19th May 2023 ENGLISH TNPSC CURRENT PDF TNPSC SHOUTERS
2 new Supreme Court judges sworn in
- There are a total of 34 vacancies in the Supreme Court. Out of which 2 posts were vacant. In this case, Prashant Kumar Mishra and KV Viswanathan were sworn in as new judges. Chief Justice DY Chandrachud administered the oath of office to them. With this the Supreme Court has reached its full strength.
- Based on the decisions taken in the board meeting of RBI on November 8, 2016, Rs.500 and Rs.1000 notes which were in circulation at that time were withdrawn. Alternatively, the first new Rs.2000 notes were introduced on 2nd November 2016 to meet the demand for currencies in the economy. This action was taken under Section 24(1) of the RBI Act.
- The Rs 2000 notes were then issued to ensure adequate availability of currency notes in other denominations in the economy. In this situation, the printing of Rs.2000 notes has been completely stopped from the last year 2018-19. 89 percent of Rs 2000 notes in circulation were printed and issued before March 2017.
- Hence, the circulation of Rs.2000 notes in the public space has reduced drastically as of now. In this situation, the RBI has now come to the decision to withdraw Rs.2000 notes as other denominations of currency notes are sufficient to meet the demand of currency circulation. This decision has been taken on the basis of 'clean note policy'.
- Even if the withdrawal notification of Rs.2000 notes is issued, the notes will continue to be valid on legal grounds. The public can exchange their Rs 2000 notes into other currencies at banks from May 23. Time has been given till September 30 for this. Banks have been advised to make special arrangements for the same.
- To prevent crowding in banks and to facilitate them to carry out their routine work, the limit for exchange of Rs.2000 notes has been fixed. Accordingly, an individual can exchange only Rs 20,000 worth of notes in banks per day. In this regard, guidelines have been published for all banks.
- Last March, the collegium organization had recommended the appointment of 4 new judges in the Madras High Court who could be in the status of District Judges. But the central government did not take any action on this recommendation of the collegium.
- Recently, the Law Department was taken away from Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and assigned to Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. Following this, the Union Ministry of Law has been sending the pending recommendations of the Collegium system for the President's approval since last night.
- Based on that, the President has approved the appointment of 4 additional judges to the Madras High Court. With the addition of 4 judges to the existing judges, the strength of Madras High Court has increased to 64. According to the status of district judges R. Sakthivel, B. Dhanapal, C. Kumarappan, K. Rajasekhar, 4 judges have been appointed as Madras High Court Judges.
- As a result of joint efforts by the Governments of India and Israel, the ``India-Israel Center for Water Technology'' (CoWT) will be set up on the Indian Institute of Technology campus in Chennai.
- The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs will work with MASHAV, Israel's agency for international development cooperation, to establish the new facility. The main objective of the center is to ensure the implementation of the best of Israel's technologies for Indian needs and to work on sustainable management solutions for the Indian water sector.
- Earlier this month, in the presence of Indian Foreign Minister Jayashankar and Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, the MoHUA Secretary Manoj Joshi, IIT Madras Director Professor V. Kamakoti and Israeli Ambassador to India Navor Kilon signed the Letter of Intent in this regard.
- Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that India has become an investment-friendly country due to business-friendly policies. Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya presided over the Asia Petro-Chemical Industry Summit 2023 in New Delhi today. About 1,200 delegates from China, the US, the Middle East, Europe and other Asian countries participated in the conference, which was themed 'Inspiring a Sustainable Future'.
- In Guwahati, Assam, an MoU was signed between Inland Waterways Authority of India, Sagar Mala Development Corporation, Assam Tourism Development Corporation and Assam State Inland Waterways Transport Department for 'River Based Circular Religious Tourism'.
- Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sharma, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, Waterways and AYUSH Mr. Sarbananda Sonawal participated in this historic signing ceremony to open a new chapter of river tourism in Assam.
- The deal provides for a state-of-the-art ferry service with pick-up and drop-off between seven historic religious sites around Guwahati. These seven places are Kamakya, Bandunath, Aswadklanda, Dol Govinda, Umananda, Sakreswar and Aniyati Chatra.
- This scheme within 12 months Rs. 45 crores investment will be completed. This circular ferry service from Hanuman Ghat to Usan Bazar completes the entire circuit in less than two hours.
- 'Vaksheer', the sixth submarine of Project-75, began its sea trials on May 18, 2023. The submarine was launched last April 20, 2022 from Masakan Shipyard. After the successful completion of these exercises, the 'Vaksheer' submarine will be handed over to the Indian Navy in early 2024.
- As Masakan Shipyard has handed over three submarines to the Indian Navy in 24 months under Program-75, the trial of the sixth submarine is considered significant. This initiative will encourage self-reliance in India. Submarine 'Vaksheer' is set to undergo intensive training at sea, it is noted.
