26 April 2024, The Hindu
Questioning the polls ‘rain washes out play’ moments
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GS 2: Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act (RPA)
- Getting elected unopposed is perfectly legal in the existing provisions of electoral laws and practice.
- It is also thrilling. You emerge as the unrivalled representative of the people without the people having chosen you because you are the only choice on the ballot.
- It is like achieving something without making the requisite effort.
- Rule 11 of the Conduct of Election Rules 1961 says: “(1) The returning officer shall… cause a copy of the list of contesting candidates to be affixed in some conspicuous place in his office and where the number of contesting candidates is equal to, or less than, the number of seats to be filled, he shall, immediately after such affixation, declare under sub-section (2) or as the case may be, sub-section (3) of section 53 the result of the election in such one of the Forms 21 to 21B as may be appropriate....”
Courting action
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GS 2: Structure, organisation and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary
- “The Union has to activatew itself,” Justice Hima Kohli, who is heading the Supreme Court Bench hearing the cse against Patanjali Ayurved and its leaders Acharya Balkrishna and Baba Ramdev, observed on April 23 in the context of the government not having taken any action against the company for publishing advertisements touting untested, pseudoscientific cures for COVID-19, diabetes, and other conditions.
- The Bench also took cognisance of a report that the baby formula Nestlé sells in India contains more sugar than its corresponding product in Europe, and expanded the Patanjali Ayurved matter’s remit to include all fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies publishing misleading advertisements.
- India has been recording a surge in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) thanks to the easy availability of ultra-processed foods, together with sedentary lifestyles.
Stability in Maldives
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GS 2: International Relations- India and its neighbourhood
- There are several important messages from the win by Maldives President Mohammad Muizzu's party, the PNC, in this week’s parliamentary elections.
- The PNC's super-majority— over 70 of 93 Members of Parliament or People’s Majlis, including allies and independents — also eases Mr. Muizzu’s path to passing laws and even making constitutional amendments.
- The opposition in the Majlis, led by the former ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), that was perceived as “pro-India” won just 12 seats, while parties floated by the former Presidents, Abdullah Yameen and Mohammad Nasheed drew a blank.
- Mr. Muizzu will be in the spotlight for how he wields the near-absolute power, in a country which has seen authoritarian rule for decades.
- The results also indicate widespread approval by Maldivians of decisions he has made since he was elected in November 2023 including his international visits to China, Turkey and the UAE, and receiving U.S. senior officials, while keeping a relative distance from India.
RBI’s draft rules for payment aggregators
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GS 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation of resources, growth, development and employment
- Following its announcement in June 2022 that it will seek better regulation of offline payment aggregators (PAs) facilitating proximity or face-to-face transactions, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) floated two consultation papers earlier this month.
- The first deals with activities of offline PAs, while the second proposes to strengthen the ecosystem's safety by expanding instructions for Know Your Customer (KYC), due diligence of onboarded merchants and operations in Escrow accounts.
- The RBI has invited comments/feedback by May 31.
SC declines petition to end Collegium, revive NJAC
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GS 2: Structure, organisation and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary
- The Supreme Court Registry has refused to accept a petition to end the Collegium system of judicial appointments and revive the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC), seeking to “prevent needless waste of judicial time and energy”.
- In a six-page order, Supreme Court Registrar Puneet Sehgal explained that the Collegium system had already been upheld, while the NJAC — which gave an equal role to the government in judicial appointments — had been struck down by a Constitution Bench in October 2015.
- A review plea against the judgment was also subsequently dismissed in 2018.
Modi thanks Italian PM for invitation to G-7 meeting in June
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GS 2: International Relations- Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting the Indian interests
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on Thursday to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, thanking her for an invitation to the G-7 meeting in June, if he is re-elected.
- The invitation for India to be a special invitee at the G-7 summit’s outreach sessions, due to be held June 13-15, was received by the government earlier this week, sources said.
- Among the invitations New Delhi has received straight after election results are out in June are those for the Prime Minister or External Affairs Minister to attend the Ukraine peace conference to be held on June 15-16 in Lucerne, Switzerland, where G-7 leaders are expected to travel from Italy, as well as for the External Affairs Minister to travel to the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod for the BRICS Foreign Ministers meeting on June 10-11.
- However, both the Ministry of External Affairs and diplomatic sources said a final response on all three invitations could only be expected after the results are announced.
Rising incidence of IBD cases across the globe is a cause for concern, say experts
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GS 2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources
- The rising incidence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) across the globe has become a concern for doctors.
- While early diagnosis is lacking, diagnosis in itself is challenging considering that other conditions could mimic IBD.
