CURRENT AFFAIRS 20-09-2024

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.

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