Current Affairs

As per Kerala's literacy mission authority, about 2,050 participants appeared for 'Aksharashree' literacy exam. Amongst candidates of all age, two of them were in their mid 80s; Sumathi Ammal and Dharani. Besides Sumathi and Dharani, Kamalamma from Thiruvallam and Subhdramma from Thrikkabapuram, both aged 83 and Sarada from Aarannoor, aged 82 participated in the exam. And the youngest of them is of twenty one year old. The objective of 'Aksharashree' is to find number of illiterates in the capital city and to comprise them in the mission of education programme.

Scientists from Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have reported that it has managed to "barcode at least 100 species of spider" in India. These spiders were barcoded on the basis of their DNA. In this activity, species such as Argyrodes flavescens (spiders that steal others' food), Thwaitesia sp (spiders with natural mirrors in their abdomen), and Scytodes thoracica (spitting spiders) were included along with species which are found only in India. Experts says that this is one of the "largest exercise" of its kind in India.

Ex-Congress chief Rahul Gandhi has pleaded not guilty in a defamation case against him, over his remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to him he felt that there is nothing wrong in saying ‘why all thieves shared the Modi surname’. The defamation suit has been filed by Purnesh Modi, a BJP legislator in Surat. Rahul Gandhi further tweeted that “I am in Surat today to appear in a defamation case filed against me by many political opponents, desperate to silence me. I am grateful for the love and support of the Congress workers who have gathered her to express their solidarity with me”.