Today in History (April 30^th,1955)

The Reserve Bank of India, which is the central bank of India, acquired a controlling interest in the Imperial Bank of India in 1955, which was renamed on 30 April 1955 to the State Bank of India.

Summary of Today’s News

Padma Awards Presented to 71 Personalities

President Droupadi Murmu conferred Padma awards to 71 out of 139 individuals announced earlier.

The Key points about the event

• The award ceremony took place at Rashtrapati Bhavan’s Durbar Hall in the presence of Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and others.

Categories of Awards

• The Padma awards include Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri.

Padma Vibhushan Awardees (4 total)

• Posthumous Awards:
  • Osamu Suzuki, former chief of Suzuki Motor Corporation

• T. Vasudevan Nair, Malayalam writer and film director

• Living Recipients:
  • Nageshwar Reddy, chairman of Asian Institute of Gastroenterology and AIG Hospitals

• Lakshminarayana Subramaniam, noted violinist

Padma Bhushan Awardees (10 total)

• Shekhar Kapur, filmmaker
• Nandamuri Balakrishna, Telugu actor
• Pankaj Udhas, singer
• Sushil Kumar Modi, former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister
• R. Sreejesh, former hockey player
• Ajith Kumar, Tamil actor
• Pankaj Patel, chairperson of Zydus Lifesciences
• Vinod Dham, Indian-American engineer, known as ‘Father of the Pentium’

Padma Shri Awardees (57 total)

• Lakshmipathy Ramasubbaiyer, publisher of Tamil daily Dinamalar
• Arundhati Bhattacharya, former chairperson of State Bank of India
• Pawan Kumar Goenka, industrialist
• Maruti Bhujangrao Chitampalli, wildlife researcher and Marathi author known for dictionaries on birds, animals, and trees
• Bhimavva Doddabalappa Shillekyathara, master puppeteer in leather puppetry (Togalu Gombeyaata)
• K. Mahapatra, former director of AIIMS and SGPGI
• Jaspinder Narula Kaul, Punjabi singer

  Recognition of Unsung Heroes (30 total)

• Included Libia Lobo Sardesai, 100-year-old activist involved in Goa’s freedom movement

Russia Declares 3-Day Ceasefire in Ukraine

President Vladimir Putin announced a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire in Ukraine from May 8 to May 10.

Reason for Ceasefire

• The truce is to mark Russia’s Victory Day in World War II, commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945.

Ceasefire Timing

• The ceasefire will begin at 2100 GMT on May 7 and end at 2100 GMT on May 10.

Kremlin’s Stance

• Russia described the move as based on “humanitarian grounds” and urged Ukraine to follow suit.
  Warned that any violations by Ukraine would be met with an “adequate and efficient response.”

Ukraine’s Response

• Kyiv dismissed the ceasefire as mere “window dressing.”
  Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated Ukraine wants a lasting and complete ceasefire, ideally lasting at least 30 days.
  Reaffirmed Kyiv’s support for a longer truce, similar to the one previously proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Past Ceasefires

• Putin had earlier declared a 30-hour Easter ceasefire

Armed forces have a free hand to respond to terror, says Modi

Introduction:

Following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives, Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened a high-level security meeting to assess the situation and determine India’s course of action. The focus was on granting operational autonomy to the armed forces and reinforcing national resolve against terrorism.

Key Points:

• Operational Freedom to Armed Forces:
  • PM Modi granted the Indian Armed Forces full freedom to decide the mode, targets, and timing of India’s response.
  • Emphasized complete faith in the professional capabilities of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• High-Level Security Meeting:
  • Held at PM Modi’s residence in New Delhi.
  • Attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, NSA Ajit Doval, CDS Gen. Anil Chauhan, and the chiefs of Army, Air Force, and Navy.
• Follow-up Cabinet Committee on Security:
  • A Cabinet Committee on Security meeting is scheduled, indicating a coordinated national response is underway.
• Military and Diplomatic Measures:
  • Military retaliation is under consideration.
  • Diplomatic actions against Pakistan have already begun.
• Ceasefire Violations:
  • Pakistan Army engaged in unprovoked firing across the LoC in Kupwara, Baramulla, and Akhnoor sectors.
  • Indian Army responded measuredly and effectively.
• Ongoing Counter-Terror Operations:
  • Intelligence-based operations are active in Kashmir.
  • Forces remain on high alert amid continued threats.
• Internal Security Coordination:
  • Home Secretary Govind Mohan chaired a meeting with top security agencies including BSF, Assam Rifles, NSG, CRPF, and CISF.
  • Instructions issued to maintain highest vigilance at the borders.
• RSS Involvement:
  • RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat met PM Modi in a rare meeting, also attended by Home Minister Amit Shah.
  • Discussions focused on Kashmir’s security situation and India’s response strategy.

What’s wrong with using Pegasus for national security: SC

Introduction:

The Supreme Court of India addressed petitions concerning the government’s alleged use of Pegasus spyware, raising critical questions about the balance between national security and individual privacy. The court questioned whether the use of such surveillance tools was inherently wrong if deployed against anti-national elements, while also recognizing concerns about unlawful surveillance of citizens.

Key Points:

• Court’s Question on Pegasus Use:
  • Justice Surya Kant asked what was wrong with using Pegasus for national security, provided it was not used against ordinary citizens.
  • Emphasized the need to distinguish between lawful use against threats and illegal surveillance.
• Focus on Privacy vs Security:
  • The court reiterated the importance of protecting privacy but also stated national security cannot be compromised.
  • Justice Kant highlighted the current security climate, referencing recent threats.
• Government’s Stand:
  • Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta supported the stance, saying “terrorists cannot have privacy rights.”
• Petitioners’ Concerns:
  • Senior advocates including Kapil Sibal, Shyam Divan, and Dinesh Dwivedi argued the core issue is whether Pegasus was illegally used for surveillance on citizens.
  • Pointed to a S. court ruling indicating Pegasus was used in India.
• Demand for Transparency:
  • Petitioners requested release of redacted findings from a top court-appointed technical committee that examined phones for Pegasus.
  • Called for public release of the full report if surveillance on citizens, journalists, or judges occurred.
• Court’s Response:
  • The Bench refused to disclose findings that might affect national sovereignty or security.
  • Acknowledged that individuals who submitted phones had a right to know if they were hacked.
• Further Legal Steps:
  • Petitioners asked for the report by Justice R.V. Raveendran, which contains suggestions on surveillance law reforms, to be shared.
  • The court asked lawyers to provide a list of individuals who suspected being targeted.