# National party

• The election Commission on Monday downgraded the status of Trinamool congress, CPI and NCP from national party to state party.
• Meanwhile, AAP has been recognised as the national party.
• Election Commission took the step based on these parties’ performances in the past two lok Sabha elections and after following due process.
• To get national tag, a party should fulfil conditions of Para 6A, 6B and 6C of the election symbols order, 1968 and be a state party in atleast four states.
• AAP is a state party in Delhi, Punjab, Goa and Gujarat.
• TMC is state party in Bengal, Tripura and Meghalaya.

# Monsoon predictions

• Ahead of India’s official monsoon forecasts by the IMD, private forecaster Skymet on Monday predicted that this year’s monsoon rainfall was likely to be below normal at 94%.
• The forecaster also expects Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra to witness inadequate rains during the core monsoon months of July and August.
• Agriculture ministry farm production data shows that the country, despite reporting “below normal rainfall” in 2017 and 2018 had produced 285 million tonnes of foodgrains during 2017 and 2018.

# Pakistan

• A joint session of Pakistan’s parliament on Monday passed a bill to curb the powers of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court regarding suo moto cases and the Constitution of benches.
• The development comes two days after President Arif Alvi returned a bill passed by both the houses of the parliament for reconsideration.
• The house approved an amendment to the bill, under which a meeting of a committee of the judges will be convened to devive rules and regulations regarding the suo moto matter.
• The amendment was proposed by a ruling PMLN law maker.

# FTA

• The Indian government on Monday said talks with the UK for Free trade agreement are underway and dismissed reports that negotiations have been halted due to India’s concerns of security of Indian high commission in London.
• Officials said there are many areas where the India and the UK are yet to reach an agreement.