Junior Digest

Bhubaneswar, Oct 25,2024:Severe cyclonic storm Dana, accompanied by gusty surface winds reaching speeds of up to 110 kmph, made landfall early Friday morning at the Habalikhati Nature Camp in Bhitarkanika in Odisha’s Kendrapara district.

According to IMD sources, the landfall process of Cyclone Dana, which began around midnight on Thursday between Bhitarkanika and Dhamara, triggered heavy rains in Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, and Mayurbhanj. The landfall process completed this morning.

The storm moved north-northwest at a speed of 10 kmph and weakened into a cyclonic storm over north coastal Odisha on Friday. It is currently centered approximately 30 km northeast of Bhadrak and 50 km north-northwest of Dhamara, with sustained wind speeds near the cyclone’s center ranging from 80-90 kmph, gusting up to 100 kmph.

The cyclone is expected to move northwest across northern Odisha and gradually weaken into a deep depression within the next six hours. The system is under continuous surveillance by the Doppler weather radar at Paradip.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi reviewed the post-landfall situation on Friday at the SRC office with senior officials. He reported a ‘zero casualty’ outcome, attributing this to the timely actions taken by the administration during the cyclone’s landfall. He directed district collectors in affected areas to assess damage from Cyclone Dana.

Majhi praised the timely actions and efforts of the administration in ensuring zero casualties, stating that, with the blessings of Lord Jagannath, the government achieved its target of ‘zero casualties.’

He also instructed the concerned authorities to clear all roads by 1 p.m. and restore power by the evening. The government had deployed 19 NDRF teams, 51 ODRAF teams, and 220 fire services teams in areas anticipated to be affected by the severe cyclonic storm Dana.

Around six lakh people were evacuated from vulnerable areas and sheltered in 8,382 cyclone shelters, where they were provided with dry and cooked food. The highest number of evacuations was in Balasore, with 1.72 lakh people, followed by over one lakh in Mayurbhanj, and under a lakh each in Bhadrak, Kendrapara, and Jajpur districts.

New Delhi, Nov 8,2024: The Supreme Court 7-judge bench by a 4-3 majority verdict laid down indicia for determining whether an educational institution is a minority institution but did not answer whether Aligarh Muslim University is a minority educational institution.

The Apex Court overruled 1967 judgement in Azeez Basha case.

The Court overruled Basha judgment which said an educational institution can claim ‘minority tag’ only if established and managed by a minority community.

The Top Court said a regular bench will decide whether AMU is a minority institution based on the indicia laid down by the 7-Judge bench.

The seven-judge Bench however, has laid down guidelines for determining whether an educational institution is a minority institution.

The seven-judge bench has now sent the question of whether AMU is a minority institution to a three-judge bench.

It means the Allahabad High Court’s 2005 judgment which quashed the AMU’s minority status and the undertaking given by the AMU in the SC that it would not give 50% religious quota stands as of now.

Justice Chandrachud informed that there are 4 opinions in the case.

The majority opinion was by CJI, for himself and Justices Sanjiv Khanna, J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.

Separate dissenting opinions were rendered by Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta and S C Sharma.

Justice Surya Kant said the five-judge bench of SC in Aziz Basha case had correctly decided that AMU was not a minority institution, which has attained finality, and that there is no need to reopen the inquiry into the character of AMU.

Justice Kant strongly criticised the manner in which the case was referred by a 3-Judge bench to the present 7-Judge bench and termed it as a judicial impropriety on the part of the smaller bench and also on the part of the then CJI in accepting the request.

Justice S C Sharma said his opinion is neither concurring nor dissenting with the majority opinion authored by CJI Chandrachud. However, he agreed with dissents that the 3-Judge bench could not have referred the case directly to a 7-Judge bench.
In the case relating to the minority status of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), a 7-judge bench of the Supreme Court (by 4:3 majority), overruled the 1967 judgment in S. Azeez Basha vs. Union Of India to the extent it held that an institution incorporated by a statute cannot claim to be a minority institution.

The issue whether Aligarh Muslim University is a minority institution as per Article 30 of the Constitution is now left to be decided by a regular bench based on this view of the majority.
In Azeez Basha, the Court had ruled that AMU cannot claim minority status as it was established by a statute. Today, the majority led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud overruled Azeez Basha and held that an institution will not lose its minority status merely because it was created by a statute. The majority held that the Court must examine who established the University and who was the “brain” behind it. If that enquiry is pointing towards a minority community, then the institution can claim minority status as per Article 30. For this factual determination, the Constitution Bench relegated the matter to a regular bench.

“The view taken in Azeez Basha that an educational institution is not established by a minority if it derives its legal character through a statute is overruled,” the majority stated.

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, on his last working day, pronounced the judgment on behalf of the majority (comprising himself, Justices Sanjiv Khanna, JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra)

Justices Surya Kant partially dissented from the majority on certain aspects, however agreed that Azeez Basha view required to be modified and clarified to a certain extent. Justices Dipankar Datta and SC Sharma dissented.

The Constitution Bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices Sanjiv Khanna, Surya Kant, JB Pardiwala, Dipankar Datta, Manoj Misra and SC Sharma was hearing a reference arising out of the 2006 verdict of the Allahabad High Court which held that AMU was not a minority institution. The bench heard the matter 8 days before reserving it on February 1.

The key issue of reference for deliberation was : “What are the indicia for treating an educational institution as a minority educational institution? Would an institution be regarded as a minority educational institution because it was established by a person(s) belonging to a religious or linguistic minority or its being administered by a person(s) belonging to a religious or linguistic minority?”

The 4 main aspects for consideration before the bench were : (1) whether a University, established and governed by a statute (AMU Act 1920), can claim minority status; (2) The correctness of the 1967 judgment of the Supreme Court in S. Azeez Basha vs. Union Of India (5-judge bench) which rejected the minority status of AMU ; (3) the nature and correctness of the 1981 amendment to the AMU Act, which accorded minority status to the University after the decision in Basha; (4) Whether reliance placed on the Basha decision by Allahabad High Court in AMU v. Malay Shukla in 2006 was correct in concluding that AMU being a non-minority institution could not reserve 50% seats for Muslim candidates in Medical PG Courses.

A detailed explainer on the issue of AMU’s plea for the grant of minority status and arguments raised by the parties can be read here.
Highlights from the judgment

Majority view

Article 30 will stand diluted if it is to apply prospectively only to the institutions which were established after the commencement of the Constitution.

The words ‘incorporation’ and ‘establishment’ cannot be used interchangeably. Merely because the AMU was incorporated by an imperial legislation would not mean that it was not ‘established’ by a minority. It cannot be argued that the University was established by the Parliament merely because the statute says it was passed to establish the University. Such a formalistic reading will defeat the objectives of Article 30. Formalism must give way to actuality. To determine who established the institution, the Court must trace the genesis of the institution and identify who was the “brain” behind it. The proof of ideation must point towards a member of the minority community. It has to be seen who got funds for the land and if the minority community helped.

It is not necessary that the institution was established only for the benefit of the minority community but must be predominantly for its benefit.

An educational institution is a minority educational institution if it is established by a religious or linguistic minority : Majority view

The CJI’s judgment stated :

“We have already held above that an educational institution is a minority educational institution if it is established by a religious or linguistic minority. We have clarified that it is not necessary to prove that administration vests with the minority to prove that it is a minority educational institution because the very purpose of Article 30(1) is to grant special rights on administration as a consequence of establishment. To do otherwise, would amount to converting the consequence to a pre-condition. The right to administer is guaranteed to minority educational institutions to enable them to possess sufficient autonomy to model the educational institution according to the educational values that the community wishes to emphasise. It is not necessary that the purpose can only be implemented if persons belonging to the community helm the administrative affairs. This is so particularly because a minority institution may wish to emphasise secular education. The founders or the minority community may choose to populate the managing board (or a comparable authority) responsible for the day-to-day administration of the institution with persons belonging to the same community. However, they are not compelled to do so. They may wish to appoint persons who do not belong to their community but who they deem fit for the proper administration of the institution.”

The test to be adopted by the Court is whether the administrative set up of the educational institution affirms the minority character of the institution. If the administrative structure of the educational institution does not reflect its minority character or when it does not elucidate that the educational institution was established to protect and promote the interests of the minority, it may be reasonably inferred that the purpose was not to establish an educational institution for the benefit of the minority community”

The decision in Azeez Basha is overruled and the question of deciding the minority status of AMU must be done on the basis of the tests laid down in the present case. The papers of the batch of cases are to be placed before a regular bench to decide the issue and correctness of the 2006 Allahabad HC.

Justice Surya Kant’s view

Justice Surya Kant took objection to the reference order passed in Anjuman in 1981 directly referring the matter to a 7-judge bench. However, the 2019 reference made by a bench led by the then CJI is maintainable.

Justice Kant also agreed that Azeez Basha view required to be corrected :

“Azeez Basha (supra) however, seems to be erroneous to the extent it holds that since Section 6 of the Aligarh Muslim University Act, 1920 (AMU Act, 1920) provided that the degrees conferred by the university would be recognised by government, consequently, “an institution was brought into existence which could not be brought into existence by a private individual or body…” Azeez Basha (supra) might therefore not be correct in its entirety and as a general principle of law, to hold that even if the AMU Act, 1920 was passed as a result of the efforts of the Muslim minority it “does not mean that the Aligarh University when it came into being under the 1920 Act was established by the Muslim minority”.”

“In this context, it is our considered opinion that the establishment of a university, whether as a minority institution or as a religion neutral institution of high standard, is a complex and mixed question of law and fact. The legislative intent behind the establishment of a university or an institution will have a significant role in determining the status of such an institution. For instance, if the Preamble or the Statement of Objects and Reasons of a Statute explicitly states that the University or the institution concerned is intended to be established and shall be administered by a minority community, we see no reason as to why such a University or institution would be denuded of its minority character merely because it was created through legislative means.

Conversely, if the Legislature by itself (particularly, post- Constitution) decides to establish an institution where besides preserving the culture, values, traditions, language and conventions of a religious or linguistic minority community, it promotes other streams of education without any barrier to children belonging to other religions, it will be highly debatable to discern whether such a university can take refuge under the protective umbrella of Article 30.”

Justice Kant however did not overrule Azeez Basha and said that it required only to be modified and clarified to the above extent.

Educational institutions under Article 30(1) also include universities. Minority institutions, to get Article 30 protection, must satisfy the conjunctive tests of “established” and “administered” by a minority.

The legislative intent behind a statute incorporating a university or institution would be necessary to decide its minority status.

Whether AMU is a minority institution is a mixed question of law and fact, which is to be decided by a regular bench.

Justice Dipankar Datta

Justice Datta made a categorical declaration that AMU is not a minority institution. He also held that the references, both in 1981 and 2019, were unnecessary.

Justice SC Sharma

The minority community should be controlling the administration of the institution without any help of outside forces. The minority institution must also give the option of secular education.

‘Established’ and ‘administered’ words have to be used conjunctively. It cannot be conflated with situations such as genesis or founding moments. To claim establishment, they have to bring it to existence, they should play full role to the exclusion of others.The authority to hire and fire staff should be with the minority and functional and authoritative control should be with the minority.

The crux of Article 30 is to prevent any preferential treatment for minorities and thus give equal treatment for all. To assume that minorities of the country require a safe haven to pursue education is incorrect. Minorities are very much a part of the mainstream now partaking in equal opportunities.

Case Reference Trajectory

The 7-judge bench was formed as a consequence of a reference order of 2019 passed by a 3-judge bench headed by the then CJI Ranjan Gogoi. The reference occurred while hearing an appeal against the 2006 Allahabad High Court’s Judgement.

One can say that the matter has been re-referred. Considering the Apex Court’s past two attempts at deliberating upon the issue. Between the 1967 Supreme Court ruling and the 2006 Allahabad High Court judgment, there is a Supreme Court directive from 1981 (in Anjuman-e-Rahmania Vs. District Inspector of School), where the matter addressed in the Basha Judgment was forwarded to a Seven Judges Bench. The referred question was as follows :

“What are the indicia for treating an educational institution as a minority educational institution? Would an institution be regarded as a minority educational institution because it was established by a person(s) belonging to a religious or linguistic minority or its being administered by a person(s) belonging to a religious or linguistic minority?”

While the mentioned reference was considered by an 11-judge bench along with T.M.A. Pai Foundation vs. State of Karnataka, the Bench opted not to address the question, stating that it would be handled by the Regular Bench. Subsequently, the regular bench also refrained from providing an answer to the said question.

Representing AMU and the AMU Old Boys’ Association, were Senior Advocates Dr Rajeev Dhavan and Mr Kapil Sibal along with Mr Salman Khurshid, Mr Shadan Farasat who appeared on behalf of intervenors.

The Union of India was represented by the Attorney General Mr R Venkataramani as well as the Solicitor General Mr Tushar Mehta. Several other senior advocates including Mr Neeraj Kishan Kaul, Mr. Guru Krishna Kumar, Mr Vinay Navare, Mr. Yatinder Singh, Mr. Vikramjit Banerjee (ASG) and Mr KM Nataraj (ASG) also appeared to advance arguments on behalf of respondents and intervenors.

New Delhi, November 7,2024: Exercising its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Indian Constitution, the Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the liquidation of the grounded air carrier Jet Airways after finding out that the resolution plan was not implemented.
The apex court also set aside the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) order that approved the transfer of ownership to Jalan Kalrock Consortium (JKC). The decision was taken by a bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.
The liquidation was ordered in view of the “peculiar and alarming” circumstance that the resolution plan has not been implemented for five years, the top court said.

“We exercise plenary powers and direct that corporate debtor is taken into liquidation. Appeals succeed. NCLAT order set aside. In peculiar and alarming circumstance since five years passed since NCLAT cleared resolution plan, thus under Article 142, we direct corporate debtor is taken into liquidation and Rs 200 crore stands forfeited. Lenders are permitted to encash the performance bank guarantee. NLCT Mumbai to appoint liquidator forthwith,” said the apex court in its order, allowing appeals filed by airlines’ lenders led by State Bank of India (SBI) against the NCLAT order.
NCLAT had allowed the cash-strapped Jet Airways’ ownership transfer to the Successful Resolution Applicant (SRA) without complete payment following the resolution plan. The case is related to the ownership of Jet Airways between JKC and a number of the airline’s lenders led by the State Bank of India.
The lenders had moved to the Supreme Court challenging the March 12 NCLAT order upholding the transfer of ownership of the airline to JKC, a consortium led by UAE-based entrepreneur Murari Lal Jalan and UK-based Kalrock Capital.
Jet Airways was grounded in 2019 due to severe financial troubles.

New Delhi, Oct 26,2024: After about a four-and-a-half-year military standoff in eastern Ladakh, the Indian and Chinese troops have started the disengagement process from Depsang and Demchok.

According to army sources, this process is likely to be completed by the end of this month.

The process of disengagement began after the agreement between India and China on the arrangement of patrolling of troops in the areas along the Line of Actual Control.

Sources also added that as a part of this process, both armies have also removed some temporary tents and structures.

It may be mentioned that Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri earlier this week had said that an agreement has been reached on the patrolling arrangement between the two countries, paving the way for the withdrawal of troops of both countries and restoration of the situation of April 2020.

In this sequence, a bilateral meeting was held between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia.

Both leaders welcomed the consensus reached to resolve the standoff and restore normalcy along the Line of Actual Control.

With India and China arriving at an agreement to end the border standoff, sources in the Defence Ministry said the disengagement process along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh will be completed by October 29 and patrolling will begin by the end of this month.

On Thursday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that India and China have been involved in talks both at diplomatic and military levels to resolve their differences in certain areas along the LAC. Pursuant to the talks, broad consensus has been achieved to restore ground situation based on the principles of equal and mutual security.

“The consensus achieved includes patrolling and grazing in traditional areas. This is the power of engaging in continuous dialogue because sooner or later, solutions will emerge,” he said.

In May 2020, an attempt was made by China to unilaterally change the status quo on the border. The Indian Army strongly opposed this attempt and foiled it, leading to a military standoff in the area.

JIUQUAN, China, Oct 30,2024: China sent three astronauts on Wednesday to its permanently inhabited space station, where they will conduct dozens of scientific experiments, some related to the construction of human habitats.

The spacecraft Shenzhou-19 and its three crew lifted off atop a Long March-2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China at 4:27 a.m. (2027 GMT), according to state media.

“During the Shenzhou-19 flight … 86 space sci-tech experiments will be carried out in the fields of space life sciences, microgravity physics, materials, medicine, new technologies,” Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), said in a press conference on Tuesday.

One of these experiments is expected to involve exposing bricks made from simulated lunar soil to conditions in space.

Should the tests prove successful, the bricks could be a key material used in the construction of a permanent lunar research station, which China hopes to complete by 2035, as it would in theory be more convenient than transporting building materials from Earth.

The bricks will be sent in a separate uncrewed cargo spaceflight to the Shenzhou-19 crew next month.

The Shenzhou crewed spaceflights have been a regular fixture of China’s space program for the past two decades and have increased in frequency in recent years as China built and began operating its “Tiangong” space station, officially completed in November 2022.

The fast development of China’s manned and unmanned space program has alarmed the United States, which has encountered issues with its own crewed spaceflights.

Two NASA astronauts brought to the International Space Station by Boeing’s
Starliner capsule in June have been stranded there since due to unforeseen issues with the spacecraft’s propulsion system. They are expected to return in February 2025 on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.

CMSA’s Lin on Tuesday said that in order to avoid similar issues, the emergency response plan has been “continuously optimized” so that astronauts have more time to deal with scenarios such as damage to the Shenzhou-19 caused by space debris.

Lin added that Shenzhou-20 and its carrier rocket were on standby and ready to perform an emergency rescue mission if necessary.
LOOKING TO THE MOON

Since the launch of Shenzhou-14 in June 2022, Shenzhou missions have involved trios of astronauts and six-month stays in space, with an overlap period of several days where the departing crew hands over the station to the newly arrived group. The Shenzhou-19 crew is expected to return to Earth next year in April or May.

Lin highlighted that two of the three astronauts crewing the Shenzhou-19 were born in 1990 and conducting their first spaceflight, with Wang Haoze also being the third female Chinese national sent into space.

The leader of the crew, 48-year-old Cai Yuzhe, was part of the Shenzhou-14 crew that completed Tiangong’s construction. Outside the mission, all three crew members are part of the Chinese military’s air force.

As Tiangong approaches its second anniversary, China’s focus has now turned to the goal of achieving a manned landing on the moon by 2030. In May, China’s Chang’e-6 lunar probe was launched from the island province of Hainan and successfully returned a month later.

While the mission was uncrewed, its completion made China the first country to retrieve samples from the moon’s far side.

The two younger Shenzhou-19 crew members were part of the third batch of astronauts selected to train for future spaceflights. The fourth batch, announced in 2022, will for the first time be more focused on moon landings, rather than just flights to the Tiangong space station, according to Lin.

“(The training content of the fourth batch) will extend the astronauts’ abilities, from controlling spacecraft to driving lunar rovers, from celestial body identification to geological exploration, from weightless floating in space to carrying heavy loads on the moon,” the CMSA official said.

Itanagar, Oct 31,2024: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually dedicated to the nation ‘Desh ka Vallabh’, the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Major Ralengnao ‘Bob’ Khathing ‘Museum of Valour’ at Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, on Thursday, describing them as a symbol of unity and strength.

The Defence Minister, who was supposed to visit Tawang but could not due to bad weather, carried out the inauguration from 4 Corps Headquarters in Tezpur, Assam, an official release said.

The unveiling coincided with the festival of lights ‘Deepawali’ and ‘Rashtriya Ekta Diwas’ which is celebrated on October 31 every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

The Defence Minister began his address by referring to the broad consensus achieved by India and China to restore the ground situation in certain areas along the LAC.

He paid glowing tributes to Sardar Patel, also known as the ‘Iron Man of India’, acknowledging his instrumental role in unifying over 560 princely states post-Independence, a feat that stands as a testament to his indomitable resolve and commitment to a unified India.

“This statue ‘Desh Ka Vallabh’ will inspire people, reminding them of the strength in unity and the unwavering spirit required to build a nation as diverse as ours,” he said in his address.

The Defence Minister also paid homage to Major Bob Khathing, an extraordinary figure who made invaluable contributions to the Northeast region and national security. “Major Khathing not only led the peaceful integration of Tawang into India but also established essential military and security frameworks, including the Sashastra Seema Bal, Nagaland Armed Police, and the Naga Regiment. The ‘Museum of Valour’ now stands as a tribute to his bravery and foresight, inspiring generations to come,” he said.

Singh underscored the significance of unity and harmony and the North-East’s unique role in the nation’s identity. He reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ensuring economic and infrastructure development of the entire region.

“Holistic development of the nation is possible only when the North East prospers. We will create such a North East that is strong and prosperous not only naturally and culturally but also economically,” he added.

Highlighting the crucial role of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in the progress of the region, the Defence Minister made special mention of the Sela Tunnel linking Assam and Tawang, a project that enhances connectivity across Northeast regions.

“In the times to come, the Arunachal Frontier Highway project will play a major role in connecting the entire North East region, especially the border areas. This 2,000-km long highway will prove to be an important strategic and economic asset for the region as well as the entire nation,” he added.

Singh also commended the armed forces’ engagement in the region, from NCC initiatives and local economic support to crucial disaster relief efforts.

“Armed Forces not only provide security but also become a medium for development in that region by cooperating with the people of the border areas. This further strengthens India’s commitment to ensuring development, peace, and security in the Northeast,” he said.

Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen (Retd) KT Parnaik, Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, and the family of Major Bob Khathing were present at the inauguration site.

Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command Lt Gen RC Tewari, GOC 4 Corps Lt Gen Gambhir Singh, and other senior civil and military officials joined the event virtually along with the Defence Minister.

Oct 29,2024: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched health insurance coverage for all senior citizens aged 70 and over, regardless of income, under the flagship initiative Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) in honor of Dhanvantari Jayanti and the 9th Ayurveda Day. The launch of the Ayushman Bharat scheme for senior citizens above 70 years was announced last month.

Rs 5 lakh health insurance under Ayushman Bharat for senior citizens above 70 years: Who is eligible, benefits, how to apply

According to the PIB’s social media account on X, “Prime Minister @narendramodi launches the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to extend healthcare coverage to all citizens aged 70 years and above, regardless of socio-economic status. This ensures accessible and affordable care for all senior citizens. With coverage of up to ₹5 lakh annually for free treatment, the scheme sets new standards in healthcare accessibility and inclusivity for our elders.”

According to a post on PMJAY-UP’s (Ayushman Bharat Uttar Pradesh) X page, “The first #AyushmanVayVandanaCard was presented by Honorable PM Shri @narendramodi to beneficiary Panchanan Shukla from #Deoria, #UttarPradesh. All senior citizens aged 70 and above will receive health coverage of 5 lakh.”

AB PM-JAY’s advantages would now be available to all senior citizens who are 70 years of age or older, regardless of their socioeconomic status. Under AB PM-JAY, a new, unique card would be given to the senior citizens who qualify.
Ayushman Bharat: Who are already covered under the scheme

The senior citizens of the age 70 years and above belonging to families already covered under AB PM-JAY will get an additional top-up cover upto Rs 5 lakh per year for themselves (which they do not have to share with the other members of the family who are below the age of 70 years).
Other health insurance

Senior citizens of the age 70 years and above who are already availing benefits of other public health insurance schemes such as Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) may either choose their existing scheme or opt for AB PMJAY.
Ayushman Bharat: Who it will benefit

This aims to benefit approximately 4.5 Crore families with six (6) crore senior citizens with 5 Lakh rupees free health insurance cover on a family basis.
Ayushman Bharat card

Ayushman Bharat advantages would be available to all senior citizens who are 70 years of age or older, regardless of their socioeconomic status, as the government has approved health insurance coverage under the flagship initiative Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).

How to apply

Visit PMJAY website, click on AM I eligible tab. Verify your mobile number by entering OTP. Select state and scheme. If you get details of your family and eligibility.
Step 1 : The applicant shall open https://ayushmanup.in/ tab and click on ‘# Register Yourself on SETU
Step 2 : The link will be landing the user on NHA’aSetu porta
Step-3:Applicant will register himself button. Step – 4: Applicant will register himself by filling all the mandatory tabs and then clicking on Submiby filling all the mandatory tabs and then clicking on Submit
Step 4: Upon successful registration,Applicant will now do their KYC and wait for the Approval. Once card is ready/approved by competent authority , Beneficiary can download the card
Step- 5:Click on ‘Download Ayushman Card’
Step 6: Select the state and enter your Aadhar card nter your Aadhar card number and verify with OTP
Step 7: Click on the download button.

Kevadia (Gujarat), Oct 31,2024: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India is moving towards One Nation One Civil Code which is a “secular civil code”.

“Today India is moving towards One Nation One Civil Code that is a secular civil code,” Modi said in his address at the ‘Rashtriya Ekta Diwas” (National Unity Day) celebration here in Gujarat.

Speaking at the event, the Prime Minister Modi also mentioned, “We are now working towards One Nation, One Election, which will strengthen India’s democracy, which will give optimum outcome of India’s resources, and the country will gain new momentum in achieving the dream of a developed India.”

During the event, the PM administered the Unity oath and paid floral tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 149th birth anniversary at the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar.

He said the last 10 years have been full of unprecedented achievements for the unity and integrity of India, and the commitment to national unity is visible in every work and mission of the government.

“As true Indians, it’s our duty to celebrate every effort towards national unity with enthusiasm and energy, strengthening new resolves, hopes, and excitement,” he added.

Modi said that by promoting India’s languages, the government has strengthened the bonds of unity, adding that the new education policy is a shining example, which the nation has proudly embraced.

He also said those who chanted the name of the Constitution had insulted it so much. “The reason was the wall of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. Article 370 has been buried forever. For the first time, voting was done without discrimination in this assembly election.”

The Prime Minister said, “For the first time, the Chief Minister of that place has taken oath on the Constitution of India. This scene must have given immense satisfaction to the makers of the Indian Constitution.”

Modi termed Naxalism a “terrifying disease” that has been uprooted and thrown away.

“You should understand that at one time, a red corridor existed from Nepal’s Pashupatinath to Tirupati in India. I am pleased to say that due to relentless efforts over the past ten years, Naxalism is now counting its last breaths in India,” said the PM.

Nov 6,2024: Bagging 295 electoral votes and most swing states, Republican Donald J Trump raced towards a victory.The 78-year-old won wider margins than before, despite a criminal conviction and two impeachments while in office.
Defeated Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris told supporters on Wednesday that “we must accept the results” of the US election, while promising to help Donald Trump as he heads back to the White House.
Presidential Results: “God Spared My Life For A Reason,” Says Trump

“God spared my life for a reason,” says Donald Trump as he recalls an assassination attempt in his “victory speech”.

“And that reason was to save our country and restore America to greatness. And now we’re going to fulfill that mission together,” he tells supporters.

“The task before us will not be easy, but I will bring every ounce of energy, spirit, and fight that I have in my soul to the job that you’ve entrusted to me,” he adds.
Donald J. Trump’s projected victory over Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election marks a historic and improbable comeback for the former president, who left office in 2021 after failing to overturn the 2020 election results.

“We overcame obstacles that nobody ever thought we could,” he said on election night after a bitter, bruising campaign. He vowed to fight for every family and for their futures. “This will truly be the golden age of America,” he vowed.

Throughout his two-year campaign, Trump hammered President Biden, and later Harris, on inflation and the economy. It’s a message that resonated with voters, whose views on the economy are more negative now than they were in 2020, despite the pandemic that brought the economy to a halt during his presidency. Nationally and across the battleground states, on the question of whether voters are better off now than they were four years ago, more voters said they are financially worse off.

Trump also ran hard on immigration — as he has for nearly a decade — and vowed at nearly every campaign event that he’d carry out mass deportations if he’s reelected. Exit polling showed that voters also believed Trump would do a better job of confronting illegal immigration at the southern border.

Trump has had an unshakeable base of voters, and in this election, he was able to attract new voters who were undecided — low-propensity, young male voters — turned out for him.

Immigration was a constant in all of three of Trump’s bids for the White House. He promised mass deportations for migrants and promised to establish the death penalty for any migrant who kills a U.S. citizen.

Madrid, Oct 31,2024: At least 95 people have been killed in flooding as torrential rain battered Spain’s eastern region of Valencia and the neighboring provinces of Albacete and Cuenca, according to Angel Victor Torres, Minister for Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory.

Exceptionally heavy rainfall, totaling over 400 liters per square meter, flooded parts of Valencia and the provinces of Albacete and Cuenca within just a few hours between Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.

More than 60 roads have been closed due to flooding, including major highways along the eastern coast and between Madrid and Valencia. Local train services have been halted, and the high-speed rail connection between Valencia and the capital is also suspended.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will visit the affected regions on Thursday, the government said in an official communique.

Sanchez convened an emergency cabinet meeting Wednesday morning and made a formal declaration at midday, pledging full support from his government to the families of flood victims.

Around 1,000 members of the Spanish Military’s Emergency Response United (UME) have been deployed to the affected areas, assisting with rescue and clean-up efforts.

However, operations have been hampered by power outages and collapsed phone networks in many areas.

Meteorologists attribute the torrential rain to a phenomenon known as “isolated high-altitude depression,” or DANA in Spanish, which occurs when a cold air front crosses the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea. While its impacts are often localized, similar events wreaked havoc in 1966 and 1957, with the River Turia overflowing and devastating the city of Valencia.

Oct 30,2024: In the midst of a punishing drought and a massive drop in diamond revenue, up to 1 million eligible voters in Botswana are heading to the polls in a tense general election on Wednesday.

Africa’s longest-serving democracy is considered one of the continent’s most stable countries, having peacefully transitioned power in all elections since independence from Britain in the 1960s. However, there are fears this time that there might be post-election violence.

“There are tensions in the country due to the shifting political landscape,” election observer Tendai Mbanje of the African Centre for Governance Election Observation told Al Jazeera. “Unlike in the past, there is increased political competition.”

The landlocked southern African country runs an indirect election system: Voters will elect parliament members. The head of the governing party at the end of the vote count is then appointed as president for the next five years.

Blessed with precious stones and the world’s second-largest diamond reserves after Russia, Botswana has abundant natural wealth. It also boasts the world’s largest elephant population.

Although slightly larger in size than France, Botswana’s population is less than 4 percent of France’s. There are only 2.5 million people spread sparsely across the country which has the Kalahari Desert covering much of its territory.

Tehran, Oct 26,2024:A number of strong explosions were heard in the Iranian capital Tehran in the early hours of Saturday, state-run IRIB TV reported.

The situation at Imam Khomeini International Airport and Mehrabad International Airport is normal, the report said.

According to the IRIB TV, the source of the blasts has not yet been identified and seemed to have originated in the suburbs of Tehran.

The TV quoted security sources as saying that some of the explosions pertained to the activities of the air defense systems deployed near the capital. The sources added that investigations have been launched to identify the source of the explosions, according to the report.

The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that the explosions were heard west of Tehran, yet the situation was normal in the capital.

Israel confirmed that it had launched “precise strikes on military targets in Iran” early Saturday morning local time. The Israel Defense Forces said the strikes were in response to “months of continuous attacks” from Iran.

On Oct. 1, Iran fired approximately 180 missiles at Israeli targets. Tehran said the strikes were retaliation for the assassinations of several leaders of the regional resistance groups, among other things. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran had made a “grave mistake” and vowed retaliation.

Bhubaneswar, Oct 24,2024: The Odisha government has evacuated about 3.62 lakh people from eleven districts likely to be affected by the severe cyclonic storm Dana, which is expected to make landfall tonight or by Friday morning.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who reviewed the government’s preparedness with the collectors of the eleven districts, informed the press that the evacuation process would be completed within the next few hours.

He stated that 38 blocks, 1,653 villages, nine municipalities, and 26 wards across the eleven districts are likely to be affected by the severe cyclonic storm Dana.

The Chief Minister added that approximately 3.62 lakh people residing in low-lying areas of these districts are being evacuated, with 3 lakh people already moved to cyclone shelters by 11 AM. The remaining evacuations are expected to be completed in the coming hours.

He also mentioned that about 2,338 pregnant women from the affected areas have already been shifted to hospitals for their safety.

The districts likely to be impacted by the storm include Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Cuttack, Khurdha, and Jajpur.

A total of 842 permanent cyclone shelters and 6,443 temporary shelters are currently operational in these districts, Majhi added.

The Chief Minister noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is closely monitoring the situation in Odisha and has assured full assistance and cooperation to the state.

Senior and experienced IAS officers have been deputed to oversee the evacuation process at the village and panchayat levels, with nine council ministers also supervising the preparedness measures in the affected districts.

Majhi has directed officials to ensure zero casualties. A total of 19 NDRF teams, 51 ODRAF teams, and 220 Fire Services teams have been deployed in the districts expected to be hit by Cyclone Dana. Additionally, 1,576 platoons of police forces have been mobilized in the affected areas.

KAZAN, Russia, Oct 23,2024: China’s Xi Jinping, India’s Narendra Modi and some other BRICS leaders discussed the war in Ukraine with President Vladimir Putin as the Kremlin chief chaired a major summit aimed at showing Western attempts to isolate Russia have failed.
BRICS is now a group that accounts for 45% of the world’s population and 35% of the global economy.
But there are divisions and concerns even among members about how such a vast grouping can expand so swiftly while preserving some sense of geopolitical purpose and achieve any real economic results.

Putin, whose administration has dismissed war crimes allegations against him as political, opened the summit on Wednesday by saying that more than 30 states had expressed interest in joining the group but that it was important to strike a balance in any expansion.

“It would be wrong to ignore the unprecedented interest of the countries of the Global South and East in strengthening contacts with BRICS,” Putin told BRICS leaders in Kazan.

New Delhi, November 5,2024: The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld constitutional validity of ‘Uttar Pradesh Board of Madrasa Education Act 2004’ and set aside the Allahabad High Court’s March 22 verdict which had struck down the Act.
A bench Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra however, held the Madarsa Act unconstitutional to the extent it regulates higher education in relation to ‘Fazil’ and ‘Kamil’, which is in conflict with the UGC Act.
The Madarsa Act regulates the standards of education in the State of Uttar Pradesh, said the bench while pronouncing the verdict on pleas against the judgement of High Court.
The right of minorities to administer educational institutions is not absolute and the state can regulate the standards of such education, it added.
The Allahabad High Court had struck down the UP Madrasa Act for violating principles of secularism – a facet of basic structure of the Constitution.
The apex court said that a law can be struck for violation of fundamental rights under part III of the Constitution or on grounds of legislative competence but not for violation of basic structure.
“The legislative scheme for the Act is to standardise level of education being prescribed in the madrasas. The Madrasa Act does not interfere with the day to day working of the madrasas. It is to protect the rights of minority in the State of Uttar Pradesh and is consistent with positive obligation of the State which ensures the students to pass out and earn a decent living,” the verdict of the top court stated.

During the hearing of the case, the apex court had described India as a “melting pot of cultures, civilisations and religions” and stressed on taking steps to preserve it.
It had said that such religious instructions are not unique to Muslim community and other religions have the same too.
NCPCR had contended that the education imparted to children in Madrasa is not comprehensive, and is therefore against the provisions of Right to Education Act, 2009.
The Uttar Pradesh government had said that it was in support of the legislation, however, it added that state has accepted the ruling.
The ruling of the top court came on an appeal against the High Court judgment striking down ‘UP Board of Madarsa Education Act 2004’ as unconstitutional and violative of secularism and fundamental rights.
The appeals against High Court order were filed by Anjum Kadari, Managers Association Madaris Arabiya (UP), All India Teachers Association Madaris Arabiya (New Delhi), Manager Association Arbi Madarsa Nai Bazar and Teachers Association Madaris Arabiya Kanpur.
Madarsas are institutions where Islamic studies and other education may be pursued by students.
On March 22, Allahabad High Court found that the 2004 Act was violative of the principle of secularism enshrined in the Constitution of India.
The High Court further asked the State to take immediate steps so that students pursuing studies in Madarsas of Uttar Pradesh are accommodated other schools.

New Delhi, November 5,2024: A nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court, while delivering a verdict on whether the State can take over private properties to distribute to subserve the common good, ruled that all private properties are not material resources and hence cannot be taken over by states.
The majority opinion authored by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud held that all private properties cannot form part of the ‘material resources of the community’ under Article 39(b) of the Constitution and can’t taken over by State authorities to subserve the “common good”.
Article 39(b) of the Constitution provides that the state shall direct policy to ensure “ownership and control of the material resources of the community are so distributed as best to sub-serve the common good”.
The majority verdict said that the interpretation that every privately owned property could be used by the state as a material resource to “subserve the common good” postulated a “rigid economic theory which advocates greater state control of private resources”.
However, it said states can stake claims over private properties in certain cases.
The majority verdict given by CJI Chandrachud, Justices Hrishikesh Roy, JB Pardiwala, Manoj Misra, Rajesh Bindal, SC Sharma and Augustine George Masih overruled several verdicts post-1978 that had adopted the socialist theme and ruled that states could take over all private properties for the common good.
Justice BV Nagarathna partially disagreed with the majority judgement and gave separate judgement, while Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia dissented on all aspects.
The verdict of the top court came on a batch of petitions that initially arose in 1992 and were subsequently referred to a nine-judge bench in 2002.
The main question to be decided was whether material resources of the community under Article 39(b), which states that the government should create policies to share community resources fairly for the common good, includes privately owned resources.

New Delhi, Oct 23,2024: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday announced that the government will commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel with a two-year-long nationwide celebration starting this year.

Announcing the decision in a post on X, Shah said, “Sardar Patel Ji’s enduring legacy as the visionary behind the establishment of one of the world’s most robust democracies and his pivotal role in unifying India from Kashmir to Lakshadweep remains indelible.”

“To honour his monumental contributions, the government of India, under the leadership of PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji, will commemorate his 150th birth anniversary with a two-year-long nationwide celebration from 2024 to 2026. This celebration will serve as a testament to his remarkable achievements and the spirit of unity that he epitomised,” Shah added.

New Delhi, Nov 7,2024: Hockey India on Thursday announced the beginning of a grand, year-long celebration marking the 100th anniversary of Indian Hockey.

This centenary year is a tribute to a century of unparalleled excellence and a forward-looking vision for the future of hockey in India, marked with the grand relaunch of HIL and the historic inauguration of the Women’s HIL.

A national body for hockey was officially formed on November 7, 1925, in the historic city of Gwalior. This pivotal moment ignited a journey of triumphs and glory that has firmly established India as a powerhouse in the sport.

Indian hockey’s journey over the last 99 years is a saga of unmatched legacy in global sports, adorned with eight Olympic Gold medals, along with a Silver and four Bronze medals, and a

Hockey World Cup trophy, supplemented by a Silver and a Bronze medal.

From the golden era on natural turf to the modern challenges of artificial surfaces, Indian hockey has continually evolved and emerged stronger, epitomizing resilience and resurgence.

Over the past decade, Indian hockey has experienced a renaissance. The Indian Men’s Hockey Team’s historic back-to-back Olympic medals, after a 52-year wait, and the Women’s Hockey Team’s impressive fourth-place finish in Tokyo Olympics, along with their FIH Nations Cup victory, are testaments to this revival.

The return of the Hockey India League, coinciding with this monumental anniversary, is a vibrant testament to Hockey India’s commitment to preserving our illustrious past while embracing the exciting future ahead.

India has successfully hosted numerous prestigious international tournaments and developed world-class infrastructure with state-of-the-art artificial turfs nationwide.

Hockey India has embraced innovation with digital initiatives like the Member Unit Portal and the online player registration system, creating a comprehensive database of professional players in

the country. The structured coaching education pathway is also designed to produce officials of international standards from our nation.

Hockey India has always championed gender equality in sports. They proudly uphold equal prize money for Men’s and Women’s Teams winning tournaments and standardized match-winning fees across genders. Hockey remains the only team sport in the nation with complete pay parity.

The timing of the Hockey India League’s return is a meticulously planned tribute to this centenary celebration. The league is set to be bigger, better, and bolder, featuring the historic introduction of the Women’s Hockey India League. This step will not only showcase India’s hockey renaissance but also underline Hockey India’s unwavering commitment to providing equal opportunities and recognition to all athletes.

“As we begin celebrations for 100 years of Indian hockey, the relaunch of the Men’s Hockey India League and the inaugural Women’s Hockey India League signify a momentous occasion. This year-long celebration is a tribute to our remarkable journey and a testament to our enduring legacy. We are excited to witness the thrilling matches and extraordinary talent that these leagues will bring, highlighting the spirit of excellence that has defined Indian hockey for a century,” Hockey India President Dr Dilip Tirkey commented on the occasion.

Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh echoed these thoughts, saying, “The centenary celebration of Indian hockey is a historic milestone that reflects our rich heritage and our vision for the future. The return of the Hockey India League and the launch of the Women’s League are pivotal moments in our commitment to fostering talent and promoting equality in the sport. We look forward to an unforgettable year of high-caliber hockey, as we honor our past and build a brighter future for the sport in India.”

This centenary celebration is a grand tribute to a century of Indian hockey excellence, yet it is also a launching pad for the next hundred years of glory and triumph.