Centre sacks 47 NTA officials, tightens law to tackle paper leaks

In a move to crack down on exam malpractices, the Centre has taken a slew of actions, including strengthening the anti-paper leak law and termi-nating the services of up to 47 officials in the National Testing Agency (NTA). The Union Cabinet on Friday cleared a proposal to introduce amendments to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, endow-ing the anti-paper leak law with tougher penalties and time-bound trial mechanisms.

UCC panel holds first meeting to draft Bill; will be tabled in Winter Session of House: Sai

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Friday said his government will ta-ble a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill in the upcoming Winter Session of the Assembly.

Talking to reporters at the Raipur airport before heading for Bengaluru, Mr. Sai said the government was committed to implementing the UCC.

Like children, elderly too need State-led care mechanism: HC

Taking note of increasing litigation related to the violation of the rights of senior citizens, the High Court of Karnataka has di-rected the State to examine the feasibility of creating a comprehensive policy or legislative framework for "senior citizens in need of care and protection", broadly modelled on the lines of protection given to minors through the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.

A growth story that needs women at work

India aspires to become a developed country (Viksit Bharat) by 2047, yet youth unemployment is already double the rate of 2012. India, especially the government, may be forced to recognise the weaknesses of India's economy due to the West Asia war shock. However, weakness pre-dates this exogenous shock. Policy-induced shocks from 2016 (demonetisation, a poorly designed Goods and Services Tax, NBFCS, COVID-19 pandemic management) to the economy had already reversed structural change (rise in farm employment, falling manufacturing share of gross value added and in employment); non-farm job growth had slowed. The economy became more unequal, and hence aggregate demand collapsed, and with it investment/GDP ratio. So, GDP growth is much slower (even if government figures of 6.2% p.a. are believed (it is actually at best 4.5%, as the former Chief Economic Adviser recently argued).

On guard

The dengue vaccine must be made affordable to those at greatest risk

The CDSCO's approval of the Qdenga dengue vaccine - the first in India's history follows the vaccine's licensing in over 40 countries and a WHO prequalification, and some of the country's worst dengue years vis-à-vis the disease's burden, although that is evidence of better surveillance as well. The Aedes mosqui-toes that spread the disease are expanding into semi-urban and rural districts, where conven-tional vector control is harder to sustain.

India's foreign policy must look seaward

At sea, nationality is usually clear. Responsibility seldom is. An Indian seafarer may be recruited in Mumbai, hired by a company based in Singapore, placed on a ship flying the flag of Panama, carrying Kuwaiti oil, attacked off the coast of Oman, and detained in a fifth country. His family may know that he is in danger without knowing which government, shipowner, or insurer is responsible for bringing him home. No single authority is fully in charge. For thousands of Indian seafarers, this uncertainty is not an exception but a routine part of ordinary working life.

U.S. announces permanent tariffs; India remains at 10%

Even as the U.S.'s tempor-ary 10% tariffs come to an end, it has announced per-manent tariffs related to its investigation into forced la-bour on 60 of its trading partners, including India. India's tariff rate, however, remains at 10% instead of the proposed 12.5% after it banned the import of forced labour goods earlier this month.

SC prohibits unauthorised recording, monetisation of court videos on social media

Observing that the misuse of video clips from lives-treamed court proceedings was "trivialising" the admi-nistration of justice, the Supreme Court on Friday barred the extraction, editing, dissemination, repost-ing, uploading and monetisation of audio and video recordings of judicial proceedings on social media and other digital platforms without prior permission from the court registrars concerned.

Govt. brings ₹3,030-cr. plan to set up three chemical parks

The government on Friday announced a new 3,030-crore scheme for setting up three large chemical parks, each spread across at least 2,000 acre, an initiative aimed at making India self-reliant in the sector. Announcing the Cabinet decision, Information & Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said each park could see investments in the range of ₹20,000 crore to ₹50,000 crore and the scheme will act as a "multiplier". The Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, approved Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana Rasayan, or BHAVYA-Rasayan Scheme, to establish three dedicated chemical parks in the country, The scheme will have a total financial outlay of ₹3,030 crore.