UPSC GK Capsule: From Sanjiv Khanna’s appointment as new CJI to BRICS summit, top events of the week

Last update:October 27, 2024, 11:39 AM IST

UPSC GK Capsule: If you are preparing for a government exam or a recruitment drive, here is a summary of the week’s key news

Check out the top news events of the past week here (Feature Photo/PTI)

Current affairs questions are included in practically all important competitive exams like UPSC, SSC, RRB and others. This requires candidates to stay abreast of current issues, laws, international issues, government regulations, sports and scientific developments. If you are preparing for a government exam or a recruitment race, here is a summary of the week’s key news:

Justice Sanjiv Khanna has been appointed as a new CJI

Justice Sanjiv Khanna was appointed as the 51st Chief Justice of India on 24 October. He will be sworn in on November 11, a day after Justice DY Chandrachud, the incumbent, steps down after completing 65 years. On 8 November 2022, Justice Chandrachud became the new Chief Justice of India (CJI). Justice Khanna is scheduled to leave office on May 13, 2025, after serving for just over six months.

Contractual employees entitled to maternity benefits: Madras High Court

According to a judgment of the Madras High Court, contractual workers are also entitled to maternity benefits. The provisions of the Maternity Benefits Act 1961 will prevail over the contractual terms. This landmark judgment was taken by a bench of Chief Justice KR Sriram and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy in response to a writ petition that the MRB Nurses’ Qualification Association had filed in 2018. The association, which represents nurses working for the Govt. of the state through the National Rural Health Mission. (NRHM), asked the court to ensure that they get 270 days of paid maternity leave that the law provides.

PM Modi to boost ties between India and Germany

As part of the German Chancellor’s three-day official visit to India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Oalf Scholz on October 25 to discuss strengthening strategic ties between the two nations. PM Modi welcomed Scholz at Hyderabad House for the 7th Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC). In the IGC, ministers from both sides examine issues in their respective spheres of influence and report to the prime minister and chancellor the conclusions of their conversations. The IGC takes place once every two years. The last IGC was held in May 2022 in Berlin.

The Indian and Chinese armies will complete the disengagement of the LAC by October 28-29

According to Indian Army sources, the disengagement between Chinese and Indian forces at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is expected to be completed by October 28 or 29. The latest agreements include only the Depsang and Demchok areas and not other areas of friction, a source told ANI. To prevent misunderstandings, both parties will communicate their patrol plans to each other and that a troop strength for the patrols has been determined.

2024 US Presidential Election

The US presidential election is scheduled to begin on November 5, however, the voting process will vary from state to state. Elections in the District of Columbia and all 50 states are also conducted differently. In Maine and Nebraska, each congressional district receives one electoral vote for the candidate who wins the most votes in that district. Two more votes go to the candidate who wins the national vote. In Maine and Alaska, voters use electoral voting to rank candidates for office based on their preferences. If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the first-place vote, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated.

EAM Jaishankar marks Middle East escalation at BRICS Summit

On October 24, External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr S Jaishankar reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s well-known statement that this is “not an era of war”. He stated that international law must be respected “without exception” and that agreements made between nations must be respected. EAM also highlighted the prevailing tensions in the Middle East between Israel and Iran and Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza and Lebanon, and said there was “widespread anxiety” in the region that tensions would escalate further.