LEGAL NEWS

P&H High Court: Right to be Considered for Promotion is Fundamental Right

• The Punjab & Haryana High Court has reaffirmed that government employees have a fundamental right to be considered for promotion.

• This right flows from Article 14 (equality before law) and Article 16(1) (equal opportunity in public employment).

• The Court clarified that there is no fundamental right to actual promotion, but there is a right to fair evaluation and consideration.

• In the Kulwant Singh case, a junior engineer was wrongly excluded from the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) due to misinterpretation of eligibility rules.

• The High Court held that such exclusion violated his fundamental right to be considered for promotion.

• The Court directed notional retrospective promotion and also ordered that DPC meetings must be held regularly.

• The Court relied on Supreme Court principles, including:

• Ajit Singh v. State of Punjab (1999): recognized the right to be considered for promotion.

• Bihar State Electricity Board v. Dharamdeo Das (2024): clarified that consideration does not guarantee promotion.

• It was reiterated that DPCs are official committees responsible for assessing eligible employees based on service rules, merit, and seniority.

Gujarat Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026

• The Gujarat Legislative Assembly has passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026, making Gujarat the second Indian state after Uttarakhand (2024) to enact a UCC.

• The law introduces a standardised civil framework by replacing religion-based personal laws in matters such as marriage, divorce, and inheritance.

• It ensures gender equality by granting sons and daughters equal rights in inheritance of all property.

• It mandates compulsory registration of marriages within 60 days.

• Registration of live-in relationships within 30 days has also been made mandatory.

• The code enforces a monogamous system, strictly prohibiting polygamy and bigamy across all religious communities.

• It provides that all separations and divorces must be processed only through civil courts, eliminating customary or out-of-court divorce practices.

• Scheduled Tribes in Gujarat have been exempted from the UCC to protect their traditional customs and identity.

• Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is mentioned under Article 44 of the Directive Principles of State Policy, directing the State to secure a uniform civil code for citizens (non-justiciable).

• The UCC aims to balance constitutional principles by addressing the tension between Article 25 (freedom of religion) and Article 14 (equality before law) through uniform civil procedures.

• Indian courts have repeatedly supported the idea of UCC, from the Shah Bano case (1985) to later judicial observations, considering it important for a secular legal framework.

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Maritime Day 2026 (5 April)

• National Maritime Day is observed in India every year on 5 April.

• It is celebrated to highlight the importance of maritime trade in supporting global commerce and the world economy.

• This day has been officially observed since 1964.

• It commemorates the historic voyage of SS Loyalty, launched by the Scindia Steam Navigation Company.

• SS Loyalty sailed from Mumbai to the United Kingdom on 5 April 1919, marking a major milestone in Indian shipping history.

• On this occasion, the Varuna Award is presented to honour individuals for outstanding contribution to India’s maritime sector.

• The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) celebrated the 63rd National Maritime Day through multiple events for the maritime community.

• The theme for the celebration was “Maritime India – Empowering Progress”, reflecting India’s reforms and ambition to become a global maritime leader.

• World Maritime Day is observed annually on the Thursday of the last week of September.

International Day of Sport for Development and Peace 2026 (6 April)

• The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace is observed every year on 6 April.

• The day highlights the role of sports in promoting peace, unity, and positive social change.

• The theme for 2026 is “Sport: Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers”.

• The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared 6 April as this international day through a resolution passed on 23 August 2013.

• The date also commemorates the opening of the first modern Olympic Games held in 1896 at Athens, Greece.

• It promotes the idea that sports can support inclusion, development, and conflict resolution.

• In India, National Sports Day is celebrated on 29 August.

• This day marks the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Min Aung Hlaing Elected President of Myanmar

• Min Aung Hlaing has been elected as the President of Myanmar through a parliamentary process.

• This development marks his formal shift from military leadership to the position of Head of State.

• He has effectively controlled Myanmar since the 2021 military coup, which removed the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

• The presidential vote was held in Naypyidaw, where the legislature is dominated by military-backed members.

• Ye Win Oo has been appointed as the new Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar’s Armed Forces.

• He replaces Min Aung Hlaing, who had served as Commander-in-Chief since 2011.

• These leadership changes come after years of military rule following the coup.

• During this period, elected leaders were detained, and Myanmar’s democratic institutions were severely weakened.

STATE NEWS

‘School Chalen Hum’ Campaign Launched in Madhya Pradesh

• The ‘School Chalen Hum’ campaign has been launched by Mohan Yadav from Bhopal to promote universal enrollment and improve education quality in Madhya Pradesh.

• The campaign was conducted for four days (1 April to 4 April) with the goal of ensuring that every child attends school.

• It covered over 55 districts and more than 50,000 villages to bring out-of-school children into classrooms.

• Over 5.6 crore textbooks, workbooks, and bridge courses were distributed to strengthen learning support.

• A 19.6% rise in total school enrollment was recorded for the academic year 2025–26.

• Government schools saw a higher enrollment growth of 32.4%, showing increased trust in public education.

• A zero dropout rate at the primary level was achieved through coordinated efforts of teachers, parents, and officials.

• Around 55 lakh students received uniforms, along with support like bicycles and financial assistance.

• Nearly 1.94 lakh meritorious students scoring 75% or above were provided laptops.

• About ₹250 crore was allocated for rewarding toppers with scooters.

• The campaign aligns with NEP 2020 and aims to reach an enrollment target of 1.45 crore students while strengthening the overall education ecosystem.

DEFENCE

BRO Celebrates 47th Raising Day of Project Chetak in Bikaner

• The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) celebrated the 47th Raising Day of Project Chetak in Bikaner, Rajasthan.

• The event highlighted the project’s over four decades of service in strategically important western border regions.

• The Ministry of Defence stated that Project Chetak was established in 1980.

• It has played a key role in building and maintaining infrastructure in Rajasthan, Punjab, and Northern Gujarat.

• The project has significantly improved border connectivity, strengthening movement and access in remote areas.

• It functions under the motto “Chetak ka Prayas, Desh ka Vikas”, reflecting its development-driven vision.

• Project Chetak is among the largest BRO initiatives, covering a wide geographical region.

• A road network of over 4,000 km has been constructed and maintained under the project.

• It has also built ditch-cum-bund structures stretching around 214 km.

• The infrastructure supports defence forces deployed near the international border by ensuring critical road access.

SPORTS

Murali Sreeshankar Wins Long Jump Title at Indian Athletics Series 2026

• Murali Sreeshankar won the men’s long jump title at the Indian Athletics Series 2026 in Bengaluru with a best jump of 8.15 metres.

• He was the only athlete in the competition to cross the 8.00 metre mark.

• He also surpassed the Asian Games qualifying standard of 7.91 metres, indicating strong form and readiness.

• In the men’s triple jump, Abdulla Aboobacker secured first place with a jump of 16.82 metres.

• The men’s high jump was won by Sarvesh Kushare, who cleared 2.23 metres.

• In women’s events, notable performances were recorded, including Baranica Elangovan in pole vault.

• Ancy Sojan won the women’s long jump event by a narrow margin.

• In the men’s javelin throw, Bibin Antony claimed the title with a best throw of 77.53 metres.

MISCELLANEOUS

Oxford University Launches UK Exhibition to Mark 200 Years of Shikshapatri

• Oxford University has launched a touring exhibition across the UK to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Shikshapatri.

• The initiative is being spearheaded by the Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford.

• The Shikshapatri is considered a rare and highly respected Hindu religious manuscript.

• The word Shikshapatri means “Letter of Teachings.”

• It was written by Sahajanand Swami in Vadtal, Gujarat, in 1826.

• The exhibition is being organised in partnership with leaders of the Swaminarayan tradition.

• The manuscript will be displayed at major Swaminarayan temples across the United Kingdom to allow wider public viewing.

• The scripture focuses on moral conduct, spiritual discipline, and ethical living.

• It contains 212 Sanskrit verses, summarising key principles drawn from Hindu scriptures.