Hindu Notes from General Studies-02

Editorials are covered separately. HINDU NOTES are available free date wise| CLICK HERE

LS passes Bill repealing 245 old laws

News

• The Lok Sabha passed two Bills repealing 245 obsolete and archaic laws including the 1911 Prevention of Seditious Meeting Act.

Beyond News

• Law Minister said that, many of them were “unfortunate part of the colonial legacy.
• The Minister said over 1,800 such laws had been abolished since the Modi government came to power.
• Parliament had repealed 1,029 laws in 1950.
• Some of the repealed laws were the Calcutta Pilots Act of 1859 and the Dramatic Performance Act 1876.

China a threat, India an ally: Trump

News

• President Donald Trump’s new national security strategy, promised support for India’s emergence as a “leading global power,” while identifying China, Russia and Islamism as main threats.

Beyond News

• S. strategy document said that, they welcome India’s emergence as a leading global power and stronger strategic and defence partner.
• India finds a mention as a partner in Mr. Trump’s plans for South and Central Asia and Indo-Pacific, while China is named as a threat in both sections.
• The document also said that, America will help South Asian nations maintain their sovereignty as China increases its influence in the region.
• The document reiterates a series of announcements and speeches by the President and other senior officials in the last one year in the context of India.
• It said that, they will deepen their strategic partnership with India and support its leadership role in Indian Ocean security and throughout the broader region.

The document also underscores the warning to Pakistan.It also said that, they will press Pakistan to intensify its counter-terrorism efforts, since no partnership can survive a country’s support for militants and terrorists who target a partner’s own service members and officials.

Japanese consulate general to provide aid for safe drinking water in Telangana

News

• Two villages in Telangana will soon get access to safe drinking water with Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Project.

Beyond News

• A contract was signed in Chennai to provide financial assistance to set up the two water purification plants.
• Nearly ₹31 lakh is being provided as agrant to set up two water purification plants at Podichenpalle and Shankarampet villages in Medak district, Telangana.
• The organisation was mainly involved in providing safe access to drinking water to people in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana.
• The initiative will benefit about 5,000 residents in each of these villages as the plant can treat 1,000 litres per hour.

U.P. scraps free pilgrimage scheme for elderly Hindus

News

• The government in Uttar Pradesh has scrapped the Shravan Yatra, a scheme under which elderly citizens could undertake pilgrimage free of cost.

Beyond News

• Under the scheme, the government bore the entire boarding and lodging expenses for pilgrimage trips undertaken by senior citizens.
• The name of the yatra was inspired by the mythological character Shravan Kumar, who had carried his blind parents on his shoulders for a pilgrimage.
• This year, a shadow was cast over the yatra after the trips scheduled in October, November and December were cancelled as the IRCTC, which organises the travel, did not receive funds from the Religious Affairs Ministry even though ₹14 crore was allocated for it.

 Pilgrimage trips were scheduled for Somnath, Dwarka, Madurai, Puri and Konark this year.

Hindu Notes from General Studies-03

230% increase in ceasefire violations.

News

• The government informed the Lok Sabha that, there was a 230% increase in ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) this year compared to 2016.

Beyond News

• In 2017, Pakistan violated ceasefire 771 times along the LoC while the figure stood at 228 last year. There were 153 violations in 2014. There were 110 violations along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir, the lowest in four years.
• Pakistan violated the ceasefire a total of 881 times along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir this year, killing 30 people.
• The 740-km LoC is under the operational control of the Army and 192 km of IB in Jammu is manned by the Border Security Force.

The truce between India and Pakistan along the International Border, the Line of Control and the Actual Ground Position Line in Jammu and Kashmir came into force in November 2003.

CLICK HERE TO SEE DATE WISE CURRENT AFFAIRS