Today in History (October 29th, 1929)
On October 29, 1929, just five days after nearly 13 million shares of U.S. stock were sold in a single day, an additional 16 million shares were sold. This day, known as “Black Tuesday,” intensified the financial turmoil that would become the Great Depression.
Summary of Today’s News
India, Spain slam attacks on UN troops in Lebanon.
India and Spain condemned attacks on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), stressing the need to protect peacekeepers and the sanctity of UNIFIL’s mandate. Amid rising violence, India maintains 903 troops, and Spain 676. Prime Ministers Modi and Sanchez inaugurated the C-295 aircraft final assembly line in Vadodara, a Tata-Airbus project to replace India’s Avro fleet. India’s defense exports, now reaching over 100 countries, are poised for growth, with Vadodara-made C-295s envisioned for global export.
Chhattisgarh govt. hikes OBC quota to 50% for local body polls.
The BJP government in Chhattisgarh has increased reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in local body elections, raising it from 25% to a maximum of 50%, based on population proportion. This decision, led by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and based on recommendations from the State Backward Classes Welfare Commission, applies to reserved posts such as district panchayat chairpersons and mayors. Notably, if SC and ST reservations in a local body reach or exceed 50%, the OBC quota will not apply. Elections are expected by year-end as current terms end in December.
The under-representation of women in the judiciary.
Efforts to increase women’s representation in the judiciary focus on entry-level but lack measures for retention and advancement. Women constitute 36.3% of district judges, 13.4% in High Courts, and 9.3% in the Supreme Court, with only 15.31% of advocates being women. Challenges include gender-biased recruitment rules, inadequate infrastructure, and limited representation in decision-making roles. To address these, recommendations include gender-sensitive policies, family-friendly court facilities, representation of women in administrative committees, and gender-sensitization training to foster an inclusive judiciary environment that supports women’s career growth.
Panel meeting on Waqf Bill ends in heated arguments.
During a recent meeting, Opposition members staged a walkout protesting a presentation by Ashwini Kumar, CEO of the Delhi Waqf Board, claiming it lacked Delhi government vetting. AAP MP Sanjay Singh raised this issue, prompting Delhi CM Atishi to declare the presentation “null and void.” Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Waqf Board Chairman Shadab Shams suggested allocating Waqf lands to martyrs’ families. Tensions escalated over the relevance of witnesses, leading to a heated exchange and intervention from panel Chairman Jagadambika Pal to restore order.
