- ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA
- Election Commission of India – Part XV (Article 324-329)
- The body administers elections to the § Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and State Legislative Assemblies in India
- And the offices of the President and Vice President in the country
- The Election Commission (EC) issues notices for violation of the Model Code of Conduct based on complaints
2. DONGRIA KONDHS
- The Dongria Kondh tribe is a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) residing in the Niyamgiri hills of Odisha, India
- They have faced accusations of being Maoist rebels (CPI-Maoist) for over 15 years, leading to arrests and harassment
- The Dongria Kondh tribe strongly denies these allegations and claims they are peaceful people
- Why are the wrongly labelled? – Their opposition to bauxite mining in Niyamgiri hills is believed to be the reason behind the Maoist links accusations
- They successfully protected their land through a gram sabha vote against the mining project in 2013
- Why in the News now? – Frustrated by ongoing accusations and criminal cases, the Dongria Kondh tribe has announced an election boycott to assert their existence and discontent
- Their constituency’s representative is the state’s Tribal Development Minister
3. BANGLADESH – MYANMAR
- Bangladesh sent home nearly 300 Myanmar troops and civil servants They fled across the border to escape attacks on their outposts near the frontier between the two countries
- A Myanmar-flagged ship carrying them departed from the Naniarchar river port
- Myanmar has been roiled in conflict since the military seized power from a democratically elected government in a 2021 coup
4. EMPHASISE DOMESTIC PATENTS, SUBSIDY FOR SEMICOUNDUCTORS
- India’s Semiconductor Opportunity: Challenges and Recommendations The India Cellular & Electronics Association (ICEA) sees an opportunity for India in the semiconductor industry due to:
- Geopolitical tensions impacting China’s chip industry: This creates a chance for India to attract investment and establish itself as a player
- Concerns about optimal economic benefits: Economists like Raghuram Rajan have questioned the economic viability of a major push in semiconductors
- However, ICEA argues that building capacity in high-tech, including semiconductors, is crucial for India’s future
- Challenges for India: Lack of domestic intellectual property (IP): Many Indian semiconductor engineers work for global firms that register the IP abroad, not in India
- ICEA’s Recommendations: – Improved local fundraising: India needs to make it easier for domestic semiconductor design companies to raise capital
- Incentivise domestic IP registration: The government should create incentives for companies to register semiconductor-related IP in India
- Learning from others: China: While China over-invested in low-tech chips, they have made access to funding and investor exits easier. India can learn from this approach
5. NEW TEST FOR SPECIAL LEARNING DISABILITIES IN ADULTS ON ANVIL
- New Test for Diagnosing Adult Learning Disabilities in India The Situation: Currently, there’s no proper way to diagnose Specific Learning Disabilities (SLDs) in adults in India
- This makes it difficult for adults with SLDs
- To get disability certificates and claim benefits under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act The Solution (Work in Progress):
- The government is developing a new test for diagnosing SLDs in adults
- This test is being designed by the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (NIEPID)
- The rollout is expected by the end of 2024 Reason for the Delay: SLDs are typically diagnosed in childhood
- When the RPwD Act included SLDs in 2016, it didn’t account for adults who already had the condition. What the New Test Will Mean: Adults with SLDs will finally have a way to get diagnosed.
- This will allow them to claim benefits like job reservations and educational support.
- The Supreme Court is currently hearing a case related to the lack of adult SLD diagnosis
- The new test will be validated against global standards
- Existing certification guidelines for SLDs in children involve assessments at age 8, 10, and 12
- The certificate issued after the final assessment at 18+ will be valid for life
ONE LINER
- The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) installed and activated India’s biggest climate Clock at New Delhi
- Mr.Ratan Tata has been conferred with the prestigious KISS (Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences) Humanitarian Award 2021
