# Supreme Court

• The Supreme Court on Friday toughened its stand on the delay by the government in implementation of the collegium’s recommendations for elevation and transfer of High Court judges, warning that it would be compelled to take a “difficult” and and unpalatable decision.
• Attorney General sought the 10 day time to make the decision on collegium’s recommendations.
• Supreme Court said that in case of further delay, the high court judges who are to be transferred would not be given judicial work.

# Vodafone-idea

• The centre finally stepped in to resurrect Vodafone Idea, the ailing telecom operator and is going ahead to pick up around 33% stake in the company to emerge as the largest stakeholder.
• The move came after promoters Aditya Birla group and Vodafone Plc assured that they will raise as much as ₹20000 crore from market.
• They are also planning to launch the high speed 5G network, to take on rivals Reliance jio and Bharti Airtel.
• The centre’s move is unprecedented and was put in place amid concerns the telecom sector needs atleast three private players and to provide adequate choice to customers.
• The government will pick up the equity at par value of ₹10 in line with the companies act provisions, even though the telecom shares closed at ₹7 on Friday.

# Rabi crops

• Overall average of rabi crops in the country during 2022-23 has been higher by nearly 23 lakh hectares ie over 3% compared to the previous year.
• But the high focused nutri cum coarsed cereals, including millets could not make similar pace.
• Coarse cereals recorded less than normal acreage while reporting only marginally higher sown area compared to 2021-22.

# Old pension scheme

• States that bring back old pension scheme will be dis encentivised from undertaking additional borrowings during the 2023-24 financial year, following a rule that was changed earlier.
• So, states that remain part of the national pension system, can borrow and additional amount over and above the permissible limit of 3% of GSDP.