Day of the Year
Earth Overshoot Day
- Earth Overshoot Day has an intriguing story that’s also a bit of a wake-up call. It all started with Andrew Simms, a thinker at the New Economics Foundation in the UK.
- He came up with this concept, and in 2006, the Global Footprint Network teamed up with the foundation to launch the very first Earth Overshoot Day campaign. Since 2007, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), a major conservation group, has also been involved.
- The date of Earth Overshoot Day has been moving up over the years. In the early days, in December, recently, it has shifted to August, reflecting our demand for Earth’s natural resources.
Latest Updates
UPSC set to revamp exams by adopting latest technologies
- The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is all set to revamp its examination system through technological solutions such as Aadhaar-based fingerprint authentication and facial recognition systems and CCTV surveillance using artificial intelligence.
- The decision comes amid allegations of cheating in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for undergraduate medical admissions conducted by the NTA.
- The UPSC floated a tender on June 20 seeking bids from public sector undertakings to revamp the examination process.
News Capsule
An outlining of urban transformation strategies
- Cities are home to about 50 crore people, accounting for about 36% of India’s population. The urban population has been growing at a steady pace of 2% to 2.5% annually. The ever-growing pace of urbanisation in India calls for sustained investments, with a vision and determination. The maiden Budget of the new government has recognised cities as the growth hubs and offered many options and opportunities for the planned development and the growth of cities.
- The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) has been under implementation since 2015 and has provided as many as 85 lakh housing units for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS)-Middle Income Groups (MIG) categories of population, with an investment of about ₹8 lakh crore.
Is immunity for the President and Governors absolute
- A three-judge Bench has impleaded the Union government to decide if a “blanket” immunity granted under Article 361 to the President and Governors, while in office, from criminal proceedings undermines fairness and constitutional morality.
The question came up in a petition filed by a contractual woman employee with the Raj Bhavan who has accused West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose of sexual harassment and molestation.
The petitioner argues that a bar on criminal proceedings under Article 361(2) does not extend to illegal acts or those which “strike at the roots” of a citizen’s fundamental rights.
No progress on UN Security Council expansion, say former Ambassadors
- Despite consistent efforts by India and other countries, the move for United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reform and expansion has made “no progress” so far, conceded two former Indian Ambassadors to the United Nations, stressing that India must, however, continue to push its demand for inclusion in the top global decision-making body.
- The lack of progress has been the subject of considerable frustration ahead of this year’s Summit of the Future at the UN (September 22-23) that is expected to bring in more than 150 world leaders to discuss plans to “reboot” the UN, with India and its partners in the G-4 (Brazil, Germany and Japan), all of whom claim a permanent seat at the UNSC, lashing out in recent statements about the proposed “Pact of the Future” that will be released.
- “The short answer to whether there is progress in concrete terms, is no,” said India’s former Permanent Representative to the UN Ruchira Khamboj (2022-2024), who retired at the end of June, at a seminar organised at the India International Centre (IIC) in Delhi.
Grasslands in Kutch likely to host cheetahs from Africa
- Some of the next batch of cheetahs being brought in from Africa, as part of the next phase of Project Cheetah, may be sent to a cheetah-breeding and conservation centre being built in the sprawling grasslands of Banni in the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, senior officials in the Environment Ministry told The Hindu.
- While the Gandhi Sagar sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh is the preferred location for the next lot of wild cats, with Banni being considered a potential habitat for over a decade, officials say there is a surge in activity to set up basic infrastructure in Banni and get it ready this year.
- “The next [lot of] animals will go to Gandhi Sagar. However, the Gujarat government is setting up suitable enclosures in Banni where cheetahs can be bred.
Centre defends fact-check unit, says right to correct information important
- Defending the formation of a fact-checking unit (FCU), the Union government said in the Bombay High Court on Wednesday that the right to know factually correct information and the right to not be misled were equally important as the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a).
- Stand-up artist Kunal Kamra, the Editors Guild of India, and the Association of Indian Magazines have challenged the constitutionality of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2023 that permit an FCU of the Union government to identify “fake or false or misleading” online content “related to the business of the Central Government” and demand its removal.
- Tie-breaker judge Justice A.S. Chandurkar is hearing arguments in the case after a Division Bench of the High Court delivered a split verdict on January 31.
