Parliamentary Standing Committee recommends appointment of Regional Commissioners to assist in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections
- The Lok Sabha elections are scheduled to take place in 2024. Regional Election Commissioners were appointed in Mumbai and Patna to assist the Chief Electoral Commissioner during the first Lok Sabha general election in 1951. They were not nominated in the subsequent general elections.
- In this context, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Personnel recently submitted a report to the Lok Sabha stating that the Election Commission should have adequate staff and officers during elections.
- The Constitution provides for the appointment of Regional Election Commissioners to assist the Chief Electoral Commissioner. The power to do so rests with the President. Therefore, these commissioners should be appointed in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
- Under Article 324 (4) of the Constitution, the President is empowered to appoint Regional Election Commissioners on the advice of the Chief Electoral Commissioner prior to each general election, state assembly election and legislative by-election.
- The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has recently developed a missile capable of launching a long-range anti-aircraft aircraft from the ground during wartime.
- The missile, which is equipped with state-of-the-art technology including sensor and radar, was tested in Balasore, Orissa.
- For this purpose, the aircraft was targeted to fly at high speeds over long distances in the air. Subsequently, as soon as the missile was launched, it flew off the ground and struck and destroyed the aircraft precisely at the specified time.
- The final of the Swiss Open badminton tournament was held in St. Jacobshell. In the men's singles, India's star player Pranav clashed with world number eight Jonathan Christie of Indonesia.
- The match lasted about 45 minutes and was won by Jonathan 12-21, 18-21 in straight sets. Indian star H.S. Pranav lost to Indonesian player Jonathan Christie.
- The final of the Swiss Open women's singles division took place. India's PV Sindhu, who has won two Olympic medals, and world number four Busanan Ongpamrungpan of Thailand both competed in the event.
- At the end of the first round, Sindhu settled the set with 21-16 points. He also won the 2nd set 21-8. Sindhu won the championship by winning both the sets in a row. This is the 2nd title won by PV Sindhu who won his first World Championship title in 2019.
- The fifth meeting of the Indo-Sri Lanka Joint Working Group on Fisheries was held on the 25th in a virtual format. The Indian delegation was chaired by Mr. Jatindranath Swain, Fisheries Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy.
- Representatives of the Central Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, Dairy, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Tamil Nadu, Government of Pondicherry, Indian Navy and Coast Guard were present.
- Secretary to the Ministry of Fisheries Mr. RMI Ratnayake presided. The Joint Working Group held a detailed discussion on bilateral issues between India and Sri Lanka, including the issue of long standing fishermen and fishing boats.
- Bilateral issues were also discussed, including joint naval and coast guard patrols, smuggling prevention and measures to alleviate the concerns of bilateral fishermen.
- The first meeting of the Joint Working Group was held on 31st December 2016 in New Delhi. The second meeting was held on April 7, 2017 in Colombo. The third meeting was held in New Delhi on October 13 of the same year and the fourth meeting was held on December 30, 2020 in virtual form.
