# Same sex marriage

• The Supreme Court on Monday referred a bunch of pleas seeking legal recognition for same sex marriages to a five judge Constitution bench for adjudication, saying it is a seminal issue and an important matter.
• The apex Court took the step despite the centre’s insistence that parliament alone should take a call on the subject whose intricacies could impact “how our society develops henceforth”.
• Supreme Court invoked the apex Court’s powers under article 145(3) to directly refer the issue to the five judge bench on finding the petitions demanding legalisation of same sex marriage had raised important constitutional questions.
• The hearing will commence from April 18.

# SIPRI

• India continues to languish in the strategically vulnerable as well as embarrassing position of being the world’s largest arms importer, accounting for 11% of the total global imports in 2018-22.
• The latest data on international arms transfers released by Stockholm international peace research Institute (SIPRI) on Monday shows Russia remains the largest weapons supplier to India with 45% of total imports in 2018-22, though its share is declining.
• France accounts for 29%, displacing the US from the second position by riding on deals like the ₹59000 crore one for the Rafales.
• The US notched up 11% of the total weapon sales to India.
• India is followed by Saudi Arabia (9.6%), Qatar (6.4%), Australia (4.7%), China (4.6%), Egypt (4.5%), South Korea (3.7%), and Pakistan (3.7%) among the top 10 arms importers.

# Retail inflation

• Retail inflation eased marginally in February but stayed above the RBI’s comfort level on the back of stubborn food prices.
• It has triggered another interest rate hike by the Central Bank, when it reviews monetary policy next.
• Data released by the national statistical office on Monday showed retail inflation, as measurer by the consumer price index, rose an annual 6.4% in February.

# Academy Award

• A documentary named The elephant whispers in Tamil and a Telugu film song “Naatu Naatu” from RRR of contrasting styles and temprament, but United by a common made in India stamp, created history on Sunday evening in America and left India gushing and rejoicing all Monday.
• The Elephant whispers was declared winner in the documentary short film category.