Morning Digest: ISRO launches SpaDeX mission for space docking; Private Members’ Bills get short shrift in both Houses of Parliament, and more

The Hindu Morning Digest gives a select list of stories to start the day. Read the top news today on December 31, 2024

ISRO successfully launched the Space Docking Experiment (SPADEX) mission on Monday (December 30, 2024). The PSLV C60 rocket carrying two small satellites SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target) along with 24 payloads lifted off from the first launchpad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 10 pm.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that demographic data along the Myanmar border, especially in Nagaland, Mizoram, and Manipur, should be mapped to help in fencing of the international border and stopping infiltration. In its year-end review for 2024, MHA reiterated that the Ministry has decided to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) between India and Myanmar to ensure the internal security of the country and maintain the demographic structure of India’s Northeastern States bordering Myanmar.

During the five-year term of the 17th Lok Sabha that ended in 2024, only 9.08 hours were spent on Private Members’ Bills, while the Rajya Sabha spent 27.01 hours on them during the period, shows an analysis by PRS Legislative Research, an independent research body. The Lower House spent 16.43 hours and the Upper House 20.78 hours on Private Members’ Resolution. In the two sessions of the 18th Lok Sabha, 0.15 hours was spent on such Bills, while the Rajya Sabha spent 0.62 hours. The Lower House spent 1.98 hours on resolutions and the Upper House 2.09 hours.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is the richest Chief Minister in India with assets worth over ₹931 crore, while West Bengal’s Mamata Banerjee is the poorest with just ₹15 lakh, according to an Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) report released on Monday (December 30, 2024). The report said the average asset per Chief Minister from State Assemblies and Union Territories is ₹52.59 crore.

Security forces have destroyed four bunkers of gunmen in Manipur’s Imphal East and Kangpokpi districts and occupied three others following gunfights last week, police said on Monday (December 30, 2024). “The bunkers were destroyed after massive operations were conducted in the last two days in several areas bordering Thamnapokpi and Sanasabi villages where gunfights took place after adjoining hills-based gunmen launched attacks on the low-lying villages,” a police statement said.

Protesting farmers claimed that the Punjab bandh called by them on Monday (December 30, 2024) was a massive success and people across the State supported it. The farmers’ organisations said the success of the bandh proved that the public was in solidarity with Jagjit Singh Dallewal (70), who is on a fast unto death demanding — among other things — implementation of the M.S. Swaminathan formula for a legalised Minimum Support Price (MSP), farm loan waiver and withdrawal of all cases imposed against farmers during the protest along the Delhi borders against the three farm laws. 

The Mahila Court at Allikulam, which heard the case of murder of college student M. Sathya, pronounced death penalty on the accused D. Sathish on Monday (December 30, 2024). Along with death penalty the court also gave a cash fine and rigorous imprisonment. The Mahila court, where the case was being heard, sentenced Sathish to be guilty of the murder of Sathya on December 28. The accused Sathish was convicted under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act, 1998.