Today in History (May 9^th, 1540)

Pratap Singh I, (born on 9th May 1540) popularly known as Maharana Pratap, was a king of Kingdom of Mewar, a princely state in north-western India in the present-day state of Rajasthan. He is notable for leading the Rajput resistance against the expansionist policy of the Mughal Emperor Akbar including the Battle of Haldighati.

Let’s revise

A) Which one it the capital city of Egypt?

1. Cairo
2. Giza
3. Aswan
4. Suez

Ans. (a)

B) Aswan Dam is located on which river or canal?

1. Nile
2. Suez canal
3. Congo river
4. None of the above

Ans. (a)

C) The four countries amount to 60% of plastic pollution in the world, according to a report by Earth Action?

1. Brazile, China, USA, India
2. Russia, South Africa, China, USA
3. Britain, Russia, China, USA
4. None of the above is correct

Ans. (a)

D) Who is the current chairman of BCI Bar Council of India?

1. Manan Kumar Mishra
2. D.Y. Chandrachud
3. Arjunram Megwal
4. None of the above

Ans. (a)

E) The liberalisation of Indian economy was started in ___

1. 1998
2. 1991
3. 2006
4. 1956

Ans. (b)

F) What do you mean by LPG regarding Indian economic reforms?

1. Liberalisation, Privatization, Globalisation
2. Labour reforms in Private and Government offices
3. Liquid Petroleum Gas
4. Localization, Privatization, Globalisation

Ans. (a)

G) The religious book of Jews is_____

1. The Torah
2. Judaism
3. Synagogue
4. Abraham

Ans. (a)

Summary of Today’s News

Over four lakh under trials can not exercise their franchise

As the elections for 18th Lok Sabha are ongoing but over 4 lakh prisoners can not caste their vote due to a sweeping ban under the law.
The irony is that ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief Amritpal Singh and Abdul Rashid Sheikh aka Engineer Rashid, the leader of the Awami Ittehad Party, are set to run for election while confined in Dibrugarh Jail and Tihar Jail respectively. Even convicts serving sentences under two years are allowed to contest elections from prison.
There are multiple criticisms from legal experts for such undemocratic and illogical law and practice. Section 62(5) of The Representation of the People Act says no person can vote in any election if confined in prison whether as a convict or an undertrial.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau, in 2022 there were 4,34,302 undertrials across jails in India, comprising 76% of the total jail population of 5,73,220.
Although undertrials are deprived of various legal rights but the right to vote for prisoners is being denied as the Election Commission of India says that it has lack of administrative convenience. According to some legal experts it can be addressed through the option of postal ballot because this method is available for certain categories of voters.
Security agencies objected based on security threats or challenges. For example 90% prisoners in Tihar Jail are under trials and belong to categories of criminals like terrorists, gangsters, sharp shooters etc. so we can not allow them to go outside the jail to caste the vote. There will be need to deploy additional police forces, paramilitary forces and various other security arrangements.

Irrational Israel

PM of Israel is prioritizing his political career over the future of Israel.
• Hamas accepts ceasefire proposal from Qatar and Egypt. People in Rafah, Gaza, celebrate in hopes of avoiding an Israeli invasion. Israel rejects the proposal, citing it doesn’t meet its demands.
• Over 100,000 people evacuated from Rafah by Israel.Israeli government sends tanks to Rafah and seizes Gaza-Egypt border. Israel now controls most entry points to Gaza, keeping them closed.
• Gaza faces dire conditions: over 34,000 Palestinians killed, 77,000 wounded, widespread displacement. Northern Gaza experiences famine, hunger crisis spreads. Hundreds of thousands forced into temporary shelters in Rafah, urged to evacuate by Israel.
• Israel faced a severe attack on October 7, receiving global solidarity. However, Israel’s subsequent actions in Gaza mirror Hamas’ tactics. Netanyahu’s government imposed collective punishment on Gaza’s entire population, supported by Western allies.
• Despite disproportionate force, Israel hasn’t defeated Hamas or secured hostage release. Invading Rafah could worsen Israel’s situation politically and internationally. Continued war risks further weakening Israel’s standing globally.
• Urgent ceasefire and hostage release negotiations are the only viable solution. Even Hamas, a ruthless organization, has shown willingness to negotiate. The crucial question remains: Is Netanyahu willing to pursue peace?

The socio-ecological effects of costly LPG

• Data from the 2014-2015 ACCESS survey, conducted by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water, found LPG’s cost to be the foremost barrier to its adoption and continued use in rural poor households.
• Of the 54 countries whose LPG prices were available, those in India were reportedly the highest, around ₹300/litre.
• Devising locally acceptable, suitable, and sustainable alternatives to fuel wood is important to secure the forests, the flora and fauna, and locals’ livelihoods.

The Steps of the government to promote LPG

• Rajiv Gandhi Gramin LPG Vitrak scheme was launched in 2009 to increase LPG distribution in remote areas; nearly 45 million new LPG connections were thus established between 2010 and 2013.
• Direct benefit transfers for LPG under the ‘PAHAL’ scheme were initiated in 2015.
• In 2016, direct home-refill deliveries were implemented and the ‘Give it Up’ program enrolled around 10 million LPG consumers to voluntarily discontinue subsidies and transfer their accounts to below-poverty-line households.
• The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) followed, to install LPG connections in 80 million below-poverty-line households by 2020.

Racial comments of Sam Pitroda on Indian people

• PM Narendra Modi criticized Congress after Rahul Gandhi’s aide, Sam Pitroda, made controversial remarks about India’s diversity.
• Modi accused Congress of having a racist mindset and attempting to divide the nation based on skin color.
• BJP leaders, including Chief Ministers, joined the criticism, escalating the issue into a major controversy.
• Congress distanced itself from Pitroda’s comments, calling them “unfortunate and unacceptable.”
• Pitroda resigned as the Indian Overseas Congress chief under pressure from the party leadership.
• Congress allies like D. Raja of CPI and Sanjay Singh of AAP also criticized Pitroda’s remarks, stating they provided ammunition to right-wing forces.
• Pitroda, in a podcast, described India’s diversity, mentioning resemblances to Chinese, Arabs, Whites, and Africans in different regions.
• The BJP latched on to the comment, with the Prime Minister raising it at his rallies in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
• “I do not get angry if someone abuses me. Today, the philosopher of shehzada [prince] has inflicted such a big abuse that I am full of anger. Will people’s abilities in our country be decided by the colour of their skin? Who has allowed the shehzada to play this game of skin?” Mr. Modi asked.
• He linked the Congress’s opposition to Droupadi Murmu’s presidential bid to this mindset, which saw her as an “African” because of her dark skin.
• Mr. Modi asked if Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his Telangana counterpart, A. Revanth Reddy, would accept “such an accusation”. He also asked if Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin would snap the DMK’s ties with the Congress for Tamil pride. “Do they have the guts?” he asked.

India is now third largest producer of solar power

• In 2023, India overtook Japan to become the world’s third-highest producer of solar power, according to data provided by international energy analytics agency Ember.
• India generated 113 billion units (BU) of solar power in 2023 compared to Japan’s 110 BU.
• In terms of installed power capacity, which includes sources of renewable and non-renewable energy, India at 73 gigawatt (1 GW is one billion watts) ranks fifth in the world while Japan is at third place (83 GW), according to data computed by Ember.
• Data from NITI Ayog suggest that as of May 2024, solar power while making up 18% of India’s total installed electricity of 442 GW, made up only 6.66% of the power actually produced – reflecting the gap between potential and actuals.
• Power demand in Japan decreased by 2% (2 BU) in 2023 after rising in 2021 and 2022, thus allowing India to overtake Japan. While it is unclear if this trend will sustain next year.
• the United States which is in the second spot – will require India to more than double its current solar production and exceed 228 BU
The leading producer of solar power in the world is China which produced 584 BU of solar power in 2024 – more than the next four countries combined — the United States, Japan, Germany and India.