The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Saturday successfully launched the INSAT-3DS satellite.
The lift-off took place from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. With the launch, India marked a new chapter in its space exploration journey.
#WATCH | Andhra Pradesh: ISRO launches INSAT-3DS meteorological satellite onboard a Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle F14 (GSLV-F14), from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
The satellite was pushed into orbit aboard the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F14).
The second stage performance is normal and the payload bearing has also been separated as ISRO launched INSAT-3DS meteorological satellite.
#WATCH | Andhra Pradesh: The second stage performance is Normal and the payload bearing has also been separated as ISRO launched INSAT-3DS meteorological satellite onboard a Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle F14 (GSLV-F14).
The satellite has been designed to enhance meteorological observations. It will also monitor land and ocean surfaces to facilitate weather forecasting and disaster warnings.
The data provided by INSAT-3DS will be used by several departments of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) to improve weather predictions and other meteorological services.
INSAT-3DS will be primarily used to monitor the Earth’s surface and carry out oceanic observations.
The 51.7-meter tall rocket carries imager payloads, sounder payloads, data relay transponders, and satellite-aided search and rescue transponders that will be used to study cloud properties, fog, rainfall etc.
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It has been a challenging week for the Indian government. Farmers are back on the street, continuing their march to Delhi. There have been three rounds of talks between farmer leaders and Union ministers but they have not reached a consensus. With elections coming, a protest in the national capital could be worrisome.
Farmers are not the only concern. In a landmark verdict, the Supreme Court struck down electoral bonds, calling them unconstitutional. This is likely to impact political parties, which have received donations worth Rs 16,518 crore since the scheme was introduced. So what happens next? We have been tracking the story closely.
The good news for the week was the return of the Indian Navy veterans from Qatar, who were on a death sentence on espionage charges. It was a diplomatic win for New Delhi.
All this and more in our weekly roundup of explainers on the big news stories that grabbed headlines in the country.
1. “Delhi Chalo”. That is the call farmer leaders are giving to their counterparts. The stir has entered its sixth day on Saturday. Security personnel are doing everything they can to disperse farmers at the Punjab-Haryana Shambu border – using teargas shells, drones, barricades and more. However, the farmers are not in the mood to back down. There have been three rounds of negotiations with Union ministers Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda, and Nityanand Rai with scant progress. But why are the farmers back on the streets again? What are their key demands? We explain.
2. The farmers’ protests come just months ahead of the 2024 general elections. It is not good optics. The farmers come from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh – three important states in the Hindi heartland. The stir poses a big challenge for Narendra Modi, who is eyeing a third straight term. But will this benefit the Opposition INDIA bloc? It is unlikely. In this piece, we explain how the agitation could impact the elections.
Protesting farmers run away from tear gas shells used by the police near the Shambhu border that divides Punjab and Haryana states, almost 200 kilometres from New Delhi. AP
3. This week, the Supreme Court delivered a landmark verdict. It struck down the Centre’s electoral bond scheme, stating it is unconstitutional and arbitrary. But what are electoral bonds and why are they so contentious? We explain.
In another article, we help you understand the apex court’s big ruling. The decision was taken by a five-judge Constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud. The court stated that electoral bonds violate the Right to Information.
It remains to be seen how this verdict will affect political parties. However, since being introduced in 2018, political parties have received donations worth Rs 16,518 crore from electoral bonds. Of this, how much did the BJP earn? What about the Congress and other political parties? We take a look.
4. There have been some setbacks, but a big win for New Delhi was the release of Indian Navy veterans from Qatar. They were sentenced to death on espionage charges.
Arrested in the middle of the night on 30 August 2022, they spent more than a year and a half in prison. The Ministry of External Affairs was attempting to secure their release through diplomatic channels and the death sentence on 26 October 2023 came as a shock.
However, New Delhi did not give up. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was on top of things. It is said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with the Qatar ruler last December helped make further progress in the case. We take a look at how India pulled off this move.
Retired Indian Navy captain Saurabh Vashishtha, who returned to India on Monday after being released from a Qatar jail, was welcomed by his family members upon his arrival at his home, in Dehradun, on 13 February. Vashishtha along with seven other Navy veterans was handed down a death sentence in a case of suspected espionage in Qatar. PTI
5. The Indian Navy has been on a path to shed its colonial past. In December, it unveiled new epaulettes, reflecting the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Now it has unveiled kurta-pajamas for its personnel. Officers and sailors will be able to wear ethnic clothing in naval messes with some caveats.
6. Our last story comes from Maharashtra and it’s the one that is expected to break hearts. Earlier in the week, a video of two staffers at a pet clinic in Thane punching and kicking a dog went viral. It sparked outrage and rightly so. Even Chief Minister Eknath Shinde took notice.
A shocking video has gone viral on social media platforms showing a man thrashing a pet dog mercilessly in #Thane district of #Maharashtra. The incident reportedly took place at a pet clinic on #GBRoad in the city. Two people have been arrested in connection with the case.
Cruelty against animals is not that uncommon. The Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO) in a 2023 report wrote that there have been 20,000 intentional and brutal crimes against animals in the last 10 years in the country.
That’s all from India this week. Hope our explainers give you some food for thought. If you want to understand the news better, you can come back for more.
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Inclement weather claimed the life of an Indian national in Queensland, Australia. His body was found in the floodwaters near Mount Isa, the Indian High Commission in Canberra posted on X Friday.
“Heart breaking tragedy”, the Indian mission said, expressing condolence. The Indian mission in Canberra is in touch with the family of the deceased to render necessary assistance.
“Heart breaking tragedy in Australia: an Indian national lost her life in a flooding incident near Mount Isa, Queensland. Deepest condolence to the family of the deceased. Mission team is in touch for all necessary assistance,” the Indian High Commission posted on X, formerly Twitter.
Heart breaking tragedy in Australia: an Indian national lost her life in a flooding incident near Mount Isa, Queensland. Deepest condolence to the family of the deceased. Mission team is in touch for all necessary assistance.@MEAIndia@DrSJaishankar
The situation in Queensland remains precarious amid alerts for severe rain and thunderstorms.
"Severe Thunderstorm warning for people in parts of Sunshine Coast Council Area. The BOM warns that a severe thunderstorm likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding was detected near Maroochydore and waters off Maroochydore," the Queensland police said in a statement.
In another incident, the police informed that a woman was found dead in her car which was found submerged in floodwaters near Mount Isa.
Queensland police said that the matter is being investigated and urged people to come up with any information that can assist in the investigation.
"Due to recent weather events, flooding is continuing to impact extensive road networks across the Mount Isa district. Motorists are urged to exercise extreme caution, and to never enter flood waters," the police stated.
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The instability in Manipur continues. Every few weeks, tensions escalate in the Northeastern state. At the centre of the latest violence is the Kuki-Zo tribes-dominated Churachandpur district and a policeman who took a selfie.
The protests started against the suspension of a head constable, who belongs to the Kuki tribe. The action was taken against him after a selfie of him with “armed miscreants” went viral, according to reports in the media.
A mob clashed with security forces as it stormed the district Superintendent of Police’s office. At least two people died and several others were injured as security personnel opened fire to disperse the crowds.
Violence erupted in the Churachandpur town on Thursday evening. A “mob numbering approximately 300-400 attempted to storm” the SP’s office and pelted stones, according to the police. They demanded the reinstatement of the head constable, Siamlalpaul, who took the selfie in a bunker of “armed miscreants” and “village defence volunteers” atop a hill, reports NDTV.
Visuals show protesters going on a rampage, committing arson. They set ablaze some police vehicles and parts of the district collector’s office.
Security forces, including the Rapid Action Force (RAF), responded to the mob by firing teargas shells to control the escalating situation.
“Mob numbering approx. 300-400 attempted to storm the office of SP CCP today, pelting stones, etc. The SF [security forces] including the RAF [Rapid Action Force], is responding appropriately by firing tear gas shells to control the situation. Things are under watch,” the Manipur Police posted on X.
Mob numbering approx. 300–400 attempted to storm the office of SP CCP today, pelting stones, etc. The SF, including the RAF, is responding appropriately by firing tear gas shells to control the situation. Things are under watch..
Internet services have been suspended in Churachandpur following the incident.
The situation in the district remained tense on Friday morning after the offices of the superintendent of police and the deputy commissioner were vandalised, vehicles used by CAPF [Central Armed Police Force] were torched by a mob and the national flag at the SP office complex was pulled down, an official told PTI.
“There is apprehension that some anti-social elements might use social media extensively for transmission of images, posts and video messages inciting the public, which might have serious repercussions for the law and order situation…,” a notification said.
“There is imminent danger for loss of lives/ damage to public or private property and widespread disturbances to public tranquillity and communal harmony as a result of inflammatory material and false rumours,” it added.
The Kuki policeman was suspended after a video and a selfie with “armed men” at what appears to be firing positions in the hills.
Siamlalpaul was kept “under suspension with immediate effect until further orders” by Churachandpur SP Shivanand Surve.
“This tantamount to very grave misconduct being a member of the disciplined police force,” a police order said. “A departmental inquiry is being contemplated against Siamlalpaul of Churachandpur district police, as a clip has gone viral on social media showing him making a video with armed men on February 14.”
The constable has been asked not to “leave the station without prior permission” and “his pay and allowances have been restricted to subsistence allowance admissible as per the rules”, it said, according to a report by CNN-News18.
Security personnel stand guard during a protest rally in Imphal West district. Manipur has remained on the edge since the unrest started last May. File photo/PTI
The suspension angered locals who alleged the role of Meitei police personnel in the conflict has not seen similar action. After Thursday’s unrest, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), a Kuki-Zo organisation based in Churachandpur, issued an ultimatum for Surve to “leave the district” within 24 hours, threatening that, if not, “he will bear sole responsibility for any future incident”, according to a report in The Indian Express.
ITLF spoke about the looting of arms from the 5th Indian Reserve Battalion in Imphal East on Tuesday, alleging that police allowed the weapons to be taken “without any resistance”.
“No one was hauled up for the incident. There are numerous personal accounts of Meitei police personnel leading mobs in attacking tribal villages. No action has been taken against them… If the SP cannot act with fairness, we will not allow him to remain in any tribal area. He should immediately revoke the suspension of the policeman and leave the district within 24 hours,” it said in a statement, The Indian Express report said.
Members of the Kuki tribe hold Indian flags during a sit-in protest against the killing of tribals in their northeastern home state of Manipur, in May 2023. File photo/AP
The conflict in Manipur
Ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on 3 May 2023 between the Meiteis and the Kuki-Zo tribals.
More than 180 people have been killed and over 70,000 people of different communities have been displaced since then.
With inputs from agencies
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The Supreme Court Thursday struck down the electoral bonds scheme and ordered the State Bank of India (SBI) to issue details of the political parties that have received contributions through electoral bonds from the interim order on 12 April 2019, to date to the Election Commission of India (ECI).
But there has been a pertinent question among people about how much money has been collected so far via the Electoral Bonds scheme.
Total collection through electoral bonds
According to government data, with the latest tranche issued in January 2024, as many as 30 tranches of electoral bonds issued have collected over Rs 16,500 crore.
The Election Bonds Scheme was introduced by the government on 2 January 2018, with the aim “to ensure clean tax-paid money is coming into the system of political funding through proper banking channels.”
As per the data presented in Lok Sabha during the Budget 2024 session, Minister of State in the Finance Ministry Pankaj Chaudhry, in a written reply stated: “The total value of Electoral Bonds purchased (Phase-I to Phase –XXX) from SBI is about Rs 16,518 crores.”
The commission paid to the SBI by the Government of India for the issuance and redemption of Electoral Bonds from Phase I to Phase XXV is about Rs 8.57 crore. Also, the amount paid by the government to Security Printing & Minting Corporation of India Ltd (SPMCIL) to date is about Rs 1.90 crore.
Supreme Court Electoral Bonds Scheme verdict
The top court Thursday asked the SBI to disclose details of each electoral bond encashed by the political parties, which shall include the date of encashment and the denomination of the electoral bond.
The bank has been asked to submit the details to the ECI within three weeks, till 6 March 2024, after which the poll body has been directed to publish them on its official website by 13 March.
Once the details are published by the ECI, political parties have been directed to refund the Electoral bonds amount to the purchaser’s account.
The court said Electoral Bonds which are within the validity period of 15 days but have not been encashed by the political parties yet shall be returned by them to the purchaser. The issuing bank shall then refund the amount to the purchaser’s account.
Who could purchase electoral bonds?
A person who is a citizen of India or incorporated or established in India was eligible to purchase the electoral bonds. An individual could buy electoral bonds singly or jointly with others.
Which political parties were eligible to receive Electoral Bonds?
Only the political parties registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (43 of 1951) and which secured not less than one per cent of the votes polled in the last Lok Sabha polls or the Legislative Assembly of the State, were eligible to receive the Electoral Bonds.
Parties were only eligible to encash these bonds through a bank account with the authorized bank.
With inputs from agencies
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Today (15 February) is an important day in India’s politics. The Supreme Court has delivered its verdict on the Centre’s electoral bond scheme and its validity.
A five-judge Constitution bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra had on 2 November 2023 reserved its judgment after a three-day hearing.
The matter in the apex court stems from a plea filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and Dr Jaya Thakur, who challenged the amendments introduced by the Finance Act 2017 which paved the way for the electoral bonds scheme.
But for those who are confused about what electoral bonds are and why they are being questioned, we have you covered.
What are electoral bonds?
Similar to a promissory note, electoral bonds are an instrument through which donors can fund political parties anonymously. They were introduced by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in 2017 with the Finance Bill (2017). On 29 January, 2018 the Narendra Modi-led NDA government notified the Electoral Bond Scheme 2018.
Electoral bonds, sold in denominations ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1 crore, can be bought from authorised State Bank of India branches through accounts complying with KYC norms. Political parties are entitled to encash these bonds within 15 days of receiving them to fund their electoral expenses.
It is important to note here that electoral bonds are not available through the year and only for 10 days in the beginning of every quarter. The first 10 days of January, April, July and October has been specified by the government for purchase of electoral bonds. An additional period of 30 days shall be specified by the government in the year of Lok Sabha elections.
There is no limit on the number of bonds an individual or company can purchase.
Only political parties registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and which secured not less than one per cent of votes polled in the last general election to the House of the People or the Legislative Assembly of the State, are eligible to receive electoral bonds.
When introduced, the government had defended electoral bonds, saying that electoral bonds would keep a tab on the use of black money for funding elections. In the absence of electoral bonds, donors would have no option but to donate by cash after siphoning off money from their businesses, the government said.
How much have parties received through electoral bonds?
According to an ADR report, between the years of 2016 and 2022 a whopping Rs 16,437.635 crore was donated to 31 recognised political parties. Out of this, 55.9 per cent or Rs. 9,188 crore were received through Electoral Bonds, while the remaining amount of Rs 4,614.53 crore (28.07 per cent) came from the corporate sector and Rs 2,634.74 crore (16.03 per cent) from other sources.
The report further revealed that during this six-year period, more than 52 per cent of BJP’s total donations came from electoral bonds worth Rs 5,271.97 crore. The Congress had the second-highest donations from bonds – Rs 952.29 crore – accounting for 60 per cent of its total donations.
A BJP audit report revealed that in the year 2022-2023, the ruling party received nearly Rs 1,300 crore through electoral bonds, seven times more than what the Congress has received. The BJP’s total funds in the year were Rs 2,120 crore of which 61 per cent came through the electoral bond route.
Between the years of 2016 and 2022, a whopping Rs 16,437.635 crore was donated to 31 recognised political parties. Out of this, 55.9 per cent or Rs. 9,188 crore were received through Electoral Bonds. Image used for representational purposes/PTI
Electoral bonds sound good, so what’s the problem?
After its introduction, there were some civil groups who opposed them, arguing that since neither the purchaser of the bond nor the political party receiving the donation is required to disclose the donor’s identity, the shareholders of a corporation will remain unaware of the company’s contribution. Voters, too, will have no idea of how, and through whom, a political party has been funded.
Moreover, since the identity of the donor is kept unknown, it could lead to an influx of black money. Some activists and politicians also argue that the scheme has been introduced to enable big corporate houses to donate money without their identity being revealed.
They further stated that the concept of donor ‘anonymity’ threatens the very spirit of democracy.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor (centre) and other party leaders protest outside Parliament House on Friday against the electoral bonds scheme. File image/@shashitharoor/X
In an earlier hearing, advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for petitioner NGO ADR, said that amendments made via the Finance Acts of 2016 and 2017, both passed as Money Bills, have “opened the floodgates to unlimited political donations” through electoral bonds scheme.
“The amendments have removed the caps on campaign donations by companies and have legalised anonymous donations. The Finance Act of 2017 has introduced the use of electoral bonds which are exempt from disclosure under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, opening doors to unchecked, unknown funding to political parties,” The Hindu quoted him as saying.
And it’s not only civil activists who have opposed the electoral bond scheme. The Congress has protested against electoral bonds, stating that they were an exercise in “perpetuating opacity and electoral malpractice”.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) also has voiced opposition to the scheme and even approached the apex court on the same in 2018. According to the CPI(M), electoral bonds “undermine democracy” and will “lead to greater political corruption”.
On its introduction, the Election Commission of India had said they would “compromise” electoral transparency. However, a year later, they did a U-turn and supported the bonds.
Milan Vaishnav of Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington-based think tank even went as far as saying, “With electoral bonds, the government has essentially legislated opacity.”
A BBC report quoted him as saying, “Donors can make gifts of any size to recipients and neither side must publicly disclose the details of the transactions. If this is being advertised as ‘transparency’, it is truly a novel definition of the word.”
The government has been firm in its stance that the electoral bond scheme does, in fact, help in electoral transparency.
Baijayant Jay Panda, a national vice-president of the BJP, has opined that electoral bonds represent a “solid progress” towards cleaner political funding. The bonds, he told BBC, were “legitimate and achieve many of the objectives for transparency”.
“While an argument can be made there should be further reforms and even more transparency, it is simply ludicrous to claim that the bonds don’t represent progress and are somehow worse than what existed earlier,” he added.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal addresses a press conference, defending the issue of electoral bonds. File image/PTI
In an affidavit to the Supreme Court, the Centre has also argued that citizens have no general right to know about the source of electoral bonds. Attorney General R Venkataramani told the top court, that citizens have no general right to know anything and everything without being subjected to reasonable restrictions as the “right to know” can be for specific ends or purposes and not otherwise.
“There cannot be a general right to know anything and everything for undefined ends… Right to know for the general health of democracy will be too over-broad,” the Centre said in the affidavit. It is axiomatic that political parties receive support including financial support and contributions, the AG said.
With inputs from agencies
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Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s upcoming wedding is instrumental in celebrating traditional Indian art forms.
The wedding festivities go beyond mere celebration; they serve as a tribute to the diverse tapestry of traditional Indian art. Adding a unique significance to the festivities, visually impaired artisans from Mahabaleshwar will skillfully craft candles as special gifts for the guests.
This meaningful collaboration with Swadesh not only enriches the beauty of the occasion but also uplifts communities and preserves the invaluable legacy of ancient craftsmanship. For those unfamiliar, Swadesh pays homage to India’s traditional arts and artisans, embodying a sincere effort to protect and showcase the rich heritage of our country’s timeless arts and crafts.
Swadesh is empowering communities and preserving age-old craftsmanship.
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