A file photo of Afghan students protesting in Bengaluru against the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. | Photo Credit: PTI
Chaos over Rahul Gandhi’s comments in London as Parliament resumes after recess
Children of lesbian, gay parents do not have to be lesbian, gay: SC informed the government
Growing up with lesbian or gay parents does not necessarily make a child gay, a perplexed Supreme Court on March 13, 2023 addressed the government’s concern about the “psychological” impact of marriage of both sexes in children.
Chief Justice DY Chandrachud referred petitions seeking legal recognition of same-sex marriages to a Constitution Bench, but took time on Monday to allay the government’s anxiety about how such a move would affect the “social ethos ” of India.
Confusion over Rahul Gandhi’s comments in London as Parliament resumes after recess
As the second leg of the Budget Session began on Monday, March 13, after a month-long recess, neither House could transact significant business before adjourning for the day amid agitation by both members of the Treasury and Opposition Benches in Congress. recent remarks by MP Rahul Gandhi on Indian democracy in London.
Despite the lack of recognition, the Taliban claimed that the Indian Mission had invited officials for online training programs
Reports of an alleged decision by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to hold courses for Afghans, including Taliban officials, in Kabul have sparked a backlash among Afghan students who have been rejected by visa of New Delhi for almost two years. They called the decision “against Indian policy” and “disappointing”.
EPF Board meeting pushed to March 27-28
The government on Monday announced the postponement of a meeting of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) board, where it is expected to finalize the EPF rate to be paid to the crores of retirement savings of formal sector workers under its care for in 2022-23.
Get additional funds to implement SC order on higher provident fund pension: Panel to Center
The Labor Standing Committee of Parliament, headed by senior Biju Janata Dal leader Bhartruhari Mahtab, pulled up the Union Labor Ministry for underutilization of allocations for the Ministry’s schemes. The panel asked the Ministry to assess and ascertain the possible financial implications for the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment on higher provident fund pension and approach the Ministry of Finance for additional funds to enable timely payment of amounts that may must be paid.
EC tells Allahabad HC it has no power to ban caste rallies by parties during non-elections
The Election Commission of India (EC) has no jurisdiction to restrict caste-based political rallies held by political parties during non-election periods, nor does it have the power to ban such parties from contesting subsequent elections, the The election watchdog has submitted before a Bench of the Allahabad High Court, responding to a writ petition seeking a ban on all such political rallies.
Supreme Court asks CBI not to continue probe into cases that BJP conspired to arrest BRS legislators
The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct its probe into allegations that the BJP conspired to poach Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) legislators of Telangana.
“Investigation should not be continued while the matter is sub judice or it will be fruitless. That is the thumb rule,” a Bench headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna said orally.
India remains the largest importer of arms between 2018-22 despite a decline in total imports
India remained the world’s largest arms importer for five years between 2018-22 even as its imports fell by 11% between 2013–17 and 2018–22, according to Swedish Think Tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Russia was India’s largest arms supplier in both 2013–17 and 2018–22, but its share of India’s total arms imports declined from 64% to 45% while France emerged as the second largest supplier between 2018-22.
Activists, MPs flag RTI amendment in data protection bill
Activists and Opposition Members of Parliament on March 13 expressed concern that a proposed amendment to the Right to Information Act, 2005, could close avenues for citizens to uncover corruption. Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act allows public authorities to deny access to information if it intrudes on an individual’s privacy, but permits disclosure of information if there is an overriding public interest .
Russia a ‘chronic’ threat, China an ‘era defining’ challenge: UK Government
The UK government has called Russia the “most acute threat” to Britain’s security and called China an “epoch-defining” challenge, as it released a ‘refresh’ of its foreign and security policy, Integrated Review 2023 (IR2023), two years after the first version (IR2021) was released.
149 air travelers have been placed on the ‘no-fly list’ in the past three years, said the govt.
As many as 149 air travelers have been banned by airlines and placed on “no-fly lists” over the past three years for unruly behaviour, the government told Parliament on Monday.
Of these, smoking inside the aircraft lavatory, drunken behavior and fights with cabin crew and fellow passengers are the most common.
ATK Mohun Bagan knocks out Hyderabad FC, sets up ISL final with Bengaluru FC
ATK Mohun Bagan edged out defending champions Hyderabad FC 4-3 in a nail-biting penalty shootout in the Indian Super League semifinal in Kolkata on Monday.
Locked 0-0 in the first leg, the reverse fixture also saw a goalless stalemate through 120 minutes of play, including regulation and extra time.
Imran Khan was leading thousands at an election rally in Lahore when Islamabad police arrived to arrest him
Pakistan’s ousted premier Imran Khan on March 13, 2023 led a march of his supporters as Islamabad police arrived here to arrest him after two non-bailable arrest warrants were issued against him, a day after he called off his party’s election rally following a ban on public gatherings in the provincial capital of Punjab.
