Read Current Affairs
- Why in News?
- Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of “criminal fraud,” alleging over one lakh fake votes in Bengaluru’s Mahadevapura segment to benefit the BJP in 2024.
- Key Provisions:-
- He cited multiple voter registrations, identical EPIC numbers across States, and unusually high numbers at single addresses. While some anomalies had been addressed earlier, alleged instances of multiple votes by the same person, if verified, breach the “one person, one vote” principle. Gandhi claims such practices extend nationwide, but direct proof of ECI-BJP collusion is lacking. The ECI, instead of engaging constructively, has been defensive, insisting on evidence under oath and blaming parties for lax scrutiny. Its reliance on image PDFs and weak verification hampers transparency. The Mahadevapura case underscores the need for door-to-door verification and cautious reform, as Bihar’s recent roll revision shows risks of wrongful deletions, particularly among marginalised women voters.
- Why in News?
- The MS Swaminathan Centenary International Conference, themed “Evergreen Revolution: The Pathway to Biohappiness,” celebrates the late agricultural scientist’s vision for sustainable food security.
- Key Provoisions:-
- Born in 1925, Swaminathan earned global honours including the Ramon Magsaysay Award (1971), the first World Food Prize (1987), UNEP Sasakawa Environment Prize (1994), and UNESCO Gandhi Gold Medal (1999), and was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2024. He served in the Planning Commission, led the UN’s Commission on Science and Technology for Development, directed the International Rice Research Institute, and founded the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation.
- Renowned as the Father of India’s Green Revolution, he developed high-yield crops, pioneered crop cafeterias and flexible agronomy, and chaired the National Commission on Farmers. His Evergreen Revolution concept advocates perpetual productivity without ecological harm through organic farming, integrated resource management, Village Knowledge Centres, and Biovillages—ensuring social, economic, and gender equity alongside agricultural progress.
- Why in News?
- Parliament has passed the Coastal Shipping Bill, 2025, a major step towards strengthening India’s coastal economy and reducing reliance on foreign vessels. Introduced by the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), the bill seeks to modernise and streamline the existing legal framework governing coastal shipping operations.
- Key Provisions:-
- A central provision is the National Coastal and Inland Shipping Strategic Plan, which sets out a long-term policy vision and infrastructure development roadmap to enhance efficiency, connectivity, and competitiveness. The legislation also mandates the creation of a National Database for Coastal Shipping, offering real-time, transparent information to assist policymakers, investors, and industry stakeholders in decision-making.
- By encouraging the use of Indian-flagged vessels, improving regulatory clarity, and fostering data-driven planning, the Coastal Shipping Bill, 2025 is expected to boost trade, generate employment, and unlock the full economic potential of India’s extensive 7,500 km coastline and inland waterways network.
- Why in News?
- Parliament has passed the Coastal Shipping Bill, 2025, a major step towards strengthening India’s coastal economy and reducing reliance on foreign vessels. Introduced by the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), the bill seeks to modernise and streamline the existing legal framework governing coastal shipping operations.
- Key Provisions:-
- A central provision is the National Coastal and Inland Shipping Strategic Plan, which sets out a long-term policy vision and infrastructure development roadmap to enhance efficiency, connectivity, and competitiveness. The legislation also mandates the creation of a National Database for Coastal Shipping, offering real-time, transparent information to assist policymakers, investors, and industry stakeholders in decision-making.
- By encouraging the use of Indian-flagged vessels, improving regulatory clarity, and fostering data-driven planning, the Coastal Shipping Bill, 2025 is expected to boost trade, generate employment, and unlock the full economic potential of India’s extensive 7,500 km coastline and inland waterways network.