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United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award Major Suman Gawain, an Indian Army officer who served as a women peacekeeper with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in 2019 is being awarded the prestigious “United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award” on 29 May 2020. She will receive the award from the UN Secretary-General Mr Antonio Guterres during an online ceremony being organised at the UN Headquarters, New York on the occasion of
Belated, but welcome: On Supreme Court move on migrant workers Introduction It is a matter of relief that the Supreme Court has at last taken cognisance of the plight of millions of inter-State workers looking for transport home and relief from the unrelenting misery unleashed on them by the lockdown. Justice delayed A three-judge Bench has initiated suo motu proceedings based on media reports and representations from senior advocates, observing that there have been inadequacies and
Anchoring ties with Canberra the virtual way By, Amitabh Mattoo is Chair of the Australia-India Leadership Dialogue and was the founding Director of The Australia India Institute Introduction New Delhi ranks extremely high on Australia’s diplomatic radar. A former Premier of New South Wales and a celebrated public figure, Mr. O’Farrell(the New High Commissioner) has already made his presence felt in India through the increasingly ubiquitous world of webinars in his colour
‘Rozgar Setu’ scheme Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced the launch of the ‘Rozgar Setu’ scheme, saying it would help secure employment for skilled workers who have returned. The State is the first to devise such a work plan. After such workers requiring employment are identified, the government will contact factory and workshop owners and contractors overseeing infrastructure projects such as road and bridge construction. &nb
Saksham Saksham is a capacity-building program under the Ministry of Rural development. It is a training module which focuses on the use of Remote Sensing and GIS tools for project planning and monitoring components like watersheds, groundwater and geohydrology. **It is not to be confused with project Saksham of the Railway Ministry. Project Saksham It is the nation’s largest time-bound “Upskilling” exercise for its employees to boost their efficiency. Under Project
SECURE The Ministry of rural development has adopted the Software for Estimate Calculation Using Rural Rates for Employment (SECURE). It aims to improve the quality of work by detailing of technical specifications, tasks and workflows. All estimates under MGNREGS will be generated with the use of SECURE (software) from the Programme’s Management Information System with effect from 1st April, 2018.
D10 club The British government has approached the US with the prospect of creating a 5G club of 10 democracies, including India, amid growing security concerns related to Chinese telecom giant Huawei. A so-called 'D10' club of democratic partners, including G7 countries – UK, US, Italy, Germany, France, Japan and Canada – plus Australia, South Korea and India will aim to create alternative suppliers of 5G equipment and other technologies to avoid relying on China.
For a reset in India-Nepal relations By, Rakesh Sood is a former diplomat and currently a Distinguished Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation Introduction Once again, relations between India and Nepal have taken a turn for the worse. The immediate provocation is the long-standing territorial issue surrounding Kalapani, a patch of land near the India-Nepal border, close to the Lipulekh Pass on the India-China border, which is one of the approved points for border trade and the route
From a standoff to a stalemate By, Major General M. Vinaya Chandran (retd), who has 36 years of service in the Indian Army, is a PhD Research Scholar at the University of Madras Introduction India’s construction of a road to Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) in the Galwan Valley has been suggested as one reason for the recent standoff between India and China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). China has said India was “attempting to unilaterally change the status quo” on
Appointment of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) At present, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is a three-member body, with one Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and two Election Commissioners (EC). Under Article 324(2) of the Constitution of India, the President of India is empowered to appoint the CEC and the ECS. Article 324(2) also empowers the President of India to fix from time to time the number of Election Commissioners other than the CEC. When any other election commis
Accessible India Campaign (AIC) It is a nationwide flagship campaign of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The aim of the Campaign is to make a barrier-free and conducive environment for differently abled all over the country. For creating universal accessibility for differently abled persons the campaign has been divided into three verticals: Built Environment. Transport. Information &
Export control regime Australia Group Recently the Australia Group admitted (2018) India as its 43rd participant. India’s entry would contribute to international security and non-proliferation objectives. The Australia Group (AG) is an informal forum of countries which, seeks to ensure export controls over development of chemical or biological weapons. By this AG nations would fulfil their obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Conv
Delimitation Commission Context The Delimitation Commission had a meeting on 28th May,2020,to review the progress of direction given by the Commission in its first meeting held on 29th April,2020. Earlier there was slight delay in organizing the first meeting due to ongoing lock down because of Covid 19 pandemic. Information on details of State Election Commissioner has been received from the State of Arunachal Pradesh,Assam,Manipur and Union Territory of Jammu&Kashmir. Wha
National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) Context Union Human Resource Development Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank interacted with Heads of more than 45,000 Higher Educational Institutions across the country today through Webinar hosted by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), Bengaluru. The Minister addressed and Interacted with a Galaxy of Academicians comprising participation from Vice Chancellors / Registrars / Professors / IQAC heads / Principal
Shekatkar Committee recommendations Part of: GS-II- Governance (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) The government has accepted and implemented three important recommendations of the Committee of Experts (CoE) under the Chairmanship of Lt General D B Shekatkar (Retd) relating to border Infrastructure. Accepted recommendations: Speeding up road construction, Outsourcing road construction work beyond the optimal capacity of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). Mandatory t
List of Important committees GS: PT and Main List of Committees With Purposes
Malimath Report Justice Malimath Committee or The Committee on Reforms of the Criminal Justice System was constituted by the Home Ministry in 2000. The committee submitted its report in 2003 and made recommendations on crime investigation and punishment. The recommendations were never implemented. It is now going to be revisited by the government. One of its key recommendations is admissibility of confessions made before a police officer as evidence in a court of law. Other recommendati
Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) The PMSMA programme was launched in 2016 under the ministry of health and family welfare. It aims to ensure free comprehensive and quality antenatal check-ups for pregnant women for ensuring safe pregnancy. The programme is carried out across India with the participation of private doctors.
A moment to trust the teacher By, Krishna Kumar is a former Director of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) Introduction A public examination in the middle of the novel coronavirus pandemic is hard to imagine. That is what the government of Tamil Nadu has decided. It will conduct the Grade X board examination from June 15. Special arrangements made by Tamil Nadu government: # These include sparse seating to meet the medical requirement of physical di
Rising tide: On return of protests in Hong Kong Introduction Protests and violence returned to Hong Kong on May 24. In scenes that became all-too-familiar through much of last year, police used water cannons, tear gas, and pepper spray, as a protest march descended into clashes between protesters and riot police. Controversial bills by China # The weekend’s march had originally been planned ahead of a debate in Hong Kong’s Legislative Council (LegCo) on a new nationa
UMANG App UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance) is envisaged to make e-governance. It is developed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to drive Mobile Governance in India. It provides a unified approach where citizens can install one application to avail of multiple government services. The app services include Aadhaar, DigiLocker, and Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS). Etc.
Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (1958) The Union government has tabled amendments to Ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remains active in the parliament. The Lok Sabha passed the amendments to the Act, but the Bill is yet to be cleared by the Rajya Sabha. The Act originally instituted conservation measures and banned construction activities near protected monuments. The amendment now allows carrying out public works within the 100 m prohibited zo
Orange Passports and LOTUS mark on PASSPORT Ministry of External Affairs has decided to offer an orange-coloured passport to travellers who require an emigration check. By this ECR status would be issued a passport with an orange-coloured, non-ECR status will continue to get blue passports. ECR status As per the Emigration Act, 1983, certain categories of Indian passport holders require obtaining an ‘Emigration Clearance’ for going to certain countries. Emigration, as per
Aadhaar Face Authentication The Unique Identification Authority of India has decided to enable Face Authentication for validating Aadhaar cards from July 2018. Currently, the UIDAI provides two modes of biometric verification: fingerprint authentication and iris authentication. Face authentication will be allowed only in fusion mode along with one more authentication factor either fingerprint or iris or OTP to authenticate an Aadhaar number holder. Face authentication will only be al
Impeachment of an SC judge Recently four Supreme Court judges went public with charges against the Chief Justice of India. According to the constitution, a judge of the SC can be removed from his office by an order of the president. The president can issue the removal order only after an address by parliament has been presented to him in the same session for such removal. The address must be supported by a special majority of each house of the parliament (i.e. a majority of the total
International termination charges (ITC) The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) cut termination charges for international incoming calls to Landline and wireless connections. International termination charges (ITC) are payable by an international long-distance operator (ILDO), which carries calls from outside the country, to an access provider in the country in whose network the call terminates. ITC is one of the sources of foreign earnings for the country.
North Koel reservoir A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation for the completion of the North Koel reservoir project. Part of the fund for this project is derived under PMKSY’s LTIF- Long term Irrigation Fund and the rest from the state government's contributions. The project is situated on North Koel River, a tributary of the Sone River. It will provide irrigation to most backward and drought-pro
SAREX – 18 It is a joint search and rescue exercise between India and Japan to help increase mutual understanding in Anti-Piracy operations. During the exercise, helicopters of the Japan and Indian Coast Guard will perform cross-landing operations to improve compatibility between the two forces at Chennai. Japanese coast guard ship “Tsugaru”, a patrol vessel with helicopters will participate in this exercise.
US-China new Cold War Part of: GS-II- USA-CHINA Cold war (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) The prospects of a trade war between China and the western economies ratcheted as Beijing accused the US of pushing relations towards a “new cold war”. Trade war Even before the coronavirus outbreak became a pandemic, the trade ceasefire between the United States and China was fragile at best. A "phase one" deal reached in January only reduced some of the tariffs each side
A time for reform in courts V.V. Sivakumar and Chitranshul Sinha are partners at Dua Associates, Advocates and Solicitors Part of: GS-II- Judicial reforms (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) The Supreme Court can move away from an oral hearing-based system to one based on written submission The pandemic has turned the world on its head. No aspect of life has escaped unscathed. This includes the functioning of courts and tribunals. The judiciary has limited its work to hearing urgent ma
Batting for free speech: On filing of defamation cases against press A feature of public life in Tamil Nadu in the last three decades has been the indiscriminate institution of criminal defamation proceedings against Opposition leaders and the media. It is no surprise, then, that the most comprehensive judgment on the limits of the State’s power to prosecute members of the press for defamation should come from the Madras High Court. Set of principles to file defamation
India builds state-of-the-art training facility for Ugandan defence forces The Indian Association Uganda (IAU), in association with the Indian Military Advisory and Training Team there, handed over a state-of-the-art military training facility to Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF). The war game centre, named ‘INDIA’, was inaugurated by Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda The centre was conceptualised by the Indian Military Team and constructed by
No answers yet for Somalia As Somalia grapples with the staggering challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, chances are that the June 8 public hearings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Somalia’s maritime dispute with Kenya will be deferred yet again. The public health emergency also raises a question mark on the general elections scheduled for later this year, especially as the nation seeks to restore universal suffrage after five decades. Maritime disput
Domicile rules for J&K Part of: GS-II- Governance (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) When was the new policy introduced and how will it impact the people of the erstwhile State? On March 31, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Adaptation of State Laws) Order, 2020. Through the order, the MHA amended 109 laws and repealed 29 laws of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir. The MHA amended a 2010 legislation, the Jammu and Kashmir
India-China border flare-up Part of: GS-II- India and China (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) Which are the tension points? Why has the Line of Actual Control not been clearly demarcated? Why is there a stalemate in boundary talks? Background The India-China border has been witnessing tensions over the past month, with incidents reported in at least four different locations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). On May 14, Indian Army Chief General Manoj Narav
Reasons behind India and Nepal fighting over Kalapani? Part of: GS-II- International Treaties and Conventions (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) What is the strategic importance of the region? Why do both sides stake claim to the area? Background The dispute over Kalapani, which lies on the easternmost corner of Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district, between Nepal and India was revived in November 2019 when India published a revised political map showing the newly cre
China suggests a shift in BRI approach amid debt concerns Part of: GS-II- International issue (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) ‘We will focus on quality in the joint pursuit of the BRI’ Background China has hinted at a shift in how it will pursue its signature Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) amid growing concerns about debt repayments from many partner countries because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Imp Points “We will focus on quality i
The US pull out of the Open Skies treaty Part of: GS-II- International Treaties and Conventions (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) The United States announced its intention to withdraw from the 35-nation Open Skies treaty allowing unarmed surveillance flights over member countries, the Trump administration's latest move to pull the country out of a major global treaty. Important Points The administration said Russia has repeatedly violated the pact's terms. Senior officials
Lower the temperature, defuse the issue By, Jayant Prasad is a former Indian Ambassador to Nepal Introduction The inauguration of a road from Dharchula to Lipu Lekh (China border) by India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has now been followed by Nepal’s charge claiming that the stretch passes though Nepalese territory. This road follows the traditional pilgrim route for the Kailash-Mansarovar yatra. The conversion of the trekking route to a metalled road is a boon to
The IMD via UMANG App The UMANG mobile app (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance) is a Government of India all-in-one single, unified, secure, multi-channel, multi-platform, multi-lingual, multi-service mobile app, powered by a robust back-end platform providing access to high impact services of various organizations (Central and State). Prime Minister of India launched the UMANG App in 2017 to bring major government services on a single mobile app, with a large
‘ReSTART’ policy Factoring the hardships faced by the MSMEs during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Andhra Pradesh government has come up with a ?1,110-crore ‘ReSTART’ policy boost. This is to provide some relief at a time when the economy has come to a standstill, severely affecting the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands dependent on MSME sector. In Andhra Pradesh alone, around one lakh MSMEs provide employment to more than 10 lakh people. The ReSTART package in
Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana Context As part of the economic response to COVID-19, the Government of India has launched a pro-poor scheme “Pradhan Mnatri Garib Kalyan Package” (PMGKP), Under this scheme, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is providing free of cost LPG cylinders to over 8 crore PMUY beneficiaries for 3 months w.e.f 1.4.20. During April, 2020, Oil Marketing Companies(OMCs) have delivered 453.02 lakh cylinders to PMUY beneficiaries under PMGKP. About Pradha
National Tobacco Control Policy The Union government is planning to propose a policy for enforcing various provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products. As of now Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution Act, 2003 (COTPA 2003), lies with the States/Union Territories. At present, there is a National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) with one objective of ensuring effective implementation of the provisions under COTPA, 2
Working safely: On workplaces during the pandemic Introduction Opening up economic production from a lockdown, even partially, when the COVID-19 pandemic has not peaked in the country poses an extraordinary challenge. Guidelines to be followed in a workplace Reducing the number of people present at any given time is a universal principle, either through resort to shifts, or arrangements to enable employees to work from home. Physical distancing of at least one metre, mandatory us
How public health boosts an economy By, K. Srinath Reddy is president, Public Health Foundation of India. Views are personal Introduction International Monetary Fund, called the present crisis the worst downturn since the Great Depression. The ?20-lakh-crore package recently announced includes proposals to prevent and respond to future pandemics. These include strengthening of health and wellness centres, establishment of infectious diseases hospital blocks in all districts, expansi
Backing the angels in white coats By,Suneeta Reddy is Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Introduction Never since the Second World War have we seen the size, scale and human impact of the lockdown. Yet, we have managed and continue to manage the worst health and economic crisis we have seen in our lifetimes. Over 1,01,000 Indians have so far become infected by the novel coronavirus. We are not yet fully able to test and isolate efficiently, we are yet to find a protocol for cure an
China, better prepared for the post-COVID world By,M.K. Narayanan is a former National Security Adviser and a former Governor of West Bengal Introduction Several weeks before the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, India’s Minister for External Affairs, S. Jaishankar, had observed that “what defines power and determines national standing is also no longer the same... Technology, connectivity and trade are at the heart of the new contestations....” The Minister could n
National Test Abhyas Context Union Human Resource Development Minister launched an AI-powered mobile app called the ‘National Test Abhyas'. About National Test Abhyas The App has been developed by NTA to enable candidates to take mock tests for upcoming exams such as JEE Main, NEET under the NTA’s purview. The app has been launched to facilitate candidates’ access to high-quality mock tests in the safety and comfort of their homes since there was a demand
The changing nature of Chinese diplomacy By, Vijay Gokhale is a former Foreign Secretary of India and a former Ambassador to China Introduction If U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt believed that if you “speak softly and carry a big stick: you will go far”, half a century later and many thousands of miles away, another man practised it. His name was Zhou Enlai. Persuasion and compromise If Mao Zedong represented the crude face of Chinese communism, then Zhou was the
We need social physicians By, Dr. Soham D. Bhaduri is a Mumbai-based doctor, healthcare commentator, and editor of ‘The Indian Practitioner’ Introduction While medicine remains central to public health, medical academia has never been a torch-bearer for the public health cause. Apart from the inherently individualistic character of medicine, part of the reason can also be located in Indian medical education originally “carrying the cultural accretions of the West&rdquo
The new Indian road to Lipu Lekh-Nepal’s protests Part of: GS-II- International issues (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) (Indian express Explained) Army Chief General M M Naravane said that Nepal’s protest against a newly built Indian road in Uttarakhand, up to Lipu Lekh pass on the China border, was at “someone else's behest”. His statement has been widely taken to mean that Nepal was acting as a proxy for China, at a time when tensions have spiked sharply on
Sikkim’s Statehood Day. Introduction The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people of Sikkim on their Statehood Day on April,16th. Greetings on Sikkim’s Statehood Day. Home to talented and compassionate people, Sikkim has enriched national progress in many sectors. Sikkim’s progress in areas like organic farming have been admired all over. Formation of Sikkim On 16 May, 1975, the Himalayan Kingdom of Sikkim became the 22nd state of India, ending
Draft Space Activities Bill, 2017 There is an urgent need for a legal environment for orderly performance and growth of space sector not only because of the interest shown by private sector but also because space activities need participation from private sector agencies as well. Objective To promote and regulate the space activities of India by encouraging the participation of non-governmental/private sector agencies under the guidance and authorisation of the government through the De
NEET is not student-friendly, merit-promoting By, Faizan Mustafa is an expert of constitutional law. The views expressed are personal Introduction “Freedom of individual development is the basis of democracy,” observed the Dr. S. Radhakrishnan Commission (1948-49) appointed by the Government of India to report on Indian University Education . It had among its members Dr. S. Radhakrishnan and was cited by then Chief Justice of India, B.N. Kirpal, in the judgment in T.M.A.
Baltic travel bubble The Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have opened their borders to one another, creating a coronavirus "travel bubble". Anybody arriving from outside the zone however must self-isolate for 14 days. This is the first "travel bubble" in Europe since nations began shutting their borders earlier this year in response to the coronavirus outbreak. European Union officials are now trying to encourage other countries to end restriction
Virtual courts - worldwide India: online hearings in SC, HCs The Supreme Court and High Courts have resorted to virtual courtrooms, arguing that physical hearings are not necessary for meeting the constitutional stipulation of “open” courts. Now, with 100 Mbps Internet speed, advocates have been appearing working from home on virtual screens, and some important cases have been heard. The Supreme Court uses email and messaging services for filing of matters and conducting
Keeping Asia-Pacific afloat By, Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana is Executive Secretary of ESCAP Thriving marine environment For generations, the Asia-Pacific region has thrived on our seas. The seas provide food, livelihoods and a sense of identity, especially for coastal communities in the Pacific island states. Escalating strains on the marine environment are threatening to drown progress and our way of life. Threats to Marine Environment In less than a century, climate c
Post-lockdown guidelines | Work from home may stay for government staff In a post-lockdown scenario, the Centre will continue with staggered and variable work hours and the Personnel Ministry has floated a draft consultation paper to adopt the best work from home practices for Central government employees. Draft guidelines The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) may provide an option for work from home to the eligible officers/staff for 15 days in a year as a matter of policy
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) Programme launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (MoHUPA), in Mission mode envisions provision of Housing for All by 2022, when the Nation completes 75 years of its Independence. The Mission seeks to address the housing requirement of urban poor including slum dwellers through following programme verticals: Slum rehabilitation of Slum Dwellers with participation of private developers us
BIO International Convention The BIO International Convention is hosted by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO). India is represented by the Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences. The key benefits of attending the BIO International Convention are access to global biotech and pharma leaders via BIO One-on-One Partnering, exposure to industry thought-leaders and networking opportunities. BIO is the largest trade organization in the world that represe
TIR Convention India became the 71st country to ratify the United Nations TIR (Transports Internationaux Routiers) Convention. TIR Convention is an international transit system under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). It came into force in 1975. The TIR Convention facilitates the international carriage of goods from one or more customs offices of departure to one or more customs offices of destination (up to a total of four customs offices departu
RERA Act,2016 Objectives of RERA Enhance transparency and accountability in real estate and housing transactions. Boost domestic and foreign investment in the real estate sector. Provide uniform regulatory environment to ensure speedy adjudication of disputes. Promote orderly growth through efficient project execution and standardization. Offer single window system of clearance for real estate projects. Empower and protect the right of home buyers. Provisions Establis
Italy, India and a common thread in partnership By, Vincenzo de Luca is the Ambassador of Italy to India Introduction May 4 is a date that unites Italy and India in the current COVID-19 scenario. It is the day when both countries courageously decided to strike a fine balance between the need to restore industrial activities and supply chains and the duty to continue protecting their citizens from the spread of the novel coronavirus. Endeavour in a phase The present stage that both
Rajya Sabha Analysis- Do numbers matter in Rajya Sabha? By, (M. Venkaiah Naidu is Chairman of Rajya Sabha) The Indian Constitution provides for parity of powers between the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha in law, making an exception in some cases. The Money Bill or Finance Bills can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha which only can approve the Demands for Grants. On the other hand, the Rajya Sabha has some special powers as requiring to adopt a resolution allowing Parliament to legisl
SC & 4G Services in J&K Part of: GS-II- Governance and Federal Issues (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) Recently, the Supreme Court refused to restore 4G services in Jammu & Kashmir and ordered the setting up of a high-powered committee to look into the contentions raised by petitioners against limited 2G services in the Union Territory. In August 2019, the Central government had suspended all modes of communications in the wake of the revocation
Riding roughshod over State governments By, Prashant Bhushan and Shyam Agarwal are advocates practising in the Supreme Court Introduction The Central government has so far followed a mostly top-down approach in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. During lockdowns 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0, the Centre has issued guidelines from time to time, ostensibly under the Disaster Management Act of 2005, containing varying restrictions on public activity and commerce which the States are expected to enforce.
Reaffirm cooperative federalism By, Pranav Verma is a LL.M. candidate at the University of Cambridge and Sughosh Joshi is a 4th year B.A. LL.B. student at NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad Introduction Many exigencies have tested the foundations of our federal democracy, but none as harshly as this pandemic. And when India’s success in defeating COVID-19 actively rests upon Centre-State collaboration, it is indeed its commitment to federalism that is under the most strain. Co
India caught in U.S.-China spat over Taiwan’s status at WHO Introduction As tensions between the U.S. and China rise over the novel coronavirus pandemic, India, which is set to take over as the next Chairperson of the World Health Organisation’s decision-making executive body in May, is faced with a major choice on whether to support a U.S. move to reinstate Taiwan’s observer status at the World Health Assembly (WHA) or to China’s opposition to it. U.S. demands
The need for a second chamber By, M. Venkaiah Naidu is the Vice-President of India Origin of Rajya Sabha The Rajya Sabha came into being on April 3, 1952 and held its first session on May 13 the same year. The second chamber underwent severe prenatal scrutiny in the Constituent Assembly. The proposal for a bicameral central legislature for the country was discussed at length, with deep divisions between the proponents and opponents. From this churning that went on for eight days wit
Time for EU fiscal stimulus Context Germany’s highest court ruled last week that the European Central Bank (ECB) exceeded its mandate in pursuing Quantitative Easing (QE) to rescue the eurozone from the sovereign debt crisis. The verdict is the culmination of fresh hearings that commenced in the country last year to apply the 2018 European Court of Justice decision to uphold the controversial programme. Quantitative Easing QE refers to the unconventional monetary tool of p
MISSION SAGAR As part of the Government of India's outreach amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Indian Naval Ship Kesari has departed for Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar and Comoros, to provide Food Items, COVID related Medicines including HCQ Tablets and Special Ayurvedic Medicines with Medical Assistance Teams embarked, on 10 May 20. This deployment as ‘Mission Sagar’, is in line with India’s role as the first responder in the region and builds on th
COMMIT Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched a new training programme Comprehensive Online Modified Modules on Induction Training (COMMIT) for State Government officials. The objective of this training programme is to improve the public service delivery mechanism and provide citizen-centric administration. COMMIT will be launched in 6 States of Assam, Haryana, Maharashtra, Ta
The trends shaping the post-COVID-19 world By, Rakesh Sood is a former diplomat and currently Distinguished Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic began as a global health crisis. As it spread rapidly across nations, country after country responded with a lockdown, triggering a global economic crisis. Certain geopolitical trendlines were already discernible but the COVID-19 shock therapy has brought these into sharper focus, defining the contours o
Responding to COVID-19 at the grassroots By,T.R. Raghunandan is Former Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Karnataka, and Former Joint Secretary, Ministry of Panchayat Raj, Government of India Introduction Mahatma Gandhi envisioned that a free India would rest on a foundation of gram panchayats, village republics that governed locally and epitomised Swaraj in practice. B.R. Ambedkar was sceptical; he described the caste-ridden, unequal village society as a cesspool. Yet,
The epidemic and ensuring safety in courts By, K. Subramanian is Senior Advocate and former Advocate General of Tamil Nadu. E-mail: rks_lawyer@yahoo.com Introduction In a letter addressed to the Chief Justice of India, the Bar Council of India has opposed the continuation of virtual hearings once the lockdown is lifted, on the grounds that 90% of the advocates and judges are “unaware of technology and its nuances”. On April 6, invoking its powers under Article 142 of the
What’s in a NAM? Context Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s video address to a summit of the non-aligned nations last week has generated criticism as well as commendation. Both sides, however, miss the recent evolution of the Indian thinking on the NAM. “Global South” External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has spoken frequently about India’s stakes in the so-called “Global South”. “Global South” refers to the entire de
UN releases commemorative postage stamp on anniversary of eradication of smallpox Part of: GS-II- International organisation (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN's postal agency have released a commemorative postage stamp today on the 40th anniversary of the eradication of smallpox. In May 1980, the 33rd World Health Assembly issued its official declaration that the world and all peoples have won freedom from smallpox. It ended after a 10-year WHO-spe
Tamil Nadu to introduce an online application for RTI Part of: GS-II- Governance (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) Applications seeking documents under the Right to Information (RTI) Act can now be filed online in Tamil Nadu. A Government Order issued by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms said the facility of online filing of petitions under Section 6(1) and First Appeals under Section 19(1) of RTI Act will be rolled out. This will be done using the software available with th
Introduction The nationwide lockdown announced on March 24 at short notice has caused immense distress to migrant workers around the country. Hundreds have been seen trying to walk home to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha from their places of work. On Friday, May 8, 16 migrant labourers who were trying to return to Madhya Pradesh, their home State, on foot were killed when a goods train ran over them. Questions are being raised about their welfare and the lack of legal prot
New road to Kailash Mansarovar runs into diplomatic trouble-India-Nepal Spat Part of: GS-II- India and Nepal (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) Nepal says India has breached a 2014 agreement India’s plans to shorten the travel time for pilgrims to Kailash Mansarovar ran into diplomatic trouble as Nepal strongly objected to the new link road from India to China which was inaugurated by Defence Minister. In a strongly worded statement, Nepal’s Foreign Ministry said the decision to bu
National infant mortality rate at 32, Madhya Pradesh worst performer Data Madhya Pradesh has the worst infant mortality rate in the country while Nagaland has the best. Chhattisgarh has the highest death rate, while Delhi has the lowest. Bihar continues to remain at the top of list in birth rate while Andaman and Nicobar is at the bottom. These details were released by the Centre recently in its Sample Registration System (SRS) bulletin based on data collected for 2018.
Shaping India’s response in a global hinge moment By, Shivshankar Menon is a former National Security Adviser. A longer version of this argument appeared in “India’s Foreign Affairs Strategy”, Brookings India Impact Series, May 2020 New Geopolitical situation in Asai Pacific India finds itself in an increasingly dangerous world, one that is fragmenting and slowing down economically. We are today in a new geopolitical situation, caused primarily by the rise of
Dilution of labour laws Introduction At a time when everyone is awaiting an early end to the health and economic crisis caused by the global pandemic, the interests of labourers and workers are once again set to be sacrificed. Labour Jurisdiction Under the Constitution of India, Labour is a subject in the Concurrent List where both the Central & State Governments are competent to enact legislation subject to certain matters being res
India can absorb shocks of pandemic; take the lead in reshaping Global order The writer is a former ambassador, and currently the director general of the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi. Part of: GS-II- Global World Order (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) The COVID-19 pandemic has effectively exposed flaws in multilateral structures and highlighted the lacunae in national capacities, particularly in healthcare. Multilateralism has suffered retrenchme
Govt extends validity of Motor Vehicle Act related documents Part of: GS-II- Governance and acts (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) In News Amid lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic, the government has extended the validity of documents related to Motor Vehicle Act and Central Motor Vehicle Rules till June 30. The validity has been extended for the documents whose validity expires between February 1, 2020 and June 30, 2020. New MOTOR vehicle act analysis India sees more than five lakh roa
Nashik model to combat COVID-19 Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has taken-up numerous initiatives to fight COVID-19. Some of the key initiatives at the city level include: 1. Cleanliness/ Sanitization of Public Places: Spraying of Sodium Hypochlorite 2. Separate vehicles for Waste collection & Disposal from Quarantined households. 3. Provision of: Provision of safety 4. Provision of Facility of Institutional Quarantine wards 5. Frontline Testing by Doctors &
Conducting elections during a pandemic By, S.Y. Quraishi is former Chief Election Commissioner of India and the author of An Undocumented Wonder —The Making of the Great Indian Election Introduction The deadlock between the Governor of Maharashtra and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray looked like it would continue for long and cost Mr. Thackeray the post of Chief Minister. Due to the intervention of the Prime Minister and the prompt action of the Election Commission of India (EC), t
India needs to enact a COVID-19 law By, Manuraj Shunmugasundaram is an advocate at the Madras High Court, and spokesperson, DMK Introduction The nationwide lockdown has been central to the government’s strategy to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. With businesses closed, supply chains disrupted, timelines extended and contracts terminated, this exercise has caused the organised sector unprecedented economic losses. In the unorganised sector, there has been a complete breakdown wit
Trump says crisis ‘worse than Pearl Harbor’ or 9/11 Part of: GS-II- International issues (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) President Donald Trump said that fallout from the novel coronavirus pandemic has hit the United States harder than Pearl Harbor in World War II or the 9/11 attacks. “We went through the worst attack we’ve ever had on our country. This is really the worst attack we’ve ever had,” he told reporters at the White House. The surprise Japan
Resuscitating multilateralism with India’s help By, Amitabh Mattoo is Professor of International Relations at Jawaharlal Nehru University and Honorary Professor at the University of Melbourne. Amrita Narlikar is President of the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA), Professor at Hamburg University, and Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation Introduction The coronavirus pandemic have reminded us of the value of multilateralism and the necessit
Drone Regulation in India Part of: GS-II- Governance (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) The guidelines (Drone Regulations 1.0) issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for the commercial use of drones or remotely operated aircraft came into force on December 1, 2018. Drone Regulation 1.0 Under this regulation, the Digital Sky Platform will enable online registration of pilots, devices, service providers, and NPNT (no permission, no take-
Vande Bharat Mission is one of the largest evacuation mission In one of the largest evacuation exercises named Vande Bharat Mission, the government will operate 64 flights between the 7th and 13th of May to bring home nearly 14,800 Indian nationals stranded abroad due to the Coronavirus lockdown. Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar said that preparations for the operation have commenced and also urged the stranded individuals to stay in touch with the Indian embassies in their countrie
India hands over 3 tranches of emergency medical assistance to Bangladesh The third tranche consists of RT-PCR COVID-19 kits capable of running 30 thousand tests. After being received in Dhaka, the RT-PCR test kits were dispatched to the Institute of Epidemiological Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), Bangladesh. These test kits are domestically manufactured in India and they are being widely used for COVID-19 detection. Bangladesh is the first country to receive these test kits on
Kerala model to contain COVID-19 Introduction With containment strategies in place even before the first case of novel coronavirus was detected on January 30, Kerala appears to have finally hammered the curve flat. On May 1, for the first time, the State reported zero new cases, and again on two consecutive days — May 3 and May 4. Steps taken by Kerala Kerala did not wait for directions from the Centre but instead led from the front. When the number of cases increased
It’s time for a virtual judiciary R. Anand and V. Ranganathan are Chartered Accountants Introduction During the nationwide lockdown imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19, it has become clear that many activities can simply be done online. Over the last decade, Indians have embraced technology in a greater way than ever before. Today, in these exceptional circumstances, ‘work from home’ is a concept whose time has come like never before. Many offices are gearing
Operation Samudra Setu Indian Navy on Tuesday launched 'Operation Samudra Setu' (Sea Bridge) sending naval ships INS Jalashwa and INS Magar to the Port of Malè, Republic of Maldives Operation Samudra Setu will commence evacuation operations from 08 May 2020 as part of Phase-1 INS Jalashwa (Landing Platform Dock or LPD) has a full load displacement of 17,521 tonnes and INS Magar (Landing Platform Tank) is an amphibious warfare vessel with a displacement of 5,750
Article 54-J&K Part of: GS-II- Polity-J&K (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) Recently, in a reply to a Right to Information (RTI) query “if the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will be part of the Electoral College for the election of the President of India”, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has asked to refer to Article 54 of the Constitution of India. Imp Points Article 54 specifically mentions NCT of Delhi and Puducherry as eligible to
Bioterrorism or Biological Attack Part of: GS-II- International issues (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerability of several world powers in the event of the use of biological weapons against them by rogue states and terrorist groups. The United States, Britain and the Soviet Union were involved in developing complex biological weapons programs after World War II and several nations continue to do so currentl
World Press Freedom Index 2020 Part of: GS-II- Major world reports (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) The latest survey of the global body, Reporters without Borders, that shows India dropping two places on the global press freedom index ranking to 142nd place in the list of 180 countries. India’s neighbours — Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka — are ranked higher in the list. Imp Points The report on “The World Press Freedom Index 2020”, which was released, s
Arctic Council Part of: GS-II- International organisation (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) The Arctic Council is the leading intergovernmental forum promoting cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic States, Arctic indigenous communities and other Arctic inhabitants on common Arctic issues, in particular on issues of sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic. The Arctic Council wo
“The Saras collection” on Gem portal Part of: GS-II- Rural development (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) Union Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj launched “The Saras Collection” on the Government e Marketplace (GeM) portal. Imp Points The Saras Collection showcases daily utility products made by rural self-help groups (SHGs) and aims to provide SHGs in rural areas with market access to Central and State Government buyers. It is a unique in
MPLADS, its suspension, and why it must go By, Jagdeep S. Chhokar is a former Professor, Dean and Director In-charge of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad Introduction All Opposition parties have been unanimous in their criticism of the government’s recent move to suspend the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) for two years. The government’s reason is this: to use these funds “to strengthen the government’s efforts in manag
Off Course Introduction The latest political row to erupt in Tamil Nadu is around the Centre’s April 24 notification bringing the Cauvery Water Management Authority under the administrative control of the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, which was created a year ago by combining two Ministries. Issues in this Central notification The Opposition, and some farmers’ associations were upset with the notification on the ground that the move has reduced the Authority to a “p
App for one season: Centre’s Directive to use Aarogya Setu app Introduction The Centre’s national directive for the mandatory use of its contact tracing app, Aarogya Setu, as part of its COVID-19 combat measures, falls short of established legal standards for the protection of privacy. Issues in making it mandatory to use Aarogya Setu app The first requirement laid down by the Supreme Court in K.S. Puttaswamy, namely, a law authorising the involuntary use of such an app,
Pandemics without borders, South Asia’s evolution Kanak Mani Dixit, a writer and journalist based in Kathmandu, is the founding Editor of the magazine, Himal Southasian Introduction Even if the COVID-19 pandemic spares South Asia the worst impact it has reserved thus far for the northern latitudes, it is certain that this region of nearly a fourth of the global population will be wounded gravely — economically, and as the process unfolds, socio-politically. Holding the l
India is a candidate for a non-permanent seat in the UNSC Part of: GS-II- UN General Assembly (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) UN General Assembly President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande has discussed options, including online voting, to conduct elections for five non-permanent members of the Security Council in June, as large in-person meetings at the world body stand postponed till at least end of June due to the coronavirus outbreak. Important Points The 193-member General Assembly is sch
Lokpal and Lokayukta Part of: GS-II&IV- Polity and Governance (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) The Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013 provided for the establishment of Lokpal for the Union and Lokayukta for States. These institutions are statutory bodies without any constitutional status. They perform the function of an "ombudsman” and inquire into allegations of corruption against certain public functionaries and for related matters. Why do we need su
Curbs on large gatherings of people and World major protests & Moment Part of: GS-II- INTERNATIONAL Issue (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) In India Protest movements in India against the implementation of the CAA and NRC appear to have been temporarily halted, due to the corona outbreak but still many countries the protest seems to reappear. Hong Kong protest The Umbrella Movement was a political movement that emerged during the Hong Kong democracy p
UAE affirmed its commitment to achieving a political solution in Libya Part of: GS-II- International issues (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) The United Arab Emirates has affirmed its commitment to achieving a political solution in Libya and called for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) emphasized the UAE's support for a political solution to end the ongoing Libyan crisis in line with the outcomes of the Berlin
Govt extends lockdown for two more weeks Part of: GS-II- Governance (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) Here's what all will not be allowed under the new guidelines issued today irrespective of the zone Travel by air, rail, metro and inter-state movement by road Running of schools, colleges and other educational, training, coaching institutions Hospitality services including hotels and restaurants Places of large public gatherings such as cinema halls, malls, gyms, sports complexes
B R Ambedkar laid the foundation for workers’ rights, and social security in India Part of: GS-II- Governance – Rights (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) International Labour Day is celebrated on May 1 to honour workers. Labour has an undeniable role in shaping the nation’s fortune. Since times immemorial, the working class has struggled and sacrificed for greater causes — first for Independence and then for building the nation brick by brick. The ongoing fight against CO
Taiwan’s coronavirus protocol shows how it is done By, Dr. Chen Shih-chung is Minister of Health and Welfare, Taiwan Introduction Pandemics can spread rapidly around the world because of the ease of international transportation. The most salient examples are the Spanish flu of 1918, the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak of 2003, and the H1N1 influenza of 2009. Intermittently, serious regional epidemics, such as the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in
Ethnic clashes in the Central African Republic In the Central African Republic, 25 people were killed and 51 others injured in clashes in the northeast part of the country. Between armed groups in Ndele led to the deaths of several civilians. Humanitarian workers, however, said that members of the Popular Front for the Rebirth of the Central African Republic (FPRC) had clashed in Ndele the previous day. FPRC last year split into two factions: the Runga ethnic group on one side
Rights of Minority Institutes, not Absolute Part of: GS-II- Indian polity and SC judgement (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) Recently, the Supreme Court of India gave its judgement on the admission criteria of minority institutions. It held that National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) is mandatory for admission to all medical colleges and the right of minority institutions is not absolute and is amenable to regulation. Background: Few colleges
01 Feb,2024
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