| | 5 THINGS FIRST | EAM Jaishankar to visit Laos and Tokyo to attend Asean, Quad meetings; Supreme Court’s verdict on whether royalty on minerals is a tax; West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on three-day visit to Delhi; India to kickstart Paris Olympics with Archery; US President Biden to address the nation
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| | 1. FM draws Opposition fire in House for Budget ‘favours’ to allies |  | Outrage- Terming the Union Budget as ‘discriminatory’, Opposition MPs protested in Parliament premises on Wednesday.
- Rahul and Sonia Gandhi from Congress and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav were among the prominent faces at the protest.
In the House- In Rajya Sabha, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge accused the government of favouring states led by its allies.
- “The states where people have rejected BJP, those states got nothing from this Budget,” he alleged.
- When FM Nirmala Sitharaman (pic) started speaking, Kharge led the Opposition out of the House in protest.
- The FM denied his charge, saying it was not possible to name every state in a Budget speech.
- The Opposition attacked the government in Lok Sabha too.
- MPs shouted slogans against the Budget during Question Hour.
- TMC’s Abhishek Banerjee said the Budget lacked clarity and vision.
Planned move- The decision to stage a protest was taken on Tuesday evening, after the finance minister presented her seventh successive Budget.
- Several leaders of the INDIA bloc met at Kharge’s Delhi residence to chalk out a plan to corner the government.
- Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs Sanjay Raut and Arvind Sawant, and several MPs from DMK, JMM, TMC and AAP were present.
‘Why only 2 states?’- The Opposition alleged the government had showered funds on just two states, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, that are led by its allies JD(U) and TDP.
- Congress has decided that its three chief ministers — Siddaramaiah (Karnataka), Revanth Reddy (Telangana) and Sukhvinder Sukhu (Himachal Pradesh) — will boycott the July 27 meeting of NITI Aayog that will be chaired by the PM.
- Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin will also boycott the meeting.
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| | 2. Why Nepal plane crash should worry India |  | Mayhem- At least 18 people were killed after a Saurya Airlines plane crashed in Nepal's Kathmandu on Wednesday.
One to survive- The sole survivor of the crash was the pilot, who was transported to Kathmandu Medical College Hospital for treatment.
- Reportedly, he sustained injuries to the eyes, but is not in any danger.
Flight details- The aircraft was a Bombardier, operated by local carrier Saurya Airlines.
- It was en route to Pokhara city, carrying two crew members and 17 technicians for maintenance checks.
- The cause of the crash remains unclear.
- Saurya operates domestic flights in Nepal with two Bombardier CRJ-200 regional jets, both around 20 years old, according to Flight Radar 24.
Poor record- Nepal's air safety record has faced significant scrutiny in recent years, with one flight disaster a year.
- In 2019, a Bangladeshi airliner crashed at Tribhuvan airport, resulting in 51 fatalities while 20 survived.
- A Turkish Airlines jet skidded off a slippery runway at the same airport while landing in dense fog. Although the plane was carrying 238 people, no serious injuries were reported.
- The deadliest plane crash in the country took place on January 16, 2023, in Pokhara, where 72 people died.
- According to Nepal's civil aviation body, 914 people have died in air crashes in the country since the first disaster was recorded in August 1955.
Why- Lack of proper maintenance and aircraft training.
- Nepal is a struggling economy, and there is a lack of infrastructure for proper maintenance of aircrafts, and proper training of staff.
- Nepal has a tricky topography which makes it difficult for pilots to navigate to the small and remote airports in the country.
- It also lacks the infrastructure for accurate weather forecasts.
A concern for us- The crash has put a spotlight on table-top runways, reports NDTV.
- Table-top runways are located on an elevated level than the surrounding terrain. This means there is a steep drop on one or more sides of the runway and this leaves a very slim margin of error for the pilot.
- Five airports in India have table-top runways: Shimla, Calicut, Mangalore, Lengpui (Mizoram) and Pakyong (Sikkim). Of these, the airports in Kerala and Mangalore have seen big crashes in the past.
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| | TOI EXPLAINS | | 3. What is this govt's 'Purvodaya' plan? |  | Scheme
- Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday announced the formulation of the ‘Purvodaya’ plan for the all-round development of five states, including Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, aimed at enhancing the eastern region of India — seen crucial for the survival of the NDA government.
- The scheme will cover Bihar, Jharkhand, West Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh, targeting comprehensive development in these regions.
Objectives
- Human Resource Development: Improving skills and education to boost local workforce capabilities.
- Infrastructure: Expanding and enhancing infrastructure such as roads, water, and power projects.
- Economic Opportunities: Creating job opportunities and fostering economic growth.
PM’s endorsement
- Referring to the ʻPurvodayaʼ scheme, while making his remarks on the Budget, PM Narendra Modi on Tuesday said comprehensive development of the eastern region, guided by the visionary concept of ʻPurvodayaʼ, will give renewed momentum and vitality to the countryʼs development.
Historical context
- The ʻPurvodayaʼ concept was first publicly aired by PM Modi during a meeting in Paradip in 2015, after he had dedicated a refinery of the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), focusing on the development of eastern India as a crucial component for India’s overall progress.
- In January 2020, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched a specific ‘Purvodaya’ initiative aimed at accelerating the development of eastern India through an integrated steel hub, leveraging the region’s rich resources.
Resource advantage
- Eastern India holds approximately 80% of India’s iron ore reserves, nearly 100% of coking coal reserves, and significant amounts of chromite, bauxite, and dolomite.
- The region has major ports such as Paradip and Kolkata, enhancing its potential as a global industrial and exporting hub.
National infrastructure pipeline
- The region is also expected to receive special attention under the central government’s $1.4 trillion National Infrastructure Pipeline, covering pipelines, inland waterways, shipping, air, and road infrastructure.
- A developed eastern region will help India better connect with its East Asia neighbours. More here
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| | | 4. SC to Centre: Bridge gulf between state, farmers at Shambhu |  | What- The Supreme Court on Wednesday advised the government to send a “neutral umpire” to the farmers protesting at the Shambhu border between Punjab and Haryana since February.
- “You have to take some steps to reach out to farmers. Why would they otherwise want to come to Delhi? You are sending ministers from here and despite their best intentions, there is a trust deficit,” a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan observed.
- The SC was hearing Haryana’s appeal against a Punjab and Haryana High Court order directing the removal of barricades at Shambhu border within a week.
No objection from Haryana- The barricades were placed in February to stop farmers from marching to Delhi to demand, among other things, a legally-guaranteed minimum support price (MSP) for their crops.
- Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the Haryana government, said the state has no objection to farmers marching to Delhi as long as they don’t bring “tanks and JCBs”.
Highway hurdle- While Haryana sought a pause on the HC’s order, Punjab’s attorney general told the SC that the highway blockade was hurting his state’s economy.
- The SC then said the national highway at Shambhu cannot remain blocked for months.
- It proposed a committee to build a consensus between the farmers, Haryana government and the Centre.
- “We do not want a fight between Punjab and Haryana,” the SC said.
Farmers meet Rahul- On Wednesday morning, 12 farmer leaders from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka met Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi at the Parliament complex.
- Initially, the farmer delegation was denied permission to enter the complex.
- Later, Congress leaders said the delegation had urged Rahul to speak up on their behalf in the House and introduce a private member’s bill to seek a legally guaranteed MSP.
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| | NEWS IN CLUES | | 5. Can you guess this YouTuber? | Clue 1: He took on the ruling BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls
Clue 2: He was featured on TIME Magazine's ‘next generation leaders 2023’ list
Clue 3: He has a degree in mechanical engineering from Germany
Scroll below for answers
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| | 6. UK-India look to reset partnership with Foreign Secretary Lammy’s visit |  | Focus- British Foreign Secretary David Lammy began a two-day visit to India on Wednesday to galvanise negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and reset the bilateral partnership in key areas such as clean energy, new technologies, and security.
First diplomatic visit
- Lammy’s visit to New Delhi marks the first high-level engagement between India and the UK since Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour government took office on July 5.
On agenda
- Lammy described the FTA negotiations as the starting point of ambitions to unlock shared potential and deliver growth.
- A British government readout said, Lammy will push for a “reset” of the UK-India partnership, including through reinforcing London's commitment to securing a free trade agreement that will benefit both economies.
Climate and clean energy
- During his visit, Lammy will push for accelerated action on the climate crisis, emphasising India's role as an indispensable partner.
- The focus will be on driving the clean energy transition, creating business opportunities in both countries, and discussing Indian-led global initiatives on clean power access and climate resilience.
Strengthening bilateral ties
- Lammy will meet with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to hold wide-ranging talks on the FTA and New Delhi's concerns over pro-Khalistan activities in Britain.
- He will also meet Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to reaffirm commitments to the proposed trade pact, which is 90% agreed upon, with remaining issues such as import duties on automobiles and scotch whisky, and business visas.
Economic and security ties
- The visit aims to highlight a new partnership with India focusing on economic, domestic, and global security.
- The foreign secretary will underscore the importance of the "living bridge" between the UK and India, represented by the 1.7 million people of Indian heritage in the UK.
And reviewing bilateral roadmap
- Lammy and Jaishankar will review the implementation of the India-UK roadmap adopted in 2021, which aims to expand ties in trade, economy, defence, security, climate change, and people-to-people connections.
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| | | 8. Now, Delhi HC seeks police's stand on Umar Khalid's bail plea in UAPA case |  | What- The Delhi High Court sought the city police’s stand, on Wednesday, on the bail plea of former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Umar Khalid in a UAPA case related to the alleged larger conspiracy behind the February 2020 riots here.
- A bench of Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Girish Kathpalia issued a notice to the Delhi Police on the bail plea and asked the agency to file its reply.
- The court listed Khalid’s bail plea for hearing on August 29, along with the bail pleas of other co-accused in the case, including student activist Sharjeel Imam.
The case- Khalid, who was arrested by the Delhi Police in September 2020, has challenged a recent trial court order refusing to grant him bail in the case.
- Khalid, Imam and several others have been booked under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for allegedly being the “masterminds” of the February 2020 riots that had left 53 people dead and more than 700 injured.
- The violence had erupted during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Fight for release- On May 28, the trial court rejected Khalid's plea seeking regular bail for the second time, saying its previous order dismissing his first bail application had attained finality.
- He had approached the trial court after withdrawing his bail plea from the Supreme Court on February 24, arguing that the circumstances of his cases had changed. His bail petition before the top court had been adjourned 14 times.
- Khalid had moved the Supreme Court after his bail applications were rejected by the HC in October 2022. Before that, he was denied bail by the trial court in March 2022.
- The high court had said admittedly, the anti-CAA protests “metamorphosed into violent riots”, which “prima facie seemed to be orchestrated at the conspiratorial meetings” and that the statements of the witnesses indicate Khalid's “active involvement” in the protests.
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| | 9. Is there life on Mars? Nasa’s Curiosity rover has scientists excited |  | It was all yellow
- Nasa's Curiosity rover has made a groundbreaking discovery on Mars by uncovering pure sulphur after driving over and cracking open a rock.
- This unexpected find has intrigued scientists and renewed interest in Mars' geological history and potential for life, according to Space.com.
- The rover's images show yellow sulphur crystals within the crushed pockets of the rock.
- These crystals were too small and brittle for Curiosity to sample with a drill.
Pure
- The rover clarified that elemental sulphur is odourless, unlike hydrogen sulphide, which smells like rotten eggs.
- It forms under specific conditions that scientists had not previously associated with this location.
- Sulphur is a key element for life, alongside carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and phosphorus, which together constitute 98% of living matter on Earth.
- Previously, Curiosity had detected sulphur on Mars, but only mixed with other minerals like magnesium and calcium.
Possibility
- Thanks to this, scientists are reconsidering Mars' potential for life and its geological history.
Abundance
- According to Nasa, the sulphur seems to be present in many rocks in the region.
- “Finding a field of stones made of pure sulphur is like finding an oasis in the desert,” said Ashwin Vasavada, Curiosity’s project scientist at Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. “It shouldn't be there, so now we have to explain it.”
Ancient life
- Curiosity made this discovery on May 30 while exploring Gediz Vallis, which may have been created 3 billion years ago by flowing water.
- The rover has been examining the channel for signs of ancient microbial life.
- Mount Sharp is believed to have been wetter billions of years ago than it is today.
- The Gediz Vallis channel, potentially shaped by strong winds or liquid water flows as Mars dried out, contains debris that hints at this wetter past.
- Chemical reactions caused by water have left pale rings or halos near the edges of rocks, suggesting that these rocks absorbed minerals deposited in the area.
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| | | ANSWER TO NEWS IN CLUES |  | Dhruv Rathee. A Delhi court on Wednesday issued summons to YouTuber Dhruv Rathee after BJP leader Suresh Karamshi Nakhua filed a defamation suit against him for allegedly calling him a “violent and abusive” troll. Nakhua is seeking Rs 20 lakhs in damages from Rathee for “defamation caused to him on cyberspace,” Live Law reported. This comes a week after Maharashtra nodal cyber police registered a case against him for a post on X handle Dhruv Rathee (parody) @dhruvrahtee for allegedly spreading fake news against Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla's daughter. “India is the only country where you can clear UPSC without sitting in the examination. But for that, you have to be born as a daughter of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Om Birla's daughter Anjali Birla cleared UPSC without giving any examination, she is a model by profession. Modi govt is making a mockery of our education system,” the post said. More here | |
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| Written by: Jairaj Singh, Rajesh Sharma, Abhilash Gaur and Labanya Maitra
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