Center plans to take caste count during census
The Union government is yet to take a call on caste census but active discussion is going on to include caste enumeration in the Census to be conducted , as said by government sources .
The move comes after demands of Congress and other political parties are pressuring the government for a caste census .
Generally caste is not recorded in the Census .
Only count of Scheduled Caste ( SC ) and Schedule Tribe ( ST ) is done during census .
This will be the first time after the 1931 census when Caste counting will be part of the census .
Earlier , the UPA government had conducted caste counting separate from the census , but the findings were never made public . Center later said that there were a lot of discrepancies in the data of caste counting under the UPA government .
Bihar became one of the first states to conduct a caste census and publish its date in 2023 .
Growth of e commerce a matter of concern : Goyal
Commerce minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday red flagged predatory pricing by policies of e-commerce platforms , he even questioned strategies and practices of major e-commerce platforms such as Amazon .
“ Are predatory price policies good for the country ? …. I don’t see it as a matter of pride that half our markets can be driven by eCommerce 10 years from now . It is a matter of concern “ .
“ Are we going to cause huge social disruption with this massive growth of e-commerce ? “
He referred to detrimental effects of online retailers eating into the business prospects of 100 Million small retailers across the country .
He stressed that ‘He was speaking at the inauguration of a report on the employment effect of e-commerce . He completely dissociated himself with the finding of the report .
‘ WHO investigating suspected new polio strain in Meghalaya ‘
Meghalaya health minister A.M. Lyngdoh on Saturday said that Police were investigating the recently detected polio in a two year old child at Tikrikilla in Garo district .
The state govt is waiting for the results of sample testing on Kolkata and Mumbai .
Earlier, the Union health ministry had said that the child’s case was not that of wild polio but a vaccine derived infection that presents in some people with low immunity .
PM begins Poland visit , says it will help forge more vibrant relations
PM Narendra Modi arrived at Warshaw on Wednesday . This is the first visit of an Indian PM in 45 years .
The PM called Poland a major partner in Europe .
The PM laid a wreath at the memorial of Jam Saheb Digvijaysihji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja of Nawab Garh , Gujrat who provided sanctuary to 1000 Polish students in the 1940s . In his honour a square in Warsaw has been named as “ Dobrego Maharadza” or “ Good Maharaja square “ .
PM Modi later paid homage at the Battle of Mounted Casino . The monument honours Indian and Polish soldiers , who fought the battle that took place in Italy in 1944 , and was one of the defining battles of World War 2 .
PM Modi also laid a wreath at Kolhapur Memorial in Warsaw .
Champai Soren says he will form a new political party , raise voice for Dalits
Former Jharkhand CM Champai Soren announced on Wednesday that he will form a new political party .
He said this in front of a gathering of his supporters .
Earlier it was being speculated that he may join BJP.
He became CM of Jharkhand when ED arrested Hemant Soren . He later alleged that he had felt insulted with JMM (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha ) .
17 workers killed and 20 sustained burns in a fire that break out
17 workers were killed and 20 sustained burns in a major fire broke out reportedly after a reactor blast in a plant that manufactures intermediate chemical and pharmaceutical ingredients in SEZ Atchutapuram in Anakapalli of Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday .
Dalit , tribal organisation protest against SC’s sub quota decision
21 Dalit and Adivasi Coalition groups on Monday held protest marches and rail and road blockades against the Supreme Court’s August 1 judgement of sub classification of quota of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes .
They demanded the Center to clear its stand on SC judgement , and “ nullify” the judgement .
The Bandh was supported by Congress and its allies . From the NDA side , Chirag Paswan of LJP supported it and took part in the protest .
In August 1 judgement , SC with 6:1 verdict had given judgement that states can subclassify SCs and STs in order to give reservation . SC had further suggested states to implement “ creamy layer “ criteria in SCs and STs .
Center had said that it is not going to subclassify SCs or ST s . Center has also said that “ creamy layer “ criteria will not be implemented in SCs and STs .
World
Obama endorses Harris at democrats party meeting
The Bangladesh interim government revoked diplomatic passports issued during the Hasina era .
Bangladesh interim government has decided to revoke all diplomatic passports issued to Member of Parliament’s during Sheikh Hasina government’s tenure .
Bangladesh Home ministry informed in the evening a formal order in this regard will be passed later .
It will mean that the passport of Sheikh Hasina will also be cancelled . This is being seen as a measure against her to stay in India .
China opens investigation into EU dairy exports as trade tension flares .
The Chinese trade ministry said on Wednesday that it would launch an investigation into subsidies given by the European Union ( EU ) and its member countries for dairy products that could lead to an increase in tariff on their exports to China .
The announcement comes a day after the EU released a draft decision to finalise tariffs on electric vehicles made in China .
China previously opened an investigation into China’s brandy and pork imports from EU countries .
This can lead to a full scale trade war between the EU and China .
China’s ‘ growing authoritarianism ‘ will not stop with Taiwan : President Lai
Taiwanese President Lai said Chang Te warned that Chinese expansion will not stop over taking Taiwan . He cited joint military exercises by China and Russia in the South China Sea , Western Pacific and Sea of Japan .
He urged democratic countries to unite and curb its expansion .
China has claimed complete reunification of Taiwanese islands .
UAE accepts Afghanistan envoy in a major diplomatic win for Afghanistan
UAE on Wednesday accepted the credentials of Taliban’s ambassador Badruddin Haqqani .
This is considered a major diplomatic victory for the Taliban .
China was the first country to accept credentials from an ambassador appointed by the Taliban .
Currently no country officially recognised the Taliban as Afghanistan’s legitimate government.
Editorial
Power play
Hydropower projects must factor in the environment cost too
A landslide in Sikkim on Tuesday caused damage to six houses of Teesta 5 ( 510 MW ) hydropower station . No casualties were reported .
A deluge from South Lhonak glacier in North Sikkim last October washed away the Chungthang dam that was critical for Teesta 3 ( 1200 MW ) Hydro project .
The Teesta river originates from Tso Lhamo Lake in North Sikkim at a height of 5280 metres .
The river travels for about 150 km in Sikkim , 123 km in West Bengal , before entering Bangladesh where it flows for 140 km before joining Brahmputra .
The river is very good for Hydropower projects because of the terrain it follows . Currently only five projects exist and about 16 Hydroelectric projects are under consideration in India .
Environmental concerns must be kept in focus before finalising the projects .
