| | 5 THINGS FIRST | Third phase of Lok Sabha elections in 93 constituencies across 12 states and UTs; Supreme Court to hear West Bengal govt's plea against Calcutta HC order axing 25,753 school jobs; Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams set for third space flight; Russian President Vladimir Putin begins his 6-year term; IPL 2024 – DC vs RR
| |
| | 1. Third phase of LS polls today |  | Third phase voting- Votes will be cast in the third phase of the Lok Sabha election for 93 seats today across 12 states and Union Territories.
- By the day-end, Lok Sabha elections will conclude in Goa, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, and Karnataka.
Where- With the BJP bagging Surat unopposed, 25 seats in Gujarat, 11 seats in Maharashtra, 10 seats in Uttar Pradesh, 14 in Karnataka, seven in Chhattisgarh, five in Bihar, four each in Assam and West Bengal, and two in Goa go to the polls today.
- The Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (2 seats) and nine seats in Madhya Pradesh, including Betul where elections were deferred, also vote today.
Prominent candidates- Over 1,300 candidates, including Union ministers Amit Shah in Gandhinagar and Jyotiraditya Scindia in Guna, SP leader Dimple Yadav in Mainpuri and BJP veteran Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Vidisha are in the fray in this phase.
- Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah are likely to cast their votes in Gujarat.
Key contests- A riveting contest is on in Maharashtra's Baramati, where Sharad Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule is facing estranged cousin, Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar.
- In Uttar Pradesh, SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav’s family has a lot at stake. His daughter-in-law Dimple Yadav, the SP president Akhilesh Yadav's wife, aims to retain the Mainpuri seat Mulayam had won earlier.
- Akshaya Yadav, son of Ram Gopal Yadav, hopes to reclaim the Firozabad seat he had won in 2014.
- Aditya Yadav, the son of SP national general secretary Shivpal Yadav, is debuting from Budaun.
- Former Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai is trying his luck at Haveri and AIUDF Badruddin Ajmal in Assam’s Dhubri.
What’s at stake- In 2019, the BJP won all 14 seats voting today in Karnataka, 26 in Gujarat, and nine in Chhattisgarh.
- The Congress and JDS had secured two seats each in Karnataka.
- With the third phase, 283 out of 543 Lok Sabha seats will have been decided. Results will be known on June 4 after the completion of four remaining phases of polls scheduled for May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1. For more
| |
| | 2. ‘Mountain of cash’ recovered in Jharkhand |  | What- The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday recovered unaccounted Rs 25 crore in raids across Jharkhand's capital Ranchi.
- The raids, conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after receiving a tip-off, have targeted approximately half a dozen locations linked to Virendra Ram, the former chief engineer at the Jharkhand Rural Development Department, and his inner circle.
- Ram, arrested by the ED in February 2023 in connection with a money laundering case, is alleged to have accepted bribes in awarding tenders to private parties in the rural department.
- Video footage of the raid shows a mountain of currency notes scattered across a room purportedly belonging to the domestic aide of Sanjiv Lal, the personal secretary to Jharkhand Rural Development Minister Alamgir Alam.
Who is Alam?- Alam (70) is a Congress leader and represents the Pakur seat in the Jharkhand Assembly.
- "Sanjiv Lal is a government employee. He is my personal secretary. Sanjiv Lal has already been a personal secretary of two former ministers. There are several government employees and we usually appoint personal secretaries based on experience," he said, as quoted by news agency ANI.
Widening the net- The probe agency conducted simultaneous raids at nine locations, including Sail City in Ranchi.
- On Monday morning, one team of the ED was scouring Sail City to locate Vikas Kumar, an engineer from the Road Construction Department.
- Another ED team is conducting raids in the Bariatu, Morabadi, and Bodia areas.
PM reacts- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing a public rally in Odisha’s Nabarangpur, reacted to the ED raid in Ranchi and said, “Aaj Jharkhand me noton ke pahad mil rahe hain [mountains of cash are being found in Jharkhand]. Modi is taking action against corruption.”
| |
| | TOI EXPLAINS | | 3. How Uttarakhand forests have turned into huge infernos |  | Fire incidents- Raging fires in several forest ranges of Uttarakhand killed two women, aged 28 and 65, claiming six casualties — five in the past three days alone — even as the Adi Kailash copter darshan service was suspended for the second day in a row.
- On Saturday, pilgrims at the Dunagiri temple in Almora district had to evacuate due to flames engulfing the shrine's path, while a blaze destroyed a kiwi orchard in Chamoli district, with additional fires reported on hilltops in Rudraprayag in the Garhwal region on Sunday.
- Forest officials have reported about 910 incidents since Nov 1 last year, destroying 1,144 hectares of forest land.
Too many sparks- The rising frequency of forest fires in Uttarakhand is attributed to natural causes and human activities.
- The state's forest cover spans 24,305 sq km, constituting approximately 44.5% of its geographical area, primarily dominated by highly flammable Chir Pine trees covering 3.94 lakh hectares.
- Factors like long dry spells and excess biomass contribute to the susceptibility of these forests to fires.
Humans fueling fires- Nearly 90% of forest fires in Uttarakhand are caused by human activities, including traditional burning by villagers to encourage grass growth and clear land for agriculture, as well as the disposal of lit bidis or bonfires near forested areas.
Challenges- Despite efforts like creating over 50,000km of firelines, restrictions on tree felling, imposed by a Supreme Court ruling in 1981, hinder fire risk mitigation.
- These restrictions limit the removal of fuel sources such as Chir Pine, hindering efforts to manage forest fires.
Mitigation strategies- Removing highly flammable Chir Pine needles (highly flammable leaves of Chir Pine trees) disrupts the 'fire triangle', reducing forest fire intensity, while educating people about the consequences of their actions near forest areas is essential for prevention.
Role of local community- Local involvement, particularly among villagers, youth, and women, is critical for mitigating Uttarakhand's forest fires through awareness-raising and training initiatives. More here
| |
| | 4. Why VCs, scholars are protesting against Rahul Gandhi |  | An open letter- As many as 181 academicians, including vice-chancellors and former VCs, have accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of spreading "falsehood" about appointing university heads. They have also sought lawful action against him.
- In an open letter, the academicians said Gandhi had wrongly claimed that vice-chancellors are appointed solely based on affiliation with some organisation rather than merit.
Who- Those objecting to Gandhi’s allegation include JNU’s VC Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, Delhi University VC Yogesh Singh and AICTE Chairman TG Sitharam.
- They said the process by which VCs are selected is characterised by stringent and transparent rigorous procedure grounded in the values of meritocracy, scholarly distinction and integrity.
- The selection has been completely based on academic and administrative prowess and with a vision to take universities ahead, they said.
What they want- "Rahul Gandhi has resorted to falsehood and has defamed the Office of the Vice Chancellors at large with the intent to derive political mileage out of it. It is, therefore, earnestly prayed that appropriate action be taken against him forthwith in accordance with law," they said.
What Rahul had said- The academicians did not quote Gandhi's specific claims, the Congress leader has in the past alleged that affiliations with the Hindutva organisation RSS is often the guiding factor in appointments to academia.
- At least since 2016, when protests happened on several university campuses, Gandhi has maintained that the government is “putting RSS VCs in every University and College, they are trying to suppress the voice of the students”.
Congress defends Rahul- The Congress defended Gandhi, with party’s whip in the Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore saying, “Rahul Gandhi had raised a very serious issue — how people of one ideology and unqualified people are being included in the system.”
- Tagore claimed that one of the signatories is facing a CBI probe for extortion and another is the national co-convener of RSS's Swadeshi Jagran Manch.
| |
| | | NEWS IN CLUES | | 5. Can you identify this person? | Clue 1: She is a famous American astronaut of Indian origin
Clue 2: With 321 days, she ranks second for most time spent in space by a woman
Clue 3: Her nickname is ‘Suni’
Scroll below for answer
| |
| | 6. Security forces begin crackdown on Poonch IAF convoy attack |  | What- The Indian Army has launched a major search operation in the Shahsitar area of Surankote in Poonch district following a terrorist attack on an Indian Air Force (IAF) convoy, which resulted in the death of one jawan and injuries to four others.
- According to the officials, as part of the ongoing operation, armed bulletproof vehicles are patrolling the area, while a dog squad has been deployed to check vehicles.
- The forces have announced a ₹20 lakh reward for any information leading to the arrest of the two terrorists.
- While no militant group has claimed responsibility for the IAF convoy attack, it is suspected the perpetrators are familiar with the area's terrain and may have been involved in previous assaults on security forces.
- Rajouri and Poonch are part of the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency, set for polls on May 25.
The attack- On Sunday, a convoy of the Indian Air Force (IAF) faced heavy firing while en route to Sanai Top in the Poonch district's Surankote area.
- Pakistan-based terrorists targeted the convoy's last vehicle, prompting a swift response from the IAF soldiers. In the ensuing crossfire, five soldiers sustained injuries.
- The injured IAF soldiers were airlifted to the command hospital in Udhampur for treatment. However, Corporal Vikky Pahade — of Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara district who had recently returned to duty after a leave for his sister's wedding — succumbed to his injuries.
Brutal template- This was the second militant strike in the Pir Panjal region within two weeks. On April 22, militants shot and killed Mohammad Raziq near Shahdra Sharief area. Raziq's brother serves in the Territorial Army.
- Similar tactics were observed in attacks last year, such as one on December 21 near Topa Pir and another on April 20 near Bhatta Durrian along NH-144A.
- Last year, four militant attacks in Rajouri and Poonch claimed the lives of 19 soldiers. Security forces and police also neutralised around 30 militants in operations across both districts.
| |
| | 7. Jet Airways founder gets medical bail relief |  | What- The Bombay High Court on Monday granted interim bail for two months on medical grounds to Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal, who has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case.
- The court said Goyal should pay a surety of Rs 1 lakh and not leave Mumbai without prior permission from the trial court.
- "The applicant [Goyal] shall be released on interim bail for two months. He shall abide by all conditions imposed," the bench said.
- The high court also directed Goyal to surrender his passport.
The medical grounds- Goyal, 75, had sought interim bail on medical and humanitarian grounds as both he and his wife Anita Goyal are suffering from cancer.
- A special court in February refused bail to Goyal but permitted him to be admitted in a private hospital of his choice and seek medical treatment.
- Goyal then moved the HC, seeking bail on merits and to be released on interim bail on medical grounds.
In the court- Goyal's counsel Harish Salve had urged the court to consider the case on humanitarian grounds.
- However, ED's counsel Hiten Venegaonkar opposed the bail and said the agency did not have any problem if Goyal's hospitalisation was extended.
- Venegaonkar had submitted that the court may extend Goyal's hospitalisation for a period of four weeks and then call for a fresh medical report to assess his situation.
- But Salve said that apart from deteriorating physical health, Goyal's mental health was also not good.
The long custody- Goyal was arrested by the ED in September 2023 on allegations that he had laundered money and siphoned off loans to the tune of Rs 538.62 crore given to Jet Airways by the Canara Bank.
- His wife was arrested in November 2023 when the ED submitted its chargesheet in the case.
- She was granted bail by the special court the same day considering her age and medical condition.
| |
| | 8. Why Israel is evacuating civilians from Gaza town Rafah |  | An order- The Israeli army on Monday called on Gazans living in Rafah, bordering Egypt, to head to an "expanded humanitarian area" in the Palestinian territory.
- "IDF (military) encourages the residents of eastern Rafah to advance towards an expanded humanitarian area," the military said in a statement.
- Many consider this move as a signal that the long-promised ground invasion of Rafah could be imminent.
Where- "The IDF has expanded the humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi to accommodate the increased levels of aid flowing into Gaza," the military statement said, referring to a coastal area near Rafah.
- "This expanded humanitarian area includes field hospitals, tents and increased amounts of food, water, medication and additional supplies."
The fear- The prospect of an invasion in Rafah has triggered alarm from aid groups and world leaders.
- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week said Israel had yet to present "a credible plan to genuinely protect the civilians who are in harm's way", and without such a plan Washington "can't support a major military operation going into Rafah".
A pattern- Soon after the war in Gaza began on October 7, Israel told Palestinians living in the north of Gaza to move to "safe zones" in the territory's south — including Rafah.
- But Rafah has been repeatedly bombed from the air and Palestinians regularly say that no area of Gaza is safe.
The fine print- The announcement complicates last-ditch efforts by international mediators, including the director of the CIA, to broker a cease-fire.
- The militant Hamas group and Qatar, a key mediator, have warned that invading Rafah could derail the talks, and the United States has repeatedly urged Israel against the invasion.
- However, Israel has described Rafah as the last significant Hamas stronghold after seven months of war, and its leaders have repeatedly said the invasion is necessary to defeat the Islamic militant group.
Meanwhile, a claim- Hamas-affiliated Al-Aqsa TV claimed that the Israeli army carried out air strikes on areas in eastern Rafah near neighbourhoods that received evacuation orders.
| |
| | 9. Putin triggers nuclear panic |  | What- Russia on Monday said it plans to hold drills simulating the use of battlefield nuclear weapons amid rising tensions following comments by senior Western officials about the possibility of deeper involvement in the war in Ukraine.
- The announcement came on the eve of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inauguration to a fifth term in office and in a week when Moscow on Thursday will celebrate Victory Day, its most important secular holiday, marking its defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
Bluff or dare- Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Russia has repeatedly warned of rising nuclear risks — warnings which the United States says it has to take seriously though US officials say they have seen no change in Russia's nuclear posture.
- Russia says the United States and its European allies are pushing the world to the brink of confrontation between nuclear powers by supporting Ukraine with tens of billions of dollars of weapons, some of which are being used against Russian territory.
- Russia's defence ministry said it would hold military drills including practice for the preparation and deployment for use of non-strategic nuclear weapons. It said the exercises were ordered by President Vladimir Putin.
In the arsenal- The exercise is aimed at ensuring Russia's territorial integrity and sovereignty "in response to provocative statements and threats by certain Western officials against the Russian Federation", it said.
- Russia and the United States are by far the world's biggest nuclear powers, holding more than 10,600 of the world's 12,100 nuclear warheads. China has the third-largest nuclear arsenal, followed by France and Britain.
- Russia has about 1,558 non-strategic nuclear warheads, according to the Federation of American Scientists, though there is uncertainty about exact figures for such weapons due to a lack of transparency.
- No power has used nuclear weapons in war since the United States unleashed the first atomic bomb attacks on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
- Major nuclear powers routinely check their nuclear weapons but very rarely publicly link such exercises to specific perceived threats in the way that Russia has.
| |
| | Follow news that matters to you in real-time.
Join 3 crore news enthusiasts. | |
|
| | ANSWER TO NEWS IN CLUES |  | Sunita Williams. Two Nasa astronauts, including Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams (58) and astronaut Barry "Butch" Wilmore (61) are all-set for a journey to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a new spacecraft, as Boeing conducts the maiden human spaceflight of its Starliner spacecraft. From Cape Canaveral in Florida, US, Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is scheduled to launch on its inaugural crewed test flight at 22.34 local time on Monday (early hours of Tuesday in India). “We are all here because we are all ready. Our friends and family have heard about it and we’ve talked about it and they are happy and proud that we are part of the process to fix it all,” the BBC quoted Williams as saying. The mission has been delayed for several years because of setbacks in the spacecraft’s development. If it is successful, it will become the second private firm able to provide crew transport to and from the ISS, alongside Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
| |
|
|
