LEGAL NEWS
Supreme Court Criticizes Tamil Nadu Governor’s Actions on Re-Adopted Bills
• The Supreme Court has ruled that Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi acted beyond his constitutional limits by reserving 10 re-adopted bills for Presidential assent, calling his actions both “illegal” and “erroneous.”
• This judgment was delivered in response to a petition filed by the Tamil Nadu government challenging the Governor’s refusal to grant assent to bills that had been re-passed by the State Assembly.
• The Court clarified that under Article 163 of the Constitution, the Governor is bound to act on the advice of the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers, and cannot unilaterally withhold assent to a re-presented bill.
• It was emphasized that the Governor is not entitled to reserve a bill for the President’s consideration unless there is a substantial change in the content from the original version.
• Citing Article 200, the bench reiterated that the Governor holds no discretionary authority to delay or deny assent to re-adopted bills when they are constitutionally valid and supported by the elected government.
• The ruling reaffirmed the constitutional position that a Governor must function as a constitutional head and not exercise personal discretion in legislative matters.
• The Court also underlined that the Governor, though appointed by the President and holding office at the President’s pleasure, must work in harmony with the state’s elected government and respect the legislative process.
STATE NEWS
‘Veera’ Mascot Unveiled to Elevate Verka’s Nationwide Presence
• In a major branding move, Milkfed, Punjab’s prominent milk cooperative, has introduced ‘Veera’, a new mascot to promote its Verka dairy brand across India.
• Launched by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann at the Verka Milk Plant run by MARKFED, the mascot aims to enhance Verka’s visibility and appeal on a national scale.
• The character Veera represents a cheerful young Sikh boy with folded hands, symbolizing warmth, hospitality, and cultural identity—similar in impact to the iconic Amul girl.
• The launch event coincided with the foundation stone laying of a ₹135 crore dairy expansion project in Amritsar district on April 9.
• This project will boost production of sterilized flavored milk and introduce new fermented dairy products such as curd, lassi, and flavored milk varieties.
• As part of Verka’s modernization drive, its products are also being made available on e-commerce platforms, making them accessible to consumers both in India and abroad.
• The initiative reflects Milkfed’s commitment to combining tradition with innovation, while enhancing brand recognition and market outreach.
RANKING AND REPORTS
India Unveils First Digital Threat Report 2024 for BFSI Sector
• India released its first-ever Digital Threat Report 2024 for the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector, aimed at enhancing cybersecurity readiness.
• Jointly developed by CERT-In, CSIRT-FIN, and SISA, the report offers in-depth insights into emerging threats and security strategies specific to the financial ecosystem.
• Launched in New Delhi by Shri M. Nagaraju, the report acts as a strategic guide for financial institutions to detect vulnerabilities and bolster cyber defences.
• It combines intelligence from real-time forensics, financial sector incident response, and national cybersecurity monitoring for a holistic threat analysis.
• With digital payments projected to generate $3.1 trillion by 2028, the report underscores the urgency of addressing AI-driven attacks, fraud, and compliance challenges.
• The initiative urges BFSI players, regulators, and cybersecurity professionals to adopt a proactive approach in safeguarding digital infrastructure.
PLFS 2024 Highlights: Urban Workforce Engagement Rises, Rural Unemployment Slightly Eases
• On April 9, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for the period January–December 2024.
• India's overall unemployment rate for individuals aged 15 and above dipped slightly from 5.0% in 2023 to 4.9% in 2024, indicating a modest improvement in job availability.
• Rural unemployment saw a minor decline, moving from 4.3% to 4.2%, suggesting a marginal uptick in rural employment.
• The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) remained steady at 56.2%, reflecting a stable level of involvement by the working-age population in economic activities.
• Urban regions witnessed a positive shift in labour market engagement, with LFPR rising from 50.3% to slightly above 51%.
• Under the Principal and Subsidiary Status (PS+SS) classification, a slight decrease in LFPR was observed—from 59.8% in 2023 to 59.6% in 2024.
• The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) at the national level recorded a minimal increase, going from 53.4% to 53.5%; urban areas showed a more noticeable rise from 47.0% to 47.6%.
• One of the factors contributing to the drop in rural female workforce participation was the reduced number of unpaid helpers in household enterprises, which fell from 19.9% to 18.1% year-over-year.
SUMMIT ANS CONFERENCE
AI and Aadhaar at the Core of India’s Digital Future: Ashwini Vaishnaw
• Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw described AI as a catalyst for a new industrial revolution and urged stakeholders to share ideas for its integration into India’s digital public infrastructure.
• He inaugurated a stakeholder meeting organized by UIDAI in New Delhi, bringing together over 750 policymakers, industry leaders, and experts.
• Vaishnaw emphasized Aadhaar’s central role in digital transformation and public service delivery across the country.
• UIDAI launched a new Aadhaar app during the event, enabling secure digital identity verification and QR-based data sharing, with enhanced privacy and reduced dependency on physical documents.
• The event marked the third edition of the Aadhaar Samvaad series, themed Innovation, Inclusion, and Integration.
• Previous editions focused on digital identity technologies (Bengaluru, Nov 2024) and the FinTech sector (Mumbai, Jan 2025).
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Bangladesh Joins Artemis Accords for Peaceful Space Exploration
• Bangladesh has become the 54th nation to sign the Artemis Accords, a NASA-led initiative promoting peaceful, non-military space exploration.
• The agreement paves the way for Bangladesh to benefit from advanced technology transfer, economic partnerships, and scientific collaboration.
• Through this alliance, Bangladesh’s national space agency SPARRSO is expected to enhance its capabilities with support from NASA.
• The Artemis Accords, launched in October 2020, establish shared principles for responsible and cooperative civil space exploration.
• With this development, Bangladesh joins countries like India (joined in 2023), the U.S., Japan, Canada, UAE, and others already committed to the program.
• The Artemis initiative began in 2022 with the launch of NASA’s Orion spacecraft under the Space Launch System, aiming to return humans to the Moon and beyond.
