UPSC Current Affairs 

Polity

Index

 

1.National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)

2.National Panchayati Raj Day

3.Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897

4.Mahadayi water dispute

5.Delimitation Commission

6.E-Governance Programmes

7.Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council

8.Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2020

9.1000 Springs Initiative

10.Bhuvan Panchayat V 3.0

11.Bodo Peace Accord

12.Article 131

13.Democracy Index

14.Corruption Perception Index

15.Adhoc Committee of the Rajya sabha to prevent child pornography content on the social media

16.In¬dia Justice Report 2019

17.Citizenship (Amendment) Bill

18.What connects NPR, NRIC and census?

19.Good Governance Index (GGI)

20.Fast Track Courts

21.Emergency Response Support System (ERSS- Dial 112)

22.Nirbhaya Fund

23.Sardar Patel National Unity Award

24.The National Population Register

25.Electoral Bond Scheme

26.Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act (PSA)

27.Maternity Benefit Amendment Act, 2017

28.New Guidelines for Absentee Voting

29.Aarambh- Common Foundation Course

30.Challenges to Nagaland’s RIIN Initiative

31.VACATION BENCH

32.ARTICLE 370 OF THE CONSTITUTION

33.CBIC SPARROW

34.Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2019

35.Code on Wages Bill, 2019

36.Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2019

37.UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES (PREVENTION) AMENDMENT BILL, 2019

38.Survey of India

 

1. National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)

Why in News?

• The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) asked the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to address the concerns of the mentally ill people on the streets during the lockdown to check the spread of the novel coronavirus.
• The Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 defines Human Rights as the rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the International Covenants and enforceable by courts in India.

Highlights:

• The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India is an autonomous public body constituted in 1993.
• It was given a statutory basis by the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 (PHRA).
• It is in conformity with the Paris Principles, adopted at the first international workshop on national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights held in Paris in October 1991, and endorsed by the General Assembly of the United Nations.
• Recommendations given by NHRC are just advisory and not binding in nature.
• Apart from enquiry into complaints of violation of human rights or negligence in the prevention of such violation by a public servant, the Commission also studies treaties and international instruments on human rights and make recommendations to the Government.

Composition:

• • The NHRC (National Human Rights Commission) consists of:

• A Chairperson, retired Chief Justice of India
• One Member who is, or has been, a Judge of the Supreme Court of India
• One Member who is, or has been, the Chief Justice of a High Court
• Two Members to be appointed from among persons having knowledge of, or practical experience in, matters relating to human rights
• In addition, the Chairpersons of four National Commissions of (1. Minorities 2. SC and ST 3. Women) serve as Ex Officio Members.

 

2.National Panchayati Raj Day

Why in News ?

• PM will interact with various Gram Panchayats across the country on 24^thApril, which is observed as the National Panchayati Raj Day.

Information

• As the country is observing social distancing through lockdown, the Prime Minister shall be interacting with various participants through video-conferencing.
• The PM will also launch the unified e-GramSwaraj Portal and Mobile App on the occasion.
• The Unified Portal is a new initiative of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj which will provide Gram Panchayats with a single interface to prepare and implement their Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP).

Swamitva Scheme:

• This scheme will also be launched on the occasion.
• It provides for an integrated property validation solution for rural India.
• The demarcation of inhabited land in rural areas would be done by the use of latest surveying methods – Drones technology with the collaborated efforts of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, State Panchayati Raj Department, State Revenue Department and the Survey of India.

Usage of the Portal:

• It will assist in enhancing the credibility of Panchayats which would induce greater devolution of funds to PRIs.
• It will help in establishing a strong financial system by integrating the PRIA Soft and Public Financial Management System (PFMS).
• The PRIA Soft is the Online Payment Module where by Gram Panchayats are carrying out online payments to the vendors and service providers.
• The main objective of introducing such a module is to have a sound financial management system in the Panchayats leading to their greater credibility and image.
• These endeavours are also congruent to that of Digital India Programme which is to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.

About the National Panchayati Raj Day:

• The Ministry of Panchayati Raj commemorates 24^th April of every year as the National Panchayati Raj Day as the 73^rd Constitutional Amendment came into force on this date.
• This Act institutionalised the Panchayati Raj system in the country in the year 1993.
• Every year, on this occasion, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj has been awarding the best performing Panchayats/States/UTs across the country under the Incentivization of Panchayats in recognition of their good work for improving delivery of services and public goods.
• This year, three such awards viz. Nanaji Deshmukh Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Puraskar (NDRGGSP), Child-friendly Gram Panchayat Award (CFGPA) and Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) Award have been finalized which will be shared with the concerned States/UT.

 

3.Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897

Why in News ?

• Promulgation of an Ordinance to amend the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 in the light of the pandemic situation of COVID-19.

Background:

• During the current COVID-19 pandemic, there have been instances of the most critical service providers i.e., members of the healthcare services being targeted and attacked by miscreants, thereby obstructing them from doing their duties.
• Members of the medical community, even as they continue to perform relentlessly round the clock and save human lives, have unfortunately become the most vulnerable victims as they have been perceived by some as carriers of the virus.
• This has led to cases of their stigmatization and ostracization and sometimes worse, acts of unwarranted violence and harassment.
• This tends to hamper the medical community from performing their duties to their optimum best and maintaining their morale, which is a critical need in this hour of crisis.
• While healthcare service personnel are duty-bound to serve without discrimination, the cooperation and support from society is a fundamental need for them to perform their duties with confidence.
• Several States have enacted special laws to offer protection to doctors and other medical personnel in the past.
• However, COVID-19 outbreak has posed a unique situation where harassment of the healthcare workforce and others working to contain the spread of the disease has been taking place at all fronts, in various places including even cremation grounds.
• The existing state laws do not have such a wide sweep and ambit. They generally do not cover harassment at home and workplace and are focused more on physical violence only.
• The penal provisions contained in these laws are not stringent enough to deter mischief mongering.

More Information

• In this context, the Union Cabinet has approved promulgation of an Ordinance to amend the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 to protect healthcare service personnel and property including their living/working premises against violence during epidemics.
• The President has given his assent for the promulgation of the Ordinance.
• The Ordinance provides for making such acts of violence cognizable and non-bailable offences and for the compensation for injury to healthcare service personnel or for causing damage or loss to the property in which healthcare service personnel may have a direct interest in relation to the epidemic.
• The current Ordinance is intended to ensure that during any situation akin to the current pandemic, there is zero tolerance to any form of violence against healthcare service personnel and damage to property.
• Violence as defined in the Ordinance will include harassment and physical injury and damage to property.
• Healthcare service personnel include public and clinical healthcare service providers such as doctors, nurses, paramedical workers and community health workers; any other persons empowered under the Act to take measures to prevent the outbreak of the disease or spread thereof; and any persons declared as such by the State Government, by notification in the Official Gazette.

Penalty under the Ordinance

• • Commission or abetment of such acts of violence shall be punished with imprisonment for a term of three months to five years, and with fine of Rs.50,000/- to Rs.2,00,000/-.
  • In case of causing grievous hurt, imprisonment shall be for a term six months to seven years and with fine of Rs.1,00,000/- to Rs.5,00,000/-.
  • In addition, the offender shall also be liable to pay compensation to the victim and twice the fair market value for damage of property.
  • Offences shall be investigated by an officer of the rank of Inspector within a period of 30 days, and trial has to be completed in one year, unless extended by the court for reasons to be recorded in writing.

4.Mahadayi water dispute

Why in news?

• Centre issues notification on Mahadayi water row.

More about the news

• The Centre issued a notification on sharing the waters of inter-State Mahadayi among Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra.

Mahadayi River:

• Mahadayi River rises in the Western Ghats, from the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary of Flowing westward, it enters Goa.
• A number of streams join the flow of the river to form the Mandovi which is one of two major rivers that flow through Goa. It joins the Arabian Sea at Panaji.
• The Mahadayi River, also spelt Mhadei or Mahadeyi, stretches 111-km.
• Over two-thirds of the river’s stretch lies in Goa (76km).
• The Mandovi is important for Goa also because it is one of the few sweet-water sources at the state’s disposal.
• Most of Goa’s 11 rivers contain salt water and Mandovi ensures water security as well as being an important place to source fish for the state.

Mahadayi River Dispute

• The trigger for the dispute was Karnataka’s move to design a number of dams, canals and barrages to route the Mahadayi river water to the Malaprabha basin.
• The state claimed that channeling the river water into the basin of Malaprabha, a tributary of the Krishna, would meet the requirements of water-scarce districts of Bagalkot, Gadag, Dharwad and Belagavi.(Kalasa Banduri Nala Project)
• After sustained efforts by the Goa government, the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal was set up.
• Goa contends that its population is dependent on the river’s natural path and any move to divert it would affect its fragile ecosystem.

Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT):

• It involves the states of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa
• The tribunal had awarded the water-sharing formula on August 14, 2018 and forwarded it to the Union government for action.
• In its order the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal allocated 42 tmcft of water from the Mahadayi to Karnataka.
• Of the 13.42 tmcft of water allocated for Karnataka, 5.5 tmcft is meant for use within the river basin and for diversion to the Malaprabha reservoir, and around 8 tmcft for power generation.

5.Delimitation Commission

Why in news?

• Centre constituted delimitation panel for J&K and 4 north eastern states.

More about

• In 2002, the last delimitation was conducted across India but Jammu and Kashmir and the north eastern states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland were left out due to various reasons.
• Former Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai has been appointed as the chairperson of the Delimitation Commission.
• The Commission has been formed under section 3 of the Delimitation Act, 2002.
• The Commission is mandated to delimit the Lok Sabha and Assembly Constituencies in J&K under the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act,2019 while the provisions of the Delimitation Act 2002 will delimit Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland

The Delimitation Commission

• Delimitation means the act or process of fixing limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies in a country or a province having a legislative body.
• The job of delimitation is assigned to a high power body; such a body is known as Delimitation Commission or a Boundary Commission.

• In India, such Delimitation Commissions have been constituted 4 times – in 1952 under the Delimitation Commission Act, 1952, in 1963 under Delimitation Commission Act, 1962, in 1973 under Delimitation Act, 1972 and in 2002 under Delimitation Act, 2002.
• The Delimitation Commission in India is a high power body whose orders have the force of law and cannot be called in question before any court.

 

6.E-Governance Programmes

Why in news?

• E-Governance is key to “India@75” when the nation celebrates 75 years of independence: Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister at National Conference on e-Governance.
• National Conference on e-Governance was organized by Department of Administrative Reforms and Personnel Grievance (DARPG), Union Ministry of Personnel along with the Government of Maharashtra

Various e-Governance Initiatives under Digital India

• My Gov: It aims to establish a link between Government and Citizens towards meeting the goal of good governance.
• Digi Locker:It serves as a platform to enable citizens to securely store and share their documents with service providers who can directly access them electronically.
• e-Hospital – Online Registration Framework (ORF):It is an initiative to facilitate the patients to take online OPD appointments with government hospitals. This framework also covers patient care, laboratory services and medical record management.
• National Scholarships Portal (NSP):It provides a centralized platform for application and disbursement of scholarship to students under any scholarship scheme.
• DARPAN: It facilitates presentation of real time data on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of selected schemes/projects to the senior functionaries of the State Government as well as district administration.
• PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance And Timely Implementation):It has been aimed at starting a culture of Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation.
• Common Services Centres 2.0 (CSC 2.0):It is being implemented to develop and provide support to the use of information technology in rural areas of the country.
• Mobile Seva:It provides government services to the people through mobile phones and tablets.
• Jeevan Pramaan:It is an Aadhaar based Biometric Authentication System for
• National Centre of Geo-informatics (NCoG):Under this project, Geographic Information System (GIS) platform for sharing, collaboration, location based analytics and decision support system for Departments.

 

7.Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council

Why in news?

• The Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) has moved resolutions to codify the customary laws of three tribal clans.

More about the news

• The council introduced separate bills to adopt the law of the Mizo, the Kaipeng and the Malsom communities to redress their long-standing demands.
• Tripura has 19 tribal communities, but some are left with very small population.

Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council

• The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution deals with the administration of the tribal areas in the four northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram as per Article 244.

• The Governor is empowered to increase or decrease the areas or change the names of the autonomous districts.
• If there are different tribes in an autonomous district, the governor can divide the district into several autonomous regions.
• Each autonomous district has a district council consisting of 30 members, of whom 4 are nominated by governor and 26 are elected on the basis of adult franchise.
• The elected members hold office for a term of 5 years.
• While executive powers of the Union extend in Scheduled areas with respect to their administration in Vth schedule, the VIth schedule areas remain within executive authority of the state.
• The acts of Parliament or the state legislature do not apply to autonomous districts and autonomous regions or apply with specified modifications and exceptions.
• The sixth schedule to the Constitution includes 10 autonomous district councils in 4 states. These are:

1. Assam: Bodoland Territorial Council, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and Dima Hasao Autonomous District Council.
2. Meghalaya: Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council and Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council.
3. Tripura: Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council.
4. Mizoram: Chakma Autonomous District Council, Lai Autonomous District Council, Mara Autonomous District Council.

 

 

8.Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2020

Why in news?

• Cabinet approves Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2020.

Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2020:

• To provide effective regulation of surrogacy, prohibit commercial surrogacy and allow altruistic surrogacy.

 Key features of the Bill:

• Bill allow any “willing woman”to act as a surrogate instead of “near relative” as proposed earlier.

• As per the revised bill, widows and divorcees will also be allowed to opt for surrogacy.
• The insurance cover for a surrogate mother should be increased to 36 months from 16 months.
• The Bill proposes that only Indian couples, with both partners being of Indian origin, can opt for surrogacy in the country.
• Bill included deleting the definition of “infertility” as the inability to conceive after five years of unprotected intercourse on the ground that it was too long a period for a couple to wait for a child.
• The Bill also proposes to regulate surrogacy by establishing National Surrogacy Board at the central level and State Surrogacy Board and appropriate authorities in states and Union Territories respectively.

 

 

9.1000 Springs Initiative

Why in news?

• Union Tribal Affairs Minister launched the “Programme for Capacity Building of Scheduled Tribe Representatives in Local Self Governments “and“1000 Spring Initiativesat a programme in Bhubaneswar (Odisha).

Programme for Capacity Building of Scheduled Tribe Representatives in Local Self Governments

• This initiative is aimed at empowering tribal Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) representatives by enhancing their decision-making capabilities at local government level.
• The capacity building programme, among other issues concerning tribal development, will also focus on constitutional and legal provisions that protect and promote the rights and welfare of the tribal population.
• The programme will ensure greater participation of ST PRI’s representatives in planning, execution and monitoring of government policies and programmes.
• Their better participation in the development process would ensure better prioritization of the tribal development agenda and will help in bridging the development gaps among communities and regions
• This will help in effective and better implementation of various developmental and welfare programmes and substantially improves the expected outcomes.
• The module for capacity building programme has been developed in conjunction with United Nations Development Programme for the purpose.

1000 Spring Initiatives

• It aims at improving access to safe and adequate water for the tribal communities living in difficult and inaccessible part of rural areas in the country.

• Under this initiative, more than 70 young tribal youths from the rural belt of three districts of Odisha namely, Kalahandi, Khandamal and Gajapati have been trained as barefoot hydro geologists by combining traditional and scientific knowledge for identification and mapping of springs, and undertaking rejuvenation and protection measures in their habitations.
• It is an integrated solution around natural springs and includes provision of infrastructure for piped water supply for drinking; provision of water for irrigation; community-led total sanitation initiatives; and provision for water for backyard nutrition gardens, generating sustainable livelihood opportunities for the tribal people.
• An Online portal on GIS-based Spring Atlas has been developed to make the data about hydrological and chemical properties of the springs.

Note: Springs are natural sources of groundwater discharge and have been used extensively in the mountainous regions across the world, including India.

 

10.Bhuvan Panchayat V 3.0

Why in news?

• The Union Minister of State for North Eastern Region, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh launched the Bhuvan Panchayat V 3.0 web portal in Bengaluru.

Bhuvan Panchayat Version 3.0 web portal

• The Web Geo portal is an easy to use Geo portal developed for database visualization, data analytics, generation of automatic reports, model based products and services for the benefit of Gram Panchayat members and other stake holders.
• The targeted audience for this portal is Public, PRIs and different stakeholders belonging to the gram panchayats. 
• ISRO launched SISDP project to assist Gram Panchayats at grassroot level with basic planning inputs derived from satellite data for preparing developmental plans, its implementation and monitoring the activities.

SIS-DP (Space based Information Support for Decentralised Planning)

• Space based Information Support for Decentralised Planning at Panchyayat level (SIS-DP) is a national initiative of preparing basic spatial layers useful in planning process at grassroot levels as per 73rd, 74th constitutional amendment of local self governance.

• National Remote Sensing Centre is the lead centre to execute the project in collaboration with various State Remote Sensing Centres.
• SISDP phase I Project was successfully concluded in the year 2016-17.
• Based on the rich experience gained and encouraging feedback received from various stakeholders on SIS-DP-I Project “SISDP-Update” was initiated with enhanced objectives of providing value added geospatial products and services to aid Gram Panchayat development planning process.
• For the first time, thematic database on 1:10,000 scale for the entire country is available with high integrated High Resolution satellite data for planning.
• The geodatabase, products and services prepared under this project are expected to be disseminated through Bhuvan geo portal.

11.Bodo Peace Accord

Why in news?

• Union Minister for Home Affairs, Shri Amit Shah presided over the signing of a historic agreement between Government of India, Government of Assam and Bodo representatives, in New Delhi to end the over 50-year old Bodo crisis.

The Bodoland

• Bodos are the single largest tribal community in Assam, making up over 5-6 per cent of the state’s population.
• The four districts in Assam — Kokrajhar, Baksa, Udalguri and Chirang — that constitute the Bodo Territorial Area District (BTAD), are home to several ethnic groups.

What is the dispute?

• The Bodos have had a long history of separatist demands, marked by armed struggle.
• In 1966-67, the demand for a separate state called Bodoland was raised under the banner of the Plains Tribals Council of Assam (PTCA), a political outfit.
• In 1987, the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) renewed the demand. “Divide Assam fifty-fifty”, was a call given by the ABSU’s then leader, Upendra Nath Brahma.

Who are the NDFB?

• Alongside political movements, armed groups have also sought to create a separate Bodo state.
• In October 1986, the prominent group Bodo Security Force (BdSF) was formed by Ranjan Daimary later it was renamed as National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), an organisation that is known to be involved in attacks, killings, and extortions.
• Later NDFB has split into several factions.

What about the previous settlements?

• This is the third bodo accord to be signed in last 27 years. The first bodo accord was signed with All Bodo Students Union in 1993 which created a bodoland autonomous council with limited political powers.
• The second bodo accord was signed in 2003 with the militant group Bodo liberation tigers leading to the formation of Bodoland territorial council (BTC) with four districts of Assam – Kokrajhar, Baksa, Udalguri and Chirang — called Bodo Territorial Area District (BTAD).

What is the agreement now?

• A Special Development Package Rs. 1500 crores over three years will be given by the Union Government to undertake specific projects for the development of Bodo areas.
• After the agreement, the NDFB factions will leave the path of violence, surrender their weapons and disband their armed organizations within a month of signing the deal.
• The Union Government and the Government of Assam will take necessary measures to rehabilitate over 1500 cadres of NDFB factions.
• The current agreement proposes to set up a commission under Section 14 of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India, which will recommend the inclusion or exclusion of tribal population residing in villages adjoining BTAD areas.
• In this commission, besides State government there will be representatives from ABSU and BTC.
• The Assam government will also notify Bodo language as an associate official language in the state and will set up a separate directorate for Bodo medium schools.
• The present settlement has proposal to give more legislative, executive, administrative and financial powers to BTC.

12.Article 131

Why in news?

• Kerala became the first State to join citizens across the country to challenge in the Supreme Court the constitutionality of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019, which fast tracks grant of citizenship on the basis of religion.

• The original suit has been filed under Article 131 of the Constitution.
• The SC has “original” jurisdiction in disputes between States or the Centre and States.
• However, there have been two conflicting judgments from the SC by coordinate Benches on whether a State can file an original suit under Article 131 to challenge the constitutionality of a central law.
• The first judgment reported in 2012 — State of Madhya Pradesh vs Union of India — held that States cannot challenge a Central law under Article 131.
• The second judgment — State of Jharkhand vs State of Bihar — took the opposite view in 2015 and referred the question of law to a larger Bench of the Supreme Court for final determination.
• The Centre may object to the maintainability of the Kerala suit when it comes up for hearing.

What is original jurisdiction under Article 131?

• The original jurisdiction of a court means the power to hear a case for the first time, as opposed to appellate jurisdiction, in which the court reviews the decision of a lower court.
• Unlike the original jurisdiction under Article 32 (which gives the top court the power to issue writs, etc.), the jurisdiction in Article 131 is exclusive, meaning it is only the Supreme Court which has this authority. Under Article 226, the High courts too have the power to issue writs, directions etc.
• Article 131 reads, the Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction in any dispute —
• between the Government of India and one or more States
• between two or more States

13.Democracy Index

Why in news?

• India slipped 10 places in the 2019 Democracy Index’s global ranking.

About the Index:

• It is released annually by The Economist Intelligence Unit.
• The index is based on five categories –

1. Electoral process and pluralism
2. The functioning of government
3. Political participation
4. Political culture
5. Civil liberties

Note – Based on their total score, the countries are classified as:

• “full democracy” (scores greater than 8); 
• flawed democracy— scores greater than 6 and less than or equal to 8; 
• hybrid regime— scores greater than 4 and less than or equal to 6; 
• authoritarian regime— scores less than or equal to 4″.

Findings from the report:

• The twelfth editionof the Democracy Index finds that the average global score has fallen from 5.48 in 2018, to 5.44 in 2019.

• This is the worst average global score since The Economist Intelligence Unit first produced the Democracy Index in
• Norway is on the top of the EIU’s democracy index followed by Iceland and Sweden.
• North Korea was at the bottom of the global ranking at 167th place.

About India:

• In 2019, India slipped 10 places to 51st position.
• India was included in the “flawed democracy” category.
• The primary cause of the democratic regression was an erosion of civil liberties in the country.
• India’s overall score fell from 7.23 in 2018 to 6.90 in 2019.

14.Corruption Perception Index

Why in news?

• India slips two places on global corruption perception index

About the Corruption Perception Index:

• It is released by Transparency International.
• Transparency International launched the first index in 1995 and is published annually.
• The Corruption Perceptions Index ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption, according to experts and business people.
• It uses a scale from 0 to 100, where zero is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean. 
• The top countries in 2019 index are New Zealand and Denmark, with scores of 87 each.

About India:

• With a score of 41, India is at the 80th spot.
• The rank is also shared by China, Benin, Ghana and Morocco. 
• India rank – 78 in the year 2018

Note – Average score in 2019 index is 43.

About Transparency International:

• Transparency International, an international non-governmental organization which is based in Berlin, Germany was founded in 1993.
• Its non profit purpose is to take action to combat corruption and prevent criminal activities arising from corruption.

15.Adhoc Committee of the Rajya sabha to prevent child pornography content on the social media

Why in news?

• The Adhoc Committee of the Rajya sabha instituted by Chairman Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has made 40 far reaching recommendations to prevent sexual abuse of children and to contain access to and transmission of child

More about

• The report of the Committee was presented by the Chairman of the Committee Shri Jai Ram Ramesh to the chairman of Rajya Sabha.
• The 14-member Committee including 7 women members of Rajya Sabha.
• The Committee heard the views of the government agencies and other stakeholders like Google, Facebook, Whatsapp, Bytedance(TikTok), Twitter and Sharechat.
• The report says that definition of child pornography needs to be broadened with additional clause to be inserted in the POCSO Act, 2012, under which advocating or counselling sexual activities with a person under the age of 18.
• It has recommended that the Act should have a provision on cybergrooming (defined in June 2016 by International Labour Organisation as ‘the process of establishing/ building a relationship with a child either in person or through the use of the Internet or other digital technologies to facilitate either online or offline sexual contact with that person.’)

Recommendations:

·       Rajya Sabha Committee calls for mandatory apps on all devices and filters to regulate children’s access to pornography content.

·       Seeks regulation of online payments to buy child pornography material.

·       Recommends changes to pocso and it acts to protect children from sexual abuse

·       Internet service providers to be held responsible for providing access to and disseminating child pornography content.

·       Suggests national level nodal agency to counter the menace.

·       Calls for international alliance against child abuse.

 

 

16.In­dia Justice Report 2019

Why in news

• Maharashtra has topped the list of states in delivering justice to people says the India Justice Report.

About the report:

• In­dia Justice Report 2019, re­leased by the Tata Trusts in collaboration with Centre for Social Jus­tice, Common Cause, and Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, among others.
• Maharashtra has topped the list of states in delivering justice to people followed by Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Haryana.
• Jhark­hand, Bihar and Uttar Pra­desh are at the bottom, while among seven smaller States, Goa leads the group.
• The India Justice Report 2019 is based on publicly available data of different government entities on the four pillars of justice delivery:

1. Police
2. Judiciary
3. Prisons
4. Legal aid.

• The report highlights that even the best per­forming States scored less than 60% in their perfor­mance on capacity across the police, judiciary, prisons and legal aid.
•  Note – As per the report India’s per capita expenditure on free legal aid is 75 paise per an­num.

 

17.Citizenship (Amendment) Bill

Why in news?

• Parliament passes the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019.

More about

• Bill seeks to grant Indian Citizenship to persons belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities on ground of religious persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
• It basically intends to make it easier for non-Muslim immigrants from India’s three Muslim-majority neighbours to become citizens of India.
• Grant of citizenship will be from the date and year of the entry into India and all the cases and legal proceedings against them would be closed, besides protecting their business and trade interests on an equal footing.
• Even if the passports and visas of these minorities had expired, they would not be treated as illegal.
• The provisions of the amendments to the Act would not apply to tribal area of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram or Tripura as included in the Sixth Schedule and the area covered under ‘The Inner Line’ notified under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873.
• The Bill also seeks to amend the Third Schedule to the Act to make applicants belonging to the said communities from the aforesaid countries eligible for citizenship by naturalisation if they can establish their residency in India for five years instead of the existing eleven years.

Bill also provides Additional Ground for Cancelling Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Registration i.e. violation of any law notified by the central government

18.What connects NPR, NRIC and census?

Why in news?

• As protests spread all across the country against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019 and the proposed National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC), West Bengal and Kerala suspended work related to the preparation and update of the National Population Register in their respective States.

 

What is National Population Register?

• The NPR is a database containing a list of all usual residents of the country with demographic and biometric details, was supposed to be prepared between April 2020 and September 2020 ahead of the Census slated for 2021.

 

How it is generated?

• It is generated through house to house enumeration during the “house listing” phase of the census, which is held once in 10 years.
• A usual resident for the purposes of NPR is a person who has resided in a place for six months or more, and intends to reside there for another six months or more.

 

What is the legal basis for the NPR?

• While the census is legally backed by the Census Act, 1948, the NPR is a mechanism outlined in a set of rules framed under the Citizenship Act, 1955.
• Section 14A was inserted in the Citizenship Act, 1955, in 2004, providing for the compulsory registration of every citizen of India and the issue of a “national identity card” to him or her.
• It also said the Central government may maintain a “National Register of Indian Citizens”.
• The Registrar General India shall act as the “National Registration Authority” (and will function as the Registrar General of Citizen Registration).

 

Is there any link between the NPR and Aadhaar?

• Both databases of NPR and Aadhaar will exist with different objectives, and that each will use the other’s biometric data.
• Those already enrolled for Aadhaar need not give their biometric details again during NPR.
• In case of discrepancy between Aadhaar and NPR data, the latter would prevail.

 

What will happen after the NPR is compiled?

• National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC) is a subset of the NPR; since NPR consist of all residents in the country.
• NRIC will be prepared at the local, subdistrict, district and State levels after verifying the citizenship status of the residents.
• Details of those “whose citizenship is doubtful” will be given an opportunity of being heard by the Subdistrict or Taluk Registrar of Citizen Registration before a final decision is made on excluding them from the NRIC.
• The decision should be made within 90 days.
• Any person aggrieved by an exclusion order can appeal to the District Registrar within 30 days.
• In case, the appeal succeeds, the names of those concerned would be added to the NRIC.

 

What are the documents that would help establish citizenship?

• It has not yet prescribed rules for the sort of documentary proof that would be required to prove citizenship.
• The government says any document that shows date of birth or place of birth, or both, will be Sufficient and those unable to produce documents may produce witnesses or other proof supported by members of the community.

 

Many State governments have said the NPR would not be implemented. Is this possible?

• As the house to house enumeration is a part of the Census operation, it is unlikely that the NPR process can go ahead without support of State governments.

• The legal position is that while the Centre is in charge of the census, the State governments are expected to provide staff whenever required.

 

What is the relationship between the NPR and the Citizenship (Amendment) Act?

• There is no direct link, but CAA may help non Muslims (Religiously persecuted minorities other than muslims) take the CAA route to apply for citizenship.

19.Good Governance Index (GGI)

Why in news?

• A good governance index (GGI) was launched on Wednesday by the government to assess the state of governance in the country.

Findings from the index:

• The States and Union Territories were divided into 3 groups’ namely big states, North East and hill states and union territories.
• Tamil Nadu topped in Good Governance Index in the “Big States” category.
• It was followed by Maharashtra, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.
• The report also said that among the big states the poor performers were Odisha, Bihar, Goa and Uttar Pradesh.
• Jharkhand was ranked the last in good governance index.
• In the North East and hill states category, Himachal Pradesh ranked first.
• It was followed by Uttarakhand, Tripura, Mizoram and Sikkim.
• The bad performers of the category include Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.
• In Agricultural and allied ranking, the best performing states were Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram and Daman and Diu.
• Under the category of commerce and industries, Delhi, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand were the top performers.

Good Governance Index:

• The Good Governance Index is a uniform tool across States to assess the Status of Governance and impact of various interventions taken up by the State Government and UTs.
• It has been launched by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions.

Objectives:

• To provide quantifiable data to compare the state of governance in all states and UTs.
• Enable states and UTs to formulate and implement suitable strategies for improving governance and Shift to result oriented approaches and administration.

It takes into consideration of 10 sectors.

1. Agriculture and Allied Sectors
2. Commerce & Industries
3. Human Resource Development
4. Public Health
5. Public Infrastructure & Utilities
6. Economic Governance
7. Social Welfare & Development
8. Judicial & Public Security
9. Environment
10. Citizen-Centric Governance.

• These 10 governance sectors are further measured on a total of 50 indicators.
• These indicators are given different weightage under one governance sector to calculate the value.

Note: The Good Governance Day is observed on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. (December 25)

20.Fast Track Courts

Why in News

• In 2017, Fast-track courts (FTCs) in only 6 states managed to dispose 50% of their cases within a year.

About Fast Track Courts

• The Central Government for a period of five years from 2000 to 2005,established 1734 fast track courts which were recommended and granted by the eleventh finance commission.
• Although, the scheme got extended to2010-2011, because of the orders of Supreme Court.
• After all this, the scheme got introverted and centre also stopped from funding the establishment of FTCs.
• But states had the power to set up their own FTCs with their own funds.
• To ensure speedy distribution of a large number of pending cases in the time bound manner, was the main objective of the fast track courts.
• Retired judges or eligible judicial officers who are selected by the High Court of the respective state are the head of these courts. 
• The judges are appointed on ad hoc basis.

Source- https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=195531

 

21.Emergency Response Support System (ERSS- Dial 112)

Why in news?

• Union Minister for Home Affairs launched three citizen centric services of the Chandigarh Police, in Chandigarh.

Emergency Response Support System (ERSS- Dial 112):

• ERSS is one of the key projects of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs under Nirbhaya Fund.
• It has been designed to play a pivotal role in mitigation or preventing escalation of crime, especially against women and children.
• ERSS provides a single emergency number (112), computer aided dispatch of field resources to the location of distress.
• Citizens can send their emergency information through call, sms, email and through the 112 India mobile app.
• The ‘Dial 112’ emergency response service is an initiative to strengthen proactive community policing that would end confusion amongst distress callers, who at times end up dialling 100 in fire or medical emergency cases.

‘E-Beat Book’ System and the ‘E-Saathi App’:

• The ‘E-Beat Book’ is a web and mobile based application which will ease the collection, updation and analysis of the information related to crime and criminals in a real time.
• The E-Beat Book would be linked with Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS), which would help in a real time updation of crime/criminal data. 
• The ‘E-Saathi’ App would help the general public, including senior citizens, to remain in touch with the police and also give suggestions to facilitate participative community policing (‘Your Police at Your Doorstep’ initiative). 

 

22.Nirbhaya Fund

Why in news?

• The Centre has written to the Delhi government for a “quick response” on a scheme to set up 16 more fast-track special courts to dispose of the over 10,000 cases of sexual assault against women and children.

Nirbhaya Fund:

• The fund is created by Ministry of Finance in 2013.
• It dedicated for implementation of initiatives aimed at enhancing the safety and security for women in the country.
• It is a non-lapsable corpus fund.
• Ministry of Women and Child Development is the nodal Ministry to appraise schemes under Nirbhaya Fund and also to review and monitor the progress of sanctioned Schemes in conjunction with the line Ministries/Departments.
• It is being monitored by Empowered Committee of Officers under Secretary of Women and Child Development Ministry.
• Empowered Committee of Officers: It is an inter-ministerial committee which appraises and recommends various projects (schemes) proposed by different ministries to be funded from Nirbhaya Fund.

Schemes under Nirbhaya Fund by Ministry of Women and Child Development:

• One Stop Centre (OSC): One Stop Centres have been set up to facilitate access to an integrated range of services including medical, legal, and psychological support to women affected by violence to be funded through Nirbhaya Fund.
• Women Helpline (WHL): The Scheme of Universalisation of Women Helpline is intended to provide 24 hours immediate and emergency response to women affected by violence through referral and information about women related government schemes programs across the country through a single uniform number.
• Mahila Police Volunteer: The MWCD in collaboration with MHA has envisaged engagement of Mahila Police Volunteers in State/UTs who will act as a link between Police and Community and facilitate women in distress.

23.Sardar Patel National Unity Award 

Why in news?

• Government of India has instituted ‘Sardar Patel National Unity Award’.

Sardar Patel National Unity Award:

• Government of India has instituted the highest civilian award in the field of contribution to the unity and integrity of India, in the name of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. 
• The award will be announced on the occasion of the National Unity Day, i.e. the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel on 31st October.

Sardar Patel National Unity awards committee:

• Committee would be constituted by the Prime Minister.
• Includes the Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Secretary to the President, Home Secretary as Members and three-four eminent persons selected by the Prime Minister.

Eligibility and Nominations:

• Any Indian national or institution or organization based in India would be able to nominate an individual for consideration for this Award.
• Individuals may also nominate themselves.
• State Governments, UT Administrations and Ministries of Government of India may also send nominations.
• All citizens, without distinction of religion, race caste, gender, place of birth, age or occupation, and any institution/organization would be eligible for the Award.

What the award consists?

• The Award would consist of a medal and a citation.
• No monetary grant or cash award would be attached to this Award.
• Not more than three Awards would be given in a year.
• It would not be conferred posthumously except in very rare and highly deserving cases.

Note – The Nominations would be invited every year.

The applications would need to be filed online on the website specifically designed by Ministry of Home Affairs.

 

24.The National Population Register

Why in news?

• Government has revived National Population Register project at a time when National Register of Citizens has been published in Assam.

What is the NPR?

• It is a list of “usual residents of the country”.
• The NPR is being prepared under provisions of the Citizenship Act 1955 and the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003.
• It is mandatory for every “usual resident of India” to register in the NPR.
• Unlike the NRC, the NPR is not a citizenship enumeration drive, as it would record even a foreigner staying in a locality for more than six months.

Usual resident of the country according to the Ministry of Home Affairs:

• A “usual resident of the country” is one who has been residing in a local area for at least the last six months, or intends to stay in a particular location for the next six months.

What kind of data will NPR collect?

• The NPR will collect both demographic data and biometric data.
• There are 15 different categories of demographic data, ranging from name and place of birth to education and occupation, that the RGI is supposed collect in the NPR.
• For biometric data it will depend on Aadhaar, for which it will seek Aadhaar details of the residents.

Why does the government want so much data?

• Every country must have a comprehensive identity database of its residents with relevant demographic details. It says it will help the government formulate its policies better and also aid national security.
•  To justify the collection of data such as driving licence, voter ID and PAN numbers is that it will only ease the life of those residing in India by cutting red tape.

• Not only will it help target government beneficiaries in a better way, but also further cut down paperwork and red tape in a similar manner that Aadhaar has done
• With NPR data, residents will not have to furnish various proofs of age, address and other details in official work. 
• It would also eliminate duplication in voter lists, government insists.”

 

25.Electoral Bond Scheme

Why in news?

• The government announced issuance of 12th tranche of electoral bonds that could be used to make donations to political parties.

Electoral Bond Scheme:

• The government notified the Electoral Bond Scheme in January 2018.

What is an Electoral Bond?

• An electoral bond is designed to be a bearer instrument like a Promissory Note.
• It will be similar to a bank note that is payable to the bearer on demand and free of interest. 

Who can buy it?

• Electoral bonds may be purchased by an Indian citizen or a company incorporated or established in India.
• A person being an individual can buy Electoral Bonds, either singly or jointly with other individuals. 

 Eligibility:

• Those registered political parties (under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951) that secured not less than 1% of votes polled in former election of Lok Sabha or legislative assembly will be eligible to receive electoral bonds.

• Political parties are allotted a verified account by the Election Commission and all the electoral bond transactions are done through this account only.
• The donors can buy these electoral bonds and transfer them into the accounts of the political parties as a donation. 

Issued by:

• SBI is the only authorised bank to issue Electoral Bonds.
• Issued in multiple values of Rs 1,000, Rs 10,000, Rs 1 lakh, Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 crore.

When we can purchase it?

• The bonds will be available for purchase for a period of 10 days each in the beginning of every quarter, i.e. in January, April, July and October as specified by the Central Government.
• An additional period of 30 days shall be specified by the Central Government in the year of Lok Sabha elections.

Validity:

• Electoral Bonds shall be valid for fifteen calendar days from the date of issue and no payment shall be made to any payee Political Party if the Electoral Bond is deposited after expiry of the validity period.
• The Electoral Bond deposited by an eligible Political Party in its account shall be credited on the same day.

 

26.Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act (PSA)

Why in news

• Four persons, held under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) released.

Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act (PSA)

• Act received the assent of the J&K Governor on April 8, 1978.
• It allows for administrative detention for up to two years, in the case of persons acting in any manner prejudicial to the security of the State.
• Administrative detention up to one year where any person is acting in any manner prejudicial to the maintenance of public order.
• Detention orders under PSA can be issued by Divisional Commissioners or District Magistrates.
• The detaining authority need not disclose any facts about the detention.
• Section 22 of the Act provides protection for any action taken in good faith under the Act.
• No suit, prosecution or any other legal proceeding shall lie against any person for anything done or intended to be done in good faith in pursuance of the provisions of this Act.
• Under Section 23 of the Act, the government is empowered to make such Rules consistent with the provisions of this Act, as may be necessary for carrying out the objects of this Act.

Drawbacks of the act

• Terms under which a person is detained under PSA are vague and ambiguous hence it gives unrestricted powers to the authorities.
• PSA does not provide for a judicial review of detention.
• Indemnity for any act done during the enforcement of act.

 

27.Maternity Benefit Amendment Act, 2017

Why in news?

• Maternity benefit isn’t a matter of charity says Delhi court.

Maternity Benefit Amendment Act, 2017:

• It has increased the duration of paid maternity leave available for women employees from the existing 12 weeks to 26 weeks for the first two children.
• Under the Act, this benefit could be availed by women for a period extending up to 8 weeks before the expected delivery date and remaining 18 weeks can be availed post childbirth.
• Maternity leave for children beyond the first two will continue to be 12 weeks.
• Maternity leave of 12 weeks to be available to mothers adopting a child below the age of three months.
• The law is applicable to all institutions with 10 or more employees; it also makes it mandatory for every organization with 50 or more employees to have a crèche.
• Women employees would be permitted to visit the crèche 4 times during the day.
• The Maternity Benefit Amendment Act makes it mandatory for employers to educate women about the maternity benefits available to them at the time of their appointment.

 

28.New Guidelines for Absentee Voting

Why in news

• Election Commission of India has started working on detailed guidelines and SoPs to facilitate the process of postal ballot paper for Absentee voters of essential services, Senior citizens of more than 80 years and marked PwD electors. 

More about

• The Election Commission is committed to ensure the ease of voting to all categories of electors including old age people as well as persons with disability.
• The Commission made the recommendation to Ministry of Law and Justice and the Central Government amended the Rules (conduct of Election Rules, 1961) accordingly.

Salient features of these amendments:

• A concept of ‘absentee voter’ has been introduced and defined for the elections;
• ‘absentee voter’ means a person who is employed in essential services as mentioned in the said notification, and includes an elector belonging to the class of senior citizen or persons with disability.
• ‘Person with disability’ means a person flagged as person with disability in the data base for the electoral roll.
• ‘Senior citizen’ for the purpose of this Part means an elector belonging to the class of absentee voters and is above 80 years of age.
• In the case of absentee voter, postal ballot paper shall be returned to the centre provided for recording of vote subject to any direction that may be issued by the Election Commission in this behalf.
• These two categories of voters- senior citizen of more than 80 years of age and PwD electors marked in the electoral roll –will have now choice of voting either as absentee voter or as a regular voter on the poll day.

 SVEEP initiatives

• Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation Program, better known as SVEEP, is the flagship program of the Election Commission of India for voter education, spreading voter awareness and promoting voter literacy in India.

• Since 2009, it has been working towards preparing India’s electors and equipping them with basic knowledge related to the electoral process.
• SVEEP’s primary goal is to build a truly participative democracy in India by encouraging all eligible citizens to vote and make an informed decision during the elections.

 

29.Aarambh- Common Foundation Course

Why in news

• The Government of India has launched the first ever common foundation course called the Aarambh for civil servants at the Statue of Unity, Gujarat.

More about the news

• The Government of India has launched the first ever common foundation course called the “Aarambh” for civil servants at the Statue of Unity, Gujarat.
• Around 500 newly recruited bureaucrats will undergo six-day training.
• The Government also launched the “Nurture the Future” programme.

Nurture the Future programme

• Under this program the civil servants will be divided into teams to visit villages in Kevadia, Gujarat.
• Each probationer will take a youth under his wing, provide career and professional guidance.
• The initiative will cover one lakh youth in next five years.

 

30.Challenges to Nagaland’s RIIN Initiative

 

What is the issue?

• The Nagaland government has initiated a move to compile a Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN).
• In this context, here is an overview of the challenges that are likely to come up in the process.

 

What are challenges?

• Naga peace talks – The negotiators engaged in the ongoing Naga peace talks could now articulate new and hardened positions.
• The talks on the contentious issue of integration of contiguous Naga-inhabited areas (of Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh) could take pace now.
• NSCN(I-M) – The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) is engaged in peace talks with the government of India since 1997.
• The self-styled government of the People‘s Republic of Nagalim is the parallel government run by the NSCN(IM).
• This has opposed the compilation of RIIN, saying that all Nagas, wherever they are, were indigenous in their land by virtue of their common history.
• So it sees the RIIN process as being contradictory to the inherent rights of the Nagas.
• Cut-off date – Since 1977, to be eligible to obtain a certificate of indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland, a person has to fulfil either of the below conditions:
• the person must be settled permanently in Nagaland prior to December 1, 1963
• his or her parents or legitimate guardians were paying house tax prior to the cut-off date (December 1, 1963)
• the applicant, or his/her parents or legitimate guardians, acquired property and a patta (land certificate) prior to this cut-off date
• The compilation of RIIN involves the complexities of deciding on the claims of the children of non-Naga fathers as well as non-Naga children adopted by Naga parents.
• In this regard, the Nagaland government may choose to go ahead with the above cut-off date.
• In such case, all Naga people who have migrated to the State after this day will have to be excluded.
• These include migrants from the neighbouring Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh and elsewhere in India.
• The public opinion is still divided on compiling RIIN without a consensus on the cut-off date.

 

ILP – There is a proposal to link RIIN with the ILP (Inner Line Permit) system.

• [The ILP is a travel document issued by the government of India to allow a domestic tourist ‘to enter Nagaland, and is valid for 30 days.]
• The complexity is that unless otherwise officially clarified, the RIIN proposal may require large numbers of non-indigenous inhabitants to obtain an ILP to carry out day-to-day activities.
• Notably, most of them are migrated ones from other States and have been carrying out trade, business and other activities for decades, especially in the Dimapur district.
• Certificates – There is the limitation of non-issuance of domicile certificates or permanent residence certificates to a large number of non-Naga, non-indigenous inhabitants.
• This could also make the RIIN task even more difficult for the Nagaland government.

 

31.VACATION BENCH

 

Why in news?

• The Supreme Court notified its annual summer holiday and listed the judges who will occupy the Vacation Benches for hearing urgent matters during this period.

 

About the bench

• A Vacation Bench of the Supreme Court is a special bench constituted by the Chief Justice of India for hearing matters during summer vacation or winter holidays.
• The Chief Justice may appoint one or more Judges to hear all matters of an urgent nature which under these rules may be heard by a Judge sitting singly.
• Litigants can approach the Supreme Court and, if the court decides that the plea is an ‘urgent matter’, the Vacation Bench hears the case on its merits.
• During vacations the court generally admits writs related to habeas corpus, certiorari, prohibition and quo warrant
• matters for enforcement of any fundamental right.
• The Chief Justice may likewise appoint a Division Court for the hearing of urgent cases during the vacation which require to be heard by a Bench of Judges.

The High Courts and trial courts too have Vacation Benches to hear urgent matters under their jurisdiction.

32.ARTICLE 370 OF THE CONSTITUTION

 

Why in news?

• Government brings Resolution to Repeal Article 370 of the Constitution.

 

About the news:

• The Government moved a resolution which would repeal the provisions under Article 370 of the Constitution of India, which granted a special status to the state of J&K.
• The provisions of Article 370 would cease to exist from the date President of India issues a notification in this regard, after the recommendation of the Parliament
• Consequently, the Constitution of India would get applicable to J&K, on par with other states/UTs of the country.

 

Article 370:

• Article 370 accords special status to Jammu and Kashmir in many respects – giving the central government authority only over external affairs, finance, defence and communication.
• Article 370 relates to “temporary provisions with respect to the State of Jammu and Kashmir” and limits “the power of Parliament to make laws for” the state to a specified list of subjects.

 

Article 35(A):

• Article 35A allows the state legislature to define the Jammu and Kashmir’s permanent residents.
• The article had been inserted via the Constitution (Application to J&K) Order, 1954. It was issued by the then President Rajendra Prasad under Article 370 on PM Nehru’s advice.
• The state’s Constitution, at the time of its adoption in 1956, defined a permanent resident as someone who was a state subject on May 14, 1954, or who has been a resident for 10 years, and has lawfully acquired immovable property.

Jammu Kashmir and the Constitution 1947-2019:

Section 3 of Article 370:

• Under article 370(3), there is a provision that President, on recommendation of the Parliament, has the power to amend or cease the implementation of article 370, through a public notification.
• Article 370(3) -“Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this article, the President may, by public notification, declare that this article shall cease to be operative or shall be operative only with such exceptions and modifications and from such date as he may specify”

 

What will happen to J&K now?

 

Jammu and Kashmir (Reorganisation) Bill, 2019:

• The Jammu and Kashmir (Reorganisation) Bill, 2019 intends to make Jammu & Kashmir a Union territory with a Legislative Assembly, along with Union Territory status to Ladakh without a Legislative Assembly.
• Further, the Jammu & Kashmir Reservation (2nd Amendment) Bill, 2019 to amend the Jammu & Kashmir Reservation Act 2004 was also introduced.
• This bill seeks to extend the 10% quota to economically weaker sections of society in J&K in jobs and educational institutions.

 

33.CBIC SPARROW

 

Why in news?

• The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) will conduct annual performance appraisal of over 46,000 Group B and C officers online, a move aimed at better human resource management.

About CBIC SPARROW

• SPARROW-CBIC is the online writing of annual performance appraisal report (APARs) in SPARROW for Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officers in Customs and Central Excise.
• SPARROW stands for Smart Performance Appraisal Report Recording Online Window.
• It is one of its kind in terms of scale/ number of employees covered as far as central government departments are concerned.
• It is for better Human Resource management.
• The Directorate General of Human Resource Management (DGHRM), the HR arm of CBIC, is the implementing agency for this project.

34.Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2019

Why in news?

• Parliament Passes the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2019 unanimously
• The Bill amends the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
• The Act provides for a National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), State Human Rights Commissions (SHRC), as well as Human Rights Courts.

Composition of NHRC:

• Under the Act, the chairperson of the NHRC is a person who has been a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
• The Bill amends this to provide that a person who has been Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, or a Judge of the Supreme Court will be the chairperson of the NHRC.
• Chairperson of SHRC: Under the Act, the chairperson of a SHRC is a person who has been a Chief Justice of a High Court.
• The Bill amends this to provide that a person who has been Chief Justice or Judge of a High Court will be chairperson of a SHRC.
• The Act provides for two persons having knowledge of human rights to be appointed as members of the NHRC.
• The Bill amends this to allow three members to be appointed, of which at least one will be a woman.
• Under the Act, chairpersons of various commissions such as the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, and National Commission for Women are members of the NHRC.
• The Bill provides for including the chairpersons of the National Commission for Backward Classes, the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights, and the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities as members of the NHRC.

Term of office:

• The Act states that the chairperson and members of the NHRC and SHRC will hold office for five years or till the age of seventy years, whichever is earlier.
• The Bill reduces the term of office to three years or till the age of seventy years, whichever is earlier.
• Further, the Act allows for the reappointment of members of the NHRC and SHRCs for a period of five years.
• The Bill removes the five-year limit for reappointment. Union Territories:
• The Bill provides that the central government may confer on a SHRC human rights functions being discharged by Union Territories.
• Functions relating to human rights in the case of Delhi will be dealt with by the NHRC Powers of Secretary-General:
• The Act provides for a Secretary-General of the NHRC and a Secretary of a SHRC, who exercise powers as may be delegated to them.
• The Bill amends this and allows the Secretary General and Secretary to exercise all administrative and financial powers (except judicial functions), subject to the respective chairperson’s control.

Paris Principles

• The United Nations Paris Principles provide the international benchmarks against which national human rights institutions (NHRIs) can be accredited by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI).

The Paris Principles set out six main criteria that NHRIs require to meet:

• Mandate and competence: a broad mandate, based on universal human rights norms and standards;
• Autonomy from Government;
• Independence guaranteed by statute or Constitution;
• Pluralism;
• Adequate resources; and
• Adequate powers of investigation.

35.Code on Wages Bill, 2019

Why in news?

• The Union Cabinet has cleared the New Code on Wages bill, 2019.

What is the current situation?

• At present, minimum wages are fixed on the basis of categories such as Skillset (skilled, unskilled, semiskilled, high skilled), geographic allocation and nature of work/sector.
• At present, there are 2,500 minimum wage rates across the country.
• There are 13 categories of work for which minimum wage is fixed.
• The minimum wages are fixed by both the State and the Centre.
• The Centre can notify the minimum wage rate for railway, agriculture, mining or central government entities.
• The current floor wage that was fixed in 2017 is Rs 176/day, but some states have minimum wages lower than it.

What are the changes made?

• As per the Bill, minimum wages will be linked only to factors such as skillset and geographical location.
• This is expected to reduce the number of minimum wage rates across the country to 300.
• The minimum wage law will be extended to all sectors, this move is expected to ensure universal wage protection against exploitation.
• National Floor Level Minimum Wage – To be set by the Centre to be revised every five years.
• States will fix minimum wages for their regions, which cannot be lower than the floor wage level.

What previous legislations would be replaced?

• Payment of Wages Act, 1936
• Minimum Wages Act, 1948
• Payment of Bonus Act, 1965
• Equal Remuneration Act, 1976

36.Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2019

Why in news?

• The government recently introduced in Lok Sabha the Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2019.

What are the key changes proposed?

• The Bill primarily amends Sections 13 and 16 of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.
• Term – Section 13 of the original Act sets the term of the central Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and Information Commissioners (ICs) at 5 years (or until the age of 65, whichever is earlier).
• Likewise, Section 16sets the term for state-level CICs and ICs at 5 years (or 65 years of age, whichever is earlier).
• The amendment now proposes that the appointment for both will be ―for such term as may be prescribed by the Central Government‖.
• Salary, etc – Under Section 13, salaries, allowances and other terms of service of the CIC shall be the same as that of the Chief Election Commissioner.
• Those of an Information Commissioner shall be the same as that of an Election Commissioner.
• Similarly, under Sec 16, the original Act prescribes salaries, allowances and other terms of service of the state CIC and state ICs as the same as that of an Election Commissioner and Chief Secretary to the State respectively.
• The amendment proposes that the salaries, allowances and other terms of service of both CIC and ICs at both central and state levels shall be such as may be prescribed by the Central Government.

What is the government‟s rationale?

• The mandate of Election Commission of India and Central and State Information Commissions are different.
• Hence, their status and service conditions need to be rationalised accordingly.
• The Central Information Commissioner has been given the status of a Supreme Court judge.
• But, his judgments can be challenged in the High Courts, which is inconsistent.
• Besides, the RTI Act did not give the government rule-making powers, which the amendment proposes to correct.

37.UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES (PREVENTION) AMENDMENT BILL, 2019

Why in news?

• The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2019 that empowers the Union Home Ministry to designate individuals as terrorists was passed in the Rajya Sabha.

The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2019:

• Only those individuals who participate in terrorist activities, aid those indulging in such activities, propagate the ideology of terrorism and members of known terrorist organizations will be declared as terrorists after this amendment is passed.
• The Amendment gives powers to DG, NIA to attach properties acquired from proceeds of terrorism.
• When NIA takes up a case having international and inter-state ramifications, all the facts pertinent to the case are with the NIA, and not with the state police. Currently, the law requires that NIA take prior permission from the respective state DGP to attach the proceeds of terrorism.
• Earlier, officers of ranks DSP and above were empowered to investigate cases under UAPA as per Section 43. The Amendment seeks to empower officers with the rank of inspectors and above to do the same.

About the Bill:

• The amendments seek to allow the government to designate an individual as terrorist and bring in embargo on arms/assets seizures.
• Under the law, personal/financial information of an individual designated as terrorist can be shared with various Western agencies.
• The bill seeks to empower NIA to conduct raids anywhere without the relevant state government’s prior permission, a clause that has raised concerns and caused consternation in various quarters.
• To allay fears about misuse of the law, home ministry has said that an individual designated as terrorist can appeal to the Home Secretary, who will have to dispose of the appeal within 45 days.
• The Centre will constitute a review committee under the act. An implicated individual can appeal against the inclusion of his/her name and seek a hearing before the committee.
• If not satisfied with the Home Secretary’s decision, the individual in question can move the committee head headed by a sitting/retired judge of a high court and comprising at least two retired secretaries of the central government.

38.Survey of India

• The Survey of India has redrawn the map of India to depict the newly formed Union Territories (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Ladakh.
• Areas such as Gilgit, Gilgit Wazarat, Chilhas and the Tribal Territory of 1947 that have been occupied by Pakistan are included in the Ladakh UT.
• Other areas in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) such as Mirpur and Muzaffarabad have been included in the J&K UT.
• In 1947, J&K had 14 districts: By 2019, they were reorganized into 28 districts.

Survey of India (National Survey and Mapping Organization)

• The Survey of India is India’s central engineering agency in charge of mapping and surveying.
• Set up in 1767 to help consolidate the territories of the British East India Company, it is one of the oldest Engineering Departments of the government of India.
• It comes under administrative control of Department of science and technology (DST).
• Its members are from Survey of India Service cadre of Civil Services of India and Army Officers from the Indian Army Corps of Engineers.
• It is headed by the Surveyor General of India.
• Functions of survey of India:
• Survey of India acts as adviser to the Government of India on all cartography of India related matters, such as geodesy, mapping and map reproduction.
• It is responsible for the naming convention and spellings of names of geographical features of India.
• Scrutiny and certification of external boundaries of India and Coastline on maps published by the other agencies including private publishers.
• geodetic datum, geodetic control network, topographical control, geophysical surveys, cadastral surveying, geologic maps, aeronautical charts within India, such as for forests, army cantonments, large scale cities, guide maps, developmental or conservation projects, etc.
• Demarcation of the borders and external boundaries of India as well as advice on the demarcation of inter-state boundaries.