| | 5 THINGS FIRST | Lok Sabha polls phase I with voting for 102 seats spread across 21 states and UTs; PM Modi to address a rally in MP's Damoh; Delhi court to hear CM Arvind Kejriwal’s plea for permission to consult his doctor; UN Security Council meets on Sudan; IPL 2024- LSG Vs CSK
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| | 1. Round-1 of NDA vs INDIA face-off today |  | LS polls begin at 8- The first phase of the Lok Sabha election kicks off today, with voting in 102 Lok Sabha constituencies across 21 states and Union Territories. This marks the beginning of a rigorous electoral battle.
The campaign- The BJP centred its campaign on PM Modi's popularity. Even its election manifesto emphasised Modi's "guarantees" while seeking another term.
- The Congress-led INDIA bloc focused on issues like unemployment, farmers’ distress, and price rise amid its tussle for seat arrangements among allies.
Tamil Nadu and Puducherry- All 39 seats from Tamil Nadu and one from Puducherry are voting today, with DMK-led alliance looking to continue its dominance and the BJP eyeing to make a mark in the Tamil region.
- About 6.23 crore voters will decide the fate of about 950 candidates on these 40 seats.
Uttar Pradesh dynamics- With eight of the 80 seats voting today, UP sees a three-way contest among the NDA, INDIA bloc, and BSP.
- The election campaign in UP saw the BJP consolidating its Hindutva brand with events like Surya Tilak of Ram Lalla’s idol in the newly constructed temple in Ayodhya, while the Opposition bloc described their electoral campaign as a fight to save India's Constitution.
Bihar and Madhya Pradesh- Four of the 40 seats in Bihar and six of the 29 LS seats in Madhya Pradesh are voting going to the polls today.
- In Bihar, the NDA had won all four — Aurangabad, Gaya, Jamui, and Nawada — in 2019.
- In Madhya Pradesh, Nakul Nath — former CM Kamal Nath’s son and the richest candidate in the first phase of polls — is fighting to retain the only seat that the Congress had won in 2019 in the state.
Jammu and Kashmir- The scrapping of Article 370 remains in focus in J&K, whose Udhampur-Doda is voting today.
- This is the first legislative election in J&K after its special status was revoked, statehood stripped and it was bifurcated into two almost five years ago.
Rajasthan and Maharashtra- Twelve of the 25 LS seats are going to the polls in Rajasthan in the first phase. All went to the BJP in 2019.
- In Maharashtra, the focus is on Nitin Gadkari’s seat, Nagpur, housing the RSS headquarters. Of five of the 48 seats voting today, the Congress had one Chandrapur — the only seat the party had won in 2019 in Maharashtra.
Bengal and Northeast- It’s a high-pitched electoral battle between TMC, BJP, and Left-Congress alliance in the three of the 43 seats going to the polls today.
- In the Northeast, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim are also voting in their assembly elections.
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| | 2. ‘Ensure no voter doubts sanctity of poll process’ |  | A matter of sanctity- Hearing petitions seeking a return to ballot paper instead of EVMs for casting votes, the Supreme Court said, “Voter trust is to be maintained and protected.” The court reserved its verdict.
- The bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta said, “This is [an] electoral process. There has to be sanctity. Let nobody have apprehension that something which is expected is not being done.”
A Kerala complaint- Petitioner ADR’s counsel Prashant Bhushan cited a Malayam press report alleging that the BJP got “one extra vote” in the mock EVM poll.
- The court sought a report from the EC, which later told the SC that the allegation from Kerala’s Kasaragod was “false”.
‘Not going back to ballot paper’- However, on the plea that the EC must stop using EVMs and go back to the old system of casting votes, the top court said, “Paper ballots have huge drawbacks and we do not want to even think about it.”
- The EC called it a “retrograde suggestion”.
Should voters get VVPAT slips?- One petitioner suggested that a voter should be allowed to take the VVPAT slip after she votes and deposit it in a ballot box.
- Justice Khanna asked if such a process wouldn't affect the voter's privacy. The petitioner replied, "Voter privacy cannot be used to defeat voter's rights."
EC flags difficulties- If all slips are counted, it would take days to declare results, said the EC, adding that the VVPAT slips are sticky and not designed for counting.
- The EC said candidates are allowed to pick up randomly 5% of machines for tallying with EVM records in every constituency.
Any mismatch?- When the court asked how many cases of mismatch between EVM and VVPAT counts have been recorded, the EC said, “None.”
Software in VVPAT?- The court inquired if there was any software in the VVPAT printer. The EC responded in the negative.
- The EC said, “There is a 4-megabyte flash memory in every PAT which stores symbols…Nothing is preloaded. It's not data, it's image format.”
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| | TOI EXPLAINS | | 3. Why India needs to prepare for China’s growing arsenal |  | What China’s doing- A recent testimony to the US Senate Armed Services Committee by the head of US Strategic Command, Gen Anthony J Cotton, confirms China's accelerated upgradation of its strategic deterrence.
- China has augmented the types, quantities, and quality of its nuclear weapons and delivery systems.
- Cotton's observation that China's land-based ICBM launchers exceed those of the US, aiming for strategic parity with Russia and the US, alarms India, necessitating immediate countermeasures.
Chinese missile muscle- Missile clusters in Kunming, Yunnan province, and Xining, Qinghai province, target Indian locations.
- Additionally, the continuing transfer of Chinese nuclear and missile materials and technology to Pakistan forces India to face a trichotomous strategic challenge.
Modernisation objective- The road-mobile, multiple independent re-entry vehicle (MIRV)-capable D-41 ICBMs best demonstrate the modernization of China's nuclear arsenal.
- Since Xi's presidency, the PLA has established a Rocket Force for missiles, a Strategic Support Force for counter-space, cyber, and electronic warfare, and Chinese researchers have reported a new 'Near-Space Command' equipped with hypersonic missiles.
Dragon’s nuclear teeth- China is developing air-launched ballistic and cruise missiles delivered by new platforms, including the H-20 strategic stealth bomber and unmanned aerial combat vehicles, to close its air-delivery capability gap.
- Its nuclear triad includes JL-3 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) on six JIN-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs).
Evolving threats- China's increasingly opaque nuclear posture and growing deployment of dual-capable missiles elevate uncertainty.
- Its strategic literature now ominously mentions 'early-warning counter-strike', which might foretell a significant change in its nuclear posture.
India’s options- Without racing with China on the number of nuclear weapons and warheads, India must accelerate improving the robustness of its deterrence.
- This includes MIRVing its strategic missiles, upgrading its anti-submarine warfare (ASW), NC3 (nuclear command, control, and communications), early warning, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems, and strengthening the third leg of its triad by accelerating development and deployment of SSBNs while accelerating SSBN development and improving nuclear weapons delivery systems to meet minimum deterrence requirements.
- India should also continue improving its nuclear weapons and delivery systems proportionate to the requirement of minimum nuclear deterrence. For more
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| | 4. Is Kejriwal creating health grounds for his bail? |  | What’s Kejriwal eating- The Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleged in a Delhi court that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, currently in Tihar Jail under judicial custody, is consuming high-sugar foods daily despite having Type-II diabetes to create grounds for medical bail.
- "Arvind Kejriwal is consuming 'aloo poori', mango, sweets, daily. This is being done to make grounds for medical bail," the ED told Special Judge Kaveri Baweja, hearing CBI and ED cases.
- Judge Baweja subsequently directed the Tihar Jail authorities to submit a medical report on Kejriwal today.
Kejriwal contests ED’s claim- Kejriwal's counsel, Vivek Jain, refuted the ED's charge, saying that the issue was fabricated to halt the provision of home-cooked food to the Delhi chief minister.
- "This is an issue made by ED so that home-cooked food should also be stopped. Whatever he is having is as per the doctor's prescribed diet. The matter is sub judice, we do not want to say anything," Vivek Jain said.
Withdrawal of plea- Kejriwal, who had moved the court seeking permission to consult his regular doctor via video conference because of fluctuating sugar levels, later withdrew the application.
- The ED arrested Kejriwal on March 21 in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy 2021-22.
AAP’s reaction- Delhi minister Atishi alleged a "huge conspiracy" to kill Kejriwal, by denying him home-cooked food in jail.
- Earlier, Atishi made similar claims about Kejriwal's health, citing weight loss and fluctuating sugar levels, which were denied by Tihar officials, who asserted his weight was stable at 65 kg with normal vitals and compliance with court-ordered food supply.
Meanwhile… - The court also extended AAP leader Manish Sisodia's judicial custody in the same case till April 26.
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| | | | 6. EC steps in after blame game over Ram Navami clashes |  | The clashes- West Bengal’s Murshidabad witnessed clashes during Ram Navami celebrations, leaving a woman injured in a blast that took place when a procession was taken out on Wednesday.
- The Election Commission has sought a detailed report from the Murshidabad administration on the Ram Navami violence just ahead of the first phase of the Lok Sabha election in Bengal.
Mamata targets BJP, EC- Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee claimed on Thursday that the Murshidabad violence was "pre-planned" and accused the BJP of orchestrating it ahead of the parliamentary polls.
- She said, "Everything was pre-planned. The DIG [deputy inspector general of police] of Murshidabad was removed a day ahead of Ram Navami so that you [BJP] can carry out violence."
- The EC had ordered the DIG’s removal on Monday, following two incidents of violence in Murshidabad in which weapons and explosives were used.
- At an election rally in Bengal’s Raiganj constituency, Mamata called EC the "BJP Commission".
BJP blames Mamata- Hitting back at Mamata, the BJP alleged as the CM, she failed to protect Bengali Hindus.
- Meanwhile, the Bengal BJP has written to Governor CV Ananda Bose seeking his intervention.
- “Bengal is falling apart and Mamata Banerjee is responsible for it. Her vituperative and communal speeches are the reason Ram Bhakts have been attacked across Bengal,” BJP’s Bengal co-in-charge Amit Malviya said.
Terror angle?- The BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of Opposition in Bengal Assembly has demanded an NIA probe into the Murshidabad violence.
- Calling it “very much a terrorist incident”, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) also demanded an NIA probe into it, alleging that the "attack was carried out under the patronage of the TMC ".
Congress targets BJP, TMC- The Bengal Congress blamed both the TMC and the BJP accusing them of fomenting violence in the state after Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was greeted with a strong protest by the locals when he visited the hospital on Wednesday night.
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| | | 8. India as a UNSC permanent member? US says… |  | A case for reform- A senior Bident administration official has said that the US supports much-needed reform of the United Nations, including the Security Council, to reflect the 21st-century world.
- This comes amid growing calls for the inclusion of India as a permanent member of the powerful organ of the world body.
From Musk to Biden- In January this year, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who is expected to visit India this month, advocated for India's inclusion in the UNSC.
- "The problem is that those with excess power don't want to give it up. India not having a permanent seat on the Security Council, despite being the most populous country on Earth, is absurd,” Musk said.
- Asked about Musk’s comment on Wednesday, US state department's spokesperson Vedant Patel said, "We certainly support reforms to the UN institution, including the Security Council, to make it reflective of the 21st-century world that we live in. I don't have any specifics to offer on what those steps are, but certainly, we recognise that there is a need for reform."
- Patel said President Joe Biden has spoken about the need for reforms before in his remarks to the UN General Assembly.
India’s UNSC claim- India has been at the forefront of years-long efforts to reform the Security Council, saying it does not represent the current geopolitical realities.
- The UNSC has five permanent members — China, France, Russia, the UK and the US. Only a permanent member has the power to veto any substantive resolution.
A plan- Last month, India presented a detailed model on behalf of the G4 nations of Brazil, Germany, Japan and itself for Security Council reform.
- The G4 model proposes that the Security Council's membership increase from the current 15 to 25-26, by adding six permanent and four or five non-permanent members.
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| | 9. A debate on India’s wheat, rice subsidies in US Congress |  | What- Various aspects of the trade relationship between the US and India came up for a congressional hearing, with some influential senators raising the issue of wheat and rice subsidies in India.
- They also alleged forced labour in India's shrimp industry.
- Addressing their concerns, a top Biden administration trade official told the lawmakers that India has opened its market to the American farming industry in as many as 12 categories.
A defence- US Trade Representative Katherine Tai defended the Biden administration's actions, saying, “We are opening markets for hard-working American families and communities, especially our rural communities.”
- “Through negotiations, our administration has secured over $21 billion in new agricultural market access in the last three years,” she said.
- “For example, after the US and India terminated seven WTO disputes, India agreed to remove retaliatory tariffs on several US products. This means improved access for chickpeas, lentils, almonds, walnuts and apples, benefiting farmers across our country, including in Michigan, Oregon, California and Washington,” Tai said.
An assertion- Tai said enforcing trade rules continues to be a priority this year for the administration.
- “We will continue to level the playing field for American workers and businesses. We are vigorously enforcing our trade agreements, defending American jobs, and making sure more people enjoy the benefits of trade,” she said.
A complaint- Senator Wyden claimed that India's wheat subsidies are hurting American farmers. “India's wheat subsidies are distorting prices and making it harder for Oregon's farmers to compete in the Asian market.
- He also said, “Mexico's illegal fishing practices are hurting the environment and its harmful energy regulations are undermining American clean energy suppliers.”
Allegations of forced labour- On Senator Bill Cassidy's allegation of forced labour in the Indian shrimp industry, Tai said she has raised the issue with her Indian counterpart and pledged to continue advocating for it.
- Cassidy also highlighted concerns about Indian rice subsidies, noting that they potentially cost American rice exporters approximately $850 million in lost exports. For more
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| | ANSWER TO NEWS IN CLUES |  | Indonesia. After a volcano erupted five times recently, Indonesian rescuers raced to evacuate thousands of people on Thursday. The authorities have closed a nearby airport and warned that the crater collapsing into the sea could cause a tsunami. Mount Ruang's crater flamed with lava against a backdrop of lightning bolts overnight after eruptions pushed an ash column more than a mile into the sky and forced authorities to raise their alert to the highest level of a four-tiered system. The volcano sits on a remote island in Indonesia's outermost region and has a peak of 725 metres (2,380 feet) above sea level. It was still billowing a column of smoke up to 800 metres high on Thursday morning, officials said. | |
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