LEGAL NEWS

Supreme Court Ruling on Disability Rights

• The Supreme Court of India affirmed that the right against disability-based discrimination is a fundamental right.

• The ruling aligns with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, and international disability rights conventions.

• Visually impaired candidates are now eligible to participate in judicial service recruitment processes.

• Authorities have been instructed to complete the recruitment process within three months.

• The Court invalidated Rule 6A of the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Service Examination Rules, 1994, which excluded visually impaired individuals.

• The proviso in Rule 7 of the Rajasthan Judicial Service Rules, 2010, was also struck down for violating the equality principle.

NATIONAL NEWS

India's Progress in Maternal and Child Health

• India has successfully achieved the National Health Policy target of reducing the maternal mortality rate (MMR) to 100 deaths per one lakh live births.

• From 1990 to 2020, India has seen an 83% reduction in MMR, surpassing the global decline rate.

• Over the same period, India’s Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) decreased by 69%, compared to a 55% decline globally.

• The Under-5 Mortality Rate in India has dropped by 75%, a significant improvement compared to the global decline of 58%.

• The recent 9th meeting of the National Health Mission’s (NHM) Mission Steering Group was chaired by Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda.

• J.P. Nadda emphasized the crucial role of ASHA workers in the healthcare system and stressed the need for their further empowerment and welfare.

APPOINTMENTS

Yamandú Orsi Becomes President of Uruguay

• Yamandú Orsi, a left-wing leader and former mayor, has assumed office as Uruguay's new President.

• Orsi won the November election in a close contest against the ruling centre-right coalition.

• The outgoing President, Luis Lacalle Pou, handed over the presidential sash during an official ceremony.

• Lacalle Pou’s government faced challenges such as high living costs, inequality, and rising violent crime, affecting its popularity.

• In 2024, nearly 19% of Uruguay's population was living in "multidimensional" poverty.

• Uruguay’s economy is heavily reliant on agricultural exports.

Christian Stocker Appointed as Austria's New Chancellor

• Christian Stocker has been sworn in as Austria’s new Chancellor, leading a coalition government formed five months after the 2023 election.

• The coalition, consisting of Stocker’s center-right ÖVP, the center-left SPÖ, and the liberal Neos, was established after initial talks in January failed.

• Stocker replaces Karl Nehammer as the head of ÖVP after Nehammer resigned in January following unsuccessful coalition negotiations.

• Andreas Bebler, leader of SPÖ, has been appointed as Vice-Chancellor.

• A former lawyer, Stocker has been a member of Austria’s parliament since 2019 and served as ÖVP’s secretary general until his appointment as Chancellor.

• Austria and India have enjoyed strong diplomatic relations since 1949, with 2019 marking 70 years of cooperation between the two nations.

GOVERNMENT SCHEMES

Launch of Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayats by Ministry of Panchayati Raj

• The Ministry of Panchayati Raj launched the Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayats on 5th March 2025.

• This initiative was introduced as part of the celebrations for International Women’s Day 2025.

• The goal is to establish at least one Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayat in each district across the country.

• These Gram Panchayats aim to promote gender-sensitive and girl-friendly governance practices.

• The launch event was attended by key officials, including Minister of State for Panchayati Raj Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

U.S. to Impose Reciprocal Tariffs on India and China Starting April 2

• U.S. President Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on several nations, including India, during his first address to a joint session of Congress.

• The new tariffs, set to begin on April 2, are aimed at matching the tariff rates imposed by other countries on U.S. goods.

• Reciprocal tariffs are duties levied by one country in response to similar tariffs set by another country.

• These tariffs will apply to imported goods from affected countries, serving as a countermeasure to existing trade policies.

• Indian goods will face higher import duties in the U.S., making them more expensive and less competitive in the U.S. market.

SUMMIT AND CONFERENCE

12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum Inaugurated in Jaipur

• The 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum took place from March 3-5, 2025, in Jaipur, focusing on sustainable waste management and circular economy solutions.

• Key topics included the principles of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle (3R).

• The forum was organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, India, in collaboration with the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD) and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES).

• The event received support from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Japan’s Ministry of Environment, and other global and regional organizations.

• The forum’s theme was "Realizing Circular Societies towards Achieving SDGs and Carbon Neutrality in Asia-Pacific."

• India has been at the forefront of circular economy initiatives, with programs like the Swachh Bharat Mission, GOBAR-Dhan Scheme, E-Waste Management Rules, and Extended Producer Responsibility for Plastics.

• Notable announcements included the Cities Coalition for Circularity (C-3), a city-to-city collaboration for knowledge-sharing and private sector partnerships, and the signing of an MoU for CITIIS 2.0 with a ₹1,800 crore investment in 18 cities.

• The forum also introduced the new 3R and Circular Economy Declaration (2025-2034), aiming to drive transformational changes in waste and resource management.

• Previous forums have been hosted in Cambodia (2023) and India (2018), with the 8th edition held in Indore.

• India’s commitment to sustainability includes banning single-use plastics on July 1, 2022.

RANKING AND INDEX

Lancet Study: Rising Obesity Rates in India by 2050

• A Lancet study projects that nearly one-third of India’s population will be overweight or obese by 2050.

• By 2050, an estimated 21.8 crore Indian men and 23.1 crore women will be affected by obesity or overweight conditions.

• Globally, more than half of adults and one-third of children and adolescents are expected to be overweight or obese by 2050.

• The prevalence of obesity is rising among young people, particularly those aged 15-24.

• Obesity among young men in India has increased from 0.4 crore in 1990 to 1.68 crore in 2021, with projections to reach 2.27 crore by 2050.

• The number of obese young women has grown from 0.33 crore in 1990 to 1.3 crore in 2021, expected to rise to 1.69 crore by 2050.

• In 2021, India led in obesity rates among young men and women, surpassing both China and the United States.

• Obesity among children in India is also on the rise: the number of obese boys has increased from 0.46 crore in 1990 to 1.3 crore in 2021, and is projected to reach 1.6 crore by 2050.

• Obesity among girls grew from 0.45 crore in 1990 to 1.24 crore in 2021, with expectations to rise to 1.44 crore by 2050.

• Only 40% of countries have effective policies addressing obesity, and low- to middle-income countries have a policy coverage of just 10%.