The bureaucracy as prosecutor and judge (Polity)

The controversial Jan Vishwas Act, 2022 which was recently enacted into law by Parliament, has been touted by the government as a landmark piece of legislation aimed at improving “ease of doing business” in India by either decriminalising or making “compoundable” offences across 42 legislations.

Maldives SC bars former President Yameen from contesting September polls(International Relations)

The Maldives Supreme Court on Sunday barred the jailed former President Abdulla Yameen from contesting the island nation’s presidential election in September, citing his conviction by a criminal court.Last December, Mr. Yameen, who leads the opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), was sentenced to a 11-year jail sentence after he was pronounced guilty of corruption and money-laundering charges. However, his party had nominated him as its candidate for the island nation’s presidential race scheduled on September 9, in which incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is seeking a second term.

GS 3

Is India’s sugar surplus leading to a crisis? (Economy)

In 2021-2022, India surpassed Brazil to become the largest sugar producer in the world, producing 359 lakh tonnes – an all-time high. But this isn’t sweet news: with the resources that go into making all that sugar dwindling at an alarming rate, India’s sugar market might slip into its biggest crisis ever in the coming decades.

Importance and concerns of Starlink (Science & Technology)

In January 2023, Telegram channels in Russia were flooded with undated pictures of an unmanned Ukranian drone that included a retrofitted Starlink satellite dish made by SpaceX, Elon Musk’s rocket company.

Satellite data, heat sensing, robots: Start-ups help 35 cities plug water network leaks, recharge borewells (Growth and Development)

The global way out (Climate Cahnge)

Forest Conservation Bill: An encompassing green (Conservation of Environment)

Prelims specific

18th century Tamil Manuscripts found in monastery in Italy

President unveils Bharathi’s portrait in Raj Bhavan; renames Durbar Hall