Current Affairs - Talkies

The electoral bonds scheme was introduced in India in 2018 as a mechanism to clean financial contributions to political parties, representing a significant shift in political donation reporting and handling in the country. Although introduced in early 2017, the Department of Economic Affairs in the Ministry Of Finance notified the Electoral Bond Scheme 2018 in a Gazette on 2 January 2018. According to an estimate, a total of 18,299 electoral bonds equivalent to a monetary value of ₹9,857 crore, were successfully transacted during the period spanning from March 2018 to April 2022.

The Supreme Court declared the electoral bonds scheme unconstitutional, citing it as arbitrary and violative of Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution. This article guarantees the freedom of speech and expression, encompassing the right to information, including the right to know the source of political funding, deemed crucial in a democratic setup.

The IMF has expressed concerns about Maldives' heavy borrowing from China, warning of potential "debt distress." This situation has emerged following increased funding from China under the leadership of a pro-China president, prompting worries about Maldives' debt repayment capability.

Google rebranded its chatbot from Bard to Gemini, aligning with the launch of a new subscription plan. This strategic move places Google in direct competition with OpenAI and reflects the company's advancement in the field of artificial intelligence.

The interim Indian Coast Guard was established on 1st February 1977, with its formal inauguration as an independent armed force occurring on 18th August 1978 with the enactment of the Coast Guard Act 1978.