LEGAL NEWS
Appellate Court in Reversing Judgment
• The Supreme Court reiterated that appellate courts must provide strong reasons when reversing a trial court's acquittal, as established in Rajendra Prasad v. State of Bihar (1977).
• It criticized the High Court for its hasty approach in overturning a well-reasoned acquittal without substantial justification.
• The Court emphasized that the High Court must clearly articulate compelling grounds for discarding the trial court's conclusions.
• A mere difference of opinion on witness credibility is not enough; the High Court must show it was unreasonable for the trial court to reject the testimony.
• The Supreme Court found the High Court's handling of the appeal brusque, resulting in the wrongful conviction of the appellants.
• Once the trial court deemed the evidence insufficient, the High Court was required to provide clear findings for each charge, particularly under Section 120B IPC.
• The Court referenced principles from Chandrappa v. State of Karnataka (2007), highlighting the double presumption of innocence in acquittal appeals.
• The High Court’s cryptic remarks and lack of detailed analysis in reversing the acquittal failed to meet required legal standards.
• This case underscores the necessity for thorough assessments of witness credibility before altering a trial court's decision.
• Additionally, Section 442 of BNSS replace Section 401 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, govern the High Court's powers of revision.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
India demands modification of the Indus Water Treaty.
• India has formally requested Pakistan to review and modify the Indus Water Treaty.
• The treaty, signed in September 1960 by Jawaharlal Nehru and Ayub Khan, governs water rights between the two countries.
• Under the treaty, India can freely use the eastern rivers: Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi.
• Pakistan has unrestricted rights to the western rivers: Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab.
• India cites fundamental changes in circumstances as a reason for the proposed modifications.
• Key factors include environmental issues, population growth, and the need for clean energy development.
• Article XII (3) of the treaty allows for modifications to be made by mutual agreement.
• India aims to reassess its obligations under various articles of the treaty to meet emission reduction targets.
SPORTS
Glasgow in Scotland will host the Commonwealth Games in 2026.
• Glasgow will host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, marking Scotland's fourth time as host.
• Originally, the 2026 Games were to be held in Australia’s Victoria state, which withdrew due to rising costs.
• Previous Commonwealth Games in Scotland took place in Edinburgh in 1970 and 1986, and in Glasgow in 2014.
• The Commonwealth Games, established in 1930 as the British Empire Games, occur every four years.
• This event includes participation from 74 nations and territories, with Birmingham hosting the most recent Games in 2022.
• The withdrawal of host cities has become a trend, with Durban, South Africa, stepping down for the 2022 Games due to financial issues.
• The Games have been organized every four years since 1911, with the first edition held in 1930.
• The 2026 Commonwealth Games will continue the tradition of this multi-sport event, which has a rich history.
Punjab clinched the 14th Hockey India Junior Men’s National Championship 2024.
• Punjab won the 14th Hockey India Junior Men’s National Championship 2024, defeating Uttar Pradesh in the final.
• The championship match took place at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium.
• The final was decided in a shootout, with Punjab securing a 4-3 victory.
• Key goals for Punjab were scored by Sukhwinder Singh (5'), Jarman Singh (33'), and Jobanpreet Singh (39').
• Uttar Pradesh's goals came from Ajeet Yadav (31'), Suraj Pal (48'), and Akash Pal (54').
• Haryana claimed third place by defeating Karnataka 5-0 in the playoff.
• The tournament showcased emerging talent in junior men's hockey across India.
• Punjab's triumph adds to their legacy in Indian hockey, highlighting their strong performance in the championship.
RANKING AND INDEX
HCLTech ranked no.1 India-headquartered company in TIME magazine's World's Best Companies 2024 list
• HCLTech has been recognized as the top India-headquartered company in TIME magazine's World's Best Companies 2024 list.
• The company ranks 112th globally and is among the top 10 in the Professional Services category.
• The ranking evaluates companies based on employee satisfaction, revenue growth, and sustainability.
• A total of 1,000 companies were assessed, with 22 originating from India this year.
• Infosys and Wipro follow closely behind HCLTech, ranked 119th and 134th, respectively.
• In the banking sector, Axis Bank leads at 504th place, with State Bank of India (SBI) at 518th.
• The Adani Group and Reliance Industries, led by Mukesh Ambani, are positioned at 736th and 646th, respectively.
• This year’s list highlights the performance of leading companies worldwide, showcasing diverse sectors.
NATIONAL NEWS
Union Minister Amit Shah launched ‘White Revolution 2.0’.
• Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched ‘White Revolution 2.0’ to strengthen the dairy sector.
• The initiative aims to form and enhance 200,000 new Multipurpose Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies and cooperatives for dairy and fisheries.
• Focus areas include empowering women farmers, improving local milk production, and bolstering dairy infrastructure.
• A target has been set to increase milk procurement by dairy cooperatives by 50% over the next five years.
• The program also aims to boost dairy exports, contributing to the overall growth of the sector.
• The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) will provide funding for the initiative from its own resources.
• Alongside the launch, Amit Shah introduced RuPay Kisan Credit Cards specifically for dairy farmers.
• Micro-ATMs will be installed at dairy cooperative societies to enhance financial accessibility for farmers.l
BANKING, ECONOMY QND FINANCE
Interest rates reduced by the Federal Reserve to 4.75%-5%, with further cuts indicated in 2024.
• The Federal Reserve lowered its benchmark interest rate by 0.5 percentage points to a range of 4.75%-5%.
• This decision marks the beginning of a series of policy changes aimed at bolstering the U.S. labor market.
• Following a two-day meeting, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) indicated that most officials support further rate cuts in 2024.
• Projections show that 10 out of 19 officials favor an additional half-point reduction during the remaining meetings in 2024.
• The federal funds rate had previously been held at a 20-year high for over a year.
• The FOMC remains optimistic that inflation is progressing steadily toward the 2% target.
• The Committee views the risks to achieving both employment and inflation goals as roughly balanced.
• Updated economic forecasts now estimate the unemployment rate at 4.4% by the end of 2024, an increase from the previous estimate of 4%.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Government approved funds for Chandrayaan-4 mission.
• The government has approved a budget of ₹2,104.06 crore for the Chandrayaan-4 mission, India’s fourth lunar expedition.
• Following the success of Chandrayaan-3, India became the first nation to land a probe on the lunar South Pole.
• Chandrayaan-4 will focus on retrieving samples from the lunar surface, aiming to bring rock samples back to Earth.
• The mission is scheduled for launch in 2027 and will utilize technology advancements from Chandrayaan-3.
• Chandrayaan-4 will help develop foundational technologies necessary for landing an Indian astronaut on the Moon by 2040.
• Chandrayaan-4 will help develop foundational technologies necessary for landing an Indian astronaut on the Moon by 2040.
• The NGLV is expected to have three times the current payload capability, enhancing India's launch capabilities.
MISCELLANEOUS
Manu Bhaker became brand ambassador of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
• Manu Bhaker, a double Olympic medalist, has been appointed as the brand ambassador for the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
• She is the daughter of a marine engineer, reflecting her connection to the maritime industry.
• Bhaker achieved historic success at the Paris Olympics by winning two medals in a single event.
• The Ministry’s initiative aligns with the broader goal of empowering women in various sectors.
• Over 500 women participated in the "Harnessing Nari Shakti for the Development of the Nation" program.
• Bhaker’s role as ambassador aims to inspire and promote the importance of women’s contributions to national development.