plea for removal of identified defamatory content.
- Wikipedia as an Internet Intermediary Wikipedia enjoy safe harbour under IT laws: Content is created/moderated by users.
- Wikimedia Foundation is not the primary publisher.
- Broad takedown orders threaten the model of collaborative editing.
- Community-Driven Safeguards Wikipedia uses: Extended confirmed protection
- Administrator oversight
- Community-elected editors based on reputation/history
- Ensures high content reliability despite open access.
5. TWO KUNO CHEETAHS TO BE MOVED TO GANDHI SAGAR ON APRIL 20
SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENT
- Two male cheetahs identified for relocation
- From: Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh
- To: Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Mandsaur and Neemuch districts
- This is the second phase of cheetah reintroduction in India since the species was brought back in2022.
- Kuno was developed as a habitat for cheetahs under the Cheetah Project, but space and human-animal conflict are key concerns. Significance
- Helps reduce pressure on Kuno National Parkby diversifying habitats.
- Shows commitment towards long-term cheetah population stabilization and breeding success.
- Enhances prospects of ecotourism and community involvement in conservation.
