ECI to provide braille voter slips to blind voters in Lok Sabha elections
Tags: Miscellaneous
Published on: 05 February 2019
GeM, CCI sign MoU to check malpractices in e-procurement
Tags: Miscellaneous
Published on: 09 February 2019
EC launches Voter Verification and Information Programme
Tags: Miscellaneous
Published on: 09 February 2019
Cabinet abolishes Ombudsman for Direct, Indirect taxes for grievance redressal
Tags: Miscellaneous
Published on: 07 February 2019
Government launches PCS1X Maritime e-commerce Portal
Tags: Miscellaneous
Published on: 19 February 2019
PCI issues guidelines to media on conduct during election
Tags: Miscellaneous
Published on: 11 April 2019
ICSSR: Vice President inaugurates Golden Jubilee Celebrations
Tags: Miscellaneous
Published on: 14 May 2019
First UIDAI-run Aadhaar Seva Kendra becomes operational
Tags: Miscellaneous
Published on: 03 July 2019
Government launches digital initiatives for Haj Pilgrims
Tags: Miscellaneous
Published on: 07 July 2019
Kerala Govt forms Non-Resident Keralites Investment company
Tags: Miscellaneous
Published on: 11 July 2019
Record 60.14% turnout of service voters through ETPBS: ECI
Tags: Miscellaneous
Published on: 22 July 2019
Popular Front of India: The organisation facing chances of ban
Tags: Miscellaneous
Published on: 02 January 2020
EC tells Supreme Court, criminally tainted candidates must not get tickets
Tags: Miscellaneous
Published on: 25 January 2020
Consent and reliability in narco and polygraph tests
Tags: Miscellaneous
Published on: 06 October 2020
Arbitration & Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2021
Tags: Miscellaneous
Published on: 17 February 2021
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This initiative has been launched as part of ECI’s strategic framework for 'accessible elections'.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Braille voter slips</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Chief electoral officers (CEOs) will issue these accessible photo voter slips with braille to voters who are visually impaired or blind.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The braille enabled slips were also used in recently held assembly elections. ECI is also planning to provide braille election photo identity cards to visually challenged.</span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Note: </strong>Electronic voting machines (EVMs) already have braille feature. The ballot paper pasted on EVMs with name and symbol of candidates is braille enabled.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Braille </strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is tactile reading and writing system used by blind and visually impaired people who cannot access print material.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It was created Louis Braille in 1824 and named after it. It is script with raised dots that can be read with fingers by people who are blind or who have low vision.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is read by moving hand or hands from left to right along each line. Both hands are usually involved in its reading process and index fingers are generally used in reading.</span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Strategic Framework on Accessible Elections </strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is compilation of guidelines issued by ECI and Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Union Ministry of Social justice and Empowerment.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It was adopted on 4th July 2018 in National Consultation on Accessible Elections as part of ECI’s series of measures to maximize participation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Election Process and premise of ‘No voter to be left behind’.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It aims at sensitization through education/training, involves communities of different sections of society, ties up with institutions and originations and create facilities to cater to specific needs of PwDs with view to increasing their participation in elections.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It also seeks to build equal access framework for PwDs supported by fundamentals of responsiveness, respect and dignity to enhance elector confidence among them and enhance their electoral participation.</span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'voter-slip-to-blind-voters-in-lok-sabha-elections', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/1ea6/vskubnyy6vvnjm26g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/1ea6/vskubnyy6vvnjm26g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'ECI give braille voter slip to blind voter in Lok Sabha election', 'metakeyword' => '', 'metadescription' => 'Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced to provide visually impaired and blind voters with braille voter slip in coming Lok Sabha elections this year', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/at5gbfod7hv2kna/4.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 1 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 106, 'title' => 'GeM, CCI sign MoU to check malpractices in e-procurement', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Government e Marketplace (GeM) and Competition Commission of India (CCI) signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate on public procurement matters and for detection of anti-competitive practices.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Features of MoU</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It will enable both government agencies to pool their knowledge of public procurement domain for detection of anti-competitive practices.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It will provide fair and competitive environment inpublic procurement matters by using advanced analytical tools and processes for identification of malpractices like cartelization.</span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Government e Marketplace (GeM)</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is National Procurement Portal of India that facilitates procurement of goods and services by various Central, State Government ministries/Departments/PSUs etc. and also and also local bodies.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Its objective is to <em>enhance transparency, efficiency and speed in public procurement of goods and services and eliminate corruption</em>.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is completely paperless, cashless and system, driven e-market place that enables procurement of common use goods and services with minimal human interface.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It functions under the aegis of Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals (DGS&D), Union Ministry of Commerce and Industries.</span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Competition Commission of India (CCI)</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is quasi-judicial statutory body of Central Government of India, responsible for enforcing Competition Act, 2002 throughout India.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Its mandate is to eliminate practices having adverse effect on competition, promote healthy and sustain competition, protect interests of consumers and ensure freedom of trade in markets of India.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It comprises of Chairperson and three members appointed by Central Government. It functions under aegis of Ministry of Cooperate Affairs.</span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'gem-cci-sign-mou-to-check-malpractices', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/2154/rrprzq775izgjug6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/2154/rrprzq775izgjug6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'GeM, CCI sign MoU to check malpractices in e-procurement', 'metakeyword' => 'In National Current Affairs, Government e Marketplace,GeM, CCI, Competition Commission, public procurement, anti-competitive practices,', 'metadescription' => 'Government e Marketplace (GeM) and Competition Commission of India (CCI) signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/a6b0o403564ba41/9feb_GEM.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 2 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 111, 'title' => 'Ladakh region granted Divisional Status', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik granted Divisional Status to Ladakh Region of the state. This was done by Governor by exercising his powers under Section 5 of Land Revenue Act, 1996. With this, Ladakh became third Division in state, other two being Jammu and Kashmir. Until now, Ladakh region was part of Kashmir Division.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Ladakh division</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It will comprise Leh and Kargil districts with its headquarters at Leh. It will have full administrative and revenue division at par with Kashmir and Jammu divisions.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It will be <strong>biggest division in state</strong> with 86,909 sq. km of area, followed by Jammu division (26,293 sq km) and Kashmir Division (15,948 sq km- making it smallest among three).</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It will now get is own Divisional Commissioner and Inspector General of Police (IGP) as state Government also approved creation of posts of Divisional Commissioner (Ladakh), Leh and IGP (Ladakh), Leh. </span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Currently Ladakh region has two Hill Councils for its administration viz. Leh and Kargil. These councils were recently empowered with financial and administrative powers with amendment in Act. </span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Significance of Divisional status</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This decision goes long way in fulfilling the governance and development aspirations of the people of Ladakh region.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It will facilitate Ladakh region in great way to progress as offices and opportunities will be distributed to both districts of division</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It will bring opportunities of employment of different levels in various departments for the locals<strong>.</strong></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It will further empower local administration as routine administrative clearances for Leh and Kargil districts now can be obtained at Divisional headquarters in Leh.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is also considered as step ahead towards dream for Ladakh Region to get Union Territory Status. For almost last three decades, Ladakh region has been demanding for UT status with proper legislation.</span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Ladakh is one of most sparsely populated regions in J&K. It is the highest plateau in state with most of its geographical area being over 9,800 feet above sea level. </span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is geographically isolated with sparse population and inhospitable terrain which remains landlocked due to snow for nearly six months in a year (during winters).</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is also riddled with insurmountable problems with respect to delivery of developmental schemes, conduct of administrative affairs and governance and redressal of public grievances of people.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">People of Ladakh have for long time been demanding effective local institutional arrangements which can help accelerate pace of development and equitable all-round growth and development as compared to other parts of states.</span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'ladakh-region-granted-divisional-status', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/2918/z5vy7dqm6sdt3bz6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/2918/z5vy7dqm6sdt3bz6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'J&K Govt grants Divisional Status to Ladakh region', 'metakeyword' => 'In States Current Affairs, Jammu and Kashmir, Governor, Satya Pal Malik, Divisional Status, Ladakh Region, J&K Divisions,Ladakh, Jammu, Kashmir', 'metadescription' => 'Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik granted Divisional Status to Ladakh Region of the state', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/xl04byrppjz24vp/9feb_Ladakh_region.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 3 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 105, 'title' => 'EC launches Voter Verification and Information Programme', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Election Commission of India (ECI) launched Voter Verification and Information Programme (VVIP) for the upcoming General (Lok Sabhe) Elections 2019 due in April-May. It will enable citizens to verify their names, new registrations, changes in voter details and corrections in Voter Id Cards.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Voter Verification and Information Programme (VVIP)</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It was launched along with<strong> Voter Helpline app</strong>and <strong>PwD App</strong>during 2-day intensive Training-cum-Workshop on use of Information & Communication Technology for conduct of 2019Elections.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The services for this VVIP programme can be availed by voters through various channels including voter helpline mobile application and voter helpline number 1950.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">ECI also has also set up Contact centers in all districts across India, which are equipped with latest information and telecom infrastructure to help callers.</span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Various mobile apps launched by ECI</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Voter Helpline app</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It will provide convenience to all citizens for finding their names in electoral roll, submitting online forms, checking status of application, filing complaints and receiving reply on their mobile app.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It also has all forms, results, candidate affidavits, press notes, voter awareness and important instructions on it.</span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>PwD App</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It aims to enable Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) to request for new registration, change in address, change in particulars and mark themselves as PwD through use of mobile application.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">PwDs are assigned Booth Level Officerto provide doorstep facility by simply entering their contact details. They can also request for a wheelchair during polling.</span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>cVIGIL app</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It provides time-stamped, evidence based proof of Model Code of Conduct(MCC)/ Expenditure Violation. It has live photo/video with auto location data.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Using it, any citizen can lodge complaint against violation of MCC. Based on this complaint, flying Squads will investigate matter and returning officer takefinal decision.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It has facility to keep cVIGIL complainant updated with status of complainant within specified time-limit.</span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'ec-launches-voter-verification-and-info', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/76ed/ibyacimkznq6fdz6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/76ed/ibyacimkznq6fdz6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'EC launches Voter Verification and Information Programme', 'metakeyword' => 'National Current Affairs, Election Commission Voter Verification and Information Programme, General Elections 2019, cVIGIL app, PwD App, Voter Helpline app ', 'metadescription' => 'Election Commission of India (ECI) launched Voter Verification and Information Programme (VVIP) for the upcoming General (Lok Sabhe) Elections 2019', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/4e7pua4m80463ll/9feb_EC_launches.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 4 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 86, 'title' => 'Cabinet abolishes Ombudsman for Direct, Indirect taxes for grievance redressal', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved abolition of <em>Institution of Income-Tax Ombudsman and Indirect Tax Ombudsman</em>. It comes in wake of emergence of alternative complaint redressal mechanisms especially online grievance redressal mechanism used by public widely.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Key Facts</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In recent times, these institutions of ombudsman could not prove to be more effective than regular existing parallel channels of grievance redressal.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tax payers have started preferring alternate methods of grievance redressal like CPGRAMS (Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System), Aaykar Seva Kendras etc.</span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Institution of Income-Tax Ombudsman was created in 2003 to deal with grievances of public related to settlement of complaints related to income tax. However, it has failed to achieve its objectives. It was also observed new complaints received by this ombudsman have fallen to single digits. Earlier in 2011 vacant offices of Indirect Tax Ombudsman were also closed.</span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'cabinet-abolishes-of-ombudsman-for-taxes', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9013/84b8m0jr0szybpr6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9013/84b8m0jr0szybpr6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Cabinet abolishes of Ombudsman for direct, indirect taxes', 'metakeyword' => 'National Current Affairs, Cabinet Decisions, Taxation, Institution of Income Tax Ombudsman, Indirect Tax Ombudsman', 'metadescription' => 'Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved abolition of Institution of Income-Tax Ombudsman and Indirect Tax Ombudsman', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/ekc3t5vcj3xowp3/5.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 5 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 204, 'title' => 'Government launches PCS1X Maritime e-commerce Portal', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Union Ministry of Shipping launched PCS1x portal, an upgraded version of e-commerce portal Port Community System (PCS). It was launched at Regional Maritime Safety Conference held in Mumbai, Maharashtra. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Port Community System(PCS)</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is neutral and open electronic platform that enables secure exchange of information between public and private stakeholders to improve the competitive position of seaport communities.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It optimises, manages, and automates port and logistics efficient processes through single submission of data and connecting transport and logistic chains.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It integrates all electronic flow of trade related document/information and functions as centralized hub for ports of India and other stakeholders in maritime sector.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It facilitates transparent and paperless system for electronic submission of trade document which has resulted in faster turnaround time and dwell time.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It has played important role in digitization in EXIM trade and enhancing ‘Ease of Doing Business’ in maritime sector.</span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">PCS1x </span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It has been developed by Indian Ports Association (IPA), based on feedback from stakeholders using PCS.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is new generation system with user-friendly interface that brings together various stakeholders of maritime sector.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It facilitates Government-to-Business (G2B), Business-to-Government (B2G) and Business-to-Business (B2B) transactions within required legal framework. It ensures extreme levels of cyber security.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It allows improvement in payment cycle, transparency of transaction cycles, detailed tracking of vessels and berthing schedules.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It can be integrated with gate system with RIFD, can produce e-copy of reports and notices and can be used for cargo/truck trailer tracking. It also allows better stakeholder coordination.</span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'govt-launches-pcs1x-maritime-e-commerce-portal', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/0a5f/sl32l977epag2vf6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/0a5f/sl32l977epag2vf6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Government launches PCS1X Maritime e-commerce Portal', 'metakeyword' => 'In National Current Affairs, Ministry of Shipping, PCS1x portal, upgraded version, e-commerce portal, Port Community System PCS, Regional Maritime Safety Conference, Mumbai, Maharashtra.', 'metadescription' => 'Union Ministry of Shipping launched PCS1x portal, an upgraded version of e-commerce portal Port Community System (PCS). It was launched at Regional Maritime Safety Conference held in Mumbai, Maharashtra.', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/ruqqg2pg7e0l8vo/19feb_Government_launches_PCS1X.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 6 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 735, 'title' => 'PCI issues guidelines to media on conduct during election', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Press Council of India (PCI) has issued guidelines to the media to give objective reports about general election and cautioned it against the phenomenon of paid news. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">PCI Guidelines </span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Electoral Conduct:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> Newspapers are not expected to indulge in unhealthy election campaigns, exaggerated reports about any candidate or party during the elections.</span></span> <span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will be duty of press to give objective reports about election and the candidates</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Hate News:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> Press should eschew reports which tend to promote feelings of enmity or hatred between people on the grounds of race, religion caste, community, language or region,</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Character Assassination News:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> The press should refrain from publishing false or critical statements in regard to personal character and conduct of any candidate to prejudice the prospects of that candidate in the elections.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Paid News:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> Press should not publish unverified allegations against any candidate or party. Media should guard against paid news which it defined as “any news or analysis appearing in any media (print & electronic) for price in cash or kind as consideration,</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Poll Surveys:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> Whenever newspapers publish pre-poll surveys, they should preface them conspicuously by indicating institutions which have carried on such surveys, individuals and organisations which have commissioned them, size and nature of sample selected and method of selection of the sample for findings.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">For Authorities: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The rules and orders regulating entry of media persons to places of election should be notified and cut-off date for applying for passes should be given due and advance publicity.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">They cannot prohibit use of vehicles by media persons for movement during elections although its use for voters by candidates and their agents is prohibited because journalist have to move from booth to booth and collect information from all centres whether on polling day or at time of counting.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Press Council of India (PCI) </span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is a statutory body with mandate to act as watchdog to oversee conduct of print media in the country. It derives its mandate and powers from Press Council Act, 1978. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Composition:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> It consist of Chairman (who has by convention, been a retired judge of Supreme Court) and 28 other members off whom 20 represent press, five are nominated from two Houses of Parliament and three represent cultural, literary and legal fields. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Functions:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> It is statutory, quasi-judicial body acting as watchdog of press. It adjudicates complaints against press (print media) for violation of ethics and for violation of freedom of press respectively.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'pci-issues-guidelines-to-media-on-conduct-during-election', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/4a76/pywbn7hqknkvks86g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/4a76/pywbn7hqknkvks86g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'PCI issues guidelines to media on conduct during election', 'metakeyword' => 'In National Current Affairs, Press Council of India, PCI, guidelines, media, conduct during election', 'metadescription' => 'PCI issues guidelines to media on conduct during election, Press Council of India (PCI) has issued guidelines to the media to give objective reports about general election', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/xo9a1tej6z9t149/PCI_issues_guidelines.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 7 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 1091, 'title' => 'ICSSR: Vice President inaugurates Golden Jubilee Celebrations', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Vice President of India Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated Golden Jubilee Celebrations (50 years celebrations) of Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) in New Delhi. ICSSR is the national body overseeing research in the social sciences in India.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">About Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR)</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It was established in 1969 by Central Government to promote research in social sciences in the country. It established on the recommendation of erstwhile Planning Commission. </span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It functions as an autonomous organisation funded by Ministry Of Human Resource Development (MHRD). It is headquartered in New Delhi. </span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Functions:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It provide grants for projects, fellowships, international collaboration, capacity building, survey, publications etc. to promote research in social sciences in India. </span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Objectives:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> (i) Review progress of social science research and give advice to its users (ii)</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Sponsor social science research programmes and projects and administer grants to institutions and individuals for research in social sciences (iii) Institute and administer scholarships and fellowships for research in social sciences. (iv) Identify areas in which social science research needs to be promoted and adopt special measures for development of research in neglected or new areas (v) Arrange technical training in research methodology and to provide guidance for research etc.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'icssr-vice-president-inaugurates-golden-jubilee', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/0acb/zh13aml1wa58pqa6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/0acb/zh13aml1wa58pqa6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'ICSSR: VP inaugurates Golden Jubilee Celebrations', 'metakeyword' => 'Golden Jubilee Celebrations, Indian Council of Social Science Research, ICSSR, New Delhi, national body, overseeing, research,social sciences ', 'metadescription' => 'Vice President of India Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated Golden Jubilee Celebrations (50 years celebrations) of Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) in New Delhi. ', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/617wh8qa4dd30hy/ICSSR.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 8 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 1216, 'title' => '17th Lok Sabha elections: Highest number of women MPs', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">In recently concluded 17th Lok Sabha elections, total 78 women Members of Parliament (MPs) were elected. It is highest number of women representatives ever elected to lower house of Parliament since independence. They will account for 14.39</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">% </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">of the entire strength of lower house, which was at 12.5</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> with a total 65 women MPs in the previous Lok Sabha.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Key Facts</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Party-wise breakup:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> With 40 women MPs, Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) has sent largest number of elected women representatives to Lok Sabha, followed by Trinamool Congress (9), Congress (6), Biju Janta Dal (5) and Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Congress Party (4). </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Regional vs. National Parties:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> The regional parties boast of higher ratio of women MPs as compared to national parties. Women MPs account for 41.6</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">% </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> of BJD’s total strength in Lok Sabha and 40.9</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">% </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> of TMC’s strength in the House. Both of these regional parties had pledged to give tickets to 40</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">% and 30</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">% </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> of party candidates to women before the elections started.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Winnability Factor: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">In 17th Lok Sabha elections, women candidates displayed higher winnability factor or strike rate. This higher success rate or winnability factor shown by women candidates is consistent with the past record. 78 elected women MPs have emerged winners out of total 716 women candidates who had fought during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. It shows that success rate of women candidates was of 10.89</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%,</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> much higher than success rate shown by male candidates of 6.41</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => '17th-lok-sabha-elections-highest-women-mps', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/fc59/li7yiirjbz9vc6b6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/fc59/li7yiirjbz9vc6b6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => '17th Lok Sabha elections: Highest number of women MPs', 'metakeyword' => ' 17th Lok Sabha elections, total 78 women MPs, elected, highest number, women representatives, ever elected, lower house, Parliament since independence', 'metadescription' => 'In recently concluded 17th Lok Sabha elections, total 78 women Members of Parliament (MPs) were elected. It is highest number of women representatives ever elected to lower house of Parliament since independenc', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/ydo8s1ik91a9a06/17th_Lok.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 9 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 1626, 'title' => 'First UIDAI-run Aadhaar Seva Kendra becomes operational', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has operationalised its first<strong> Aadhaar Seva Kendras (ASK) </strong>in Delhi and Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh). UIDAI has set ambitious plan of setting up 114 'Aadhaar Seva Kendras' across the country by the end of 2019.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Aadhaar Seva Kendras (ASK)</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">These centres will beowned and operated by UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India), the governmental body that issues Aadhaar.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It will facilitate enrolment, updation and other activities related to 12-digit unique identification number or Aadhar in addition to the existing centres that assist with the same services. </span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It will be similar to concept of Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) and will cover 53 cities at an estimated projected cost of Rs 300-400 crore.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">This centre is intended to handle large number of Aadhaar related requests on a daily basis like updation and enrolment.<strong> </strong></span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It will also allow people to book slots online as per their convenience through the appointment management system.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI):</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It is nodal statutory organization behind Aadhaar, a 12 digit unique number. It was made statutory body by Parliament through adhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Aadhaar:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It is 10 digit number is linked with individual’s demographic and biometric information, which serves as an authentication tool throughout India. Using it, Central and State Governments are trying to link many of their major development and subsidy schemes to reduce leakages and duplication.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => '1st-iudai-run-aadhaar-seva-kendra-operational', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/c925/q1x1m5oai417dn96g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/c925/q1x1m5oai417dn96g.jpg', 'metatitle' => '1st UIDAI-run Aadhaar Seva Kendra becomes operational', 'metakeyword' => 'Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has operationalised its first Aadhaar Seva Kendras (ASK) in Delhi and Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh). ', 'metadescription' => 'Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has operationalised its first Aadhaar Seva Kendras (ASK) in Delhi and Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh). ', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/o7u3fxst4htfp83/First_UIDAI-run_Aadhaar_Seva.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 10 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 1659, 'title' => 'Government launches digital initiatives for Haj Pilgrims', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Indian Haj mission in Saudi Arabia has adopted digital technology to reach out to large number of pilgrims as part of Union Government’s Digital India initiative. This move is aimed at forming bridge with the pilgrims to facilitate smooth and hassle-free Haj operation and also receive grievances and feedbacks to improve the service. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Digital Initiatives are</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Indian Haj Information System App: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It has been developed by consulate to receive feedback, a grievance from Hajis. Currently, it receives feedback in English, Hindi and Urdu. Other regional languages will be incorporated later. The app also connects with pilgrims to Haj service coordinators known as Qadimul Hajjaj of their respective states. Qadimul Hajjaj are government employees who are deputed to assist pilgrims during Haj season.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">e-MASIHA:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It helps to store health status and medical history of visiting pilgrims. e-MASIHA stands for Medical Assistance System for Indian Hajis Abroad. It will help to retrieve pilgrims’ health information to apply appropriate treatment whenever he or she visits Indian medical facilities during Haj.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'digital-initiatives-haj-pilgrims', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/79d6/426o6l0t0ozb8a66g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/79d6/426o6l0t0ozb8a66g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Govt launches digital initiatives for Haj Pilgrim', 'metakeyword' => 'Indian Haj mission in Saudi Arabia has adopted digital technology to reach out to large number of pilgrims as part of Union Government’s Digital India initiative', 'metadescription' => 'Indian Haj mission in Saudi Arabia has adopted digital technology to reach out to large number of pilgrims as part of Union Government’s Digital India initiative', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/gf80rprtkwr57sy/Government_launches_digital_initiatives_for_Haj_Pilgrims.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 11 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 1695, 'title' => 'RPF launches Operation Thirst', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Railway Protection Force (RPF) launched all India drive called “Operation Thirst” to crack down selling of unauthorised Packaged Drinking Water (PDW) in Railway premises. It was launched on 08th & 09th July 2019 on the direction of DG/RPF, Railway Board, New Delhi.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Operation Thirst</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Objective of this all India drive was to curb the menace of unauthorized Packaged Drinking Water (PDW) in Railway premises, </span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">During this drive, all Zonal Principal Chief Security Commissioners (PCSCs) were asked to crackdown these unauthorised activities. It covered almost all major stations over Indian Railway.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Impact:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> Around 1371 persons were arrested and over 69,294 bottles were seized by RPF during this drive for selling of packaged drinking water of unauthorised brands under different sections i.e. 144 & 153 of Railways Act. Total fine amount of Rs. 6,80,855/- have been realized from these offenders. The special drive will be followed by continuous action by concerned PCSCs on this issue.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'rpf-launches-operation-thirst', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/8e5e/2no4k9b14xehcfs6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/8e5e/2no4k9b14xehcfs6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'RPF launches Operation Thirst', 'metakeyword' => 'Railway Protection Force (RPF) launched all India drive called “Operation Thirst†to crack down selling of unauthorised Packaged Drinking Water (PDW)', 'metadescription' => 'Railway Protection Force (RPF) launched all India drive called “Operation Thirst†to crack down selling of unauthorised Packaged Drinking Water (PDW)', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/enilajrbqhrhloa/RPF_launches_Operation_Thirst.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 12 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 1687, 'title' => 'Kerala Govt forms Non-Resident Keralites Investment company', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Kerala Government has decided to form Non-Resident Keralites (NRK) Investment and Holding Company Ltd with main aim of utilising NRI investments for implementing various projects. The decision in this regard was taken at state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Cabinet also decided to appoint NORKA (Non-Resident Keralites Affairs) Chief Executive officer (CEO) as special officer of the company. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">NRK Investment and Holding Company Ltd</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Objective:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> To channelise investments from overseas Keralites for major infrastructure development in the state.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Equity Holding:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> 74</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> of its stake (share capital) will be held by NRKs and remaining 26</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> will be held by state government.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Projects to be undertaken:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> This company will undertake projects for developing NRK townships and infrastructure development.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Subsidiaries:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> The company is empowered to set up special purpose vehicle (SPV) or subsidiary company for the purpose. </span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Background:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> Decision for formation of this company was taken based on Loka Kerala Sabha’s (State Assembly) standing committee to capitalise on huge investments from overseas Keralites for various development initiatives across the state.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">India is world’s top destination for inward remittances. Within India, Kerala is top destination for remittances, accounting for over 19</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">% </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">of inward remittances into the country. </span></span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'non-resident-keralites-investment-company', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/b151/1onuv2xgv8wamqs6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/b151/1onuv2xgv8wamqs6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Kerala Govt forms Non-Resident Keralites Investment', 'metakeyword' => 'Kerala Government has decided to form Non-Resident Keralites (NRK) Investment and Holding Company Ltd with main aim of utilising NRI investments for implementing various projects', 'metadescription' => 'Kerala Government has decided to form Non-Resident Keralites (NRK) Investment and Holding Company Ltd with main aim of utilising NRI investments for implementing various projects', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/hwbxwtq1ll06blj/Kerala_Govt_forms_Non-Resident.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 13 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 1755, 'title' => 'Record 60.14% turnout of service voters through ETPBS: ECI', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Election Commission of India (ECI) has notified that record 60.14% turnout of service voters was recorded through Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) in 2019 Lok Sabha elections which was world’s largest democratic election process. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">In the seven phases spanning 2019 Lok Sabha elections, a total of 18,02,646 postal ballots were dispatched electronically using flagship IT programme – ETPBS of ECI. In return 10,84,266 e-postal ballots were received indicating 60.14% turnout. This election had seen record highest enrollment of 18,02,646 service voters (electors). Voter turnout of service voters in 2014 was only 4%.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Dedicated Portal</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">ECI for first time had enabled dedicated portal https://www.servicevoter.eci.nic.in for online registration of service voters. This portal had enabled sending postal ballots electronically one way to service voters to save processing time, resources and avoid human errors.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">About Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS)</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is flagship IT program of Election Commission of India (ECI) to achieve one of its mandate of “no voter to be left behind”. It was launched by ECI with the help of C-DAC.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Through this system, service voters cast their vote on an electronically received postal ballot, from anywhere outside their constituency, thus reducing chances of losing the voting opportunity. </span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">How it works?</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> The postal ballots are delivered to service voters in electronic data format to voters on a real time basis. These voters can download postal ballot and votes casted by will be received by the returning officer through post</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Security Features: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">ETPBS is fully secured system, having two security layers, with use of a one-time password (OTP), PIN and unique QR code on the portal.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Who are service voters? </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Persons working in Central Forces under Arms Act and Government officials deployed in Embassies outside the country are classified as Service Voters and are provisioned for online enrolment. Of the total registered service electors in 2019 Lok Sabha election, 10,16,245 were from the Ministry of Defence, 7,82,595 from Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), 3,539 of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and 267 of State Police.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'electronically-transmitted-postal-ballot-system', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/5f02/gnlq6p7jukh7mzo6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/5f02/gnlq6p7jukh7mzo6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Record 60.14% turnout of service voters through', 'metakeyword' => 'Election Commission of India (ECI) has notified that record 60.14% turnout of service voters was recorded through Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) in 2019 Lok Sabha elections', 'metadescription' => 'Election Commission of India (ECI) has notified that record 60.14% turnout of service voters was recorded through Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) in 2019 Lok Sabha elections', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/65vvad1o7mli58h/Record_turnout_of_service_voters_through.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 14 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 2891, 'title' => 'House rules on unruly MPs', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The suspension of two Congress members by Lok Sabha Speaker after unruly scenes in the House has brought back focus on the conduct of MPs, and related issues.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Lok Sabha’s Rules Committee had recommended automatic suspension of members who entered the well of the House or wilfully obstructed business by shouting slogans despite being repeatedly warned by the Chair.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Rule 378 of the Rules for the Conduct of Business states: “The Speaker shall preserve order and shall have all powers necessary for the purpose of enforcing own decisions.”</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Rule 373 says: “The Speaker, if is of the opinion that the conduct of any member is grossly disorderly, may direct such member to withdraw immediately from the House, and any member so ordered to withdraw shall do so forthwith and shall remain absent during the remainder of the day’s sitting.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">”Rule 374 says:</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Speaker may, if deems it necessary, name a member who disregards the authority of the Chair or abuses the rules of the House by persistently and wilfully obstructing the business thereof.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">If a member is so named by the Speaker, the Speaker shall, on a motion being made forthwith put the question that the member (naming such member) be suspended from the service of the House for a period not exceeding the remainder of the session: Provided that the House may, at any time, on a motion being made, resolve that such suspension be terminated.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A member suspended under this rule shall forthwith withdraw from the precincts of the House.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'house-rules-on-unruly-mp', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/5e5c/xohve6j0wn8n3eo6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/5e5c/xohve6j0wn8n3eo6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'House rules on unruly MPs', 'metakeyword' => 'House rules on unruly MPs', 'metadescription' => 'The suspension of two Congress members by Lok Sabha Speaker after unruly scenes in the House has brought back focus on the conduct of MPs, and related issues', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/4aat5pm4qtnit2s/House_rules_on_unruly_MPs.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 15 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 2925, 'title' => 'Parliamentary motions', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Congress and other parties of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) are set to move a censure motion in the Lok Sabha against MP Pragya Thakur for her remarks on Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Parliamentary Motions</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In parliamentary procedure, a motion is a formal proposal by a member of a deliberative assembly that the assembly take certain action. Generally, a motion should be phrased in a way to take an action or express an opinion.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Different types of Parliamentary motions</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Privilege Motion</strong></span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A privileged motion is a motion that is granted precedence over ordinary business because it concerns matters of great importance or urgency. Such motions are not debatable, although in case of questions of privilege, the chair may feel the need to obtain relevant facts from members.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Censure Motion</strong></span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A censure means an expression of strong disapproval or harsh criticism. It can be a stern rebuke by a legislature, generally opposition against the policies of Government or an individual minister. However, it can also be passed to criticise, condemn some act. A censure motion can be moved in lower house of the parliament or in a state assembly in India.</span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is moved by opposition against a specific policy of government or against a minister or against the whole council of ministers.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Calling-Attention Motion</strong></span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Calling attention is a type of motion introduced by a member to call the attention of a minister to a matter of urgent public importance. The minister is expected to make authoritative statement from him on that matter. It can be introduced in any house of the parliament.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Adjournment Motion</strong></span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The primary object of an adjournment motion is to draw the attention of Lok Sabha to a recent matter of urgent public importance having serious consequences and in regard to which a motion or a resolution with proper notice will be too late.</span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Adjournment motion is allowed only in Lok Sabha (or in state legislative assembly) and not in Rajya Sabha (or in Legislative Council).</span></span></p> </li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Conditions</strong></span></span> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Such a motion needs support of at least 50 members. It should be introduced on a matter of definite and urgent public importance. However, it should not cover more than one matter and be restricted to that matter only.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A question of privilege or any other questions which can be raised via other distinct motion cannot be raised in adjournment motion.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Cut Motions</strong></span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">After the budget is presented in Parliament and discussions over it are completed, the members get an opportunity to move cut motions to reduce the amount of budgetary grants. The members from particular parties or coalitions may bring their own cut motions.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:40px"> </p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Policy Cut</strong></span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This type of cut motion aims that the amount of the demand be reduced to Re. 1. It represents the complete disapproval of policy underlying the demand.</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Token Cut</strong></span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This Cut Motion aims that the amount of the Demand be reduced by Rs. 100” in order to ventilate a specific grievance, which is within the sphere of responsibility of the government of India.</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Economy cut</strong></span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This type of cut motion aims that the amount of demand be reduced to certain other amount and it represents that the demand for grants should be altered.</span></span></li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>No Confidence Motion</strong></span></span></p> </li> </ul> <ul style="margin-left:40px"> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The constitutional provision behind this motion is Article 75, which says that “Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the LokSabha”. Thus, a council of ministers stays in office as long as it enjoys the confidence of majority of the members of Lok Sabha.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The motion has to be passed by simple majority. If passed, the Union Council of Ministers has to resign and government at centre falls.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">No-confidence motion can be moved only in Lok Sabha (or state assembly as the case may be). It is not allowed in Rajya Sabha (or state legislative council).</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is moved against the entire Council of Ministers and not individual ministers or private members.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It needs support of at least 50 members when introduced in Lok Sabha.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Motion of Thanks</strong></span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Motion of thanks is moved and voted in both houses parliament after the inaugural speech of the president at the beginning of first session of new Lok Sabha or the first session of a new year. This motion must be passed in both of the houses. A failure to get motion of thanks passed (which may happen rarely) amounts to defeat of government and leads to collapse of government.</span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Closure Motion</strong></span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Closure is one of the means by which a debate may be brought to an end by a majority decision of the House, even though all Members wishing to speak have not done so.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>No-Day-Yet-Named Motion</strong></span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Any other parliamentary motion which has not yet been named.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'parliamentary-motions', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/07d4/8fa0bfal6e4k9x36g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/07d4/8fa0bfal6e4k9x36g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Parliamentary motions | United Progressive Alliance', 'metakeyword' => 'Parliamentary motions, United Progressive Alliance', 'metadescription' => 'The Congress and other parties of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) are set to move a censure motion in the Lok Sabha against MP Pragya Thakur', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/bld8xwr548z3hdo/Parliamentary_motions.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 16 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3026, 'title' => 'Overseas Citizen of India', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Overseas Citizen of India card holders are facing major problems while travelling to the country because adequate awareness has not been created about recent enforcement of a rule on renewal.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">OCI, a major facility for members of the Indian diaspora, brings them at par with non-Resident Indians in financial, economic and educational fields except in the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">OCI card holders are eligible for free multiple entry, multi-purpose life-long visa to visit India. OCI card holders are also exempted from reporting to police authorities for any length of stay in India.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Overseas Citizen of India</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) is an immigration status permitting a foreign citizen of Indian origin to live and work in the Republic of India indefinitely. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The OCI was introduced in response to demands for dual citizenship by the Indian diaspora, particularly in developed countries. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It was introduced by The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2005 in August 2005.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">To apply for and use an OCI document, a holder must be a citizen of and hold a passport of another country, except that of Pakistan and Bangladesh.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Government of India, on application, may register any person as an Overseas Citizen of India, if the person:</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">was a citizen of India on 26 January 1950 or at any time thereafter; or</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15 August 1947; or</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">was eligible to become a citizen of India on 26 January 1950; or</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">is a child or a grandchild or a great-grandchild of such a citizen; or</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">is a minor child of such persons mentioned above; or</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">is a minor child and whose both parents are citizens of India or one of the parents is a citizen of India; or</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">is a spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of an Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder registered under section 7A of the Citizenship Act, 1955 and whose marriage has been registered and subsisted for a continuous period of not less than two years immediately preceding the presentation of the application.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Overseas citizens of India are not citizens of India from a constitutional point of view and will not enjoy the following rights even if resident in India:</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">they do not have the right to vote,</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">they do not have the right to hold the offices of Prime Minister, President, Vice-President, Judge of Supreme Court and High Court, member of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lok_Sabha" title="Lok Sabha">Lok Sabha</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajya_Sabha" title="Rajya Sabha">Rajya Sabha</a>, Legislative Assembly, or Council.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">they do not have the right to any public services (government jobs).</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">they do not have the right to hold farmland (agricultural property).</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'overseas-citizen-of-india', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/efd2/pf0k39v80ur5djc6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/efd2/pf0k39v80ur5djc6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Overseas Citizen of India', 'metakeyword' => 'Overseas Citizen of India', 'metadescription' => 'Overseas Citizen of India card holders are facing major problems while travelling to the country because adequate awareness has not been created', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/opfpa3xqir65kjb/Overseas_Citizen_of_India.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 17 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3077, 'title' => 'Assam accord', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The debate on the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) passed<strong> </strong>by<strong> </strong>Parliament has repeatedly flagged the alleged violation of the Assam Accord by the new law.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Assam Accord was a Memorandum of Settlement signed by the Governments of India and Assam, and the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and the All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad (AAGSP) in New Delhi on August 15, 1985.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">At the heart of the Accord was the “Foreigners Issue” and “Safeguards and Economic Development”. There were some “Other Issues” and a section on “Restoration of Normalcy”.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Home Ministry was the nodal Ministry for the implementation of the Accord. In 1986, a new Department was set up in the Government of Assam, called “Implementation of Assam Accord Department”, to implement the various clauses of the Memorandum of Settlement.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It was agreed that “for purposes of detection and deletion of foreigners, 1.1.1966 shall be the base data and year”, and that “all persons who came to Assam prior to 1.1.1966, including those amongst them whose names appeared on the electoral rolls used in 1967 elections shall be regularised”.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Foreigners who “came to Assam after 1.1.1966 (inclusive) and upto 24th March, 1971 shall be detected in accordance with the provisions of The Foreigners Act, 1946, and The Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1964”, and their names “will be deleted from the electoral rolls in force”.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">While, “On the expiry of a period of ten years following the date of detection, the names of all such persons which have been deleted from the electoral rolls shall be restored”, “all persons who were expelled earlier, but have since reentered illegally into Assam shall be expelled”.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Clause 6</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It reads,“Constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards, as may be appropriate shall be provided to protect, preserve and promote the culture, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.”</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Importance</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Assam Accord brought closure to a phase of great violence and anxiety in the modern history of Assam. The agitation was led by the youth, who saw a direct threat to their future from the illegal influx of foreigners into the state.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government of Assam describes the Assam movement as “historic”, and “one of the famous movements in post-colonial India mainly led by students of Assam”.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'assam-accord', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/addd/f5dbahbwddbqmhz6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/addd/f5dbahbwddbqmhz6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Assam accord | Citizenship Amendment Bill ', 'metakeyword' => 'Assam accord | Citizenship Amendment Bill ', 'metadescription' => 'The debate on the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) passed by Parliament has repeatedly flagged the alleged violation of the Assam Accord by the new law.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/fn6vqijpadyuzfk/Assam_accord.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 18 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3135, 'title' => 'Section 144 CrPC', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As the protests on CAA has intensified, state governments have sought to control the demonstrations by issuing prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code Of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to 141-149 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the maximum punishment for engaging in rioting is rigorous imprisonment for 3 years and/or fine. Every member of an unlawful assembly can be held responsible for a crime committed by the group.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Section 144 CrPC, a law retained from the colonial era, empowers a district magistrate, a sub-divisional magistrate or any other executive magistrate specially empowered by the state government in this behalf to issue orders to prevent and address urgent cases of apprehended danger or nuisance.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The magistrate has to pass a written order which may be directed against a particular individual, or to persons residing in a particular place or area, or to the public generally when frequenting or visiting a particular place or area.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This usually includes restrictions on movement, carrying arms and from assembling unlawfully. It is generally believed that assembly of three or more people is prohibited under Section 144.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">No order passed under Section 144 can remain in force for more than two months from the date of the order, unless the state government considers it necessary. Even then, the total period cannot extend to more than six months.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Criticism of section 144</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The criticism is that it is too broad and the words of the section are wide enough to give absolute power to a magistrate that may be exercised unjustifiably.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> Imposition of Section 144 to an entire state has also drawn criticism since the security situation differs from area to area.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Way forward</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Occasions may arise when it is not possible to distinguish between those whose conduct must be controlled and those whose conduct is clear, hence its application becomes necessary.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A general order may be necessary when the number of persons is so large that the distinction between them and the general public cannot be made.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The efficacy of the provision is to prevent some harmful occurrence immediately. Therefore, the emergency must be sudden and the consequences sufficiently grave for implementing this provision.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'section-144-crpc', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/aad0/dcupc7eelr0bfy26g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/aad0/dcupc7eelr0bfy26g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Section 144 CrPC | Code Of Criminal Procedure (CrPC)', 'metakeyword' => 'Section 144 CrPC, Code Of Criminal Procedure (CrPC)', 'metadescription' => 'As the protests on CAA has intensified, state governments have sought to control the demonstrations by issuing prohibitory orders under Section 144', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/ylirugv8tak170n/Section_144_CrPC.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 19 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3177, 'title' => 'National Population Register', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Union Cabinet has approved a proposal to conduct Census 2021 and update the National Population Register (NPR).</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">While the Census will be conducted in 2021, the NPR update will take place from April to September 2020 in all the States/UTs except Assam. It will be conducted under Home Ministry.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The NPR is a register of usual residents of the country. It is mandatory for every usual resident of India to register in the NPR. It includes both Indian citizens as well as a foreign citizen. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The objective of the NPR is to create a comprehensive identity database of every usual resident in the country.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is being prepared at the local (Village/sub-Town), sub-District, District, State and National level under provisions of the Citizenship Act 1955 and the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong> Usual resident</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003, a usual resident is a person who has resided in a local area for the past 6 months or more or a person who intends to reside in that area for the next 6 months or more.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details for NPR</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The demographic details of every individual are required for every usual resident on 21 points which includes ‘date and place of birth of parents’, last place of residence, Permanent Account Number (PAN), Aadhar ( on a voluntary basis), Voter ID card number, Driving License Number and Mobile Number.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In the last NPR done in 2010, the data was collected on the 15 points and it did not include ‘date and place of birth of parents’ and last place of residence.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Difference between NPR and NRC</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The NPR is different from the National Register of Citizens which excludes the foreign citizens.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A Population Register is ‘the register containing details of persons usually residing in a village or rural area or town or ward or demarcated area (demarcated by the Registrar General of Citizen Registration) within a ward in a town or urban area. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Whereas, the ‘National Register of Indian Citizens’ is a register containing details of Indian Citizens living in India and outside India.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">National Register of Indian Citizens’ shall contain the particulars of every citizen i.e. Name; Father’s name; Mother’s name; Sex; Date of birth; Place of birth; Residential address (present and permanent); Marital status if ever married, name of the spouse; Visible identification mark; Date of registration of Citizen; Serial number of registration; and National Identity Number.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The National Register of Citizens (NRC) is a register of all Indian citizens whose creation is mandated by The Citizenship Act 1955 as amended in 2003.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'national-population-register', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/1449/y6lvj4way1jrc706g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/1449/y6lvj4way1jrc706g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'National Population Register (NPR)', 'metakeyword' => 'National Population Register, npr', 'metadescription' => 'The Union Cabinet has approved a proposal to conduct Census 2021 and update the National Population Register (NPR).', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/doaodyatah9p8qg/National_Population_Register.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 20 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3232, 'title' => 'Detention centres', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">After the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 was passed on December 11, there are fears that those excluded from NPR-NRC will be sent to detention centres.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Centre has the power to deport foreign nationals staying illegally in the country under Section 3(2)(c) of The Foreigners Act, 1946. State governments have also been entrusted under Article 258(1) of the Constitution<strong> </strong>to take similar steps. </span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In 1998, the MHA under had written a letter to all States and Union Territories asking them to restrict the movement of convicted foreign nationals who had completed their jail sentence. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The letter said that they be confined to one of the detention centres/camps, pending confirmation of their nationality from the country concerned and to ensure their physical availability at all times for expeditious repatriation/deportation as soon as the travel documents are ready. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The centres are also used to hold foreigners who have been caught overstaying their visa term.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">States were asked by the MHA to set up sufficient number of detention centres where the suspected illegal immigrants would be detained pending their deportation.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Detention centres</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Detention centres are residential bildings meant to hold foreigners either staying illegally in the country or who have completed sentence and waiting for deportation.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issues</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Cleanliness and hygiene</strong></span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Most of the existing detention centres are ill managed leading to worse living conditions. This has made them susceptible for spread of diseases.</span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Family seperation</strong></span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">All memebers of a family are not kept at a single centre leading to seperation of children from their parents.</span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Slow resolution of the case</strong></span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The case of individuals kept in detention centres linger on for many years leading to accumulation of detenees.</span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'detention-centres', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/1d11/u8awpz3l0cmwhw36g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/1d11/u8awpz3l0cmwhw36g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Detention centres | After the Citizenship (Amendment)', 'metakeyword' => 'Detention centres, After the Citizenship (Amendment)', 'metadescription' => 'After the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 was passed on December 11, there are fears that those excluded from NPR-NRC will be sent to detention centres.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/5mioh3ovzcmd83z/Detention_centres.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 21 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3240, 'title' => 'Karnataka-Maharashtra Belgaum issue', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The bus services between Kolhapur and Belgaum were suspended<strong> </strong>after the decades-old border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka flared up again.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka over Belgaum and other border areas is a longstanding issue between the two states, and has been pending before the Supreme Court for many years.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The erstwhile Bombay Presidency, a multilingual province, included the present-day Karnataka districts of Bijapur, Belgaum, Dharwar and Uttara-Kannada (previously North Kanara).</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The States Reorganisation Act of 1956, which divided states on linguistic and administrative lines, made Belgaum a part of the then Mysore State (which was renamed Karnataka in 1973).</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Maharashtra government contested the inclusion and lodged a protest with the Centre in September 1957. This led to the formation of the Mahajan Commission under former Chief Justice Mehr Chand Mahajan in October 1966.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Commission, which submitted its report in August 1967, recommended that 264 villages be transferred to Maharashtra and that Belgaum and 247 villages remain with Karnataka. Maharashtra rejected the report and demanded another review.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Maharashtra continues to claim over 865 villages along the border, as well as Belgaum city, which are currently part of Karnataka. Successive governments in Maharashtra have demanded their inclusion within the state. Karnataka has contested these claims.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'karnataka-maharashtra-belgaum-issue', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/80b4/gjtpn6xatv521n06g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/80b4/gjtpn6xatv521n06g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Karnataka-Maharashtra Belgaum issue', 'metakeyword' => 'Karnataka-Maharashtra Belgaum issue', 'metadescription' => 'The bus services between Kolhapur and Belgaum were suspended after the decades-old border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka flared up again.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/sfhpdlyg24rdp82/Karnataka-Maharashtra_Belgaum_issue.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 22 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3249, 'title' => 'Popular Front of India: The organisation facing chances of ban', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government in Uttar Pradesh has sent a report to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recommending a ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI).</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government has accused the organisation and its political front, the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) of “masterminding and instigating violence” during the recent protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC).</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Government members said PFI was the “incarnation” of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and the PFI’s role has been established in vandalism in the state.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The organisation has been accused earlier of multiple violent and extremist incidents. Police in Kerala and Karnataka have found evidence of the use of lethal weapons in PFI centres.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>PFI</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The PFI was set up in 2006 as a federation of the National Development Fund (NDF), which was formed in Kerala in 1993 and subsequently emerged as the Manitha Neethi Pasarai (MNP) in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Forum for Dignity (KFD) in Karnataka.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It calls itself a “socio-political movement that strives for the empowerment of the Muslims and other marginalised sections of society”.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI)</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">SIMI, which was formed in 1977, is banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. It is accused of standing for the propagation of Islamist jihad and the establishment of Islamic rule in India.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>SDPI</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">SDPI is PFI’s political front, founded, according to the organisation, for the “advancement and uniform development” of all citizens, including Muslims, Dalits, Backward classes and Adivasis. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">SDPI was formed and declared in 2009, and was registered with the Election Commission of India in 2010.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The SDPI wants a complete revamp of the system. The SDPI claims to uphold values including national integration, communal amity, and social harmony.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'popular-front-of-india-the-organisation-facing-chances', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/bdae/psfrwr8tnmcbxd86g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/bdae/psfrwr8tnmcbxd86g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Popular Front of India: The organisation facing chances', 'metakeyword' => 'Popular Front of India: The organisation facing chances of ban', 'metadescription' => 'The government in Uttar Pradesh has sent a report to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recommending a ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI).', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/4av865qdok69lg8/Popular_Front_of_India_The_organisation_facing_chances_of_ban.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 23 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3428, 'title' => '‘Lese Majeste’', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan invoked his authority to ask the executive to submit why it kept the Raj Bhavan in the dark about the move to appeal against the citizenship law in the Supreme Court.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The governor pointed out in a letter to the Chief Secretary that the Chief Minister was duty-bound under the rules of business of the government to refer specified category of cases that concerned Centre-State relations or involved the Supreme Court to the Governor before the administration acted.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The governor said that the government had crossed a line by not informing the constitutional head of State about its decision to challenge the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, a Central law, in the Supreme Court.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The State Law Minister contended the State was not in conflict with the Centre. Hence, there was no imperative to inform the Governor. The State had merely invoked the provisions of Article 131 of the Constitution to file a civil suit in the Supreme Court against the CAA.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Lese Mejestes</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Lèse-majesté is a French term meaning "to do wrong to majesty" and is an offence against the dignity of a reigning <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarch" title="Monarch">sovereign</a> or against a state.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Lèse-majeste is defined variously as “a crime against the sovereign”, “offense against a ruler’s dignity as head of the state”, and “treason” has largely been relegated to history but for glaring examples such as Thailand, where its use is blamed for stifling dissent and for sending people behind bars for long years.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Under this law, social media use is also monitored, and posting content considered seditious, as well as pressing the “Like” button on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/about/facebook/">Facebook</a> on such content, has led to prison time.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'lese-majeste', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/655c/ikn6i28ou5tv3o06g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/655c/ikn6i28ou5tv3o06g.jpg', 'metatitle' => '‘Lese Majeste’ | Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan ', 'metakeyword' => '‘Lese Majeste’, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan ', 'metadescription' => 'Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan invoked his authority to ask the executive to submit why it kept the Raj Bhavan in the dark about the move ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/6w27m0w0hpjshhb/%E6Lese_Majeste%C6.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 24 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3476, 'title' => 'EC tells Supreme Court, criminally tainted candidates must not get tickets', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Supreme Court has agreed to examine a proposition made by the Election<strong> </strong>Commission (EC) to ask political parties to not give ticket to those with criminal antecedents.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Supreme Court’s long string of judgments against criminalisation of politics has hardly scratched the surface of the deep rot.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A previous judgment had urged Parliament to bring a “strong law” to cleanse political parties of leaders facing trial for serious crimes.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The court had suggested that Parliament frame a law that makes it obligatory for political parties to remove leaders charged with “heinous and grievous” crimes like rape, murder and kidnapping, only to a name a few, and refuse ticket to offenders in both parliamentary and Assembly polls.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Grounds for disqualification</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Parliament has the power to make a law in respect to the issue of qualification and disqualification of the membership in case:</span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He holds any office of profit under the Government of India or of any state, other than an office declared by a law of Parliament not to disqualify its holder.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> He is of unsound mind and stand so declared by a competent court.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> He is an undischarged insolvent.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> He is not a citizen of India or has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a foreign state, or is under any acknowledgement or allegiance or adherence to a foreign state, and</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is he so disqualified by or under any law of Parliament. It applies to the case of 'defection' as prescribed in tenth schedule.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Any dispute about the disqualification of a Member of Parliament shall be referred to the President, who will take a decision on the advice of the Election Commission and decision shall be final according to the article 103.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> In case of disqualification on grounds of defection, the matter will be decided by speaker or chairman or Rajya Sabha as the case may be.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The representation of people act, 1951 also lays down certain conditions for disqualification of MPs and MLAs.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">They are as follows:</span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He must not have been convicted by a court of any offence and sentenced to imprisonment for a period of more than two years.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He must not have been found guilty by a court or on election tribunal of certain election or corrupt practices in the elections.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He must not have been dismissed for corruption or disloyalty from government services.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He must not have failed to lodge on his election expenses within time and in a manner prescribed by law.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He must not have any interest in government contracts, execution of government work or services.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He must not be a director or managing agent nor hold an office of profit under any corporation in which the government has any financial interest.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'ec-tells-supreme-court', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/110c/j9rhhll3nlyzw1h6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/110c/j9rhhll3nlyzw1h6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'EC tells Supreme Court, criminally tainted candidates', 'metakeyword' => 'EC tells Supreme Court, criminally tainted candidates must not get tickets', 'metadescription' => 'The Supreme Court has agreed to examine a proposition made by the Election Commission (EC) to ask political parties to not give ticket to those with criminal', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/k31z9938e5iq5xi/EC_tells_Supreme_Court.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 25 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3514, 'title' => 'The Bodo accord', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Centre, the Assam government and Bodo groups, including all factions of the militant National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), have signed an agreement for peace and development. </span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In 2003, the second Bodo Accord was signed by the extremist group Bodo Liberation Tiger Force (BLTF), the Centre and the state. This led to the BTC. BTC is an autonomous body under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The most significant point is that Accord marks the end of the armed movement. The coming of all factions of the armed groups together to sign the Accord is a big achievement.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The new Accord provides for alteration of area of BTAD and provisions for Bodos outside BTAD. A commission appointed by the state government will examine and recommend if villages contiguous to BTAD and with a majority tribal population can be included into the BTR while those now in BTAD and with a majority non-tribal population can opt out of the BTR.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government will set up a Bodo-Kachari Welfare Council for focused development of Bodo villages outside BTAD, which opens up a way to potentially address the needs of Bodos outside BTAD.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It provides for more legislative, executive, administrative and financial powers to BTC; and amendments to the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to “improve the financial resources and administrative powers of Bodoland Territorial Council.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Bodos</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bodo are a Tibeto-Burmese-speaking ethnic group in Assam. They are a part of the greater Bodo-Kachari family of ethnolinguistic groups and are spread across northeastern India and clustered strongly in Assam, along the eastern Duars.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Bodos are the single largest community among the notified Scheduled Tribes in Assam. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bodo people are recognized as a plains tribe in the <strong>Sixth</strong> Schedule of the Indian Constitution.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Traditionally, Bodos practiced <strong>Bathouism</strong>, which is the worshiping of forefathers, known as Obonglaoree. The shijou tree (in the genus Euphorbia) is taken as the symbol of Bathou and worshiped.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In addition to Bathouism, Bodo people also follow Hinduism, especially <strong>Hoom</strong> <strong>Jaygya</strong>. The important Hindu festival is the <strong>Kherai Puja</strong>, where an altar is placed in a rice field.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'the-bodo-accord', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/4dae/8ynbl9uxgpbqj0d6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/4dae/8ynbl9uxgpbqj0d6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'The Bodo accord', 'metakeyword' => 'The Bodo accord', 'metadescription' => 'The Centre, the Assam government and Bodo groups, including all factions of the militant National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/lty4fkzbuf6pw0z/The_Bodo_accord.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 26 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3579, 'title' => 'Home ministry denies existence of ‘Love Jihad’', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Centre said the term ‘Love Jihad’ is not defined under the law, and no such case has been reported by any of the Central agencies.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It was based on a question by Congress MP Benny Behanan on whether Central agencies have reported any case of ‘Love Jihad’ from Kerala during the past two years and if so, the details thereof.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Union Minister of State for Home G. Kishan Reddy said <strong>Article 25</strong> of the Constitution<strong> </strong>provides for the freedom to profess, practice and propagate religion subject to public order, morality and health. Various courts, including the Kerala High Court, have upheld this view.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The statement comes in the wake of protests against the stance of the Syrian-Malabar church on ‘love jihad’ in the second week of January. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Church had then called for inquiries into instances of ‘love jihad’ in which Christian girls fell victims to inter-religious love affairs. In some cases, such girls also joined terrorist organisations such as the Islamic State.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Love Jihad</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Love Jihad or Romeo Jihad is the alleged effort by Muslim men in targeting women belonging to non-Muslim communities for conversion to Islam by using love.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The concept first rose to national attention in India in 2009, with claims of widespread conversions in Kerala and Karnataka, but claims have subsequently spread throughout India and beyond, into Pakistan and the United Kingdom.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'home-ministry-denies-existence-of-love-jihad', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/5924/k7o1neb29mk6vq56g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/5924/k7o1neb29mk6vq56g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Home ministry denies existence of ‘Love Jihad’', 'metakeyword' => 'Home ministry denies existence of ‘Love Jihad’', 'metadescription' => 'The Centre said the term ‘Love Jihad’ is not defined under the law, and no such case has been reported by any of the Central agencies.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/61jfgccrf2g4ad0/Home_ministry_denies_existence_of_%E6Love_Jihad%C6.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 27 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3591, 'title' => 'Ayodhya Ram Temple Trust', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Union Cabinet has cleared the formation of a Trust for the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya. The Trust, which is called the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra, will include 15 members, of which one will be a Dalit.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Supreme Court had allowed the construction of a Ram temple at the site of the demolished Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, and ordered handing over another 5-acre plot to the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Waqf Board for the mosque.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">One of the five suits before the court in the Babri Masjid case was in the name of the deity itself, Sri Ram Lalla Virajman, and of the birthplace, Asthan Shri Ram Janmabhoomi. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This suit was founded on the claim that the law recognises both the idol and the birthplace as juridical entities. The court did not accept the Janmasthan as a juridical entity.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It awarded the title of the land to Ram Lalla, to be held by the Trust that the Court said should be set up within three months. This Trust is the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Court had said that the scheme to be framed by the Centre should make necessary provisions about the functioning of the Trust or the body, including on matters relating to its management, the powers of the trustees including the construction of a temple and all necessary, incidental and supplemental matters.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Trust will get the possession of the inner and outer courtyards along with the rest of the acquired land, which will be managed and developed by the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The court used its powers under Article 142 to direct that appropriate representation may be given in the Trust to the Nirmohi Akhara.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'ayodhya-ram-temple-trust', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/5380/4faubv6cnsrlyzb6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/5380/4faubv6cnsrlyzb6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Ayodhya Ram Temple Trust | Ayodhya Ram Temple', 'metakeyword' => 'Ayodhya Ram Temple Trust, Ayodhya Ram Temple. Ram mandir', 'metadescription' => 'The Union Cabinet has cleared the formation of a Trust for the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya. The Trust, which is called the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/ppc3mi11x7plfeb/Ayodhya_Ram_Temple_Trust.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 28 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3640, 'title' => 'Notifying new Scheduled Tribes', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Lok Sabha<strong> </strong>passed The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2019 by voice vote. The Bill seeks to include the <strong>Parivara</strong> and the <strong>Talawara</strong> communities in the ST category to ensure they get reservation and other benefits provided by the government.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The legislation had been brought in relation to one State and assured the members that the government would take cognizance of their demands.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Article 342</strong>, prescribes procedure to be followed in the matter of specification of scheduled tribes.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The <strong>President</strong> may, with respect to any State or Union territory, and where it is a state, after consultation with the Governor there of by public notification, specify the tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups within tribes or tribal communities which shall, for the purposes of this constitution, is deemed to be scheduled tribes in relation to that state or Union Territory, as the case may be.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Parliament</strong> may by law include in or exclude from the list of Scheduled tribes specified in a notification issued under clause(1) any tribe or tribal community or part of or group within any tribe or tribal community. These orders can be modified subsequently only through an Act of Parliament.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The list of Scheduled Tribes is State/UT specific and a community declared as a Scheduled Tribe in a State need not be so in another State.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The <strong>criteria</strong> presently followed for specification of a community as a Scheduled Tribe are : (i) indications of primitive traits, (ii) distinctive culture, (iii) geographical isolation, (iv) shyness of contact with the community at large, and (v) backwardness. However, these criteria are not spelt out in the Constitution.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Tribal population in India</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The tribal population of the country, as per 2011 census, is 10.43 crore, constituting 8.6% of the total population. 89.97% of them live in rural areas and 10.03% in urban areas. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The decadal population growth of the tribal’s from Census 2001 to 2011 has been 23.66% against the 17.69% of the entire population. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The sex ratio for the overall population is 940 females per 1000 males and that of Scheduled Tribes 990 females per thousand males.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Broadly the STs inhabit two distinct geographical area – the Central India and the North- Eastern Area. More than half of the Scheduled Tribe population is concentrated in Central India, i.e., Madhya Pradesh (14.69%), Chhattisgarh (7.5%), Jharkhand (8.29%), Andhra Pradesh (5.7%), Maharashtra (10.08%), Orissa (9.2%), Gujarat (8.55%) and Rajasthan (8.86%). </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The other distinct area is the North East (Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh).</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">More than two-third of the ST population is concentrated only in the seven States of the country, viz. Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">There is no ST population in 3 States (Delhi NCR, Punjab and Haryana) and 2 UTs (Puducherry and Chandigarh), as no Scheduled Tribe is notified.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'notifying-new-scheduled-tribes', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/6716/oazrvp9dna6ksdj6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/6716/oazrvp9dna6ksdj6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Notifying new Scheduled Tribes', 'metakeyword' => 'Notifying new Scheduled Tribes', 'metadescription' => 'The Lok Sabha passed The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2019 by voice vote. The Bill seeks to include the Parivara', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/o77u9575ht0021t/Notifying_new_Scheduled_Tribes.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 29 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3649, 'title' => 'Union cabinet clears bill to regulate pesticides', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Union Cabinet has approved the Pesticides<strong> </strong>Management Bill, 2020, which, the government claims, will regulate the business of pesticides and compensate farmers in case of losses from the use of spurious agro chemicals.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The ministers said that Pesticides Management Bill will be introduced in this session. Today the pesticide business is regulated by 1968 rules which have become age-old and need immediate rewriting.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The farmers would also be empowered to get all information as the data would be in open source and in all languages. They will know about the strength and weakness of pesticides, the risk and alternatives and this will be an open data in digital format also.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In February 2018, the Centre released a draft of the pesticides Bill that aims to replace the existing Insecticides Act of 1968. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A key proposal in the 2018 version of the Bill was to raise penalties on the sale of prohibited or spurious pesticides to ?50 lakh and up to five years’ imprisonment, from the current ?2,000 and up to three years imprisonment.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">If there is any loss because of the spurious or low quality of pesticides then there is a provision for compensations This is the unique feature of this Bill. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The existing draft provides inadequate representation to States in both pesticide board and the registration committee. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The States should have a say in final decision making on pesticide, as they have the best understanding on the agro-ecological climate, environment and soil conditions.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'union-cabinet-clears-bill-to-regulate-pesticides', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/f295/wgdxr54x6eryipg6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/f295/wgdxr54x6eryipg6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Union cabinet clears bill to regulate pesticides', 'metakeyword' => 'Union cabinet clears bill to regulate pesticides', 'metadescription' => 'The Union Cabinet has approved the Pesticides Management Bill, 2020, which, the government claims, will regulate the business of pesticides', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/8i6dw1a44m5vso7/Union_cabinet_clears_bill_to_regulate_pesticides.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 30 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3661, 'title' => 'Two child norms debate', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha member Anil Desai introduced a Private Member’s Bill in the Rajya Sabha. The Bill proposes incentives in taxation, education and employment for people who limit their family size to two children.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill has sought the incorporation of a new provision, Article 47A in Part IV of the Constitution, to withdraw all concessions from people who fail to adhere to the “small-family” norm.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill aims to amend the Constitution in order to incentivise limiting families to two children by offering tax concessions, priority in social benefit schemes and school admissions, among other things.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill proposes the insertion of Article 47A after Article 47 of the Constitution.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Article 47A</strong> says the following: The State shall promote small family norms by offering incentives in taxes, employment, education etc. to its people who keep their family limited to two children and shall withdraw every concession from and deprive such incentives to those not adhering to small family norm, to keep the growing population under control.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Need for two child norms</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">India’s population rate has overrun the ability of the environment to cater to. This has caused stress on the limited resources of the country.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The higher population has not resulted in higher productivity rate in terms of creation of wealth instead the per capita wealth has depriciated.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Women are forced to undergo multiple pregnancies over a short period of time. This has created adverse effect on their health leading to their death in some cases.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Drawbacks of two child norms</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It will increase the cases of mass sterilization especially by poor women belonging to backward area. This may result in deaths of women due to improper procedures.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The replacement rate of the old population will decrease significantly due to which the number of working age population will reduce drastically.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'two-child-norms-debate', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/398c/4bnpkl2afj8wpk66g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/398c/4bnpkl2afj8wpk66g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Two child norms debate', 'metakeyword' => 'Two child norms debate', 'metadescription' => 'Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha member Anil Desai introduced a Private Member’s Bill in the Rajya Sabha. The Bill proposes incentives in taxation, education ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/piyp5iq62maeah4/Two_child_norms_debate.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 31 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3798, 'title' => 'Zonal Councils', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair the 24th meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council, comprising States of Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal, scheduled to be held in Bhubaneswar.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Issues such as inter-State water dispute, power transmission, coal royalty, forest clearance for railway and other infrastructure projects and extension of banking and telecom services in rural pockets will figure in the discussion.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Zonal Councils are advisory councils and are made up of the states of India that have been grouped into five zones to foster cooperation among them. These were set up vide <strong>Part-III</strong> of the <strong>States Reorganisation Act, 1956.</strong></span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The North Eastern states are not covered by any of the Zonal Councils and their special problems are addressed by another statutory body, the North Eastern Council, created by the <strong>North Eastern Council Act, 1971</strong>.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Various Zonal councils</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Northern Zonal Council, comprising the States of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, National Capital Territory of Delhi and Union Territory of Chandigarh;</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Central Zonal Council, comprising the States of Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh;</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Eastern Zonal Council, comprising the States of Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Sikkim and West Bengal;</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Western Zonal Council, comprising the States of Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra and the Union Territories of Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli;</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Southern Zonal Council, comprising the States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Structure</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Chairman</strong> - The Union Home Minister is the Chairman of each of these Councils.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Vice</strong> <strong>Chairman</strong> - The Chief Ministers of the States included in each zone act as Vice-Chairman of the Zonal Council for that zone by rotation, each holding office for a period of one year at a time.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Members</strong>- Chief Minister and two other Ministers as nominated by the Governor from each of the States and two members from Union Territories included in the zone.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Advisers</strong>- One person nominated by the Planning Commission for each of the Zonal Councils, Chief Secretaries and another officer/Development Commissioner nominated by each of the States included in the Zone</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Union Ministers</strong> are also invited to participate in the meetings of Zonal Councils depending upon necessity.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Objectives and functions</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The main <strong>objectives</strong> of setting up of Zonal Councils are as under:</span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Bringing out national integration;</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Arresting the growth of acute State consciousness, regionalism, linguism and particularistic tendencies;</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Enabling the Centre and the States to co-operate and exchange ideas and experiences;</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Establishing a climate of co-operation amongst the States for successful and speedy execution of development projects.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In particular, a Zonal Council may discuss, and make recommendations with regard to:</span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">any matter of common interest in the field of economic and social planning;</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">any matter concerning border disputes, linguistic minorities or inter-State transport;</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">any matter connected with or arising out of, the re-organization of the States under the States Reorganisation Act.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'zonal-councils', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/b5ea/mivceyvy9op052v6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/b5ea/mivceyvy9op052v6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Zonal Councils | Eastern Zonal Council', 'metakeyword' => 'Zonal Councils, Eastern Zonal Council', 'metadescription' => 'Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair the 24th meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council, comprising States of Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/x1mhkazq0zoo8gg/Zonal_Councils.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 32 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3952, 'title' => 'Notified disaster', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/coronavirus-saarc-countries-video-conference-narendra-modi-pakistan-6314802/">treat COVID-19 as a notified disaster</a> for the purpose of providing assistance under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In a similar move, US President Donald Trump declared a national emergency in the country on Friday invoking the Stafford Act, as per which, the federal government contributes about 75 percent to the cost of relief for states.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to the Disaster Management Act, a disaster is defined as the following, “a catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence in any area, arising from natural or man made causes, or by accident or negligence which results in substantial loss of life or human suffering or damage to, and destruction of, property, or damage to, or degradation of, environment, and is of such a nature or magnitude as to be beyond the coping capacity of the community of the affected area”.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Further, citing the High Power Committee on Disaster Management, which was constituted in 1999, it identified 31 disaster categories organised into five major sub-groups, which are: water and climate related disasters, geological related disasters, chemical, industrial and nuclear related disasters and biological related disasters, which includes biological disasters and epidemics.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The SDRF is constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and is the primary fund available with state governments for responses to notified disasters. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Central government contributes 75 per cent towards the SDRF allocation for general category states and UTs, and over 90 per cent for special category states/UTs, which includes northeastern states, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand).</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The National Disaster Response Fund, which is also constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 supplements the SDRF of a state, in case of a disaster of severe nature, provided adequate funds are not available in the SDRF.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The disasters covered under the SDRF include cyclones, droughts, tsunamis, hailstorms, landslides, avalanches and pest attacks among others.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>National Calamity</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As of now, there is no executive or legal provision to declare a national calamity. In 2001, the National Committee on Disaster Management under then Prime Minister was mandated to look into the parameters that should define a national calamity. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">However, the committee did not suggest any fixed criterion. In the past, there have been demands from states to declare certain events as natural disasters, such as the Uttarakhand flood in 2013, Cyclone Hudhud in Andhra Pradesh in 2014, and the Assam floods of 2015.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'notified-disaster', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/fb03/0b7z3so31c10snk6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/fb03/0b7z3so31c10snk6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Notified disaster', 'metakeyword' => 'Notified disaster', 'metadescription' => 'The Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to treat COVID-19 as a notified disaster for the purpose of providing assistance under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/gi77kz7wvf3jklv/4.Notified_disaster.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 33 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3979, 'title' => 'Uncertainity over NPR', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">At least 13 States, and Delhi, covering almost 60% of the total population of India, are opposed to the revision of the National Population Register (NPR) in the format being prepared by the Centre, even as the nationwide exercise is scheduled to kick off in barely two weeks time on April 1.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Home minister has told that people could choose to not respond to questions, but Chief Ministers and activists have said that this is no guarantee that they would not face any problems in the future.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had informed the Lok Sabha that it was in discussion with States that had expressed concerns over the controversial additional questions in the NPR form. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The MHA had informed a parliamentary panel that during works towards updating the NPR 2020, it is proposed to collect data on some additional items like place of last residence, mother tongue, Aadhaar number (voluntary), mobile number, passport (Indian passport holder), voter ID card, driving license number, date and place of birth of father and mother.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Activists have pointed out that as the law stands, not providing information for the NPR can be an offence and the NPR could be used for identifying genuine citizens and doubtful ones.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">West Bengal was the first State to announce that it would not canvass the NPR form during the census operations, followed by Kerala. Both States have put the NPR exercise on on hold.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'uncertainity-over-npr', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/4703/puozvmowaex232f6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/4703/puozvmowaex232f6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Uncertainity over NPR', 'metakeyword' => 'Uncertainity over NPR', 'metadescription' => 'At least 13 States, and Delhi, covering almost 60% of the total population of India, are opposed to the revision of the National Population Register (NPR)', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/w6g8ais4tl8wgjk/1.Uncertainty_over_NPR.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 34 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 4165, 'title' => 'MPLADS funds', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> The Union Cabinet has given its nod to the temporary suspension of MPLAD Funds during 2020-21 and 2021-22 in view of the adverse impact of the outbreak of COVID-19 in India.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Cabinet has approved an ordinance to reduce the salaries, allowances and pensions of Members of Parliament (MPs), including the Prime Minister, by 30 per cent for one year and the amount would be utilised in the fight against coronavirus.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) is a programme first launched during the Narasimha Rao Government in 1993, aimed towards providing funds for developmental works recommended by individual MPs.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The MPs were entitled to recommend works to the tune of Rs 1 crore annually between 1994-95 and 1997-98, after which the annual entitlement was enhanced to Rs 2 crore.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The objective of the scheme is to enable MPs to recommend works of developmental nature with emphasis on the creation of durable community assets based on the locally felt needs to be taken up in their Constituencies. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Right from inception of the Scheme, durable assets of national priorities viz. drinking water, primary education, public health, sanitation and roads, etc. are being created.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The guidelines recommend MPs to suggest works costing at least 15 per cent of their MPLADS entitlement for the year for areas inhabited by Scheduled Caste population and 7.5 per cent for areas inhabited by ST population.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">To implement their plans in an area, MPs have to recommend them to the District Authority of the respective Nodal District. The District Authorities then identify Implementing Agencies which execute the projects.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The guidelines lay down a number of development works, including construction of railway halt stations, providing financial assistance to recognised educational bodies, cooperative societies, bar associations, installing CCTV cameras, and rainwater harvesting systems.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The MPLADS funds can be merged with other schemes such as MGNREGA and Khelo India. MPLADS was held constitutionally valid by the Supreme Court in its May 6, 2010 judgement.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'mplads-funds', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/948e/tlq3mxfuq9sp8vx6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/948e/tlq3mxfuq9sp8vx6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'MPLADS funds', 'metakeyword' => 'MPLADS funds', 'metadescription' => 'The Union Cabinet has given its nod to the temporary suspension of MPLAD Funds during 2020-21 and 2021-22 in view of the adverse impact of the outbreak of COVID-19', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/9rf8mmde9n2n6k7/4.MPLADS_funds.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 35 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5052, 'title' => 'Postal ballots', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Election Commission has announced that it will allow those above the age of 65 as well as those under home or institutional quarantine to vote using postal ballots during the Bihar elections.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A restricted set of voters can exercise postal voting. Through this facility, a voter can cast her vote remotely by recording her preference on the ballot paper and sending it back to the election officer before counting.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Members of the armed forces like the Army, Navy, and Air Force, members of the armed police force of a state (serving outside the state), government employees posted outside India, and their spouses are entitled to vote only by post. In other words, they can’t vote in person. Voters under preventive detention can also vote only by post.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Special voters such as the President of India, Vice President, Governors, Union Cabinet ministers, Speaker of the House, and government officers on poll duty have the option to vote by post. But they have to apply through a prescribed form to avail this facility.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Recently, the Law Ministry, at the Election Commission’s behest, introduced a new category of ‘absentee voters’, who can now also opt for postal voting. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">These are voters employed in essential services and unable to cast their vote due to their service conditions. Currently, officials of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Northern Railway (Passenger and Freight) Services, and media persons are notified as absentee voters.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Returning Officer is supposed to print ballot papers within 24 hours of the last date of nomination withdrawal and dispatch them within a day. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This is done so that the ballot papers reach the concerned voter well before the polling date and she has enough time to send it back before the counting day.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">After receiving it, the voter can mark her preference with a tick mark or cross mark against the candidate’s name. They also have to fill up a duly attested declaration to the effect that they have marked the ballot paper. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The opposition parties have opposed the move saying that it will lead to malpractices and foul play by those parties which are in power and having resources.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The Commission defended itself saying senior citizens are at a higher risk of contracting Covid-19 infection and the decision to allow them to vote via postal ballots was made to minimise their exposure in public.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'postal-ballots', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/e8c6/sdzvi4cxzlxx72s6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/e8c6/sdzvi4cxzlxx72s6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Postal ballots', 'metakeyword' => 'Postal ballots', 'metadescription' => 'Election Commission has announced that it will allow those above the age of 65 as well as those under home or institutional quarantine to vote using postal ballots', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/k8lfimyd5vmq9u8/1.Postal_ballots.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 36 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5332, 'title' => 'Running mates', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong><br /> Reports suggest Democratic Party nominee Joe Biden will be announcing his running mate soon, possibly as early as this week for the US presidential elections.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">With Donald Trump aiming for a second term at US presidency, it is not yet clear whether he will continue with Vice-President Mike Pence as his running mate for 2020 or whether the Trump campaign will announce some last-minute changes.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Constitution of the United States provides for both a president and a vice-president. Under the current system, the presidential candidate for each of the two major parties, the Democratic and the Republican party, chooses a vice presidential running mate. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This process is also applicable to smaller political parties. The running mate is simply the vice-presidential candidate. Voters vote on the two—presidential and vice-presidential candidates—as a team.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">There are other countries where a similar process exists, for instance, Brazil, Indonesia, and Palau, where the running mate of the presidential candidate is automatically made Vice-President.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Under the original system, the vice-president was simply the presidential candidate who received the second most electoral college votes in the presidential election.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The US Constitution was subsequently changed in 1804 by the 12th Amendment to provide that the electoral college would separately select a president and a vice-president, rather than simply choosing the runner up in the presidential election as the vice-president.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The presidential candidate selects his or her running mate with advice from advisors or anyone else the presidential candidate wants to listen to.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">At present, candidates for running mates in US elections are subjected to extensive background checks that scour every aspect of the candidate’s professional and personal life, covering everything from personal relationships, medical history and financial checks.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'running-mates', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/46ec/vhbbrkaykdt6r296g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/46ec/vhbbrkaykdt6r296g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Running mates', 'metakeyword' => 'Running mates', 'metadescription' => 'Reports suggest Democratic Party nominee Joe Biden will be announcing his running mate soon, possibly as early as this week for the US presidential elections.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/ahxyc8nglxjt4m6/2.Running+mates.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 37 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5343, 'title' => 'Process of renaming roads', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A day before the bhoomi pujan for Ram Temple in Ayodhya, former union minister Vijay Goel defaced the Babar Road signboard in Central Delhi and demanded renaming it.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This is not the first time that such demands for changing a road name has been put forward. However, there is a channel and process through which any name change request goes.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Requests to change names of roads come to agencies that have jurisdiction over the space, in this case New Delhi Municipal Council, from various sources.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Once the request is received, it is sent to the general administration department of NDMC. Thereafter, an agenda is put up before the NDMC council, which is a 13-member body headed by the council Chairperson, that takes the decision.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">If the resolution is passed, it is sent to the state road naming authority of the urban development department of the Delhi government for approval. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">If the decree directs for the changing of the road name, a letter is also sent to the postmaster general of Delhi by the NDMC indicating that a change has been accepted.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The council has laid down criteria for entertaining such requests as per the guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Such requests should have historical relevance, respect the sentiments of people, it must be felt that there is a need to recognise the personality whose name has to be given to the street. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The new names should not create confusion for the post offices and the public and deprive the people of a sense of history.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Historians believe that this exercise deprives people of a sense of history. They also advocate that a ruler’s act should be judged in the context in which they had ruled.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">There is another school of thought that advocates these changes that believes that rulers like Aurangzeb and Babar were cruel administrators and that there is no reason to honour them by naming a road after them.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The main expense is related to repainting street signs and making the names of civic corporations consistent with the city’s name. One has to paste the letters in with reflective tape or engrave it.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'process-of-renaming-roads', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/3c7c/4gssilhown6ur7x6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/3c7c/4gssilhown6ur7x6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Process of renaming roads', 'metakeyword' => 'Process of renaming roads', 'metadescription' => 'A day before the bhoomi pujan for Ram Temple in Ayodhya, former union minister Vijay Goel defaced the Babar Road signboard in Central Delhi and demanded renaming', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/pjy4b7zilahcujo/3.Process+of+renaming+roads.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 38 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5453, 'title' => 'Increasing minimum age of marriage for women', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the central government has set up a committee to reconsider the minimum age of marriage for women.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The minimum age of marriage, especially for women, has been a contentious issue. The law evolved in the face of much resistance from religious and social conservatives.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Currently, the law prescribes that the minimum age of marriage is 21 years and 18 years for men and women respectively.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The minimum age of marriage is distinct from the age of majority which is gender-neutral. An individual attains the age of majority at 18 as per the Indian Majority Act, 1875.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Union Ministry for Women and Child Development set up a task force to examine matters pertaining to age of motherhood, imperatives of lowering Maternal Mortality Ratio and the improvement of nutritional levels among women.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The task force will examine the correlation of age of marriage and motherhood with health, medical well-being, and nutritional status of the mother and neonate, infant or child, during pregnancy, birth, and thereafter.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It will also look at key parameters like Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR), Total Fertility Rate (TFR), Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) and Child Sex Ratio (CSR), and will examine the possibility of increasing the age of marriage for women from the present 18 years to 21 years.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">From bringing in gender-neutrality to reduce the risks of early pregnancy among women, there are many arguments in favour of increasing the minimum age of marriage of women. Early pregnancy is associated with increased child mortality rates and affects the health of the mother.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">UNICEF estimates suggest that each year, at least 1.5 million girls under the age of 18 are married in India, which makes the country home to the largest number of child brides in the world.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'increasing-minimum-age-of-marriage-for-women', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/7670/nrxb06sxah8vlyu6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/7670/nrxb06sxah8vlyu6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Increasing minimum age of marriage for women', 'metakeyword' => 'Increasing minimum age of marriage for women', 'metadescription' => 'The minimum age of marriage, especially for women, has been a contentious issue. The law evolved in the face of much resistance from religious and social conservatives', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/m4vemc5cizlu071/5.Increasing+minimum+age+of+marriage+for+women.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 39 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5459, 'title' => 'National Recruitment Agency', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Union Cabinet has approved setting up of National Recruitment Agency, an independent body to conduct examination for government jobs.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The setting up of such an agency to conduct a common eligibility test (CET) was announced in the Union Budget by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in February.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The central government agencies — Railway Recruitment Board, Staff Selection Commission and Institute of Banking Personnel Selection — will be brought under National Recruitment Agency.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The agency will have representatives from SSC, IBPS, and RRB. The test will be conducted for three levels: graduate, higher secondary (12th pass) and the matriculate (10th pass) candidates.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The National Recruitment Agency will conduct the Tier-1 examination for these three agencies online. Examination centres will be set up in each district, with the Centre committing to invest in the necessary infrastructure for 117 aspirational districts.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The examinations will be conducted in 12 languages. The examination will be conducted based on a common curriculum. There will be a common registration, single fee, and the candidate need not travel outside the district to appear for the examination.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A standardised question bank with multiple questions of similar difficulty levels will be created in a central server. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">An algorithm will be used to jumble and dole out different questions, so that each candidate receives a different question paper, reducing the chances of cheating and paper leakage.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Scores will be generated quickly, delivered online, and be valid for a three-year period. Students can write the test multiple times as long as they are within the eligible age limit, with their best score being taken into account.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The government says that a single eligibility test would “significantly reduce” the recruitment cycle. Even some of the departments have indicated their intention to do away with any second-level test and go ahead with recruitment on the basis of CET scores, Physical Tests and Medical examination.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'national-recruitment-agency', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/8971/kyykeragmchp1ur6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/8971/kyykeragmchp1ur6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'National Recruitment Agency', 'metakeyword' => 'National Recruitment Agency', 'metadescription' => 'The setting up of such an agency to conduct a common eligibility test (CET) was announced in the Union Budget by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in February.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/2rxwg4dgprfpx6e/1.National+Recruitment+Agency.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 40 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5491, 'title' => 'Mulgaonkar principles', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In the criticism against the Supreme Court’s ruling that held advocate Prashant Bhushan guilty of contempt of court, his counsel has invoked the ‘Mulgaonkar principles’, urging the court to show restraint.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">S Mulgaonkar v Unknown (1978) is a case that led to a landmark ruling on the subject of contempt. By a 2:1 majority, the court held Mulgaonkar not guilty of contempt.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">An article by A G Noorani in the newspaper about certain judicial decisions during the Emergency period, especially the Habeas Corpus case, had displeased then CJI Beg. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Habeas Corpus case, often referred to as the “Supreme Court’s darkest hour” upheld the detention law, citing that even the right to life can be suspended during an emergency.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Justices A N Ray, Beg, Y V Chandrachud, and P N Bhagwati formed the majority while Justice H R Khanna was the sole dissenter.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Initially, the SC Registrar wrote to the editor seeking a retraction and an apology, which did not happen.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">While CJI Beg’s opinion was that Mulgaonkar’s response to the Registrar was as if the case was between the newspaper and people, and not between the newspaper and the court.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Court will act with seriousness and severity where justice is jeopardized by a gross and/or unfounded attack on the judges, where the attack is calculated to obstruct or destroy the judicial process.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The court will not be prompted to act as a result of an easy irritability.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The court is willing to ignore, by a majestic liberalism, trifling and venial offenses.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'mulgaonkar-principles', 'image' => '', 'fbimage' => '', 'metatitle' => 'Mulgaonkar principles', 'metakeyword' => 'Mulgaonkar principles', 'metadescription' => 'In the criticism against the Supreme Court’s ruling that held advocate Prashant Bhushan guilty of contempt of court, his counsel has invoked the ‘Mulgaonkar', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => '', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 41 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5617, 'title' => 'Complications in regulating speech', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Facebook is coming under scrutiny for the way it regulates speech. The complaints include political partisanship, not being attentive enough to hate speech and fake news, opaque algorithms, inadequate privacy controls.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">These complaints take on an even sharper edge when there is a perception that key functionaries of Facebook might have views that blatantly support a political party.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">While the stated political partisanship of Facebook officials is coming under scrutiny, the irony is that the manifest political partisanship of public officials is going unchallenged.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">We must worry about the fact that we are giving private companies authority to potentially censor or redirect the speech of elected officials.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Freedom of expression is easy to institutionalise when speech is, as it were, safe. Where it leads to incitement, violence, attacks on group identity, or awful forms of subordination, people’s convictions about defending free speech fade.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Facebook invites attention because of its great power, which needs to be regulated. But it is not clear that lots of competition is going to solve concerns about partisanship and censorship in social media.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Resisting Facebook’s power will require a more radical withdrawal from logic of profit that blurs the boundary between public and private, without which no freedom and civility is possible.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'complications-in-regulating-speech', 'image' => '', 'fbimage' => '', 'metatitle' => 'Complications in regulating speech', 'metakeyword' => 'Complications in regulating speech', 'metadescription' => 'Facebook is coming under scrutiny for the way it regulates speech. The complaints include political partisanship, not being attentive enough to hate speech', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => '', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 42 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5547, 'title' => 'Issues in GST compensation', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Centre-state friction over pending compensation payments under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is likely to strain state finances in near future.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">GST compensation payments to states have been pending since April, with the pending amount for April-July estimated at Rs 1.5 lakh crore. There is an estimated compensation shortfall of Rs 2.35 lakh crore.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The first option was a special window to states to borrow the projected GST shortfall of Rs 97,000 crore, and an amount that can be repaid after five years of GST, ending June 2022, from the compensation cess fund. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The second option was to borrow the entire projected shortfall of Rs 2.35 lakh crore, both on account of faltering GST collections and the expected shortfall due to the pandemic, facilitated by the RBI. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">States no longer possess taxation rights after most taxes, barring those on petroleum, alcohol, and stamp duty, were subsumed under GST. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">GST accounts for almost 42% of states’ own tax revenues, and tax revenues account for around 60% of states’ total revenues.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Finances of over a dozen states are under severe strain, resulting in delays in salary payments and sharp cuts in capital expenditure outlays amid the pandemic-induced lockdowns and the need to spend on healthcare.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Shortfall issues surfaced almost a year ago when payments due for August-September 2019 were delayed. Since then, all subsequent payouts have seen cascading delays.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Under The GST (Compensation to States) Act, 2017, states are guaranteed compensation for loss of revenue on account of implementation of GST for a transition period of five years (2017-22). </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The compensation is calculated based on the difference between the states’ current GST revenue and the protected revenue after estimating an annualised 14% growth rate from the base year of 2015-16.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The high rate of 14%, which has compounded since 2015-16, has been seen as delinked from economic realities.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'issues-in-gst-compensation', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9b5a/w6gz0tn8vncq8946g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9b5a/w6gz0tn8vncq8946g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Issues in GST compensation', 'metakeyword' => 'Issues in GST compensation', 'metadescription' => 'Centre-state friction over pending compensation payments under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is likely to strain state finances in near future.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/2ohpqiz2tomiarp/4.Issues+in+GST+compensation.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 43 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5325, 'title' => 'Time capsule', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Ahead of the laying of the foundation stone for the Ram temple in Ayodhya, claims and denials have emerged about plans by the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust to put in a time capsule.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The capsule would carry a message about Ayodhya, Lord Ram, and his birthplace and it will be preserved so as to last thousands of years.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Time capsule is a container of any size or shape, which accommodates documents, photos, and artifacts typical of the current era and is buried underground, for future generations to unearth. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The time capsule requires special engineering so that the contents don’t decay, even if pulled out after a century. Material such as aluminium and stainless steel are used for the encasing, and documents are often reproduced on acid-free paper.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">While the term “time capsule” was coined in the 20th century, among the earliest examples of one dates back to 1777, found by historians inside the statue of Jesus Christ in a church in Spain during restoration work in December 2017.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">There have been a number of prominent examples. One time capsule, outside the Red Fort and placed underground in 1972 by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, was dug out by the subsequent government. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Other time capsules are at a school in Mumbai, IIT-Kanpur, Lovely Professional University in Jalandhar, and Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Historians often criticise the idea as being motivated. This exercise is considered inevitably a subjective exercise, geared towards glorification not to construct the real picture.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'time-capsule', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/0dad/qwl0o2v6mxcsgrs6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/0dad/qwl0o2v6mxcsgrs6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Time capsule', 'metakeyword' => 'Time capsule', 'metadescription' => 'Ahead of the laying of the foundation stone for the Ram temple in Ayodhya, claims and denials have emerged about plans by the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/kpoogpj2odpmv6u/5.Time+capsule.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 44 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5591, 'title' => 'Question hour and Zero hour', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha secretariats notified that there will be no Question Hour during the Monsoon Session of Parliament.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Opposition MPs have criticised the move, saying they will lose the right to question the government.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Question Hour is the liveliest hour in Parliament. It is during this one hour that Members of Parliament ask questions of ministers and hold them accountable for the functioning of their ministries. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The questions that MPs ask are designed to elicit information and trigger suitable action by ministries.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Their questions have exposed financial irregularities and brought data and information regarding government functioning to the public domain. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">While Question Hour is strictly regulated, Zero Hour is an <strong>Indian</strong> parliamentary <strong>innovation</strong>. The phrase does not find mention in the rules of procedure.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Parliament has comprehensive rules for dealing with every aspect of Question Hour. And the presiding officers of the two houses are the final authority with respect to the conduct of Question Hour.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Parliamentary rules provide guidelines on the kind of questions that can be asked by MPs. Questions have to be limited to 150 words. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">They have to be precise and not too general. The question should also be related to an area of responsibility of the Government of India. Questions should not seek information about matters that are secret or are under adjudication before courts. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is the presiding officers of the two Houses who finally decide whether a question raised by an MP will be admitted for answering by the government.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Question Hour in both Houses is held on all days of the session. But there are two days when an exception is made. There is no Question Hour on the day the President addresses MPs from both Houses in the Central Hall. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">MPs can specify whether they want an oral or written response to their questions. They can put an asterisk against their question signifying that they want the minister to answer that question on the floor. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">These are referred to as starred questions. After the minister’s response, the MP who asked the question and other MPs can also ask a follow-up question.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'question-hour-and-zero-hour', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/a4c3/vhwzyiszgopep5q6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/a4c3/vhwzyiszgopep5q6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Question hour and Zero hour', 'metakeyword' => 'Question hour and Zero hour', 'metadescription' => 'The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha secretariats notified that there will be no Question Hour during the Monsoon Session of Parliament. Opposition MPs have criticised', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/13dcowlkn1gdies/2.Question+hour+and+Zero+hour.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 45 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5661, 'title' => 'Breach of Legislature privilege', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A motion for breach of privilege was moved in the Maharashtra Assembly against Republic TV’s Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The powers, privileges, and immunities of either House of the Indian Parliament and of its Members and committees are laid down in Article 105 of the Constitution.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Article 194</strong> deals with the powers, privileges, and immunities of the State Legislatures, their Members, and their committees.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Parliamentary privilege refers to the right and immunity enjoyed by legislatures, in which legislators are granted protection against civil or criminal liability for actions done or statements made in the course of their legislative duties.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">While the Constitution has accorded special privileges and powers to parliamentarians and legislators to maintain the dignity and authority of the Houses, these powers and privileges are not codified. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Any act that obstructs or impedes either House of the state legislature in performing its functions, or which obstructs or impedes any Member or officer of such House in the discharge of his duty, or has a tendency, directly or indirectly, to produce such results is treated as breach of privilege.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is a breach of privilege and contempt of the House to make speeches or to print or publish libel reflecting on the character or proceedings of the House, or its Committees, or on any member of the House for or relating to his character or conduct as a legislator.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Legislative Assembly Speaker or Legislative Council Chairman constitutes a Privileges Committee consisting of 15 members in the Assembly and 11 members in the Council.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Committee will examine whether statements made by him had insulted the state legislature and its Members, and whether their image was maligned before the public.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">If the Committee finds the offender guilty of breach of privilege and contempt, it can recommend the punishment. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The punishment can include communicating the displeasure of the state legislature to the offender, summoning the offender before the House and giving a warning, and even sending the offender to jail.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'breach-of-legislature-privilege', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/727d/12qzhsznqxtyftm6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/727d/12qzhsznqxtyftm6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Breach of Legislature privilege', 'metakeyword' => 'Breach of Legislature privilege', 'metadescription' => 'A motion for breach of privilege was moved in the Maharashtra Assembly against Republic TV’s Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/3vu19gwqw2ylsy1/Breach+of+Legislature+privilege.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 46 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5815, 'title' => 'Regulating TV news channels', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Last week, the Supreme Court came down heavily on a TV channel that was intent on broadcasting a controversial content.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Court underlined the need for laying down clear guidelines, and their effective implementation, for the media against hate speech.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government has made several attempts in the past to regulate the media but all such attempts came crashing down in the wake of public outcry. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Government regulations are not desirable as these could interfere with the freedom of speech and expression enshrined in the Constitution (Article 19).</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The second alternative is self-regulation. Although ideal, it is easier said than done and continues to be a pipedream.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The News Broadcasters Association (NBA), which was set up in 2008, in turn, set up the National Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA), to regulate content.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The NBSA does suffer from some serious shortcomings. First, its writ extended only to its members, which was limited due to its voluntary membership. Those who were unhappy with a verdict found it easy to walk out.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The government needs to step in to provide this unique model with statutory backing, extending its jurisdiction to non- members as well.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'regulating-tv-news-channels', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/b7a8/r92mlmtor12syhy6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/b7a8/r92mlmtor12syhy6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Regulating TV news channels', 'metakeyword' => 'Regulating TV news channels', 'metadescription' => 'The Court underlined the need for laying down clear guidelines, and their effective implementation, for the media against hate speech.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/yfq1nb2h8n3idbc/3.Regulating+TV+news+channels.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 47 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5801, 'title' => 'Essential items', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> Rajya Sabha has passed the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 which is aimed at deregulating commodities such as cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oils, onion and potatoes.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill had been introduced and passed in Lok Sabha last week. It replaces an ordinance that the government had promulgated on June 5, along with two other ordinances on the farm sector.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">After the amendment, the supply of certain foodstuffs — including cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oils, potato — can be regulated only under extraordinary circumstances, which include an extraordinary price rise, war, famine, and natural calamity of a severe nature. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In effect, the amendment takes these items out from the purview of Section 3(1), which gives powers to central government to “control production, supply, distribution, etc, of essential commodities”.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">There is no specific definition of essential commodities in the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. Section 2(A) states that an “essential commodity” means a commodity specified in the Schedule of the Act.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Act gives powers to the central government to add or remove a commodity in the Schedule. The Centre, if it is satisfied that it is necessary to do so in public interest, can notify an item as essential, in consultation with state governments.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Schedule at present contains seven commodities — drugs; fertilisers, whether inorganic, organic or mixed; foodstuffs including edible oils; hank yarn made wholly from cotton; petroleum and petroleum products; raw jute and jute textiles; seeds of food-crops and seeds of fruits and vegetables, seeds of cattle fodder, jute seed, cotton seed.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">By declaring a commodity as essential, the government can control the production, supply, and distribution of that commodity, and impose a stock limit.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The key changes seek to free agricultural markets from the limitations imposed by permits and mandis that were originally designed for an era of scarcity. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The move is expected to attract private investment in the value chain of commodities removed from the list of essentials, such as cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oils, onions and potatoes.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The private sector had so far hesitated about investing in cold chains and storage facilities for perishable items as most of these commodities were under the ambit of the EC Act, and could attract sudden stock limits. The amendment seeks to address such concerns.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'essential-items', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/c2ea/zeefmi4zugteth86g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/c2ea/zeefmi4zugteth86g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Essential items', 'metakeyword' => 'Essential items', 'metadescription' => ' Rajya Sabha has passed the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 which is aimed at deregulating commodities such as cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oils,', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/n8fvksn2szi1zx6/4.Essential_items.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 48 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5802, 'title' => 'Appointment of Supreme court judges', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As the US Presidential election approaches, Republicans and Democrats are in a tussle regarding filling up of the Supreme Court seat, vacated by the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The polarising debate has dominated headlines, with Republicans hurrying to push through their nominee at the last moment, and livid Democrats claiming breach of precedent.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Federal and state courts in the US are separate, and the 9-member US Supreme Court is the apex forum of the federal system. State systems have their own top courts, and are typically called State Supreme Courts.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In India, judges have a fixed retirement age – 65 for the Supreme Court and 62 for High Courts. In the US, federal judges can serve for life– their terms only ending if they resign, pass away or if they are impeached and convicted by Congress.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The US Constitution lays down no requirements for Supreme Court justices. Although the 9-member Bench typically consists of previous circuit court judges, it has included in its ranks distinguished lawyers, law professors, even politicians.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Appointment of SC judges in India</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Every Judge of the Supreme Court shall be appointed by the <strong>President</strong> by warrant under his/her hand and seal after consultation with such of the Judges of the Supreme Court and of the High Court in the States as President may deem necessary for the purpose and shall hold office until he attains the age of <strong>65</strong> years.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Eligibility</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Indian Constitution says in <strong>Article 124 [3]</strong> that in order to be appointed as a judge in the Supreme Court of India, the person has to fit in the following criteria:</span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He/She is a citizen of India and</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">has been for at least five years a Judge of a High Court or of two or more such Courts in succession; or</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">has been for at least ten years an advocate of a High Court or of two or more such Courts in succession; or</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">is, in the opinion of the President, a distinguished jurist.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Important features</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Once appointed, the judges can hold office until the complete 65 years. They cannot be removed during their tenure except on proved misbehaviour or incapacity.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The procedure for removal is too difficult. The motion has to be passed by a majority of the total members of both houses of Parliament and two-thirds of the members present and voting.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The salaries of the Judges and the administrative expenses of the Supreme Court are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India [CFI] and are not subjected to the vote of Parliament.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Judges of the Supreme Court cannot plead or act in any court or before any authority within the territory of India after retirement.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'appointment-of-supreme-court-judges', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/f299/5eiw8hovs6w0uwi6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/f299/5eiw8hovs6w0uwi6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Appointment of Supreme court judges', 'metakeyword' => 'Appointment of Supreme court judges', 'metadescription' => 'As the US Presidential election approaches, Republicans and Democrats are in a tussle regarding filling up of the Supreme Court seat, vacated by the death', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/aro927n064b7oj4/5.Appointment_of_Supreme_court_judges.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 49 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5830, 'title' => 'Astronauts voting from space', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">NASA astronaut Kate Rubins, who will be aboard the International Space Station (ISS) on the day of the US presidential elections, will cast her vote from space.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Aboard the ISS, missions can last for over six months, and American astronauts have been able to cast their vote via a special absentee ballot system.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In 1997, a bill passed by the Texas legislatures established the technical voting process for astronauts, all of whom live in Texas and gave them the ability to vote remotely from space. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In the 2016 presidential elections, astronauts Edward Michael Fincke and Greg Chamitoff, who were living and working onboard the ISS, cast their vote by accessing a secure secret ballot.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In 1997, NASA’s David Wolf became the first astronaut to cast his using this provision while he was aboard the Russian Space Station Mir.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The rule states that a person who is on a space flight during the early-voting period or on election day can vote by this method provided they apply by a Federal Postcard Application (FPCA).</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A day before US Election Day, an encrypted electronic ballot is uplinked to the astronauts, who then use a set of unique credentials that are sent to them individually by e-mail.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In this way, they can access their ballots and after casting their vote, they downlink them back to Earth to the county clerk’s office.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Absentee voting system in India</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Only certain categories of people are eligible to register as postal voters. The Representation of the People Act-1950<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absentee_ballot#cite_note-47">[47]</a> (RPA) section 20(8) allows postal ballots for:</span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">People on polling duty</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Members of the armed forces and state police as well as their wives</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Employees of the Government of India who are officially posted abroad</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The President</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">People in preventive detention, </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Disabled and those above the age of 65 years old can use postal vote. </span></span></p> </li> <li><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Prisoners can not vote at all.</span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'astronauts-voting-from-space', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/b4b3/c9xew53m2dp4zvv6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/b4b3/c9xew53m2dp4zvv6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Astronauts voting from space', 'metakeyword' => 'Astronauts voting from space', 'metadescription' => 'NASA astronaut Kate Rubins, who will be aboard the International Space Station (ISS) on the day of the US presidential elections, will cast her vote from space.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/3vjsc3notpeh4q2/3.Astronauts_voting_from_space.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 50 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5887, 'title' => 'Consent and reliability in narco and polygraph tests', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A spokesperson for the Uttar Pradesh government said that polygraph and narcoanalysis tests would be conducted as part of the investigation into the Hathras murder case.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tests would be conducted on all people on the accused and victim side, apart from police officers involved in the case and other persons related to the case.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A<strong> </strong>polygraph<strong> </strong>test is based on the assumption that physiological responses that are triggered when a person is lying are different from what they would be otherwise.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Instruments like cardio-cuffs or sensitive electrodes are attached to the person, and variables such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, change in sweat gland activity, blood flow, etc., are measured as questions are put to them.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A numerical value is assigned to each response to conclude whether the person is telling the truth, is deceiving, or is uncertain.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Narcoanalysis, by contrast, involves the injection of a drug, sodium pentothal, which induces a hypnotic or sedated state in which the subject’s imagination is neutralised, and they are expected to divulge information that is true.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The drug, referred to as “truth serum” in this context, was used in larger doses as anaesthesia during surgery, and is said to have been used during World War II for intelligence operations.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">However, neither method has been proven scientifically to have a 100% success rate, and remain contentious in the medical field as well.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Consent and permission</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In ‘Selvi & Ors vs State of Karnataka & Anr’ (2010), a Supreme Court Bench comprising Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan and Justices R V Raveendran and J M Panchal ruled that no lie detector tests should be administered “except on the basis of consent of the accused”.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Those who volunteer must have access to a lawyer, and have the physical, emotional, and legal implications of the test explained to them by police and the lawyer.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The results of the tests cannot be considered to be “confessions”, because those in a drugged-induced state cannot exercise a choice in answering questions that are put to them.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The court examined the scope of Article 20(3), the right against self-incrimination, which states that no accused can be compelled to be a witness against himself.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'consent-and-reliability-in-narco-and-polygraph-tests', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/3660/h5pmne9evxuoywz6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/3660/h5pmne9evxuoywz6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Consent and reliability in narco and polygraph tests', 'metakeyword' => 'Consent and reliability in narco and polygraph tests', 'metadescription' => 'A spokesperson for the Uttar Pradesh government said that polygraph and narcoanalysis tests would be conducted as part of the investigation into the Hathras murder case.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/4ri3i5i9k6ls7so/5.Consent_and_reliability_in_narco_and_polygraph_tests.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 51 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5966, 'title' => 'EC allocation of party symbols', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As Bihar elections approach, smaller parties are engaged in finding a suitable electoral symbol for their candidature.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Electoral symbols help the several unrecognised parties and independent candidates differentiate themselves from one another and help voters identify the party of their choice.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In Indian elections, symbols are crucial campaigning tools to connect with the voters. Symbols have become a crucial part of the electoral process ever since India held its first national polls in 1951-52. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Since nearly 85 percent of the electorate were illiterate at that point, visual symbols were allotted to parties and candidates to help them identify the party of their choice.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As per the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) (Amendment) Order, 2017, party symbols are either “reserved” or “free”. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">While eight national parties and 64 state parties across the country have “reserved” symbols, the Election Commission also has a pool of nearly 200 “free” symbols that are allotted to the thousands of unrecognised regional parties that pop up before elections.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to EC, there are 2,538 unrecognised parties in India. If a party recognised in a particular state contests in elections in another state, it can “reserve” the symbol being used by it, provided the symbol is not being used or bears resemblance to that of any other party.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As per the guidelines, to get a symbol allotted, a party/candidate has to provide a list of three symbols from the EC’s free symbols list at the time of filing nomination papers. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Among them, one symbol is allotted to the party/candidate on a first-come-first-serve basis.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">When a recognised political party splits, the Election Commission takes the decision on assigning the symbol. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Similarly, following Jayalalithaa’s death, the AIADMK split into two factions and both had staked claim to the iconic two leaves election symbol, leading the EC to freeze the symbol. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">After hearing, the EC allotted the two leaves symbol to the Palaniswami-Panneerselvam faction, ruling that they enjoyed the support of the majority in the AIADMK’s legislative and organisational wings.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'ec-allocation-of-party-symbols', 'image' => '', 'fbimage' => '', 'metatitle' => 'EC allocation of party symbols', 'metakeyword' => 'EC allocation of party symbols', 'metadescription' => 'Electoral symbols help the several unrecognised parties and independent candidates differentiate themselves from one another and help voters identify the party', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => '', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 52 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5976, 'title' => 'Coal block allocation', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Last week, a special CBI court convicted Dilip Ray, former Minister of State for Coal, for his alleged involvement in the coal block allocation scandal.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It relates to allocation of a coal block in Giridih district of Jharkhand to a private company in violation of guidelines.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The CBI had noted that the Coal Ministry through its guidelines had specifically said no company engaged in production of iron and steel or sponge iron could get a captive coal mine if its production capacity was less than 1 metric tonne per annum (MTPA) in opencast mining. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">However, when private company Castron Technologies Ltd applied for Brahmadiha Coal Block in Giridih, the minister agreed to relax guidelines and allow the grant despite it not being eligible.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In the early 1990s, the government decided to allocate such coal blocks to private companies that were not part of the production plan of PSUs Coal India Ltd and Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL). </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">At that time there were no concrete guidelines for allocation of blocks as coal mining was largely restricted to PSUs and many geographic locations were seen as unsuitable for profitable mining.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In March 2012, a leaked draft report of the CAG revealed irregularities in the allocation of blocks and pegged the loss to the exchequer at Rs 10.76 lakh crore, which subsequently was reduced to 1.8 lakh crore.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The CAG had argued that the government had the authority to auction the coal blocks but chose not to and as a result allocatees received a “windfall gain”.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The coal blocks allocation cases are among the CBI’s longest running probes, with the agency last registering a fresh FIR in the case in January 2020. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It has since 2012 filed multiple charge-sheets and even closed many cases for lack of evidence or culpability.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Unlike the 2G spectrum case, where all the accused have been acquitted, CBI has secured multiple convictions in the coal cases. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">In the Vini Iron and Steel case, where HC Gupta had been convicted, the court also convicted and sentenced former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda to three years of imprisonment.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'coal-block-allocation', 'image' => '', 'fbimage' => '', 'metatitle' => 'Coal block allocation', 'metakeyword' => 'Coal block allocation', 'metadescription' => 'Last week, a special CBI court convicted Dilip Ray, former Minister of State for Coal, for his alleged involvement in the coal block allocation scandal.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => '', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 53 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5986, 'title' => 'New order on Assam’s NRC', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Earlier this week, the National Register of Citizens (NRC) authorities in Assam ordered the deletion of “ineligible” names that had erroneously made it into the prepared register.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Foreigners Tribunals (FTs) are quasi judicial bodies meant to give opinion on whether a person is an “illegal foreigner” as per The Foreigners Act, 1946. </span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As per the laws governing the preparation of the NRC, persons falling in the above categories cannot be included in the NRC.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">One explanation that is offered is that such persons may have got their names included using fraudulent documents and by deceitful means.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The other reason that officials often cite is that there is no synchronised real time database, which reflects the status of a suspected ‘foreigner’ to the NRC officials.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The NRC process has hit a wall as of now since the rejection orders to the 19 lakh excluded persons, which will allow them to appeal against the exclusion in the Foreigners’ Tribunals.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Officials have cited the Covid-19 pandemic as well as discrepancies in some rejection orders, which need to be re-checked, as reasons for the delay. </span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>NRC</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The National Register of Citizens (NRC) is a register of all Indian citizens whose creation is mandated by the 2003 amendment of the Citizenship Act, 1955. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Its purpose is to document all the legal citizens of India so that the illegal immigrants can be identified and deported. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">It has been implemented for the state of Assam starting in 2013–2014.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'new-order-on-assams-nrc', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/dd46/o52riquu7at41yw6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/dd46/o52riquu7at41yw6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'New order on Assam’s NRC', 'metakeyword' => 'New order on Assam’s NRC', 'metadescription' => 'Foreigners Tribunals (FTs) are quasi judicial bodies meant to give opinion on whether a person is an “illegal foreigner” as per The Foreigners Act, 1946. ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/zrgvkadl2hpy744/4.New_order_on_Assam%25E2%2580%2599s_NRC.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 54 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 6001, 'title' => 'Revival of Gorkhaland issue', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Earlier this month, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had invited the West Bengal government, the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA), and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) for a tripartite meeting to “discuss issues related to Gorkhaland” in Delhi.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The separate state of Gorkhaland has been a longstanding demand of Gorkhas living in the Darjeeling hills. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">GTA is the local autonomous body in the Darjeeling hills, which is headed by the Binoy Tamang-led faction of the GJM that supports the TMC.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The other GJM faction led by Bimal Gurung supports the BJP. Gurung had signed the GTA accord on behalf of the undivided GJM in July 2011.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Despite winning the Darjeeling Parliamentary seat successively since 2009, the BJP has not been able to address the half-a-century old issue. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">However, the issue of Gorkhaland always resurfaces during the time of elections and is pushed under the carpet once polls are over.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The bid to win over the people in North Bengal hills poses the risk of falling out with the people of rest of Bengal. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Under the present circumstances, it remains to be seen what stance the BJP takes to address the issue without jeopardising its poll prospects in Bengal.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Gorkhaland</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration is an Autonomous District Council for the Darjeeling and Kalimpong areas of West Bengal.</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The GTA was formed in 2012 to replace the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, which was formed in 1988 and administered the Darjeeling hills for 23 years.[1][2] </span></span></li> <li style="margin-right: 0cm;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">GTA presently consists of three hill subdivisions Darjeeling, Kurseong, Mirik, some areas of Siliguri subdivision of Darjeeling district and the whole of Kalimpong district under its authority.</span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'revival-of-gorkhaland-issue', 'image' => '', 'fbimage' => '', 'metatitle' => 'Revival of Gorkhaland issue', 'metakeyword' => 'Revival of Gorkhaland issue', 'metadescription' => 'Earlier this month, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had invited the West Bengal government, the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA), and the Gorkha ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => '', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 55 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 6053, 'title' => 'US sues Google for anti-trust', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The United States Department of Justice (DoJ) sued Google, alleging that the company had abused its dominant position in a way that had harmed its competitors as well as customers.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Eleven US states have joined the DoJ in the anti-trust lawsuit against Google for unlawfully maintaining a monopoly in general search services and search advertising.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The main concerns are business practices that may have led to massive concentrations of economic power in a few companies such as Google. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Earlier this month, a US House of Representatives panel submitted the report of a bipartisan investigation into the working of Amazon, Apple, Google and Facebook. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">These companies have been on the radar of governments in many countries for being big spenders and trying to steamroll competition by either buying out their rivals or pushing vendors to avoid working with these rivals. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The report called for the big technology companies to be broken up and for a presumptive prohibition against future mergers and acquisitions by the dominant platform.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The challenge for Google would be continued scrutiny into its biggest revenue generating segment, which is advertising gained from its search engine and affiliate websites. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Apart from increased federal scrutiny, big tech companies are also likely to face more questions and probes from states in the US, which have in the recent past hauled these firms up for not doing more to control their influence on day-to-day aspects of life.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Over the last three years, Google has had multiple run-ins with the CCI for alleged abuse of its dominant position in the search engine market, the Android smartphone and television market, as well as the Google Flights service.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In 2019, India’s antitrust body had held Google guilty of misuse of its dominant position in the mobile Android market and said the company had imposed unfair conditions on device manufacturers to prevent them from using other operating systems.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Google has challenged the CCI findings in forums such as the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal and the Supreme Court.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Although the lawsuit is the first of its kind, it is unlikely that there will be any swift action on the company in the near term.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'us-sues-google-for-anti-trust', 'image' => '', 'fbimage' => '', 'metatitle' => 'US sues Google for anti-trust', 'metakeyword' => 'US sues Google for anti-trust', 'metadescription' => 'The United States Department of Justice (DoJ) sued Google, alleging that the company had abused its dominant position in a way that had harmed its competitors', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => '', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 56 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 6056, 'title' => 'Maharashtra withdraws general consent for CBI', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Maharashtra government has withdrawn “general consent” given to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe cases in the state. </span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The decision means the central agency will have to get consent from the state government for every case it registers in Maharashtra.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Maharashtra government was vary about the Special Crimes Division taking over the probe into the alleged TRP scam being investigated by the Mumbai Police. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Since the CBI took over a similar case of manipulation of TRPs, registered by the Uttar Pradesh police, the Maharashtra government feared the central agency would include in its purview the case probed by the Mumbai Police, and attempt to take over.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">One of the reasons behind the state’s anxiety was the similar manner in which the Rajput case had been taken over by the CBI.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">However, the withdrawal of general consent to the CBI will not impact cases which the CBI is already investigating, like the Rajput case.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has jurisdiction across the country and does not need special permission from state governments.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Even in the Enforcement Directorate (ED) case in the irrigation scam is not going to make any difference as the ED conducts its probe under the PMLA and FERA Act.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The decision will increase work for both the CBI and the state government. Every time the CBI traps some central government employee taking a bribe, it will need to seek approval from the Maharashtra government before registering a case.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Similarly, the Maharashtra government department too will be burdened with approval requests on a case-by-case basis.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'maharashtra-withdraws-general-consent-for-cbi', 'image' => '', 'fbimage' => '', 'metatitle' => 'Maharashtra withdraws general consent for CBI', 'metakeyword' => 'Maharashtra withdraws general consent for CBI', 'metadescription' => 'The Maharashtra government has withdrawn “general consent” given to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe cases in the state. ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => '', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 57 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 6165, 'title' => 'Star campaigner', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Kamal Nath’s Star Campaigner status was revoked by the Election Commission for his comments on a woman candidate.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Kamal Nath was campaigning for his party for the bypolls for 28 constituencies that is scheduled to take place.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">There is no law that defines who is a star campaigner. It is a status that political parties contesting an election give to certain big names who the parties feel have more vote-fetching ability in the polls than others.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A star campaigner is a celebrity vote seeker in an election for a party. This person can be a politician or even a film star. There is no law governing who can or cannot be made a star campaigner.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">They are nominated by the concerned political parties specifying their constituencies and duration of the status.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A ‘recognised’ party declared as such by the Election Commission -- can nominate a maximum of 40 star campaigners. An unrecognised political party can nominate a maximum of 20 star campaigners.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Importance of star campaigner</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Expenditure incurred on electioneering by the star campaigner is not added to a candidate’s poll expenditure giving him/her more leeway. These expenses will be borne by the political parties.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">For candidate to avoid campaign expenditure, the star campaigner has to limit oneself to general campaigning for the party.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">If she/he shares stage with a candidate, the entire campaign cost except expenditure incurred on travelling will added to the candidate’s election expenses. This applies even if the star campaigner seeks vote for the candidate taking his or her name.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">If more than one candidates share the stage with the star campaigner, the expenditure incurred on the rally will be shared equally by the contestants.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">If the candidates are not present but their posters or photographs have been displayed in their constituencies where a star campaigner holds a poll rally, the entire expense will be added to the election expenses of the contestants.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Ministers as star campaigners</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">If the Prime minister or a former prime minister is star campaigner, the expenditure incurred on security including on the bullet-proof vehicles will be borne by the government and will not be added to the election expenses of the party or the individual candidate.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">If another campaigner travels with the prime minister or a former minister, the individual candidate will have to bear 50 percent of the expenditure incurred on the security arrangements.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Representation of Peoples Act</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The Representation of the People Act, 1951 provides for the conduct of election of the Houses of Parliament and to the House or Houses of the Legislature of each State, the qualifications and disqualifications for membership of those Houses, the corrupt practices and other offences at or in connection with such elections and the decision of doubts and disputes arising out of or in connection with such elections.</span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'star-campaigner', 'image' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/d8f1/xawbodcut9ztoha6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/d8f1/xawbodcut9ztoha6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Star campaigner', 'metakeyword' => 'Star campaigner', 'metadescription' => 'Former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Kamal Nath’s Star Campaigner status was revoked by the Election Commission for his comments on a woman candidate. ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/7gzythgpfxkaejp/4.Star_campaigner.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 58 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 6247, 'title' => 'History of obscenity', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Bollywood actor Milind Soman has been charged by the Goa poilice for obscenity after he tweeted a photo of himself on Goa beach.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">An FIR was filed against him under Section 294 (obscenity) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) along with other relevant sections of the Information Technology Act, 2000.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Section 294 of the IPC deals with obscenity, along with Section 292 and 293. The expression ‘obscenity’, or what is ‘obscene’ is not clearly defined in the IPC.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The law was introduced as the British were not very comfortable with showing skin. There were fixed notions of what was ‘moral’ and ‘acceptable’.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Famous Urdu writer Sadat Hasan Manto was tried for obscenity no less than six times – thrice, prior to 1947 in British India under Section 292 of the IPC, and an equal number of times after independence in Pakistan.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Obscenity for written materials</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The provision says “a book, a pamphlet, paper, writing, drawing, painting, representation figure or other object shall be deemed to be obscene if it is lascivious or appeals to the prurient interest.”</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Additionally, all material which tends “to deprave and corrupt person” falls within the vice of the provision.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It essentially outlaws selling, distributing, and letting to hire, importing or exporting material, making a profit out of it commercially, or advertising it or making it known by any means at large.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Gauging obscenity</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Roth test</strong></span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Under this test, the material is obscene if the “dominant theme taken as a whole appeals to the prurient interest” of the “average person, applying contemporary community standards”. The insistence was on viewing the work “as a whole”.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Hicklin test</strong></span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Hicklin test allows for scenes to be looked at sans context. In other words, the test permits one to look at the allegedly obscene material in a vacuum, which isn’t ideal.</span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'history-of-obscenity', 'image' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9377/ivsr46m8uxd900v6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9377/ivsr46m8uxd900v6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'History of obscenity | History of obscenity under Section 294', 'metakeyword' => 'History of obscenity | History of obscenity under Section 294', 'metadescription' => 'An FIR was filed against him under Section 294 (obscenity) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) along with other relevant sections of the Information Technology Act,', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/y0jiicypqavx1wo/5.History_of_obscenity.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 59 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 6276, 'title' => 'American statehood to Puerto Rico', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> The United States territory of Puerto Rico has voted in favour of statehood, and thus be treated at par with the current 50 states of the country. </span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Puerto Rico is currently given a commonwealth under the US flag. They do not have the right as other states of the federation.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">While Democrats have generally been more open to the idea of admitting the two entities as states, Republican party remains firmly opposed to any such proposition. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The referendums in themselves have no power to change Puerto Rico’s status. They are non-binding, meaning their verdicts have no power to compel the US Congress to act in any way.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">For both Puerto Rico and D.C. statehood to succeed, both chambers of Congress (House and Senate) would have to support the initiative, which would then require the approval of the US President. </span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Puerto Rico</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Spanish-speaking Island is located in the Caribbean Sea, about 1,600 km southeast of the US state of Florida.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Since its discovery by the explorer Christopher Columbus in 1493, Puerto Rico was a part of the Spanish Empire for over 4 centuries until 1898, when it was annexed by the United States.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In 1917, Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship, but the island itself was never made a full state, and continues to remain a “US territory”, along with Guam, North Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and the US Virgin Islands. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Like its counterparts, Puerto Rico gets only one member in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the US Congress– but who has no voting power. Puerto Ricans also cannot vote in US presidential elections.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Statehood gaining in India</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The <strong>constitutional</strong> <strong>power</strong> to create new states and union territories in India is solely reserved to the <strong>Parliament</strong> of <strong>India</strong>. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Parliament can do so by announcing new states/union territories, separating territory from an existing state or merging two or more states/union territories or parts of them. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">President refers the bill to the State Assembly for its views giving it a certain period of time. Parliament is not obligated to follow on the views of State Assembly.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">If the State Assembly does not express its opinion within the specified period of time, the bill could be introduced in the Parliament after the expiry of the specified period.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Article 3</strong> of Indian Constitution addresses the topic of ‘Formation of new States and alteration of areas, boundaries or names of existing States’. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It says, Parliament may by law:</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">form a new State by separation of territory from any State or by uniting two or more States or parts of States or by uniting any territory to a part of any State;</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">increase the area of any State;</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">diminish the area of any State;</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> alter the boundaries of any State;</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""> alter the name of any State;</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'american-statehood-to-puerto-rico', 'image' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/b288/umvq59hqtbsb9x66g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/b288/umvq59hqtbsb9x66g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'American statehood to Puerto Rico | Statehood movement in Puerto Rico', 'metakeyword' => 'American statehood to Puerto Rico | Statehood movement in Puerto Rico', 'metadescription' => ' The United States territory of Puerto Rico has voted in favour of statehood, and thus be treated at par with the current 50 states of the country. ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/f887ywrw8rzl3be/4.American_statehood_to_Puerto_Rico.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 60 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 6314, 'title' => 'Mahajan Commission report on border dispute', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa condemned comments by Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, over the border dispute between the two states.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Pawar sparked a controversy, when he called the incorporation of Belgaum (Belagavi), Karwar and Nipani areas of Karnataka into Maharashtra a “dream” of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The erstwhile Bombay Presidency included the present-day Karnataka districts of Vijayapura, Belagavi, Dharwad, and Uttara-Kannada.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In 1948, the Belgaum municipality requested that the district, having a predominantly Marathi-speaking population, be incorporated into the proposed Maharashtra state.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">However, the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, which divided states on linguistic and administrative lines, made Belgaum and 10 talukas of Bombay State a part of the then Mysore State.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In September 1957, the Bombay government lodged a protest with the Centre, leading to the formation of the Mahajan Commission under former Chief Justice Mehr Chand Mahajan in October 1966.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Mahajan report</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Commission recommended that 264 villages be transferred to Maharashtra (which formed in 1960) and that Belgaum and 247 villages remain with Karnataka. It also recommended that Kasargod of Kerala be transferred to Karnataka.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Maharashtra rejected the report, calling it biased and illogical, and demanded another review. Karnataka welcomed the report, and has ever since continued to press for implementation.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">In 2004, the Maharashtra government moved the Supreme Court for a settlement of the border dispute under Article 131(b) of the Constitution. The case is pending in the apex court.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'mahajan-commission-report-on-border-dispute', 'image' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/d854/6ou8d0dxk4ysjta6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/d854/6ou8d0dxk4ysjta6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Mahajan Commission report on border dispute', 'metakeyword' => 'Mahajan Commission report on border dispute', 'metadescription' => 'Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa condemned comments by Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, over the border dispute between the two states.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/i6ahnqfgo8yebxs/2.Mahajan_Commission_report_on_border_dispute.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 61 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 6324, 'title' => 'SC decision on private space', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Delhi government has told the Delhi High Court that a personal vehicle on a public road cannot be said to be a private zone rather it is a public zone.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The argument was provided by the state to defend its decision of making it compulsory for people to wear masks when they are travelling in their personal or official vehicles, alone or otherwise.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Due to the widespread prevalence of Covid-19 in the national capital, the Chairman of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) had directed wearing of the mask by any person who is moving in any public place is essential.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The order also went on explicitly state that “any person moving around in his personal and official vehicle must be wearing these masks compulsorily”.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The petitioner’s argument is that his vehicle is a private zone, he was travelling alone, and that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has clarified that no such guideline has been issued by the central government.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Supreme Court’s opinion</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Supreme Court was hearing a plea by Bihar based individuals, who had been charged for consuming alcohol in public space.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The individuals had challenged the verdict on the grounds that they were in their cars when they were apprehended and it does not qualify to be a public space.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">However, the Bihar government had defined public space as “any place where public has access to, whether as a matter of right or not”. They said the place qualified as public space as it was apprehended on a road.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The court dismissed the argument of petitioners that a vehicle is not covered by the definition of “public place” as given in the law amended in 2016 by Bihar.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'sc-decision-on-private-space', 'image' => '', 'fbimage' => '', 'metatitle' => 'SC decision on private space', 'metakeyword' => 'SC decision on private space', 'metadescription' => 'The Delhi government has told the Delhi High Court that a personal vehicle on a public road cannot be said to be a private zone rather it is a public zone.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => '', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 62 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 6332, 'title' => 'Tamil Nadu bans online gaming', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit has promulgated an ordinance that banned online gaming in the state.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">With the arrival of affordable internet, all the arcade-based multiplayer games moved online. These days, nearly all games are played online when the user connects their device to a central server hosted by the gaming company, most of them are free and meant only for entertainment.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Multiplayer games such as Defense of the Ancients or Dota, Players Unknown’s Battleground or PUBG, Counter-Strike (CS) although free for most users, provides the option of buying in-game additions to the player’s avatar. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Other multiplayer card games such as Rummy, Blackjack, and Poker require the user to invest some money to enter the game to play with other players across the globe.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Reasons for the ban</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Due to online gaming, innocent people, mainly youngsters, are being cheated, and some people have committed suicide. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Many people have become bankrupt and family issues have cropped up between husbands and wives, leading to divorces.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>What all are banned?</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Any form of wagering or betting in cyberspace by using computers or any other communication device, common gaming houses, and any electronic transfer of funds to distribute winnings or prize money has also been banned.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This effectively means that players in the state will not be able to purchase any add-on for the games they play, go to gaming arcades or participate in online gaming tournaments. </span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Other states</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">While gambling and betting as a sport are banned across the country, nearly ten states in India such as Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Kerala, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Sikkim and West Bengal have their lottery systems.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Most states, however, are opposed to online gambling or betting as there are very few regulations to control the number of players and the investment that can be made in the game. </span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'tamil-nadu-bans-online-gaming', 'image' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/3a51/bn5rj291osw0thz6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/3a51/bn5rj291osw0thz6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Tamil Nadu bans online gaming', 'metakeyword' => 'Tamil Nadu bans online gaming', 'metadescription' => 'With the arrival of affordable internet, all the arcade-based multiplayer games moved online. These days, nearly all games are played online', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/yr7om1gqhvgvs8d/5.Tamil_Nadu_bans_online_gaming.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 63 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 6396, 'title' => 'President’s powers to pardon', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">US president Donald Trump has pardoned his long standing advisor and former NSA Michael Flynn for his role in lying to FBI.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The President of US has the constitutional right to pardon or commute sentences related to federal crimes. This power is considered absolute and unconditional.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The power only applies to federal crimes and not state crimes that come under state laws. They can still be tried under state laws.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The pardoning powers of the Indian President are elucidated in Art 72 of the Indian Constitution. There are five different types of pardoning which are mandated by law.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">President can grant pardon to a person awarded death sentence. But a governor of a state does not enjoy this power.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The pardoning power of the president is not absolute. It is governed by the advice of the Council of Ministers. This has not been discussed by the constitution but is the practical truth. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The President can return the considerations of the cabinet once but has to give assent if Council of Ministers decides against any change.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Types of pardons</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Pardon</strong>: means completely absolving the person of the crime and letting him go free. The pardoned criminal will be like a normal citizen.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Commutation</strong>: means changing the type of punishment given to the guilty into a less harsh one, for example, a death penalty commuted to a life sentence.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Reprieve</strong>: means a delay allowed in the execution of a sentence, usually a death sentence, for a guilty person to allow him some time to apply for Presidential Pardon or some other legal remedy to prove his innocence or successful rehabilitation.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Respite</strong>: means reducing the quantum or degree of the punishment to a criminal in view of some special circumstances, like pregnancy, mental condition etc.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Remission</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">: means changing the quantum of the punishment without changing its nature, for example reducing twenty year rigorous imprisonment to ten years.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'presidents-powers-to-pardon', 'image' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/54b2/lnhzlvdkf6j6opq6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/54b2/lnhzlvdkf6j6opq6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'President’s powers to pardon | pardon rules | Types of pardons', 'metakeyword' => 'President’s powers to pardon | pardon rules | Types of pardons', 'metadescription' => 'The President of US has the constitutional right to pardon or commute sentences related to federal crimes. This power is considered absolute and unconditional.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/q8k2gm80zfzj263/4.President%25E2%2580%2599s_powers_to_pardon.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 64 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 6136, 'title' => 'Rajasthan farm Bills', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Rajasthan Assembly tabled three Bills to negate the impact of Centre’s new farm laws cleared by the Parliament in September.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government introduced The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill, 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill, 2020, and The Essential Commodities (Special Provisions and Rajasthan Amendment) Bill, 2020.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The introduction of the Bills come in the backdrop of fierce protests by farmers, especially in Punjab and Haryana, after the Central government passed the legislations hurriedly in the Parliament.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The three Bills introduced in Rajasthan are similar to the amendment Bills passed by Punjab, another Congress ruled state, on October 20. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">For the first two Bills, the state government cites “extraordinary outrage amongst the farmers, farm labourers and all others engaged in incidental and ancillary agricultural activities, including those engaged in production, handling and sale of agricultural produce including vegetables, fruits etc” due to the central laws.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The state government says the central laws are vulnerable to encroachment and manipulation by vested corporate interests through provisions contained therein and leaving the farmer open to the vagaries of market forces.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">For the third Bill — The Essential Commodities (Special Provisions and Rajasthan Amendment) Bill, 2020, the state says that the amendment passed by the Centre empowers the government to control production, supply and distribution of essential commodities. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill, which relates to the Centre’s Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, seeks to penalise traders, if they harass farmers, with a punishment of 3-7 years or a minimum fine of Rs 5 lakh, or both. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Central law prohibited imposition of any “market fee or cess or levy” on any farmer or trader or electronic trading in a farmers’ produce trade area. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Rajasthan Bill allows the state to impose a fee/cess, etc on agricultural produce brought or bought or sold “by a corporate or trader” and then credit it back to farmers, through various means, for their welfare.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">It also states that a dispute may be resolved through the State APMC Act rather than through a sub-divisional Magistrate, as given in the Central Act.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'rajasthan-farm-bills', 'image' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/d694/eunnzry9hfdjktv6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/d694/eunnzry9hfdjktv6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Rajasthan farm Bills', 'metakeyword' => 'Rajasthan farm Bills', 'metadescription' => 'The Rajasthan Assembly tabled three Bills to negate the impact of Centre’s new farm laws cleared by the Parliament in September.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/vudc3i8xlqo2i2e/5.Rajasthan_farm_Bills.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 65 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 6213, 'title' => 'Chief Information Commission', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha has been sworn in as the new Chief Information Commissioner of India by the President.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Chief Information Commission (CIC) is a statutory body in India to act upon complaints received from individuals who have been unable to submit requests of information to a Central or State Public Information Officer under the <a href="https://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/right-to-information-rti/">Right to Information</a> Act (RTI Act).</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The CIC was constituted with effect from 12th October 2005 under the <strong>RTI Act 2005</strong>. Its jurisdiction extends upon all central public authorities.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Composition and appointment</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The CIC is headed by the Chief Information Commissioner. He/she is assisted by ten Information Commissioners. The Chief Information Commissioner holds the office for <strong>five</strong> years. They shall not be eligible for re-appointment.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The salaries and allowances payable to and other terms and conditions of service of the Chief Information Commissioner shall be the same as that of the Chief Election Commissioner.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The commissioners are appointed by the President of India on the recommendation of a committee comprising of: <strong>Prime Minister (Chairperson), Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, </strong>and<strong> a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the PM</strong>.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Functions</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The commission can order inquiry into any matter if there are reasonable grounds.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The commission has the power to secure compliance of its decisions from the public authority.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The commission may recommend steps which ought to be taken for promoting such conformity, if public authority does not conform to the provisions of this act.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is the duty of the commission to receive and inquire into a complaint from any person:</span></span></p> </li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Who has not received response to his information request within the specified time limits;</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Who thinks information given is incomplete, misleading or false and any other matter relating to obtaining information.</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Who has not been able to submit an information request because of non-appointment of a Public Information Officer;</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Who thinks the fees charged are unreasonable;</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Who has refused information that was requested.</span></span></li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During the inquiry of a complaint, the commission may examine any record which is under the control of the public authority and no such record may be withheld from it on any grounds. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">While inquiring, the commission has the powers of a civil court</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The commission submits an annual report to the central government on the implementation of the provisions of this act. The central government places this report before each house of Parliament.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'chief-information-commission', 'image' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/697c/tico1kd8tt7jr136g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/697c/tico1kd8tt7jr136g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Chief Information Commission | Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha', 'metakeyword' => 'Chief Information Commission | Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha', 'metadescription' => 'Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha has been sworn in as the new Chief Information Commissioner of India by the President.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/q0brza3oj4ar0up/2.Chief_Information_Commission.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 66 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 6254, 'title' => 'Contempt of court', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Attorney General K K Venugopal gave his consent for the initiation of criminal contempt proceedings against stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra for his tweets on Supreme Court.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The petitioner has requested the consent of the Attorney General for initiating contempt proceedings against the accused.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According<strong> </strong>to<strong> the Contempt of Courts Act</strong>, <strong>1971</strong>, contempt of court can either be civil contempt or criminal contempt.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Civil contempt means wilful disobedience of any judgment, decree, direction, order, writ or other process of a court, or wilful breach of an undertaking given to a court.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Criminal contempt, on the other hand, is attracted by the publication (whether by words, spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representations, or otherwise) of any matter or the doing of any other act whatsoever which:</span></span></p> </li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">scandalises or tends to scandalise, or lowers or tends to lower the authority of, any court; or</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">prejudices, or interferes or tends to interfere with, the due course of any judicial proceeding; or</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">interferes or tends to interfere with, or obstructs or tends to obstruct, the administration of justice in any other manner.</span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Need for AG’s consent for contempt initiation</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Subsection 1 of Section 15 (Cognizance of criminal contempt in other cases) of The Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 reads:</span></span></p> </li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In the case of a criminal contempt, other than a contempt referred to in Section 14 (“Procedure where contempt is in the face of the Supreme Court or a High Court”), the Supreme Court or the High Court may take action on its own motion or on a motion made by (a) the Advocate-General, or (b) any other person, with the consent in writing of the Advocate-General.</span></span></li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Persons accused of contempt have the right to be heard in their defence and courts can hear evidence regarding the case as well. Detention in custody is permissible during a trial for contempt. </span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Punishment</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">According to the Act, contempt of court may be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees, or with both, provided that the accused may be discharged or the punishment awarded may be remitted on apology being made to the satisfaction of the court.</span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'contempt-of-court', 'image' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/5e56/65vc1pgqrw66ux76g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/5e56/65vc1pgqrw66ux76g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Contempt of court | Contempt of Courts Act, 1971', 'metakeyword' => 'Contempt of court | Contempt of Courts Act, 1971', 'metadescription' => 'Attorney General K K Venugopal gave his consent for the initiation of criminal contempt proceedings against stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra for his tweets', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/n46kkq7zxr984ln/2.Contempt_of_court.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 67 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 6256, 'title' => 'Religious code for Sarna tribals', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Jharkhand government passed a resolution to send the Centre a letter to recognise Sarna religion and include it as a separate code in the Census of 2021.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">For the last many years several protests and meetings have been held by various tribal groups in Jharkhand and elsewhere pushing the same demand. </span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is believed that 50 lakhs tribal in the entire country put their religion as ‘Sarna’ in the 2011 census, although it was not a code.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The followers of Sarna faith believe pray to nature. The holy grail of the faith is “Jal, Jungle, Zameen” and its followers pray to the trees and hills while believing in protecting the forest areas.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Many of the tribals who follow this faith have later converted to Christianity—the state has more than 4% Christians most of whom are tribals. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Some who still follow the Sarna faith believe the converted tribals are taking the benefits of reservation as a minority as well as the benefits given to Schedule Tribes. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The population of tribals in the state had declined from the 38.3 percent in 1931 to 26.02 percent in 2011.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The protection of their language and history is an important aspect with tribals. Between 1871 and 1951, the tribals had a different code.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Major tribes of Jharkhand</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Munda, Santhal, Oraon, Kharia, Gond, Kol, Kanwar, Savar, Asur, Baiga, Banjara, Bathudi, Bedia, Binjhia, Birhor, Birjia, Chero, Chick-Baraik, Gorait, Ho, Karmali, Kharwar, Khond, Kisan, Kora, Korwa, Lohra, Mahli, Mal-Paharia, Parhaiya</span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'religious-code-for-sarna-tribals', 'image' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9f5b/cw7l2bwei965m0k6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9f5b/cw7l2bwei965m0k6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Religious code for Sarna tribals | Jharkhand Assembly passes resolution', 'metakeyword' => 'Religious code for Sarna tribals | Jharkhand Assembly passes resolution', 'metadescription' => 'The Jharkhand government passed a resolution to send the Centre a letter to recognise Sarna religion and include it as a separate code in the Census of 2021.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/a82daiay9d3ynnd/4.Religious_code_for_Sarna_tribals.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 68 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 6463, 'title' => 'NRI voting via post', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Non-resident Indians (NRIs), who under the current election laws must cast their vote in person at their respective constituencies in India, may soon get to vote remotely from their country of residence.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">EC has been receiving several representations from the Indian diaspora to facilitate voting through postal ballot as visiting India to cast vote is a costly affair.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Election Commission reportedly has suggested that NRIs be allowed to vote through electronically-transmitted postal ballot system (ETPBS). </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is a facility already extended to service voters that include members of the Armed forces and para-military forces and government employees serving abroad.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">EC has proposed that necessary amendments be made in the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, to enable the Indian diaspora to vote through postal ballot.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As per EC proposal, an NRI may be issued a postal ballot electronically after he intimates his wish to vote through Form 12 to the returning officer, which must be received at least five days after notification of election.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The duly filled up postal ballot which has to be attested by an officer appointed by the diplomatic or consular representative of India in the country where the overseas elector is resident.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It must be returned by post to the returning officer of the NRI’s constituency in India such that it is received latest by 8 a.m. on the counting day.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong> NRI</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Overseas Indians, officially known as non-resident Indians (NRIs) or persons of Indian origin (PIOs) are people of Indian birth, descent or origin who live outside the Republic of India. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The term non-resident refers only to the tax status of a citizen who, as per section 6 of the Income-tax Act of 1961, has not resided in India for a specified period for the purposes of the Income Tax Act. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">For the purposes of the Income Tax Act, "residence in India" requires stay in India of at least 182 days in a financial year or 365 days spread out over four consecutive years and at least 60 days in that year. </span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'nri-voting-via-post', 'image' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/566c/uovubj3otq8xtlk6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/566c/uovubj3otq8xtlk6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'NRI voting via post | NRIs could soon be able to vote via post', 'metakeyword' => 'NRI voting via post | NRIs could soon be able to vote via post', 'metadescription' => 'Non-resident Indians (NRIs), who under the current election laws must cast their vote in person at their respective constituencies in India, may soon get to vote remotely', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/1a9sptdbb59au6x/2.NRI_voting_via_post.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 69 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 6465, 'title' => 'Municipal corporations', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The result to the high-octane Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation was announced. The TRS won maximum number of seats.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which they are located. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A municipal corporation is a local government in India that administers urban areas with a population of more than one million. </span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>74th Constitutional Amendment Act</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The 74th constitutional amendment act mandated the setting up and devolution of powers to Urban local bodies (ULBs) or city governments as the lowest unit of governance in cities and towns.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Power was mandated to be given to the people via the local bodies (referred to as municipalities), namely Municipal Corporations, Councils and Nagar Panchayats, which would have representatives that are elected regularly and have a decisive role in planning, provision and delivery of services.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to the 74th CAA, urban areas would be governed by one of the three mentioned types of urban local governments namely the Nagar Panchayat, Municipal Council and Municipal Corporation based on the size of the area. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Nagar Panchayats were to administer areas in transition from rural to urban areas, municipal councils to administer small urban areas and municipal corporations for larger urban areas.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Urban local bodies</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Municipal Corporation</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Municipal corporations are created for the administration of big cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and others.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A Municipal Corporation has three authorities namely, the council (legislative wing of the corporation), the standing committee (to facilitate the working of the council) and the commissioner (chief executive authority of the corporation).</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The council consist of councillors directly elected by people and is headed by a Mayor while the Commissioner is appointed by state government and is generally an IAS officer.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Municipality</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The municipalities are established for the administration of towns and smaller cities. They are known by various other names like municipal council, municipal committee, municipal board, borough municipality, city municipality and others. </span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Notified Area</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A notified area committee is created for the administration of a fast developing town due to industrialisation, and a town which does not yet fulfil all the conditions necessary for the constitution of a municipality, but which otherwise is considered important by the state government.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">All members, including the Chairman, are nominated by the state government. It is neither a statutory body (created by law) nor an elected body.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Town Area Committee</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> It is set up by a separate act of state legislature for the administration of a small town. </span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It may be wholly elected or wholly nominated or partly elected and partly nominated as provided by state government.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Cantonment Board</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is established for municipal administration for civilian population in the cantonment areas.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is set up under the provisions of the Cantonment Act, 2006 by central government and works under Defence ministry of central government. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is partly elected and partly nominated body having the Military officer commanding the station as its ex-officio President. Vice president is elected amongst by the elected members of board. </span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Township</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is established by large public enterprises to provide civic amenities to its staff and workers, who live in the housing colonies built near the plant.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> It is not an elected body and all members, including the town administrator, is appointed by the enterprise itself.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Port Trust</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The port trusts are established in the port areas for two purposes: (a) to manage and protect the ports; (b) to provide civic amenities. It is created by an Act of Parliament and it consists of both elected and nominated members.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Special Purpose Agency</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">They are established as statutory bodies by an act of state legislature or as departments by an executive resolution. They function as an autonomous body and are not subordinate agencies to local municipal bodies.</span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'municipal-corporations', 'image' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9577/6j8gzki5h5815ak6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9577/6j8gzki5h5815ak6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Municipal corporations | 74th Constitutional Amendment Act', 'metakeyword' => 'Municipal corporations | 74th Constitutional Amendment Act', 'metadescription' => 'Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which they are located.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/ht30mc02gt5aer5/4.Municipal_corporations.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 70 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 6534, 'title' => 'NHRC', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The NHRC has asked states to set up special provisions to protect women and child victims of human trafficking.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India is a Statutory public body constituted on 12 October 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Ordinance of 28 September 1993. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The NHRC is the National Human Rights Commission of India, responsible for the protection and promotion of human rights, defined by the Act as "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.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Functions</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Proactively or reactively inquire into violations of human rights by government of India or negligence of such violation by a public servant </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The protection of human rights and recommends measures for their effective implementation </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Review the factors, including acts of terrorism that inhibit the enjoyment of human rights and recommend appropriate remedial measures </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">To study treaties and other international instruments on human rights and make recommendations for their effective implementation </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Undertake and promote research in the field of human rights </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">To visit jails and study the condition of inmates </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Engage in human rights education among various sections of society and promote awareness of the safeguards available for the protection of these rights through publications, the media, seminars, and other available means </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Encourage the efforts of NGOs and institutions congress to working in the field of human rights. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It considers the necessity for the protection of human rights. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Composition</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A Chairperson, who has been a Chief Justice of India or a Judge of the Supreme Court. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">One member who is, or has been, a Judge of the Supreme Court of India, or, One member who is, or has been, the Chief Justice of a High Court.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Three Members, out of which at least one shall be a woman to be appointed from amongst persons having knowledge of, or practical experience in, matters relating to human rights.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In addition, the Chairpersons of National Commissions viz., National Commission for Scheduled Castes, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, National Commission for Women, National Commission for Minorities, National Commission for Backward Classes, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights; and the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities serve as ex officio members.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The sitting Judge of the Supreme Court or sitting Chief Justice of any High Court can be appointed only after the consultation with the Chief Justice of Supreme Court.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Appointment</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Chairperson and members of the NHRC are appointed by the President of India, on the recommendation of a committee consisting of:</span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Prime Minister (Chairperson)</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Home Minister</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha (Lower House)</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House)</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Speaker of the Lok Sabha (Lower House)</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (Upper House)</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'nhrc', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/c2d4/2p20ipibig592ek6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/c2d4/2p20ipibig592ek6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'NHRC | National Human Rights Commission of India', 'metakeyword' => 'NHRC | National Human Rights Commission of India | ', 'metadescription' => 'The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India is a Statutory public body constituted on 12 October 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Ordinance', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/5mcmpg0vhicge56/3.NHRC.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 71 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 6892, 'title' => 'Parliament subsidy', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Food served in Parliament canteen is set to cost more as <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/subsidy-canteen-food-served-parliament-canteens-ends-pricesgo-up-7153042/" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline">it will no longer be subsidised</a> by the government.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A major controversy over the subsidy had erupted in 2015, when a reply to an RTI query had revealed that the canteen got a <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/from-new-year-parliament-canteen-food-to-cost-more-hike-after-a-gap-of-six-years/" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline">subsidy of Rs 14 crore every year</a>.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The low rate of food in the Parliament canteen has often attracted controversy, with critics objecting to lawmakers enjoying a dirt-cheap meal at the taxpayers’ expense. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Others have pointed out that the subsidy doesn’t benefit just MPs, as a host of other Parliament staff and security personnel also take their meals at the canteen.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>The subsidy</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Lok Sabha Secretariat could annually save more than Rs 8 crore with the subsidy coming to an end.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Parliament canteen had for the past 52 years been run by Northern Railway and the annual revenue from Parliament catering was <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/new-cooks-on-menu-52-year-run-ends-rlys-to-exit-parliament-canteens-kitchens-6844981/" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline">to the tune of Rs 15 to Rs 18 crore</a>. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Northern Railway would be paid whatever cost it incurred on running the canteen from the Ministry of Finance through Parliament.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Demand for removal</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In the wake of the severe criticism following the RTI reply, then-BJD MP <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/from-new-year-parliament-canteen-food-to-cost-more-hike-after-a-gap-of-six-years/" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline">Baijyant Panda wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan</a>, that the food subsidy extended to MPs be removed “to raise public trust in lawmakers”.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Then in December 2019, with Om Birla as Lok Sabha Speaker, lawmakers “unanimously” decided to give up the subsidy.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Subsidy</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A subsidy or government incentive is a form of financial aid or support extended to an economic sector generally with the aim of promoting economic and social policy.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Objectives of subsidy</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Inducing higher consumption/ production</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Offsetting market imperfections including internalisation of externalities;</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Achievement of social policy objectives including redistribution of income, population control, etc.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Government subsidies</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Food subsidy in form of Public Distribution System for poor sections.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Electric subsidies for economically poor sections as well as farmers.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Public irrigation subsidies for farmers.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Educational subsidies for socially and economically backward sections.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Health subsidies for women, children and economically poor sections of the society.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'parliament-subsidy', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/2727/7igljvomd8e2mq16g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/2727/7igljvomd8e2mq16g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Parliament subsidy', 'metakeyword' => 'Parliament subsidy', 'metadescription' => 'Food served in Parliament canteen is set to cost more as it will no longer be subsidised by the government.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/pc7jkysnova62ul/3.Parliament+subsidy.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 72 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 6651, 'title' => 'Fake GST invoices', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Directorate General of Goods and Services Tax Intelligence (DGGSTI) across the country has arrested people for illegally availing or passing on input tax credit (ITC) by using fake GST invoices, and causing loss to the exchequer.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The use of fake invoices to wrongfully avail ITC credit has been gradually increasing and has become a concern for the government.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">GST invoice is a business instrument issued by a supplier or a seller to the recipient or the buyer of goods and services. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Such a document indicates the names of the parties involved as well as the details of goods or services supplied under a given transaction.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Fraudsters have been found to have floated multiple dummy firms, obtained GST registrations, issued fake GST invoices of goods and services without actual supply of services. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">They passed on ineligible ITC accrued from the bogus invoices to clients for a commission, who subsequently used it to make GST payments.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The tax department has found that promoters of certain companies have routed fake invoices through a series of shell companies and transferred input tax credit from one company to another in circular transactions to increase the turnover of the company. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Fake invoices only helps evade GST on taxable output supplies by availing undue ITC and converting excess ITC into cash but also helps in inflating turnover using these invoices, booking fake purchases to evade income tax, diversion of funds and money laundering.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Reason for increase in fake invoices</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">One of the primary reasons for an increase in companies availing ITC fraudulently is the lack of due diligence during the GST registration. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The process of registration was made easy and hassle free by the government so that businesses could be easily on-boarded to the system.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Lack of data exchange among the enforcement agencies and banks have also led to increase in fraud cases.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Preventive measures</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government is planning to tighten the GST registration process and legal measures to deal with the rising cases of fake invoicing.</span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'fake-gst-invoices', 'image' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/079f/3rmlxyr49mpucgm6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/079f/3rmlxyr49mpucgm6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Fake GST invoices | GST invoices | input tax credit', 'metakeyword' => 'Fake GST invoices | GST invoices, input tax credit', 'metadescription' => 'The Directorate General of Goods and Services Tax Intelligence (DGGSTI) across the country has arrested people for illegally availing or passing on input tax credit (ITC) by using fake GST invoices, and causing loss to the exchequer. ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/x6m8yd169otfh7i/4.Fake_GST_invoices.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 73 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 6566, 'title' => 'Denial of postal voting for Gulf NRIs', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Election Commission (EC) has indicated the introduction of postal voting for non-Gulf NRIs on a pilot basis.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The proposal may get implemented first for voters based in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Australia, Germany, France, and South Africa.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The MEA has in the past expressed strong reservations over allowing voting for Indian citizens living in non-democratic nations.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Holding a democratic exercise, involving voters queuing outside Indian Missions and Embassies, in non-democratic countries will require permissions, and the host nation may not approve.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>NRI numbers</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to a UN report of 2015, India’s diaspora population is the largest in the world at 16 million people.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Out of 1.18 lakh NRI voters, the largest numbers are registered to vote in Kerala. The second-largest cohort (roughly 7,500) are registered in Andhra Pradesh, followed by Maharashtra (5,500 approx), Karnataka (4,500 approx), Tamil Nadu (3,200), and Telangana (2,500).</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Method for voting</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Any NRI interested in voting through the postal ballot in an election will have to inform the Returning Officer (RO) not later than five days after the notification of the election. On receiving such information, the RO will dispatch the ballot paper electronically.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A designated officer in the Indian mission will download the ballot paper on the voter’s behalf, and hand it over to the overseas elector. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The overseas elector can then mark her preference at the mission, get the self-declaration form attested by the designated officer, and hand back the ballot paper and declaration form in a sealed envelope to the mission. It will then be returned back to the election officer concerned.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>NRI</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Overseas Indians, officially known as non-resident Indians or persons of Indian origin, are people of Indian birth, descent or origin who live outside the Republic of India.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">A Non Resident Indian (NRI) is an Indian Citizen who resides in India for less than one hundred & eighty two days during the course of the preceding financial year.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'denial-of-postal-voting-for-gulf-nris', 'image' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/316f/zgxuos6lku11vit6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/316f/zgxuos6lku11vit6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Denial of postal voting for Gulf NRIs', 'metakeyword' => 'Denial of postal voting for Gulf NRIs | Ready to let NRIs vote through postal ballots | Voting Rights in India to Non-Resident Indians', 'metadescription' => 'The proposal may get implemented first for voters based in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Australia, Germany, France, and South Africa.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/ngy4pjkuotxs9td/5.Denial_of_postal_voting_for_Gulf_NRIs.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 74 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 6640, 'title' => 'Pathalgadi movement', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Jharkhand had decided to drop all cases related to the Pathalgadi movement of 2017-2018. However even after 1 year, there has been no progress.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The word pathalgadi is drawn from a tribal custom of erecting stone plaques on the tomb of tribal people in Jharkhand. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is also done in honour of their ancestors, to announce important decisions regarding their families and villages or to simply mark the boundary of their villages. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">When the Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) came into force, officials started the practice of erecting stone plaques in villages with provisions of the Act inscribed on it. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This was done to empower people belonging to the 5th Schedule area on their legal and constitutional safeguards. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The villagers said that they read these provisions and orders to reiterate supremacy of powers of traditional Gram Sabha and traditional Adivasi governance systems; rights of Adivasis over land; the restricted rights of non-adivasis and outsiders in the scheduled areas to settle down and work and; that Adivasis are the original inhabitants and owners of India.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Start of movement</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government had attempted to tweak Chhotanagpur Land Tenancy Act, 1908 and the Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act, 1949, in which a tribal can buy or sell their land only to another tribal, by passing an ordinance amending Land Acquisition Act (Jharkhand Amendment) in 2017.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This led to violence in the state capital and protests were held in various parts of the state. As an extension to this protest, the tribals of Khunti, Gumla, Simdega, Saraikela, West Singhbhum area started erecting stones in their villages with PESA provisions highlighting their rights which came to be known as Pathalgadi movement.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>5th schedule areas</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tribals form more than 1/4th of Jharkhand’s population and are part of the 5th Schedule provisions of the constitution. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It vests the Governor of a state with special powers to safeguard and protect the interests of the tribal population, which includes examining the laws enacted by the parliament or legislature and accordingly restrain or allow it keeping the interests of the tribals in tune with customary law, social and religious practices among others. </span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>PESA</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 or PESA is a law enacted by the Government of India for ensuring self governance through traditional Gram Sabhas for people living in the Scheduled Areas of India. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Scheduled Areas are found in ten states of India which have predominant population of tribal communities. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Scheduled Areas were not covered by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment or Panchayati Raj Act of the Indian Constitution as provided in the Part IX of the Constitution. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">PESA was enacted on 24 December 1996 to extend the provisions of Part IX of the Constitution to Scheduled Areas, with certain exceptions and modifications. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">PESA sought to enable the Panchayats at appropriate levels and Gram Sabhas to implement a system of self-governance with respect to a number of issues such as customary resources, minor forest produce, minor minerals, minor water bodies, selection of beneficiaries, sanction of projects, and control over local institutions. </span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'pathalgadi-movement', 'image' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/59ca/ovbhppatij35ot26g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/59ca/ovbhppatij35ot26g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Pathalgadi movement | Pathalgadi movement of 2017-2018', 'metakeyword' => 'Pathalgadi movement, Pathalgadi movement of 2017-2018', 'metadescription' => 'The Jharkhand had decided to drop all cases related to the Pathalgadi movement of 2017-2018. However even after 1 year, there has been no progress.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/xksx58u6wtlevn6/3._Pathalgadi_movement.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 75 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 7114, 'title' => 'No-confidence motion', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy has resigned after his government lost the no-confidence motion in the state assembly.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government lost its numbers owing to a spate of resignations by MLAs of ruling party, necessitating a motion.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">No confidence motion is a statement or vote about whether a person in a position of responsibility (government, managerial, etc.) is no longer deemed fit to hold that position.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As a parliamentary motion, it demonstrates to the head of state that the elected parliament no longer has confidence in the appointed government.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> In some countries, if a no confidence motion is passed against an individual minister they have to resign along with the entire council of ministers.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A no-confidence motion may be more directed against the entire council of ministers led by the chief minister.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A no confidence motions may not require reasons to be specified. It may be initiated if the opposition feels that government does not have the numbers.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Process</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A motion of no confidence can be introduced only in the lower house of the assembly or parliament. The motion is admitted for discussion when a minimum of 50 members of the house support the motion.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The allotted date has to be within 10 days from the day the motion is accepted. Otherwise, the motion fails and the member who moved the motion will be informed about it.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">If the motion carries, the House debates and votes on the motion. If a majority of the members of the house vote in favour of the motion, the motion is passed and the Government is bound to vacate the office.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">With the Anti-defection law, the vote of no confidence has no relevance when the majority party has an absolute majority in the House. </span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Censure motion</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A "no confidence" may lead to dismissal of the Council of Ministers or other position-holders, whereas "censure" is meant to show disapproval and does not result in the resignation of ministers.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">To initiate a censure motion, reason has to be stated. This is not required against no-confidence motion.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">A censure motion can be passed against any minister and not the whole council of ministers.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'no-confidence-motion', 'image' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/f485/oek7miiukfvs25s6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/f485/oek7miiukfvs25s6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'No-confidence motion | What is a vote of no confidence motion', 'metakeyword' => 'No-confidence motion | What is a vote of no confidence motion', 'metadescription' => 'No confidence motion is a statement or vote about whether a person in a position of responsibility (government, managerial, etc.) is no longer deemed fit to hold', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/p70ujjodg9hn2l6/4.No-confidence_motion.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 76 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 7134, 'title' => 'Disqualification of MLAs', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Kohima bench of Guwahati High Court has refused to stay the disqualification of seven Nagaland MLAs.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The disqualification sought to prevent such political defections as well as actions which may be due to reward of office or other similar considerations.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Anti-defection law</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The <strong>Tenth</strong> <strong>Schedule</strong> was inserted in the Constitution in 1985. It lays down the process by which legislators may be disqualified on grounds of defection by the Presiding officer of a legislature based on a petition by any other member of the House. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A legislator is deemed to have defected if he either <em>voluntarily gives up the membership of his party or disobeys the directives of the party leadership on a vote.</em><em> </em></span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This implies that a legislator defying (abstaining or voting against) the party whip on any issue can lose his membership of the House. The law applies to both Parliament and state assemblies.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The law allows a party to merge with or into another party provided that at least two-thirds of its legislators are in favour of the merger.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In such a scenario, neither the members who decide to merge, nor the ones who stay with the original party will face disqualification.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The law initially stated that the decision of the Presiding Officer is not subject to judicial review. This condition was struck down by the Supreme Court in 1992.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Disqualifications under Representation of People’s Act, 1951</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A person found guilty of any of the following shall be disqualified for a period of 6 years to contest elections after release from jail</span></span></span></p> </li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Promoting hatred and enmity between classes</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Influencing elections</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Bribery</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Rape or other grave crimes against women</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Spreading religious disharmony</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Practising untouchability</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Importing or exporting prohibited goods</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Seling or consuming illegal drugs as well as other chemicals</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Engaging in terrorism in any form</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Have been imprisoned for at least two years</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The candidate can also be disqualified if he/she has engaged in any corrupt practice or excluded for related government contracts.</span></span></span></li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Disqualification can also result if the candidate fails to declare his/her assets. </span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'disqualification-of-mlas', 'image' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/3b52/g2kip4dmz2ob9p16g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/3b52/g2kip4dmz2ob9p16g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Disqualification of MLAs', 'metakeyword' => 'Disqualification of MLAs', 'metadescription' => 'The disqualification sought to prevent such political defections as well as actions which may be due to reward of office or other similar considerations.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/z9305ig0ro46kit/1._Disqualification_of_MLAs.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 77 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 7135, 'title' => 'Arbitration & Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2021', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Lok Sabha has passed a bill to amend the arbitration law to ensure that all stakeholders get an opportunity to seek unconditional stay on enforcement of arbitral awards.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill replaces an Ordinance with the same provisions promulgated on 4th November last year.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The bill amends the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, seeks to do away with the 8th Schedule of the Act which contained the necessary qualifications for accreditation of arbitrators.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The qualifications for accreditation of arbitrators are proposed to be prescribed by regulations to be framed by an arbitration council to be set up.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">An arbitration award was enforceable even if an appeal was filed against it in the court under Section 36 of the law. But the court could grant a stay on the award on conditions as it deemed fit.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Amendments to the law</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As per the proposed amendment, if the award is being given on the basis of an agreement based on fraud or corruption, then the court will not impose a condition to stay the award and grant an unconditional stay during the pendency of the appeal if it has been challenged under Section 34 of the arbitration law.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Arbitration</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Arbitration is a private process where disputing parties agree that one or several individuals can make a decision about the dispute after receiving evidence and hearing arguments. Arbitration is different from mediation because the neutral arbitrator has the authority to make a decision about the dispute.</span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'arbitration-and-conciliation-amendment-bill-2021', 'image' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/1d9b/512gkczb0fo5yfn6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/1d9b/512gkczb0fo5yfn6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Arbitration & Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2021', 'metakeyword' => 'Arbitration & Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2021', 'metadescription' => 'The Lok Sabha has passed a bill to amend the arbitration law to ensure that all stakeholders get an opportunity to seek unconditional stay on enforcement', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/de04fgb3ekbjhxd/2._Arbitration_%2526_Conciliation.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 78 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 7140, 'title' => 'Greater Tipraland demand', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tripura royal scion Pradyot Kishore Manikya has recently announced his new political demand of ‘Greater Tipraland’.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It would serve the interest of tribals, non-tribals, Tripuri tribals staying outside Tripura, even those outside India in Bandarban, Chittagong, Khagrachari, and other border adjacent areas in Bangladesh.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">‘Greater Tipraland’ is essentially an extension of the ruling tribal partner Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura – IPFT’s demand of Tipraland, which sought a separate state for tribals of Tripura. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The new demand seeks to include every tribal person living in indigenous area or village outside the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) under the proposed model. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The idea doesn’t restrict to simply the Tripura tribal council areas, but seeks to include ‘Tiprasa’ of Tripuris spread across different states of India like Assam, Mizoram etc. as well, even those living in border areas of neighbouring Bangladesh.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Political changes</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The royal scion has announced a mega merger and alliance with all major tribal political parties. The organisation was announced as a new political party and rechristened Tipraha Indigenous Peoples Regional Alliance with the same acronym.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">All partners of TIPRA have announced their alliance would continue till 2023 assembly elections and beyond.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Tribes of Tripura</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Tripuri are an ethnic group originating in the Indian state of Tripura. They are the inhabitants of the Twipra/Tripura Kingdom in North-East India and Bangladesh. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Tripura has rich cultural heritage of 19 different tribal communities. These communities are - Tripura/Tripuri, Riang, Jamatia, Noatia, Uchai, Chakma, Mog, Lushai, Kuki, Halam, Munda, Kaur, Orang, Santal, Bhil, Bhutia, Chaimal, Garo, Khasia, and Lepcha.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'greater-tipraland-demand', 'image' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/5fc3/h47q0bu843gnbv06g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/5fc3/h47q0bu843gnbv06g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Greater Tipraland demand', 'metakeyword' => 'Greater Tipraland demand | What is the Greater Tipraland demand raised by royal scion Pradyot Kishore | BJP MP says Greater Tipraland demand raised ahead of TTAADC polls farce', 'metadescription' => 'It would serve the interest of tribals, non-tribals, Tripuri tribals staying outside Tripura, even those outside India in Bandarban, Chittagong, Khagrachari and other', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 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style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tripura royal scion Pradyot Kishore Manikya has recently announced his new political demand of ‘Greater Tipraland’.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It would serve the interest of tribals, non-tribals, Tripuri tribals staying outside Tripura, even those outside India in Bandarban, Chittagong, Khagrachari, and other border adjacent areas in Bangladesh.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">‘Greater Tipraland’ is essentially an extension of the ruling tribal partner Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura – IPFT’s demand of Tipraland, which sought a separate state for tribals of Tripura. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The new demand seeks to include every tribal person living in indigenous area or village outside the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) under the proposed model. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The idea doesn’t restrict to simply the Tripura tribal council areas, but seeks to include ‘Tiprasa’ of Tripuris spread across different states of India like Assam, Mizoram etc. as well, even those living in border areas of neighbouring Bangladesh.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Political changes</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The royal scion has announced a mega merger and alliance with all major tribal political parties. The organisation was announced as a new political party and rechristened Tipraha Indigenous Peoples Regional Alliance with the same acronym.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">All partners of TIPRA have announced their alliance would continue till 2023 assembly elections and beyond.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Tribes of Tripura</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Tripuri are an ethnic group originating in the Indian state of Tripura. They are the inhabitants of the Twipra/Tripura Kingdom in North-East India and Bangladesh. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Tripura has rich cultural heritage of 19 different tribal communities. 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This initiative has been launched as part of ECI’s strategic framework for 'accessible elections'.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Braille voter slips</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Chief electoral officers (CEOs) will issue these accessible photo voter slips with braille to voters who are visually impaired or blind.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The braille enabled slips were also used in recently held assembly elections. ECI is also planning to provide braille election photo identity cards to visually challenged.</span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Note: </strong>Electronic voting machines (EVMs) already have braille feature. The ballot paper pasted on EVMs with name and symbol of candidates is braille enabled.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Braille </strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is tactile reading and writing system used by blind and visually impaired people who cannot access print material.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It was created Louis Braille in 1824 and named after it. It is script with raised dots that can be read with fingers by people who are blind or who have low vision.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is read by moving hand or hands from left to right along each line. Both hands are usually involved in its reading process and index fingers are generally used in reading.</span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Strategic Framework on Accessible Elections </strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is compilation of guidelines issued by ECI and Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Union Ministry of Social justice and Empowerment.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It was adopted on 4th July 2018 in National Consultation on Accessible Elections as part of ECI’s series of measures to maximize participation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Election Process and premise of ‘No voter to be left behind’.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It aims at sensitization through education/training, involves communities of different sections of society, ties up with institutions and originations and create facilities to cater to specific needs of PwDs with view to increasing their participation in elections.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It also seeks to build equal access framework for PwDs supported by fundamentals of responsiveness, respect and dignity to enhance elector confidence among them and enhance their electoral participation.</span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'voter-slip-to-blind-voters-in-lok-sabha-elections', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/1ea6/vskubnyy6vvnjm26g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/1ea6/vskubnyy6vvnjm26g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'ECI give braille voter slip to blind voter in Lok Sabha election', 'metakeyword' => '', 'metadescription' => 'Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced to provide visually impaired and blind voters with braille voter slip in coming Lok Sabha elections this year', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/at5gbfod7hv2kna/4.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 1 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 106, 'title' => 'GeM, CCI sign MoU to check malpractices in e-procurement', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Government e Marketplace (GeM) and Competition Commission of India (CCI) signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate on public procurement matters and for detection of anti-competitive practices.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Features of MoU</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It will enable both government agencies to pool their knowledge of public procurement domain for detection of anti-competitive practices.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It will provide fair and competitive environment inpublic procurement matters by using advanced analytical tools and processes for identification of malpractices like cartelization.</span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Government e Marketplace (GeM)</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is National Procurement Portal of India that facilitates procurement of goods and services by various Central, State Government ministries/Departments/PSUs etc. and also and also local bodies.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Its objective is to <em>enhance transparency, efficiency and speed in public procurement of goods and services and eliminate corruption</em>.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is completely paperless, cashless and system, driven e-market place that enables procurement of common use goods and services with minimal human interface.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It functions under the aegis of Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals (DGS&D), Union Ministry of Commerce and Industries.</span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Competition Commission of India (CCI)</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is quasi-judicial statutory body of Central Government of India, responsible for enforcing Competition Act, 2002 throughout India.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Its mandate is to eliminate practices having adverse effect on competition, promote healthy and sustain competition, protect interests of consumers and ensure freedom of trade in markets of India.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It comprises of Chairperson and three members appointed by Central Government. It functions under aegis of Ministry of Cooperate Affairs.</span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'gem-cci-sign-mou-to-check-malpractices', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/2154/rrprzq775izgjug6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/2154/rrprzq775izgjug6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'GeM, CCI sign MoU to check malpractices in e-procurement', 'metakeyword' => 'In National Current Affairs, Government e Marketplace,GeM, CCI, Competition Commission, public procurement, anti-competitive practices,', 'metadescription' => 'Government e Marketplace (GeM) and Competition Commission of India (CCI) signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/a6b0o403564ba41/9feb_GEM.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 2 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 111, 'title' => 'Ladakh region granted Divisional Status', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik granted Divisional Status to Ladakh Region of the state. This was done by Governor by exercising his powers under Section 5 of Land Revenue Act, 1996. With this, Ladakh became third Division in state, other two being Jammu and Kashmir. Until now, Ladakh region was part of Kashmir Division.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Ladakh division</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It will comprise Leh and Kargil districts with its headquarters at Leh. It will have full administrative and revenue division at par with Kashmir and Jammu divisions.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It will be <strong>biggest division in state</strong> with 86,909 sq. km of area, followed by Jammu division (26,293 sq km) and Kashmir Division (15,948 sq km- making it smallest among three).</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It will now get is own Divisional Commissioner and Inspector General of Police (IGP) as state Government also approved creation of posts of Divisional Commissioner (Ladakh), Leh and IGP (Ladakh), Leh. </span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Currently Ladakh region has two Hill Councils for its administration viz. Leh and Kargil. These councils were recently empowered with financial and administrative powers with amendment in Act. </span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Significance of Divisional status</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This decision goes long way in fulfilling the governance and development aspirations of the people of Ladakh region.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It will facilitate Ladakh region in great way to progress as offices and opportunities will be distributed to both districts of division</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It will bring opportunities of employment of different levels in various departments for the locals<strong>.</strong></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It will further empower local administration as routine administrative clearances for Leh and Kargil districts now can be obtained at Divisional headquarters in Leh.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is also considered as step ahead towards dream for Ladakh Region to get Union Territory Status. For almost last three decades, Ladakh region has been demanding for UT status with proper legislation.</span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Ladakh is one of most sparsely populated regions in J&K. It is the highest plateau in state with most of its geographical area being over 9,800 feet above sea level. </span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is geographically isolated with sparse population and inhospitable terrain which remains landlocked due to snow for nearly six months in a year (during winters).</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is also riddled with insurmountable problems with respect to delivery of developmental schemes, conduct of administrative affairs and governance and redressal of public grievances of people.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">People of Ladakh have for long time been demanding effective local institutional arrangements which can help accelerate pace of development and equitable all-round growth and development as compared to other parts of states.</span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'ladakh-region-granted-divisional-status', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/2918/z5vy7dqm6sdt3bz6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/2918/z5vy7dqm6sdt3bz6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'J&K Govt grants Divisional Status to Ladakh region', 'metakeyword' => 'In States Current Affairs, Jammu and Kashmir, Governor, Satya Pal Malik, Divisional Status, Ladakh Region, J&K Divisions,Ladakh, Jammu, Kashmir', 'metadescription' => 'Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik granted Divisional Status to Ladakh Region of the state', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/xl04byrppjz24vp/9feb_Ladakh_region.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 3 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 105, 'title' => 'EC launches Voter Verification and Information Programme', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Election Commission of India (ECI) launched Voter Verification and Information Programme (VVIP) for the upcoming General (Lok Sabhe) Elections 2019 due in April-May. It will enable citizens to verify their names, new registrations, changes in voter details and corrections in Voter Id Cards.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Voter Verification and Information Programme (VVIP)</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It was launched along with<strong> Voter Helpline app</strong>and <strong>PwD App</strong>during 2-day intensive Training-cum-Workshop on use of Information & Communication Technology for conduct of 2019Elections.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The services for this VVIP programme can be availed by voters through various channels including voter helpline mobile application and voter helpline number 1950.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">ECI also has also set up Contact centers in all districts across India, which are equipped with latest information and telecom infrastructure to help callers.</span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Various mobile apps launched by ECI</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Voter Helpline app</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It will provide convenience to all citizens for finding their names in electoral roll, submitting online forms, checking status of application, filing complaints and receiving reply on their mobile app.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It also has all forms, results, candidate affidavits, press notes, voter awareness and important instructions on it.</span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>PwD App</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It aims to enable Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) to request for new registration, change in address, change in particulars and mark themselves as PwD through use of mobile application.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">PwDs are assigned Booth Level Officerto provide doorstep facility by simply entering their contact details. They can also request for a wheelchair during polling.</span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>cVIGIL app</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It provides time-stamped, evidence based proof of Model Code of Conduct(MCC)/ Expenditure Violation. It has live photo/video with auto location data.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Using it, any citizen can lodge complaint against violation of MCC. Based on this complaint, flying Squads will investigate matter and returning officer takefinal decision.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It has facility to keep cVIGIL complainant updated with status of complainant within specified time-limit.</span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'ec-launches-voter-verification-and-info', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/76ed/ibyacimkznq6fdz6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/76ed/ibyacimkznq6fdz6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'EC launches Voter Verification and Information Programme', 'metakeyword' => 'National Current Affairs, Election Commission Voter Verification and Information Programme, General Elections 2019, cVIGIL app, PwD App, Voter Helpline app ', 'metadescription' => 'Election Commission of India (ECI) launched Voter Verification and Information Programme (VVIP) for the upcoming General (Lok Sabhe) Elections 2019', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/4e7pua4m80463ll/9feb_EC_launches.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 4 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 86, 'title' => 'Cabinet abolishes Ombudsman for Direct, Indirect taxes for grievance redressal', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved abolition of <em>Institution of Income-Tax Ombudsman and Indirect Tax Ombudsman</em>. It comes in wake of emergence of alternative complaint redressal mechanisms especially online grievance redressal mechanism used by public widely.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Key Facts</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In recent times, these institutions of ombudsman could not prove to be more effective than regular existing parallel channels of grievance redressal.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tax payers have started preferring alternate methods of grievance redressal like CPGRAMS (Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System), Aaykar Seva Kendras etc.</span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Institution of Income-Tax Ombudsman was created in 2003 to deal with grievances of public related to settlement of complaints related to income tax. However, it has failed to achieve its objectives. It was also observed new complaints received by this ombudsman have fallen to single digits. Earlier in 2011 vacant offices of Indirect Tax Ombudsman were also closed.</span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'cabinet-abolishes-of-ombudsman-for-taxes', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9013/84b8m0jr0szybpr6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9013/84b8m0jr0szybpr6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Cabinet abolishes of Ombudsman for direct, indirect taxes', 'metakeyword' => 'National Current Affairs, Cabinet Decisions, Taxation, Institution of Income Tax Ombudsman, Indirect Tax Ombudsman', 'metadescription' => 'Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved abolition of Institution of Income-Tax Ombudsman and Indirect Tax Ombudsman', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/ekc3t5vcj3xowp3/5.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 5 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 204, 'title' => 'Government launches PCS1X Maritime e-commerce Portal', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Union Ministry of Shipping launched PCS1x portal, an upgraded version of e-commerce portal Port Community System (PCS). It was launched at Regional Maritime Safety Conference held in Mumbai, Maharashtra. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Port Community System(PCS)</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is neutral and open electronic platform that enables secure exchange of information between public and private stakeholders to improve the competitive position of seaport communities.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It optimises, manages, and automates port and logistics efficient processes through single submission of data and connecting transport and logistic chains.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It integrates all electronic flow of trade related document/information and functions as centralized hub for ports of India and other stakeholders in maritime sector.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It facilitates transparent and paperless system for electronic submission of trade document which has resulted in faster turnaround time and dwell time.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It has played important role in digitization in EXIM trade and enhancing ‘Ease of Doing Business’ in maritime sector.</span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">PCS1x </span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It has been developed by Indian Ports Association (IPA), based on feedback from stakeholders using PCS.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is new generation system with user-friendly interface that brings together various stakeholders of maritime sector.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It facilitates Government-to-Business (G2B), Business-to-Government (B2G) and Business-to-Business (B2B) transactions within required legal framework. It ensures extreme levels of cyber security.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It allows improvement in payment cycle, transparency of transaction cycles, detailed tracking of vessels and berthing schedules.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It can be integrated with gate system with RIFD, can produce e-copy of reports and notices and can be used for cargo/truck trailer tracking. It also allows better stakeholder coordination.</span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'govt-launches-pcs1x-maritime-e-commerce-portal', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/0a5f/sl32l977epag2vf6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/0a5f/sl32l977epag2vf6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Government launches PCS1X Maritime e-commerce Portal', 'metakeyword' => 'In National Current Affairs, Ministry of Shipping, PCS1x portal, upgraded version, e-commerce portal, Port Community System PCS, Regional Maritime Safety Conference, Mumbai, Maharashtra.', 'metadescription' => 'Union Ministry of Shipping launched PCS1x portal, an upgraded version of e-commerce portal Port Community System (PCS). It was launched at Regional Maritime Safety Conference held in Mumbai, Maharashtra.', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/ruqqg2pg7e0l8vo/19feb_Government_launches_PCS1X.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 6 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 735, 'title' => 'PCI issues guidelines to media on conduct during election', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Press Council of India (PCI) has issued guidelines to the media to give objective reports about general election and cautioned it against the phenomenon of paid news. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">PCI Guidelines </span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Electoral Conduct:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> Newspapers are not expected to indulge in unhealthy election campaigns, exaggerated reports about any candidate or party during the elections.</span></span> <span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will be duty of press to give objective reports about election and the candidates</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Hate News:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> Press should eschew reports which tend to promote feelings of enmity or hatred between people on the grounds of race, religion caste, community, language or region,</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Character Assassination News:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> The press should refrain from publishing false or critical statements in regard to personal character and conduct of any candidate to prejudice the prospects of that candidate in the elections.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Paid News:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> Press should not publish unverified allegations against any candidate or party. Media should guard against paid news which it defined as “any news or analysis appearing in any media (print & electronic) for price in cash or kind as consideration,</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Poll Surveys:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> Whenever newspapers publish pre-poll surveys, they should preface them conspicuously by indicating institutions which have carried on such surveys, individuals and organisations which have commissioned them, size and nature of sample selected and method of selection of the sample for findings.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">For Authorities: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The rules and orders regulating entry of media persons to places of election should be notified and cut-off date for applying for passes should be given due and advance publicity.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">They cannot prohibit use of vehicles by media persons for movement during elections although its use for voters by candidates and their agents is prohibited because journalist have to move from booth to booth and collect information from all centres whether on polling day or at time of counting.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Press Council of India (PCI) </span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is a statutory body with mandate to act as watchdog to oversee conduct of print media in the country. It derives its mandate and powers from Press Council Act, 1978. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Composition:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> It consist of Chairman (who has by convention, been a retired judge of Supreme Court) and 28 other members off whom 20 represent press, five are nominated from two Houses of Parliament and three represent cultural, literary and legal fields. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Functions:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> It is statutory, quasi-judicial body acting as watchdog of press. It adjudicates complaints against press (print media) for violation of ethics and for violation of freedom of press respectively.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'pci-issues-guidelines-to-media-on-conduct-during-election', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/4a76/pywbn7hqknkvks86g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/4a76/pywbn7hqknkvks86g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'PCI issues guidelines to media on conduct during election', 'metakeyword' => 'In National Current Affairs, Press Council of India, PCI, guidelines, media, conduct during election', 'metadescription' => 'PCI issues guidelines to media on conduct during election, Press Council of India (PCI) has issued guidelines to the media to give objective reports about general election', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/xo9a1tej6z9t149/PCI_issues_guidelines.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 7 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 1091, 'title' => 'ICSSR: Vice President inaugurates Golden Jubilee Celebrations', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Vice President of India Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated Golden Jubilee Celebrations (50 years celebrations) of Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) in New Delhi. ICSSR is the national body overseeing research in the social sciences in India.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">About Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR)</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It was established in 1969 by Central Government to promote research in social sciences in the country. It established on the recommendation of erstwhile Planning Commission. </span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It functions as an autonomous organisation funded by Ministry Of Human Resource Development (MHRD). It is headquartered in New Delhi. </span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Functions:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It provide grants for projects, fellowships, international collaboration, capacity building, survey, publications etc. to promote research in social sciences in India. </span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Objectives:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> (i) Review progress of social science research and give advice to its users (ii)</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Sponsor social science research programmes and projects and administer grants to institutions and individuals for research in social sciences (iii) Institute and administer scholarships and fellowships for research in social sciences. (iv) Identify areas in which social science research needs to be promoted and adopt special measures for development of research in neglected or new areas (v) Arrange technical training in research methodology and to provide guidance for research etc.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'icssr-vice-president-inaugurates-golden-jubilee', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/0acb/zh13aml1wa58pqa6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/0acb/zh13aml1wa58pqa6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'ICSSR: VP inaugurates Golden Jubilee Celebrations', 'metakeyword' => 'Golden Jubilee Celebrations, Indian Council of Social Science Research, ICSSR, New Delhi, national body, overseeing, research,social sciences ', 'metadescription' => 'Vice President of India Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated Golden Jubilee Celebrations (50 years celebrations) of Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) in New Delhi. ', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/617wh8qa4dd30hy/ICSSR.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 8 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 1216, 'title' => '17th Lok Sabha elections: Highest number of women MPs', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">In recently concluded 17th Lok Sabha elections, total 78 women Members of Parliament (MPs) were elected. It is highest number of women representatives ever elected to lower house of Parliament since independence. They will account for 14.39</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">% </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">of the entire strength of lower house, which was at 12.5</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> with a total 65 women MPs in the previous Lok Sabha.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Key Facts</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Party-wise breakup:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> With 40 women MPs, Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) has sent largest number of elected women representatives to Lok Sabha, followed by Trinamool Congress (9), Congress (6), Biju Janta Dal (5) and Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Congress Party (4). </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Regional vs. National Parties:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> The regional parties boast of higher ratio of women MPs as compared to national parties. Women MPs account for 41.6</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">% </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> of BJD’s total strength in Lok Sabha and 40.9</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">% </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> of TMC’s strength in the House. Both of these regional parties had pledged to give tickets to 40</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">% and 30</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">% </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> of party candidates to women before the elections started.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Winnability Factor: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">In 17th Lok Sabha elections, women candidates displayed higher winnability factor or strike rate. This higher success rate or winnability factor shown by women candidates is consistent with the past record. 78 elected women MPs have emerged winners out of total 716 women candidates who had fought during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. It shows that success rate of women candidates was of 10.89</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%,</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> much higher than success rate shown by male candidates of 6.41</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => '17th-lok-sabha-elections-highest-women-mps', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/fc59/li7yiirjbz9vc6b6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/fc59/li7yiirjbz9vc6b6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => '17th Lok Sabha elections: Highest number of women MPs', 'metakeyword' => ' 17th Lok Sabha elections, total 78 women MPs, elected, highest number, women representatives, ever elected, lower house, Parliament since independence', 'metadescription' => 'In recently concluded 17th Lok Sabha elections, total 78 women Members of Parliament (MPs) were elected. It is highest number of women representatives ever elected to lower house of Parliament since independenc', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/ydo8s1ik91a9a06/17th_Lok.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 9 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 1626, 'title' => 'First UIDAI-run Aadhaar Seva Kendra becomes operational', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has operationalised its first<strong> Aadhaar Seva Kendras (ASK) </strong>in Delhi and Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh). UIDAI has set ambitious plan of setting up 114 'Aadhaar Seva Kendras' across the country by the end of 2019.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Aadhaar Seva Kendras (ASK)</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">These centres will beowned and operated by UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India), the governmental body that issues Aadhaar.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It will facilitate enrolment, updation and other activities related to 12-digit unique identification number or Aadhar in addition to the existing centres that assist with the same services. </span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It will be similar to concept of Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) and will cover 53 cities at an estimated projected cost of Rs 300-400 crore.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">This centre is intended to handle large number of Aadhaar related requests on a daily basis like updation and enrolment.<strong> </strong></span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It will also allow people to book slots online as per their convenience through the appointment management system.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI):</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It is nodal statutory organization behind Aadhaar, a 12 digit unique number. It was made statutory body by Parliament through adhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Aadhaar:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It is 10 digit number is linked with individual’s demographic and biometric information, which serves as an authentication tool throughout India. Using it, Central and State Governments are trying to link many of their major development and subsidy schemes to reduce leakages and duplication.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => '1st-iudai-run-aadhaar-seva-kendra-operational', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/c925/q1x1m5oai417dn96g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/c925/q1x1m5oai417dn96g.jpg', 'metatitle' => '1st UIDAI-run Aadhaar Seva Kendra becomes operational', 'metakeyword' => 'Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has operationalised its first Aadhaar Seva Kendras (ASK) in Delhi and Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh). ', 'metadescription' => 'Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has operationalised its first Aadhaar Seva Kendras (ASK) in Delhi and Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh). ', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/o7u3fxst4htfp83/First_UIDAI-run_Aadhaar_Seva.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 10 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 1659, 'title' => 'Government launches digital initiatives for Haj Pilgrims', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Indian Haj mission in Saudi Arabia has adopted digital technology to reach out to large number of pilgrims as part of Union Government’s Digital India initiative. This move is aimed at forming bridge with the pilgrims to facilitate smooth and hassle-free Haj operation and also receive grievances and feedbacks to improve the service. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Digital Initiatives are</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Indian Haj Information System App: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It has been developed by consulate to receive feedback, a grievance from Hajis. Currently, it receives feedback in English, Hindi and Urdu. Other regional languages will be incorporated later. The app also connects with pilgrims to Haj service coordinators known as Qadimul Hajjaj of their respective states. Qadimul Hajjaj are government employees who are deputed to assist pilgrims during Haj season.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">e-MASIHA:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It helps to store health status and medical history of visiting pilgrims. e-MASIHA stands for Medical Assistance System for Indian Hajis Abroad. It will help to retrieve pilgrims’ health information to apply appropriate treatment whenever he or she visits Indian medical facilities during Haj.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'digital-initiatives-haj-pilgrims', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/79d6/426o6l0t0ozb8a66g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/79d6/426o6l0t0ozb8a66g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Govt launches digital initiatives for Haj Pilgrim', 'metakeyword' => 'Indian Haj mission in Saudi Arabia has adopted digital technology to reach out to large number of pilgrims as part of Union Government’s Digital India initiative', 'metadescription' => 'Indian Haj mission in Saudi Arabia has adopted digital technology to reach out to large number of pilgrims as part of Union Government’s Digital India initiative', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/gf80rprtkwr57sy/Government_launches_digital_initiatives_for_Haj_Pilgrims.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 11 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 1695, 'title' => 'RPF launches Operation Thirst', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Railway Protection Force (RPF) launched all India drive called “Operation Thirst” to crack down selling of unauthorised Packaged Drinking Water (PDW) in Railway premises. It was launched on 08th & 09th July 2019 on the direction of DG/RPF, Railway Board, New Delhi.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Operation Thirst</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Objective of this all India drive was to curb the menace of unauthorized Packaged Drinking Water (PDW) in Railway premises, </span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">During this drive, all Zonal Principal Chief Security Commissioners (PCSCs) were asked to crackdown these unauthorised activities. It covered almost all major stations over Indian Railway.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Impact:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> Around 1371 persons were arrested and over 69,294 bottles were seized by RPF during this drive for selling of packaged drinking water of unauthorised brands under different sections i.e. 144 & 153 of Railways Act. Total fine amount of Rs. 6,80,855/- have been realized from these offenders. The special drive will be followed by continuous action by concerned PCSCs on this issue.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'rpf-launches-operation-thirst', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/8e5e/2no4k9b14xehcfs6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/8e5e/2no4k9b14xehcfs6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'RPF launches Operation Thirst', 'metakeyword' => 'Railway Protection Force (RPF) launched all India drive called “Operation Thirst†to crack down selling of unauthorised Packaged Drinking Water (PDW)', 'metadescription' => 'Railway Protection Force (RPF) launched all India drive called “Operation Thirst†to crack down selling of unauthorised Packaged Drinking Water (PDW)', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/enilajrbqhrhloa/RPF_launches_Operation_Thirst.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 12 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 1687, 'title' => 'Kerala Govt forms Non-Resident Keralites Investment company', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Kerala Government has decided to form Non-Resident Keralites (NRK) Investment and Holding Company Ltd with main aim of utilising NRI investments for implementing various projects. The decision in this regard was taken at state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Cabinet also decided to appoint NORKA (Non-Resident Keralites Affairs) Chief Executive officer (CEO) as special officer of the company. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">NRK Investment and Holding Company Ltd</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Objective:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> To channelise investments from overseas Keralites for major infrastructure development in the state.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Equity Holding:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> 74</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> of its stake (share capital) will be held by NRKs and remaining 26</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> will be held by state government.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Projects to be undertaken:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> This company will undertake projects for developing NRK townships and infrastructure development.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Subsidiaries:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> The company is empowered to set up special purpose vehicle (SPV) or subsidiary company for the purpose. </span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Background:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> Decision for formation of this company was taken based on Loka Kerala Sabha’s (State Assembly) standing committee to capitalise on huge investments from overseas Keralites for various development initiatives across the state.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">India is world’s top destination for inward remittances. Within India, Kerala is top destination for remittances, accounting for over 19</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">% </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">of inward remittances into the country. </span></span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'non-resident-keralites-investment-company', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/b151/1onuv2xgv8wamqs6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/b151/1onuv2xgv8wamqs6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Kerala Govt forms Non-Resident Keralites Investment', 'metakeyword' => 'Kerala Government has decided to form Non-Resident Keralites (NRK) Investment and Holding Company Ltd with main aim of utilising NRI investments for implementing various projects', 'metadescription' => 'Kerala Government has decided to form Non-Resident Keralites (NRK) Investment and Holding Company Ltd with main aim of utilising NRI investments for implementing various projects', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/hwbxwtq1ll06blj/Kerala_Govt_forms_Non-Resident.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 13 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 1755, 'title' => 'Record 60.14% turnout of service voters through ETPBS: ECI', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Election Commission of India (ECI) has notified that record 60.14% turnout of service voters was recorded through Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) in 2019 Lok Sabha elections which was world’s largest democratic election process. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">In the seven phases spanning 2019 Lok Sabha elections, a total of 18,02,646 postal ballots were dispatched electronically using flagship IT programme – ETPBS of ECI. In return 10,84,266 e-postal ballots were received indicating 60.14% turnout. This election had seen record highest enrollment of 18,02,646 service voters (electors). Voter turnout of service voters in 2014 was only 4%.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Dedicated Portal</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">ECI for first time had enabled dedicated portal https://www.servicevoter.eci.nic.in for online registration of service voters. This portal had enabled sending postal ballots electronically one way to service voters to save processing time, resources and avoid human errors.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">About Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS)</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is flagship IT program of Election Commission of India (ECI) to achieve one of its mandate of “no voter to be left behind”. It was launched by ECI with the help of C-DAC.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Through this system, service voters cast their vote on an electronically received postal ballot, from anywhere outside their constituency, thus reducing chances of losing the voting opportunity. </span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">How it works?</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> The postal ballots are delivered to service voters in electronic data format to voters on a real time basis. These voters can download postal ballot and votes casted by will be received by the returning officer through post</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Security Features: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">ETPBS is fully secured system, having two security layers, with use of a one-time password (OTP), PIN and unique QR code on the portal.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Who are service voters? </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Persons working in Central Forces under Arms Act and Government officials deployed in Embassies outside the country are classified as Service Voters and are provisioned for online enrolment. Of the total registered service electors in 2019 Lok Sabha election, 10,16,245 were from the Ministry of Defence, 7,82,595 from Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), 3,539 of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and 267 of State Police.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'electronically-transmitted-postal-ballot-system', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/5f02/gnlq6p7jukh7mzo6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/5f02/gnlq6p7jukh7mzo6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Record 60.14% turnout of service voters through', 'metakeyword' => 'Election Commission of India (ECI) has notified that record 60.14% turnout of service voters was recorded through Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) in 2019 Lok Sabha elections', 'metadescription' => 'Election Commission of India (ECI) has notified that record 60.14% turnout of service voters was recorded through Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) in 2019 Lok Sabha elections', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/65vvad1o7mli58h/Record_turnout_of_service_voters_through.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 14 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 2891, 'title' => 'House rules on unruly MPs', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The suspension of two Congress members by Lok Sabha Speaker after unruly scenes in the House has brought back focus on the conduct of MPs, and related issues.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Lok Sabha’s Rules Committee had recommended automatic suspension of members who entered the well of the House or wilfully obstructed business by shouting slogans despite being repeatedly warned by the Chair.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Rule 378 of the Rules for the Conduct of Business states: “The Speaker shall preserve order and shall have all powers necessary for the purpose of enforcing own decisions.”</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Rule 373 says: “The Speaker, if is of the opinion that the conduct of any member is grossly disorderly, may direct such member to withdraw immediately from the House, and any member so ordered to withdraw shall do so forthwith and shall remain absent during the remainder of the day’s sitting.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">”Rule 374 says:</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Speaker may, if deems it necessary, name a member who disregards the authority of the Chair or abuses the rules of the House by persistently and wilfully obstructing the business thereof.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">If a member is so named by the Speaker, the Speaker shall, on a motion being made forthwith put the question that the member (naming such member) be suspended from the service of the House for a period not exceeding the remainder of the session: Provided that the House may, at any time, on a motion being made, resolve that such suspension be terminated.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A member suspended under this rule shall forthwith withdraw from the precincts of the House.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'house-rules-on-unruly-mp', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/5e5c/xohve6j0wn8n3eo6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/5e5c/xohve6j0wn8n3eo6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'House rules on unruly MPs', 'metakeyword' => 'House rules on unruly MPs', 'metadescription' => 'The suspension of two Congress members by Lok Sabha Speaker after unruly scenes in the House has brought back focus on the conduct of MPs, and related issues', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/4aat5pm4qtnit2s/House_rules_on_unruly_MPs.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 15 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 2925, 'title' => 'Parliamentary motions', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Congress and other parties of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) are set to move a censure motion in the Lok Sabha against MP Pragya Thakur for her remarks on Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Parliamentary Motions</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In parliamentary procedure, a motion is a formal proposal by a member of a deliberative assembly that the assembly take certain action. Generally, a motion should be phrased in a way to take an action or express an opinion.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Different types of Parliamentary motions</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Privilege Motion</strong></span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A privileged motion is a motion that is granted precedence over ordinary business because it concerns matters of great importance or urgency. Such motions are not debatable, although in case of questions of privilege, the chair may feel the need to obtain relevant facts from members.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Censure Motion</strong></span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A censure means an expression of strong disapproval or harsh criticism. It can be a stern rebuke by a legislature, generally opposition against the policies of Government or an individual minister. However, it can also be passed to criticise, condemn some act. A censure motion can be moved in lower house of the parliament or in a state assembly in India.</span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is moved by opposition against a specific policy of government or against a minister or against the whole council of ministers.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Calling-Attention Motion</strong></span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Calling attention is a type of motion introduced by a member to call the attention of a minister to a matter of urgent public importance. The minister is expected to make authoritative statement from him on that matter. It can be introduced in any house of the parliament.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Adjournment Motion</strong></span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The primary object of an adjournment motion is to draw the attention of Lok Sabha to a recent matter of urgent public importance having serious consequences and in regard to which a motion or a resolution with proper notice will be too late.</span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Adjournment motion is allowed only in Lok Sabha (or in state legislative assembly) and not in Rajya Sabha (or in Legislative Council).</span></span></p> </li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Conditions</strong></span></span> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Such a motion needs support of at least 50 members. It should be introduced on a matter of definite and urgent public importance. However, it should not cover more than one matter and be restricted to that matter only.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A question of privilege or any other questions which can be raised via other distinct motion cannot be raised in adjournment motion.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Cut Motions</strong></span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">After the budget is presented in Parliament and discussions over it are completed, the members get an opportunity to move cut motions to reduce the amount of budgetary grants. The members from particular parties or coalitions may bring their own cut motions.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:40px"> </p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Policy Cut</strong></span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This type of cut motion aims that the amount of the demand be reduced to Re. 1. It represents the complete disapproval of policy underlying the demand.</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Token Cut</strong></span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This Cut Motion aims that the amount of the Demand be reduced by Rs. 100” in order to ventilate a specific grievance, which is within the sphere of responsibility of the government of India.</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Economy cut</strong></span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This type of cut motion aims that the amount of demand be reduced to certain other amount and it represents that the demand for grants should be altered.</span></span></li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>No Confidence Motion</strong></span></span></p> </li> </ul> <ul style="margin-left:40px"> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The constitutional provision behind this motion is Article 75, which says that “Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the LokSabha”. Thus, a council of ministers stays in office as long as it enjoys the confidence of majority of the members of Lok Sabha.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The motion has to be passed by simple majority. If passed, the Union Council of Ministers has to resign and government at centre falls.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">No-confidence motion can be moved only in Lok Sabha (or state assembly as the case may be). It is not allowed in Rajya Sabha (or state legislative council).</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is moved against the entire Council of Ministers and not individual ministers or private members.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It needs support of at least 50 members when introduced in Lok Sabha.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Motion of Thanks</strong></span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Motion of thanks is moved and voted in both houses parliament after the inaugural speech of the president at the beginning of first session of new Lok Sabha or the first session of a new year. This motion must be passed in both of the houses. A failure to get motion of thanks passed (which may happen rarely) amounts to defeat of government and leads to collapse of government.</span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Closure Motion</strong></span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Closure is one of the means by which a debate may be brought to an end by a majority decision of the House, even though all Members wishing to speak have not done so.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>No-Day-Yet-Named Motion</strong></span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Any other parliamentary motion which has not yet been named.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'parliamentary-motions', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/07d4/8fa0bfal6e4k9x36g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/07d4/8fa0bfal6e4k9x36g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Parliamentary motions | United Progressive Alliance', 'metakeyword' => 'Parliamentary motions, United Progressive Alliance', 'metadescription' => 'The Congress and other parties of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) are set to move a censure motion in the Lok Sabha against MP Pragya Thakur', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/bld8xwr548z3hdo/Parliamentary_motions.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 16 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3026, 'title' => 'Overseas Citizen of India', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Overseas Citizen of India card holders are facing major problems while travelling to the country because adequate awareness has not been created about recent enforcement of a rule on renewal.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">OCI, a major facility for members of the Indian diaspora, brings them at par with non-Resident Indians in financial, economic and educational fields except in the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">OCI card holders are eligible for free multiple entry, multi-purpose life-long visa to visit India. OCI card holders are also exempted from reporting to police authorities for any length of stay in India.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Overseas Citizen of India</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) is an immigration status permitting a foreign citizen of Indian origin to live and work in the Republic of India indefinitely. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The OCI was introduced in response to demands for dual citizenship by the Indian diaspora, particularly in developed countries. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It was introduced by The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2005 in August 2005.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">To apply for and use an OCI document, a holder must be a citizen of and hold a passport of another country, except that of Pakistan and Bangladesh.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Government of India, on application, may register any person as an Overseas Citizen of India, if the person:</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">was a citizen of India on 26 January 1950 or at any time thereafter; or</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15 August 1947; or</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">was eligible to become a citizen of India on 26 January 1950; or</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">is a child or a grandchild or a great-grandchild of such a citizen; or</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">is a minor child of such persons mentioned above; or</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">is a minor child and whose both parents are citizens of India or one of the parents is a citizen of India; or</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">is a spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of an Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder registered under section 7A of the Citizenship Act, 1955 and whose marriage has been registered and subsisted for a continuous period of not less than two years immediately preceding the presentation of the application.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Overseas citizens of India are not citizens of India from a constitutional point of view and will not enjoy the following rights even if resident in India:</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">they do not have the right to vote,</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">they do not have the right to hold the offices of Prime Minister, President, Vice-President, Judge of Supreme Court and High Court, member of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lok_Sabha" title="Lok Sabha">Lok Sabha</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajya_Sabha" title="Rajya Sabha">Rajya Sabha</a>, Legislative Assembly, or Council.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">they do not have the right to any public services (government jobs).</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">they do not have the right to hold farmland (agricultural property).</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'overseas-citizen-of-india', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/efd2/pf0k39v80ur5djc6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/efd2/pf0k39v80ur5djc6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Overseas Citizen of India', 'metakeyword' => 'Overseas Citizen of India', 'metadescription' => 'Overseas Citizen of India card holders are facing major problems while travelling to the country because adequate awareness has not been created', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/opfpa3xqir65kjb/Overseas_Citizen_of_India.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 17 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3077, 'title' => 'Assam accord', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The debate on the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) passed<strong> </strong>by<strong> </strong>Parliament has repeatedly flagged the alleged violation of the Assam Accord by the new law.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Assam Accord was a Memorandum of Settlement signed by the Governments of India and Assam, and the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and the All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad (AAGSP) in New Delhi on August 15, 1985.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">At the heart of the Accord was the “Foreigners Issue” and “Safeguards and Economic Development”. There were some “Other Issues” and a section on “Restoration of Normalcy”.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Home Ministry was the nodal Ministry for the implementation of the Accord. In 1986, a new Department was set up in the Government of Assam, called “Implementation of Assam Accord Department”, to implement the various clauses of the Memorandum of Settlement.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It was agreed that “for purposes of detection and deletion of foreigners, 1.1.1966 shall be the base data and year”, and that “all persons who came to Assam prior to 1.1.1966, including those amongst them whose names appeared on the electoral rolls used in 1967 elections shall be regularised”.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Foreigners who “came to Assam after 1.1.1966 (inclusive) and upto 24th March, 1971 shall be detected in accordance with the provisions of The Foreigners Act, 1946, and The Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1964”, and their names “will be deleted from the electoral rolls in force”.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">While, “On the expiry of a period of ten years following the date of detection, the names of all such persons which have been deleted from the electoral rolls shall be restored”, “all persons who were expelled earlier, but have since reentered illegally into Assam shall be expelled”.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Clause 6</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It reads,“Constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards, as may be appropriate shall be provided to protect, preserve and promote the culture, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.”</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Importance</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Assam Accord brought closure to a phase of great violence and anxiety in the modern history of Assam. The agitation was led by the youth, who saw a direct threat to their future from the illegal influx of foreigners into the state.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government of Assam describes the Assam movement as “historic”, and “one of the famous movements in post-colonial India mainly led by students of Assam”.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'assam-accord', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/addd/f5dbahbwddbqmhz6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/addd/f5dbahbwddbqmhz6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Assam accord | Citizenship Amendment Bill ', 'metakeyword' => 'Assam accord | Citizenship Amendment Bill ', 'metadescription' => 'The debate on the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) passed by Parliament has repeatedly flagged the alleged violation of the Assam Accord by the new law.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/fn6vqijpadyuzfk/Assam_accord.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 18 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3135, 'title' => 'Section 144 CrPC', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As the protests on CAA has intensified, state governments have sought to control the demonstrations by issuing prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code Of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to 141-149 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the maximum punishment for engaging in rioting is rigorous imprisonment for 3 years and/or fine. Every member of an unlawful assembly can be held responsible for a crime committed by the group.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Section 144 CrPC, a law retained from the colonial era, empowers a district magistrate, a sub-divisional magistrate or any other executive magistrate specially empowered by the state government in this behalf to issue orders to prevent and address urgent cases of apprehended danger or nuisance.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The magistrate has to pass a written order which may be directed against a particular individual, or to persons residing in a particular place or area, or to the public generally when frequenting or visiting a particular place or area.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This usually includes restrictions on movement, carrying arms and from assembling unlawfully. It is generally believed that assembly of three or more people is prohibited under Section 144.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">No order passed under Section 144 can remain in force for more than two months from the date of the order, unless the state government considers it necessary. Even then, the total period cannot extend to more than six months.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Criticism of section 144</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The criticism is that it is too broad and the words of the section are wide enough to give absolute power to a magistrate that may be exercised unjustifiably.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> Imposition of Section 144 to an entire state has also drawn criticism since the security situation differs from area to area.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Way forward</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Occasions may arise when it is not possible to distinguish between those whose conduct must be controlled and those whose conduct is clear, hence its application becomes necessary.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A general order may be necessary when the number of persons is so large that the distinction between them and the general public cannot be made.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The efficacy of the provision is to prevent some harmful occurrence immediately. Therefore, the emergency must be sudden and the consequences sufficiently grave for implementing this provision.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'section-144-crpc', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/aad0/dcupc7eelr0bfy26g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/aad0/dcupc7eelr0bfy26g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Section 144 CrPC | Code Of Criminal Procedure (CrPC)', 'metakeyword' => 'Section 144 CrPC, Code Of Criminal Procedure (CrPC)', 'metadescription' => 'As the protests on CAA has intensified, state governments have sought to control the demonstrations by issuing prohibitory orders under Section 144', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/ylirugv8tak170n/Section_144_CrPC.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 19 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3177, 'title' => 'National Population Register', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Union Cabinet has approved a proposal to conduct Census 2021 and update the National Population Register (NPR).</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">While the Census will be conducted in 2021, the NPR update will take place from April to September 2020 in all the States/UTs except Assam. It will be conducted under Home Ministry.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The NPR is a register of usual residents of the country. It is mandatory for every usual resident of India to register in the NPR. It includes both Indian citizens as well as a foreign citizen. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The objective of the NPR is to create a comprehensive identity database of every usual resident in the country.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is being prepared at the local (Village/sub-Town), sub-District, District, State and National level under provisions of the Citizenship Act 1955 and the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong> Usual resident</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003, a usual resident is a person who has resided in a local area for the past 6 months or more or a person who intends to reside in that area for the next 6 months or more.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details for NPR</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The demographic details of every individual are required for every usual resident on 21 points which includes ‘date and place of birth of parents’, last place of residence, Permanent Account Number (PAN), Aadhar ( on a voluntary basis), Voter ID card number, Driving License Number and Mobile Number.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In the last NPR done in 2010, the data was collected on the 15 points and it did not include ‘date and place of birth of parents’ and last place of residence.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Difference between NPR and NRC</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The NPR is different from the National Register of Citizens which excludes the foreign citizens.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A Population Register is ‘the register containing details of persons usually residing in a village or rural area or town or ward or demarcated area (demarcated by the Registrar General of Citizen Registration) within a ward in a town or urban area. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Whereas, the ‘National Register of Indian Citizens’ is a register containing details of Indian Citizens living in India and outside India.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">National Register of Indian Citizens’ shall contain the particulars of every citizen i.e. Name; Father’s name; Mother’s name; Sex; Date of birth; Place of birth; Residential address (present and permanent); Marital status if ever married, name of the spouse; Visible identification mark; Date of registration of Citizen; Serial number of registration; and National Identity Number.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The National Register of Citizens (NRC) is a register of all Indian citizens whose creation is mandated by The Citizenship Act 1955 as amended in 2003.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'national-population-register', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/1449/y6lvj4way1jrc706g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/1449/y6lvj4way1jrc706g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'National Population Register (NPR)', 'metakeyword' => 'National Population Register, npr', 'metadescription' => 'The Union Cabinet has approved a proposal to conduct Census 2021 and update the National Population Register (NPR).', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/doaodyatah9p8qg/National_Population_Register.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 20 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3232, 'title' => 'Detention centres', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">After the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 was passed on December 11, there are fears that those excluded from NPR-NRC will be sent to detention centres.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Centre has the power to deport foreign nationals staying illegally in the country under Section 3(2)(c) of The Foreigners Act, 1946. State governments have also been entrusted under Article 258(1) of the Constitution<strong> </strong>to take similar steps. </span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In 1998, the MHA under had written a letter to all States and Union Territories asking them to restrict the movement of convicted foreign nationals who had completed their jail sentence. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The letter said that they be confined to one of the detention centres/camps, pending confirmation of their nationality from the country concerned and to ensure their physical availability at all times for expeditious repatriation/deportation as soon as the travel documents are ready. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The centres are also used to hold foreigners who have been caught overstaying their visa term.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">States were asked by the MHA to set up sufficient number of detention centres where the suspected illegal immigrants would be detained pending their deportation.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Detention centres</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Detention centres are residential bildings meant to hold foreigners either staying illegally in the country or who have completed sentence and waiting for deportation.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issues</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Cleanliness and hygiene</strong></span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Most of the existing detention centres are ill managed leading to worse living conditions. This has made them susceptible for spread of diseases.</span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Family seperation</strong></span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">All memebers of a family are not kept at a single centre leading to seperation of children from their parents.</span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Slow resolution of the case</strong></span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The case of individuals kept in detention centres linger on for many years leading to accumulation of detenees.</span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'detention-centres', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/1d11/u8awpz3l0cmwhw36g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/1d11/u8awpz3l0cmwhw36g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Detention centres | After the Citizenship (Amendment)', 'metakeyword' => 'Detention centres, After the Citizenship (Amendment)', 'metadescription' => 'After the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 was passed on December 11, there are fears that those excluded from NPR-NRC will be sent to detention centres.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/5mioh3ovzcmd83z/Detention_centres.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 21 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3240, 'title' => 'Karnataka-Maharashtra Belgaum issue', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The bus services between Kolhapur and Belgaum were suspended<strong> </strong>after the decades-old border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka flared up again.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka over Belgaum and other border areas is a longstanding issue between the two states, and has been pending before the Supreme Court for many years.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The erstwhile Bombay Presidency, a multilingual province, included the present-day Karnataka districts of Bijapur, Belgaum, Dharwar and Uttara-Kannada (previously North Kanara).</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The States Reorganisation Act of 1956, which divided states on linguistic and administrative lines, made Belgaum a part of the then Mysore State (which was renamed Karnataka in 1973).</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Maharashtra government contested the inclusion and lodged a protest with the Centre in September 1957. This led to the formation of the Mahajan Commission under former Chief Justice Mehr Chand Mahajan in October 1966.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Commission, which submitted its report in August 1967, recommended that 264 villages be transferred to Maharashtra and that Belgaum and 247 villages remain with Karnataka. Maharashtra rejected the report and demanded another review.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Maharashtra continues to claim over 865 villages along the border, as well as Belgaum city, which are currently part of Karnataka. Successive governments in Maharashtra have demanded their inclusion within the state. Karnataka has contested these claims.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'karnataka-maharashtra-belgaum-issue', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/80b4/gjtpn6xatv521n06g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/80b4/gjtpn6xatv521n06g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Karnataka-Maharashtra Belgaum issue', 'metakeyword' => 'Karnataka-Maharashtra Belgaum issue', 'metadescription' => 'The bus services between Kolhapur and Belgaum were suspended after the decades-old border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka flared up again.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/sfhpdlyg24rdp82/Karnataka-Maharashtra_Belgaum_issue.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 22 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3249, 'title' => 'Popular Front of India: The organisation facing chances of ban', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government in Uttar Pradesh has sent a report to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recommending a ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI).</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government has accused the organisation and its political front, the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) of “masterminding and instigating violence” during the recent protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC).</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Government members said PFI was the “incarnation” of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and the PFI’s role has been established in vandalism in the state.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The organisation has been accused earlier of multiple violent and extremist incidents. Police in Kerala and Karnataka have found evidence of the use of lethal weapons in PFI centres.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>PFI</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The PFI was set up in 2006 as a federation of the National Development Fund (NDF), which was formed in Kerala in 1993 and subsequently emerged as the Manitha Neethi Pasarai (MNP) in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Forum for Dignity (KFD) in Karnataka.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It calls itself a “socio-political movement that strives for the empowerment of the Muslims and other marginalised sections of society”.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI)</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">SIMI, which was formed in 1977, is banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. It is accused of standing for the propagation of Islamist jihad and the establishment of Islamic rule in India.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>SDPI</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">SDPI is PFI’s political front, founded, according to the organisation, for the “advancement and uniform development” of all citizens, including Muslims, Dalits, Backward classes and Adivasis. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">SDPI was formed and declared in 2009, and was registered with the Election Commission of India in 2010.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The SDPI wants a complete revamp of the system. The SDPI claims to uphold values including national integration, communal amity, and social harmony.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'popular-front-of-india-the-organisation-facing-chances', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/bdae/psfrwr8tnmcbxd86g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/bdae/psfrwr8tnmcbxd86g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Popular Front of India: The organisation facing chances', 'metakeyword' => 'Popular Front of India: The organisation facing chances of ban', 'metadescription' => 'The government in Uttar Pradesh has sent a report to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recommending a ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI).', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/4av865qdok69lg8/Popular_Front_of_India_The_organisation_facing_chances_of_ban.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 23 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3428, 'title' => '‘Lese Majeste’', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan invoked his authority to ask the executive to submit why it kept the Raj Bhavan in the dark about the move to appeal against the citizenship law in the Supreme Court.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The governor pointed out in a letter to the Chief Secretary that the Chief Minister was duty-bound under the rules of business of the government to refer specified category of cases that concerned Centre-State relations or involved the Supreme Court to the Governor before the administration acted.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The governor said that the government had crossed a line by not informing the constitutional head of State about its decision to challenge the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, a Central law, in the Supreme Court.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The State Law Minister contended the State was not in conflict with the Centre. Hence, there was no imperative to inform the Governor. The State had merely invoked the provisions of Article 131 of the Constitution to file a civil suit in the Supreme Court against the CAA.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Lese Mejestes</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Lèse-majesté is a French term meaning "to do wrong to majesty" and is an offence against the dignity of a reigning <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarch" title="Monarch">sovereign</a> or against a state.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Lèse-majeste is defined variously as “a crime against the sovereign”, “offense against a ruler’s dignity as head of the state”, and “treason” has largely been relegated to history but for glaring examples such as Thailand, where its use is blamed for stifling dissent and for sending people behind bars for long years.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Under this law, social media use is also monitored, and posting content considered seditious, as well as pressing the “Like” button on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/about/facebook/">Facebook</a> on such content, has led to prison time.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'lese-majeste', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/655c/ikn6i28ou5tv3o06g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/655c/ikn6i28ou5tv3o06g.jpg', 'metatitle' => '‘Lese Majeste’ | Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan ', 'metakeyword' => '‘Lese Majeste’, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan ', 'metadescription' => 'Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan invoked his authority to ask the executive to submit why it kept the Raj Bhavan in the dark about the move ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/6w27m0w0hpjshhb/%E6Lese_Majeste%C6.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 24 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3476, 'title' => 'EC tells Supreme Court, criminally tainted candidates must not get tickets', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Supreme Court has agreed to examine a proposition made by the Election<strong> </strong>Commission (EC) to ask political parties to not give ticket to those with criminal antecedents.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Supreme Court’s long string of judgments against criminalisation of politics has hardly scratched the surface of the deep rot.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A previous judgment had urged Parliament to bring a “strong law” to cleanse political parties of leaders facing trial for serious crimes.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The court had suggested that Parliament frame a law that makes it obligatory for political parties to remove leaders charged with “heinous and grievous” crimes like rape, murder and kidnapping, only to a name a few, and refuse ticket to offenders in both parliamentary and Assembly polls.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Grounds for disqualification</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Parliament has the power to make a law in respect to the issue of qualification and disqualification of the membership in case:</span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He holds any office of profit under the Government of India or of any state, other than an office declared by a law of Parliament not to disqualify its holder.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> He is of unsound mind and stand so declared by a competent court.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> He is an undischarged insolvent.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> He is not a citizen of India or has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a foreign state, or is under any acknowledgement or allegiance or adherence to a foreign state, and</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is he so disqualified by or under any law of Parliament. It applies to the case of 'defection' as prescribed in tenth schedule.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Any dispute about the disqualification of a Member of Parliament shall be referred to the President, who will take a decision on the advice of the Election Commission and decision shall be final according to the article 103.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> In case of disqualification on grounds of defection, the matter will be decided by speaker or chairman or Rajya Sabha as the case may be.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The representation of people act, 1951 also lays down certain conditions for disqualification of MPs and MLAs.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">They are as follows:</span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He must not have been convicted by a court of any offence and sentenced to imprisonment for a period of more than two years.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He must not have been found guilty by a court or on election tribunal of certain election or corrupt practices in the elections.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He must not have been dismissed for corruption or disloyalty from government services.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He must not have failed to lodge on his election expenses within time and in a manner prescribed by law.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He must not have any interest in government contracts, execution of government work or services.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He must not be a director or managing agent nor hold an office of profit under any corporation in which the government has any financial interest.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'ec-tells-supreme-court', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/110c/j9rhhll3nlyzw1h6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/110c/j9rhhll3nlyzw1h6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'EC tells Supreme Court, criminally tainted candidates', 'metakeyword' => 'EC tells Supreme Court, criminally tainted candidates must not get tickets', 'metadescription' => 'The Supreme Court has agreed to examine a proposition made by the Election Commission (EC) to ask political parties to not give ticket to those with criminal', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/k31z9938e5iq5xi/EC_tells_Supreme_Court.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 25 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3514, 'title' => 'The Bodo accord', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Centre, the Assam government and Bodo groups, including all factions of the militant National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), have signed an agreement for peace and development. </span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In 2003, the second Bodo Accord was signed by the extremist group Bodo Liberation Tiger Force (BLTF), the Centre and the state. This led to the BTC. BTC is an autonomous body under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The most significant point is that Accord marks the end of the armed movement. The coming of all factions of the armed groups together to sign the Accord is a big achievement.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The new Accord provides for alteration of area of BTAD and provisions for Bodos outside BTAD. A commission appointed by the state government will examine and recommend if villages contiguous to BTAD and with a majority tribal population can be included into the BTR while those now in BTAD and with a majority non-tribal population can opt out of the BTR.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government will set up a Bodo-Kachari Welfare Council for focused development of Bodo villages outside BTAD, which opens up a way to potentially address the needs of Bodos outside BTAD.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It provides for more legislative, executive, administrative and financial powers to BTC; and amendments to the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to “improve the financial resources and administrative powers of Bodoland Territorial Council.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Bodos</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bodo are a Tibeto-Burmese-speaking ethnic group in Assam. They are a part of the greater Bodo-Kachari family of ethnolinguistic groups and are spread across northeastern India and clustered strongly in Assam, along the eastern Duars.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Bodos are the single largest community among the notified Scheduled Tribes in Assam. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bodo people are recognized as a plains tribe in the <strong>Sixth</strong> Schedule of the Indian Constitution.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Traditionally, Bodos practiced <strong>Bathouism</strong>, which is the worshiping of forefathers, known as Obonglaoree. The shijou tree (in the genus Euphorbia) is taken as the symbol of Bathou and worshiped.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In addition to Bathouism, Bodo people also follow Hinduism, especially <strong>Hoom</strong> <strong>Jaygya</strong>. The important Hindu festival is the <strong>Kherai Puja</strong>, where an altar is placed in a rice field.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'the-bodo-accord', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/4dae/8ynbl9uxgpbqj0d6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/4dae/8ynbl9uxgpbqj0d6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'The Bodo accord', 'metakeyword' => 'The Bodo accord', 'metadescription' => 'The Centre, the Assam government and Bodo groups, including all factions of the militant National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/lty4fkzbuf6pw0z/The_Bodo_accord.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 26 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3579, 'title' => 'Home ministry denies existence of ‘Love Jihad’', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Centre said the term ‘Love Jihad’ is not defined under the law, and no such case has been reported by any of the Central agencies.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It was based on a question by Congress MP Benny Behanan on whether Central agencies have reported any case of ‘Love Jihad’ from Kerala during the past two years and if so, the details thereof.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Union Minister of State for Home G. Kishan Reddy said <strong>Article 25</strong> of the Constitution<strong> </strong>provides for the freedom to profess, practice and propagate religion subject to public order, morality and health. Various courts, including the Kerala High Court, have upheld this view.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The statement comes in the wake of protests against the stance of the Syrian-Malabar church on ‘love jihad’ in the second week of January. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Church had then called for inquiries into instances of ‘love jihad’ in which Christian girls fell victims to inter-religious love affairs. In some cases, such girls also joined terrorist organisations such as the Islamic State.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Love Jihad</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Love Jihad or Romeo Jihad is the alleged effort by Muslim men in targeting women belonging to non-Muslim communities for conversion to Islam by using love.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The concept first rose to national attention in India in 2009, with claims of widespread conversions in Kerala and Karnataka, but claims have subsequently spread throughout India and beyond, into Pakistan and the United Kingdom.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'home-ministry-denies-existence-of-love-jihad', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/5924/k7o1neb29mk6vq56g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/5924/k7o1neb29mk6vq56g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Home ministry denies existence of ‘Love Jihad’', 'metakeyword' => 'Home ministry denies existence of ‘Love Jihad’', 'metadescription' => 'The Centre said the term ‘Love Jihad’ is not defined under the law, and no such case has been reported by any of the Central agencies.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/61jfgccrf2g4ad0/Home_ministry_denies_existence_of_%E6Love_Jihad%C6.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 27 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3591, 'title' => 'Ayodhya Ram Temple Trust', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Union Cabinet has cleared the formation of a Trust for the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya. The Trust, which is called the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra, will include 15 members, of which one will be a Dalit.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Supreme Court had allowed the construction of a Ram temple at the site of the demolished Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, and ordered handing over another 5-acre plot to the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Waqf Board for the mosque.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">One of the five suits before the court in the Babri Masjid case was in the name of the deity itself, Sri Ram Lalla Virajman, and of the birthplace, Asthan Shri Ram Janmabhoomi. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This suit was founded on the claim that the law recognises both the idol and the birthplace as juridical entities. The court did not accept the Janmasthan as a juridical entity.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It awarded the title of the land to Ram Lalla, to be held by the Trust that the Court said should be set up within three months. This Trust is the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Court had said that the scheme to be framed by the Centre should make necessary provisions about the functioning of the Trust or the body, including on matters relating to its management, the powers of the trustees including the construction of a temple and all necessary, incidental and supplemental matters.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Trust will get the possession of the inner and outer courtyards along with the rest of the acquired land, which will be managed and developed by the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The court used its powers under Article 142 to direct that appropriate representation may be given in the Trust to the Nirmohi Akhara.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'ayodhya-ram-temple-trust', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/5380/4faubv6cnsrlyzb6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/5380/4faubv6cnsrlyzb6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Ayodhya Ram Temple Trust | Ayodhya Ram Temple', 'metakeyword' => 'Ayodhya Ram Temple Trust, Ayodhya Ram Temple. Ram mandir', 'metadescription' => 'The Union Cabinet has cleared the formation of a Trust for the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya. The Trust, which is called the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/ppc3mi11x7plfeb/Ayodhya_Ram_Temple_Trust.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 28 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3640, 'title' => 'Notifying new Scheduled Tribes', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Lok Sabha<strong> </strong>passed The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2019 by voice vote. The Bill seeks to include the <strong>Parivara</strong> and the <strong>Talawara</strong> communities in the ST category to ensure they get reservation and other benefits provided by the government.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The legislation had been brought in relation to one State and assured the members that the government would take cognizance of their demands.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Article 342</strong>, prescribes procedure to be followed in the matter of specification of scheduled tribes.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The <strong>President</strong> may, with respect to any State or Union territory, and where it is a state, after consultation with the Governor there of by public notification, specify the tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups within tribes or tribal communities which shall, for the purposes of this constitution, is deemed to be scheduled tribes in relation to that state or Union Territory, as the case may be.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Parliament</strong> may by law include in or exclude from the list of Scheduled tribes specified in a notification issued under clause(1) any tribe or tribal community or part of or group within any tribe or tribal community. These orders can be modified subsequently only through an Act of Parliament.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The list of Scheduled Tribes is State/UT specific and a community declared as a Scheduled Tribe in a State need not be so in another State.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The <strong>criteria</strong> presently followed for specification of a community as a Scheduled Tribe are : (i) indications of primitive traits, (ii) distinctive culture, (iii) geographical isolation, (iv) shyness of contact with the community at large, and (v) backwardness. However, these criteria are not spelt out in the Constitution.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Tribal population in India</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The tribal population of the country, as per 2011 census, is 10.43 crore, constituting 8.6% of the total population. 89.97% of them live in rural areas and 10.03% in urban areas. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The decadal population growth of the tribal’s from Census 2001 to 2011 has been 23.66% against the 17.69% of the entire population. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The sex ratio for the overall population is 940 females per 1000 males and that of Scheduled Tribes 990 females per thousand males.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Broadly the STs inhabit two distinct geographical area – the Central India and the North- Eastern Area. More than half of the Scheduled Tribe population is concentrated in Central India, i.e., Madhya Pradesh (14.69%), Chhattisgarh (7.5%), Jharkhand (8.29%), Andhra Pradesh (5.7%), Maharashtra (10.08%), Orissa (9.2%), Gujarat (8.55%) and Rajasthan (8.86%). </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The other distinct area is the North East (Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh).</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">More than two-third of the ST population is concentrated only in the seven States of the country, viz. Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">There is no ST population in 3 States (Delhi NCR, Punjab and Haryana) and 2 UTs (Puducherry and Chandigarh), as no Scheduled Tribe is notified.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'notifying-new-scheduled-tribes', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/6716/oazrvp9dna6ksdj6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/6716/oazrvp9dna6ksdj6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Notifying new Scheduled Tribes', 'metakeyword' => 'Notifying new Scheduled Tribes', 'metadescription' => 'The Lok Sabha passed The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2019 by voice vote. The Bill seeks to include the Parivara', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/o77u9575ht0021t/Notifying_new_Scheduled_Tribes.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 29 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3649, 'title' => 'Union cabinet clears bill to regulate pesticides', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Union Cabinet has approved the Pesticides<strong> </strong>Management Bill, 2020, which, the government claims, will regulate the business of pesticides and compensate farmers in case of losses from the use of spurious agro chemicals.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The ministers said that Pesticides Management Bill will be introduced in this session. Today the pesticide business is regulated by 1968 rules which have become age-old and need immediate rewriting.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The farmers would also be empowered to get all information as the data would be in open source and in all languages. They will know about the strength and weakness of pesticides, the risk and alternatives and this will be an open data in digital format also.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In February 2018, the Centre released a draft of the pesticides Bill that aims to replace the existing Insecticides Act of 1968. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A key proposal in the 2018 version of the Bill was to raise penalties on the sale of prohibited or spurious pesticides to ?50 lakh and up to five years’ imprisonment, from the current ?2,000 and up to three years imprisonment.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">If there is any loss because of the spurious or low quality of pesticides then there is a provision for compensations This is the unique feature of this Bill. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The existing draft provides inadequate representation to States in both pesticide board and the registration committee. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The States should have a say in final decision making on pesticide, as they have the best understanding on the agro-ecological climate, environment and soil conditions.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'union-cabinet-clears-bill-to-regulate-pesticides', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/f295/wgdxr54x6eryipg6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/f295/wgdxr54x6eryipg6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Union cabinet clears bill to regulate pesticides', 'metakeyword' => 'Union cabinet clears bill to regulate pesticides', 'metadescription' => 'The Union Cabinet has approved the Pesticides Management Bill, 2020, which, the government claims, will regulate the business of pesticides', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/8i6dw1a44m5vso7/Union_cabinet_clears_bill_to_regulate_pesticides.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 30 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3661, 'title' => 'Two child norms debate', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha member Anil Desai introduced a Private Member’s Bill in the Rajya Sabha. The Bill proposes incentives in taxation, education and employment for people who limit their family size to two children.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill has sought the incorporation of a new provision, Article 47A in Part IV of the Constitution, to withdraw all concessions from people who fail to adhere to the “small-family” norm.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill aims to amend the Constitution in order to incentivise limiting families to two children by offering tax concessions, priority in social benefit schemes and school admissions, among other things.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill proposes the insertion of Article 47A after Article 47 of the Constitution.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Article 47A</strong> says the following: The State shall promote small family norms by offering incentives in taxes, employment, education etc. to its people who keep their family limited to two children and shall withdraw every concession from and deprive such incentives to those not adhering to small family norm, to keep the growing population under control.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Need for two child norms</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">India’s population rate has overrun the ability of the environment to cater to. This has caused stress on the limited resources of the country.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The higher population has not resulted in higher productivity rate in terms of creation of wealth instead the per capita wealth has depriciated.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Women are forced to undergo multiple pregnancies over a short period of time. This has created adverse effect on their health leading to their death in some cases.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Drawbacks of two child norms</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It will increase the cases of mass sterilization especially by poor women belonging to backward area. This may result in deaths of women due to improper procedures.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The replacement rate of the old population will decrease significantly due to which the number of working age population will reduce drastically.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'two-child-norms-debate', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/398c/4bnpkl2afj8wpk66g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/398c/4bnpkl2afj8wpk66g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Two child norms debate', 'metakeyword' => 'Two child norms debate', 'metadescription' => 'Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha member Anil Desai introduced a Private Member’s Bill in the Rajya Sabha. The Bill proposes incentives in taxation, education ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/piyp5iq62maeah4/Two_child_norms_debate.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 31 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3798, 'title' => 'Zonal Councils', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair the 24th meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council, comprising States of Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal, scheduled to be held in Bhubaneswar.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Issues such as inter-State water dispute, power transmission, coal royalty, forest clearance for railway and other infrastructure projects and extension of banking and telecom services in rural pockets will figure in the discussion.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Zonal Councils are advisory councils and are made up of the states of India that have been grouped into five zones to foster cooperation among them. These were set up vide <strong>Part-III</strong> of the <strong>States Reorganisation Act, 1956.</strong></span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The North Eastern states are not covered by any of the Zonal Councils and their special problems are addressed by another statutory body, the North Eastern Council, created by the <strong>North Eastern Council Act, 1971</strong>.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Various Zonal councils</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Northern Zonal Council, comprising the States of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, National Capital Territory of Delhi and Union Territory of Chandigarh;</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Central Zonal Council, comprising the States of Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh;</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Eastern Zonal Council, comprising the States of Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Sikkim and West Bengal;</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Western Zonal Council, comprising the States of Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra and the Union Territories of Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli;</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Southern Zonal Council, comprising the States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Structure</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Chairman</strong> - The Union Home Minister is the Chairman of each of these Councils.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Vice</strong> <strong>Chairman</strong> - The Chief Ministers of the States included in each zone act as Vice-Chairman of the Zonal Council for that zone by rotation, each holding office for a period of one year at a time.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Members</strong>- Chief Minister and two other Ministers as nominated by the Governor from each of the States and two members from Union Territories included in the zone.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Advisers</strong>- One person nominated by the Planning Commission for each of the Zonal Councils, Chief Secretaries and another officer/Development Commissioner nominated by each of the States included in the Zone</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Union Ministers</strong> are also invited to participate in the meetings of Zonal Councils depending upon necessity.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Objectives and functions</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The main <strong>objectives</strong> of setting up of Zonal Councils are as under:</span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Bringing out national integration;</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Arresting the growth of acute State consciousness, regionalism, linguism and particularistic tendencies;</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Enabling the Centre and the States to co-operate and exchange ideas and experiences;</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Establishing a climate of co-operation amongst the States for successful and speedy execution of development projects.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In particular, a Zonal Council may discuss, and make recommendations with regard to:</span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">any matter of common interest in the field of economic and social planning;</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">any matter concerning border disputes, linguistic minorities or inter-State transport;</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">any matter connected with or arising out of, the re-organization of the States under the States Reorganisation Act.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'zonal-councils', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/b5ea/mivceyvy9op052v6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/b5ea/mivceyvy9op052v6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Zonal Councils | Eastern Zonal Council', 'metakeyword' => 'Zonal Councils, Eastern Zonal Council', 'metadescription' => 'Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair the 24th meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council, comprising States of Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/x1mhkazq0zoo8gg/Zonal_Councils.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 32 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3952, 'title' => 'Notified disaster', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/coronavirus-saarc-countries-video-conference-narendra-modi-pakistan-6314802/">treat COVID-19 as a notified disaster</a> for the purpose of providing assistance under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In a similar move, US President Donald Trump declared a national emergency in the country on Friday invoking the Stafford Act, as per which, the federal government contributes about 75 percent to the cost of relief for states.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to the Disaster Management Act, a disaster is defined as the following, “a catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence in any area, arising from natural or man made causes, or by accident or negligence which results in substantial loss of life or human suffering or damage to, and destruction of, property, or damage to, or degradation of, environment, and is of such a nature or magnitude as to be beyond the coping capacity of the community of the affected area”.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Further, citing the High Power Committee on Disaster Management, which was constituted in 1999, it identified 31 disaster categories organised into five major sub-groups, which are: water and climate related disasters, geological related disasters, chemical, industrial and nuclear related disasters and biological related disasters, which includes biological disasters and epidemics.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The SDRF is constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and is the primary fund available with state governments for responses to notified disasters. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Central government contributes 75 per cent towards the SDRF allocation for general category states and UTs, and over 90 per cent for special category states/UTs, which includes northeastern states, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand).</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The National Disaster Response Fund, which is also constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 supplements the SDRF of a state, in case of a disaster of severe nature, provided adequate funds are not available in the SDRF.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The disasters covered under the SDRF include cyclones, droughts, tsunamis, hailstorms, landslides, avalanches and pest attacks among others.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>National Calamity</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As of now, there is no executive or legal provision to declare a national calamity. In 2001, the National Committee on Disaster Management under then Prime Minister was mandated to look into the parameters that should define a national calamity. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">However, the committee did not suggest any fixed criterion. In the past, there have been demands from states to declare certain events as natural disasters, such as the Uttarakhand flood in 2013, Cyclone Hudhud in Andhra Pradesh in 2014, and the Assam floods of 2015.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'notified-disaster', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/fb03/0b7z3so31c10snk6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/fb03/0b7z3so31c10snk6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Notified disaster', 'metakeyword' => 'Notified disaster', 'metadescription' => 'The Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to treat COVID-19 as a notified disaster for the purpose of providing assistance under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/gi77kz7wvf3jklv/4.Notified_disaster.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 33 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 3979, 'title' => 'Uncertainity over NPR', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">At least 13 States, and Delhi, covering almost 60% of the total population of India, are opposed to the revision of the National Population Register (NPR) in the format being prepared by the Centre, even as the nationwide exercise is scheduled to kick off in barely two weeks time on April 1.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Home minister has told that people could choose to not respond to questions, but Chief Ministers and activists have said that this is no guarantee that they would not face any problems in the future.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had informed the Lok Sabha that it was in discussion with States that had expressed concerns over the controversial additional questions in the NPR form. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The MHA had informed a parliamentary panel that during works towards updating the NPR 2020, it is proposed to collect data on some additional items like place of last residence, mother tongue, Aadhaar number (voluntary), mobile number, passport (Indian passport holder), voter ID card, driving license number, date and place of birth of father and mother.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Activists have pointed out that as the law stands, not providing information for the NPR can be an offence and the NPR could be used for identifying genuine citizens and doubtful ones.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">West Bengal was the first State to announce that it would not canvass the NPR form during the census operations, followed by Kerala. Both States have put the NPR exercise on on hold.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'uncertainity-over-npr', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/4703/puozvmowaex232f6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/4703/puozvmowaex232f6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Uncertainity over NPR', 'metakeyword' => 'Uncertainity over NPR', 'metadescription' => 'At least 13 States, and Delhi, covering almost 60% of the total population of India, are opposed to the revision of the National Population Register (NPR)', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/w6g8ais4tl8wgjk/1.Uncertainty_over_NPR.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 34 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 4165, 'title' => 'MPLADS funds', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> The Union Cabinet has given its nod to the temporary suspension of MPLAD Funds during 2020-21 and 2021-22 in view of the adverse impact of the outbreak of COVID-19 in India.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Cabinet has approved an ordinance to reduce the salaries, allowances and pensions of Members of Parliament (MPs), including the Prime Minister, by 30 per cent for one year and the amount would be utilised in the fight against coronavirus.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) is a programme first launched during the Narasimha Rao Government in 1993, aimed towards providing funds for developmental works recommended by individual MPs.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The MPs were entitled to recommend works to the tune of Rs 1 crore annually between 1994-95 and 1997-98, after which the annual entitlement was enhanced to Rs 2 crore.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The objective of the scheme is to enable MPs to recommend works of developmental nature with emphasis on the creation of durable community assets based on the locally felt needs to be taken up in their Constituencies. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Right from inception of the Scheme, durable assets of national priorities viz. drinking water, primary education, public health, sanitation and roads, etc. are being created.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The guidelines recommend MPs to suggest works costing at least 15 per cent of their MPLADS entitlement for the year for areas inhabited by Scheduled Caste population and 7.5 per cent for areas inhabited by ST population.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">To implement their plans in an area, MPs have to recommend them to the District Authority of the respective Nodal District. The District Authorities then identify Implementing Agencies which execute the projects.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The guidelines lay down a number of development works, including construction of railway halt stations, providing financial assistance to recognised educational bodies, cooperative societies, bar associations, installing CCTV cameras, and rainwater harvesting systems.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The MPLADS funds can be merged with other schemes such as MGNREGA and Khelo India. MPLADS was held constitutionally valid by the Supreme Court in its May 6, 2010 judgement.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'mplads-funds', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/948e/tlq3mxfuq9sp8vx6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/948e/tlq3mxfuq9sp8vx6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'MPLADS funds', 'metakeyword' => 'MPLADS funds', 'metadescription' => 'The Union Cabinet has given its nod to the temporary suspension of MPLAD Funds during 2020-21 and 2021-22 in view of the adverse impact of the outbreak of COVID-19', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/9rf8mmde9n2n6k7/4.MPLADS_funds.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 35 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5052, 'title' => 'Postal ballots', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Election Commission has announced that it will allow those above the age of 65 as well as those under home or institutional quarantine to vote using postal ballots during the Bihar elections.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A restricted set of voters can exercise postal voting. Through this facility, a voter can cast her vote remotely by recording her preference on the ballot paper and sending it back to the election officer before counting.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Members of the armed forces like the Army, Navy, and Air Force, members of the armed police force of a state (serving outside the state), government employees posted outside India, and their spouses are entitled to vote only by post. In other words, they can’t vote in person. Voters under preventive detention can also vote only by post.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Special voters such as the President of India, Vice President, Governors, Union Cabinet ministers, Speaker of the House, and government officers on poll duty have the option to vote by post. But they have to apply through a prescribed form to avail this facility.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Recently, the Law Ministry, at the Election Commission’s behest, introduced a new category of ‘absentee voters’, who can now also opt for postal voting. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">These are voters employed in essential services and unable to cast their vote due to their service conditions. Currently, officials of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Northern Railway (Passenger and Freight) Services, and media persons are notified as absentee voters.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Returning Officer is supposed to print ballot papers within 24 hours of the last date of nomination withdrawal and dispatch them within a day. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This is done so that the ballot papers reach the concerned voter well before the polling date and she has enough time to send it back before the counting day.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">After receiving it, the voter can mark her preference with a tick mark or cross mark against the candidate’s name. They also have to fill up a duly attested declaration to the effect that they have marked the ballot paper. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The opposition parties have opposed the move saying that it will lead to malpractices and foul play by those parties which are in power and having resources.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The Commission defended itself saying senior citizens are at a higher risk of contracting Covid-19 infection and the decision to allow them to vote via postal ballots was made to minimise their exposure in public.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'postal-ballots', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/e8c6/sdzvi4cxzlxx72s6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/e8c6/sdzvi4cxzlxx72s6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Postal ballots', 'metakeyword' => 'Postal ballots', 'metadescription' => 'Election Commission has announced that it will allow those above the age of 65 as well as those under home or institutional quarantine to vote using postal ballots', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/k8lfimyd5vmq9u8/1.Postal_ballots.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 36 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5332, 'title' => 'Running mates', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong><br /> Reports suggest Democratic Party nominee Joe Biden will be announcing his running mate soon, possibly as early as this week for the US presidential elections.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">With Donald Trump aiming for a second term at US presidency, it is not yet clear whether he will continue with Vice-President Mike Pence as his running mate for 2020 or whether the Trump campaign will announce some last-minute changes.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Constitution of the United States provides for both a president and a vice-president. Under the current system, the presidential candidate for each of the two major parties, the Democratic and the Republican party, chooses a vice presidential running mate. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This process is also applicable to smaller political parties. The running mate is simply the vice-presidential candidate. Voters vote on the two—presidential and vice-presidential candidates—as a team.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">There are other countries where a similar process exists, for instance, Brazil, Indonesia, and Palau, where the running mate of the presidential candidate is automatically made Vice-President.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Under the original system, the vice-president was simply the presidential candidate who received the second most electoral college votes in the presidential election.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The US Constitution was subsequently changed in 1804 by the 12th Amendment to provide that the electoral college would separately select a president and a vice-president, rather than simply choosing the runner up in the presidential election as the vice-president.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The presidential candidate selects his or her running mate with advice from advisors or anyone else the presidential candidate wants to listen to.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">At present, candidates for running mates in US elections are subjected to extensive background checks that scour every aspect of the candidate’s professional and personal life, covering everything from personal relationships, medical history and financial checks.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'running-mates', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/46ec/vhbbrkaykdt6r296g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/46ec/vhbbrkaykdt6r296g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Running mates', 'metakeyword' => 'Running mates', 'metadescription' => 'Reports suggest Democratic Party nominee Joe Biden will be announcing his running mate soon, possibly as early as this week for the US presidential elections.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/ahxyc8nglxjt4m6/2.Running+mates.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 37 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5343, 'title' => 'Process of renaming roads', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A day before the bhoomi pujan for Ram Temple in Ayodhya, former union minister Vijay Goel defaced the Babar Road signboard in Central Delhi and demanded renaming it.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This is not the first time that such demands for changing a road name has been put forward. However, there is a channel and process through which any name change request goes.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Requests to change names of roads come to agencies that have jurisdiction over the space, in this case New Delhi Municipal Council, from various sources.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Once the request is received, it is sent to the general administration department of NDMC. Thereafter, an agenda is put up before the NDMC council, which is a 13-member body headed by the council Chairperson, that takes the decision.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">If the resolution is passed, it is sent to the state road naming authority of the urban development department of the Delhi government for approval. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">If the decree directs for the changing of the road name, a letter is also sent to the postmaster general of Delhi by the NDMC indicating that a change has been accepted.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The council has laid down criteria for entertaining such requests as per the guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Such requests should have historical relevance, respect the sentiments of people, it must be felt that there is a need to recognise the personality whose name has to be given to the street. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The new names should not create confusion for the post offices and the public and deprive the people of a sense of history.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Historians believe that this exercise deprives people of a sense of history. They also advocate that a ruler’s act should be judged in the context in which they had ruled.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">There is another school of thought that advocates these changes that believes that rulers like Aurangzeb and Babar were cruel administrators and that there is no reason to honour them by naming a road after them.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The main expense is related to repainting street signs and making the names of civic corporations consistent with the city’s name. One has to paste the letters in with reflective tape or engrave it.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'process-of-renaming-roads', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/3c7c/4gssilhown6ur7x6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/3c7c/4gssilhown6ur7x6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Process of renaming roads', 'metakeyword' => 'Process of renaming roads', 'metadescription' => 'A day before the bhoomi pujan for Ram Temple in Ayodhya, former union minister Vijay Goel defaced the Babar Road signboard in Central Delhi and demanded renaming', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/pjy4b7zilahcujo/3.Process+of+renaming+roads.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 38 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5453, 'title' => 'Increasing minimum age of marriage for women', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the central government has set up a committee to reconsider the minimum age of marriage for women.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The minimum age of marriage, especially for women, has been a contentious issue. The law evolved in the face of much resistance from religious and social conservatives.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Currently, the law prescribes that the minimum age of marriage is 21 years and 18 years for men and women respectively.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The minimum age of marriage is distinct from the age of majority which is gender-neutral. An individual attains the age of majority at 18 as per the Indian Majority Act, 1875.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Union Ministry for Women and Child Development set up a task force to examine matters pertaining to age of motherhood, imperatives of lowering Maternal Mortality Ratio and the improvement of nutritional levels among women.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The task force will examine the correlation of age of marriage and motherhood with health, medical well-being, and nutritional status of the mother and neonate, infant or child, during pregnancy, birth, and thereafter.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It will also look at key parameters like Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR), Total Fertility Rate (TFR), Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) and Child Sex Ratio (CSR), and will examine the possibility of increasing the age of marriage for women from the present 18 years to 21 years.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">From bringing in gender-neutrality to reduce the risks of early pregnancy among women, there are many arguments in favour of increasing the minimum age of marriage of women. Early pregnancy is associated with increased child mortality rates and affects the health of the mother.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">UNICEF estimates suggest that each year, at least 1.5 million girls under the age of 18 are married in India, which makes the country home to the largest number of child brides in the world.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'increasing-minimum-age-of-marriage-for-women', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/7670/nrxb06sxah8vlyu6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/7670/nrxb06sxah8vlyu6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Increasing minimum age of marriage for women', 'metakeyword' => 'Increasing minimum age of marriage for women', 'metadescription' => 'The minimum age of marriage, especially for women, has been a contentious issue. The law evolved in the face of much resistance from religious and social conservatives', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/m4vemc5cizlu071/5.Increasing+minimum+age+of+marriage+for+women.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 39 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5459, 'title' => 'National Recruitment Agency', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Union Cabinet has approved setting up of National Recruitment Agency, an independent body to conduct examination for government jobs.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The setting up of such an agency to conduct a common eligibility test (CET) was announced in the Union Budget by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in February.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The central government agencies — Railway Recruitment Board, Staff Selection Commission and Institute of Banking Personnel Selection — will be brought under National Recruitment Agency.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The agency will have representatives from SSC, IBPS, and RRB. The test will be conducted for three levels: graduate, higher secondary (12th pass) and the matriculate (10th pass) candidates.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The National Recruitment Agency will conduct the Tier-1 examination for these three agencies online. Examination centres will be set up in each district, with the Centre committing to invest in the necessary infrastructure for 117 aspirational districts.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The examinations will be conducted in 12 languages. The examination will be conducted based on a common curriculum. There will be a common registration, single fee, and the candidate need not travel outside the district to appear for the examination.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A standardised question bank with multiple questions of similar difficulty levels will be created in a central server. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">An algorithm will be used to jumble and dole out different questions, so that each candidate receives a different question paper, reducing the chances of cheating and paper leakage.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Scores will be generated quickly, delivered online, and be valid for a three-year period. Students can write the test multiple times as long as they are within the eligible age limit, with their best score being taken into account.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The government says that a single eligibility test would “significantly reduce” the recruitment cycle. Even some of the departments have indicated their intention to do away with any second-level test and go ahead with recruitment on the basis of CET scores, Physical Tests and Medical examination.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'national-recruitment-agency', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/8971/kyykeragmchp1ur6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/8971/kyykeragmchp1ur6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'National Recruitment Agency', 'metakeyword' => 'National Recruitment Agency', 'metadescription' => 'The setting up of such an agency to conduct a common eligibility test (CET) was announced in the Union Budget by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in February.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/2rxwg4dgprfpx6e/1.National+Recruitment+Agency.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 40 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5491, 'title' => 'Mulgaonkar principles', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In the criticism against the Supreme Court’s ruling that held advocate Prashant Bhushan guilty of contempt of court, his counsel has invoked the ‘Mulgaonkar principles’, urging the court to show restraint.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">S Mulgaonkar v Unknown (1978) is a case that led to a landmark ruling on the subject of contempt. By a 2:1 majority, the court held Mulgaonkar not guilty of contempt.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">An article by A G Noorani in the newspaper about certain judicial decisions during the Emergency period, especially the Habeas Corpus case, had displeased then CJI Beg. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Habeas Corpus case, often referred to as the “Supreme Court’s darkest hour” upheld the detention law, citing that even the right to life can be suspended during an emergency.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Justices A N Ray, Beg, Y V Chandrachud, and P N Bhagwati formed the majority while Justice H R Khanna was the sole dissenter.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Initially, the SC Registrar wrote to the editor seeking a retraction and an apology, which did not happen.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">While CJI Beg’s opinion was that Mulgaonkar’s response to the Registrar was as if the case was between the newspaper and people, and not between the newspaper and the court.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Court will act with seriousness and severity where justice is jeopardized by a gross and/or unfounded attack on the judges, where the attack is calculated to obstruct or destroy the judicial process.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The court will not be prompted to act as a result of an easy irritability.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The court is willing to ignore, by a majestic liberalism, trifling and venial offenses.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'mulgaonkar-principles', 'image' => '', 'fbimage' => '', 'metatitle' => 'Mulgaonkar principles', 'metakeyword' => 'Mulgaonkar principles', 'metadescription' => 'In the criticism against the Supreme Court’s ruling that held advocate Prashant Bhushan guilty of contempt of court, his counsel has invoked the ‘Mulgaonkar', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => '', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 41 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5617, 'title' => 'Complications in regulating speech', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Facebook is coming under scrutiny for the way it regulates speech. The complaints include political partisanship, not being attentive enough to hate speech and fake news, opaque algorithms, inadequate privacy controls.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">These complaints take on an even sharper edge when there is a perception that key functionaries of Facebook might have views that blatantly support a political party.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">While the stated political partisanship of Facebook officials is coming under scrutiny, the irony is that the manifest political partisanship of public officials is going unchallenged.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">We must worry about the fact that we are giving private companies authority to potentially censor or redirect the speech of elected officials.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Freedom of expression is easy to institutionalise when speech is, as it were, safe. Where it leads to incitement, violence, attacks on group identity, or awful forms of subordination, people’s convictions about defending free speech fade.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Facebook invites attention because of its great power, which needs to be regulated. But it is not clear that lots of competition is going to solve concerns about partisanship and censorship in social media.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Resisting Facebook’s power will require a more radical withdrawal from logic of profit that blurs the boundary between public and private, without which no freedom and civility is possible.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'complications-in-regulating-speech', 'image' => '', 'fbimage' => '', 'metatitle' => 'Complications in regulating speech', 'metakeyword' => 'Complications in regulating speech', 'metadescription' => 'Facebook is coming under scrutiny for the way it regulates speech. The complaints include political partisanship, not being attentive enough to hate speech', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => '', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 42 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5547, 'title' => 'Issues in GST compensation', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Centre-state friction over pending compensation payments under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is likely to strain state finances in near future.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">GST compensation payments to states have been pending since April, with the pending amount for April-July estimated at Rs 1.5 lakh crore. There is an estimated compensation shortfall of Rs 2.35 lakh crore.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The first option was a special window to states to borrow the projected GST shortfall of Rs 97,000 crore, and an amount that can be repaid after five years of GST, ending June 2022, from the compensation cess fund. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The second option was to borrow the entire projected shortfall of Rs 2.35 lakh crore, both on account of faltering GST collections and the expected shortfall due to the pandemic, facilitated by the RBI. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">States no longer possess taxation rights after most taxes, barring those on petroleum, alcohol, and stamp duty, were subsumed under GST. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">GST accounts for almost 42% of states’ own tax revenues, and tax revenues account for around 60% of states’ total revenues.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Finances of over a dozen states are under severe strain, resulting in delays in salary payments and sharp cuts in capital expenditure outlays amid the pandemic-induced lockdowns and the need to spend on healthcare.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Shortfall issues surfaced almost a year ago when payments due for August-September 2019 were delayed. Since then, all subsequent payouts have seen cascading delays.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Under The GST (Compensation to States) Act, 2017, states are guaranteed compensation for loss of revenue on account of implementation of GST for a transition period of five years (2017-22). </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The compensation is calculated based on the difference between the states’ current GST revenue and the protected revenue after estimating an annualised 14% growth rate from the base year of 2015-16.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The high rate of 14%, which has compounded since 2015-16, has been seen as delinked from economic realities.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'issues-in-gst-compensation', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9b5a/w6gz0tn8vncq8946g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9b5a/w6gz0tn8vncq8946g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Issues in GST compensation', 'metakeyword' => 'Issues in GST compensation', 'metadescription' => 'Centre-state friction over pending compensation payments under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is likely to strain state finances in near future.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/2ohpqiz2tomiarp/4.Issues+in+GST+compensation.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 43 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5325, 'title' => 'Time capsule', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Ahead of the laying of the foundation stone for the Ram temple in Ayodhya, claims and denials have emerged about plans by the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust to put in a time capsule.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The capsule would carry a message about Ayodhya, Lord Ram, and his birthplace and it will be preserved so as to last thousands of years.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Time capsule is a container of any size or shape, which accommodates documents, photos, and artifacts typical of the current era and is buried underground, for future generations to unearth. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The time capsule requires special engineering so that the contents don’t decay, even if pulled out after a century. Material such as aluminium and stainless steel are used for the encasing, and documents are often reproduced on acid-free paper.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">While the term “time capsule” was coined in the 20th century, among the earliest examples of one dates back to 1777, found by historians inside the statue of Jesus Christ in a church in Spain during restoration work in December 2017.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">There have been a number of prominent examples. One time capsule, outside the Red Fort and placed underground in 1972 by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, was dug out by the subsequent government. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Other time capsules are at a school in Mumbai, IIT-Kanpur, Lovely Professional University in Jalandhar, and Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Historians often criticise the idea as being motivated. This exercise is considered inevitably a subjective exercise, geared towards glorification not to construct the real picture.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'time-capsule', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/0dad/qwl0o2v6mxcsgrs6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/0dad/qwl0o2v6mxcsgrs6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Time capsule', 'metakeyword' => 'Time capsule', 'metadescription' => 'Ahead of the laying of the foundation stone for the Ram temple in Ayodhya, claims and denials have emerged about plans by the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/kpoogpj2odpmv6u/5.Time+capsule.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 44 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5591, 'title' => 'Question hour and Zero hour', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha secretariats notified that there will be no Question Hour during the Monsoon Session of Parliament.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Opposition MPs have criticised the move, saying they will lose the right to question the government.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Question Hour is the liveliest hour in Parliament. It is during this one hour that Members of Parliament ask questions of ministers and hold them accountable for the functioning of their ministries. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The questions that MPs ask are designed to elicit information and trigger suitable action by ministries.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Their questions have exposed financial irregularities and brought data and information regarding government functioning to the public domain. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">While Question Hour is strictly regulated, Zero Hour is an <strong>Indian</strong> parliamentary <strong>innovation</strong>. The phrase does not find mention in the rules of procedure.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Parliament has comprehensive rules for dealing with every aspect of Question Hour. And the presiding officers of the two houses are the final authority with respect to the conduct of Question Hour.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Parliamentary rules provide guidelines on the kind of questions that can be asked by MPs. Questions have to be limited to 150 words. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">They have to be precise and not too general. The question should also be related to an area of responsibility of the Government of India. Questions should not seek information about matters that are secret or are under adjudication before courts. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is the presiding officers of the two Houses who finally decide whether a question raised by an MP will be admitted for answering by the government.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Question Hour in both Houses is held on all days of the session. But there are two days when an exception is made. There is no Question Hour on the day the President addresses MPs from both Houses in the Central Hall. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">MPs can specify whether they want an oral or written response to their questions. They can put an asterisk against their question signifying that they want the minister to answer that question on the floor. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">These are referred to as starred questions. After the minister’s response, the MP who asked the question and other MPs can also ask a follow-up question.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'question-hour-and-zero-hour', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/a4c3/vhwzyiszgopep5q6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/a4c3/vhwzyiszgopep5q6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Question hour and Zero hour', 'metakeyword' => 'Question hour and Zero hour', 'metadescription' => 'The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha secretariats notified that there will be no Question Hour during the Monsoon Session of Parliament. Opposition MPs have criticised', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/13dcowlkn1gdies/2.Question+hour+and+Zero+hour.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 45 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5661, 'title' => 'Breach of Legislature privilege', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A motion for breach of privilege was moved in the Maharashtra Assembly against Republic TV’s Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The powers, privileges, and immunities of either House of the Indian Parliament and of its Members and committees are laid down in Article 105 of the Constitution.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Article 194</strong> deals with the powers, privileges, and immunities of the State Legislatures, their Members, and their committees.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Parliamentary privilege refers to the right and immunity enjoyed by legislatures, in which legislators are granted protection against civil or criminal liability for actions done or statements made in the course of their legislative duties.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">While the Constitution has accorded special privileges and powers to parliamentarians and legislators to maintain the dignity and authority of the Houses, these powers and privileges are not codified. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Any act that obstructs or impedes either House of the state legislature in performing its functions, or which obstructs or impedes any Member or officer of such House in the discharge of his duty, or has a tendency, directly or indirectly, to produce such results is treated as breach of privilege.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is a breach of privilege and contempt of the House to make speeches or to print or publish libel reflecting on the character or proceedings of the House, or its Committees, or on any member of the House for or relating to his character or conduct as a legislator.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Legislative Assembly Speaker or Legislative Council Chairman constitutes a Privileges Committee consisting of 15 members in the Assembly and 11 members in the Council.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Committee will examine whether statements made by him had insulted the state legislature and its Members, and whether their image was maligned before the public.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">If the Committee finds the offender guilty of breach of privilege and contempt, it can recommend the punishment. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The punishment can include communicating the displeasure of the state legislature to the offender, summoning the offender before the House and giving a warning, and even sending the offender to jail.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'breach-of-legislature-privilege', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/727d/12qzhsznqxtyftm6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/727d/12qzhsznqxtyftm6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Breach of Legislature privilege', 'metakeyword' => 'Breach of Legislature privilege', 'metadescription' => 'A motion for breach of privilege was moved in the Maharashtra Assembly against Republic TV’s Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/3vu19gwqw2ylsy1/Breach+of+Legislature+privilege.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 46 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5815, 'title' => 'Regulating TV news channels', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Last week, the Supreme Court came down heavily on a TV channel that was intent on broadcasting a controversial content.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Court underlined the need for laying down clear guidelines, and their effective implementation, for the media against hate speech.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government has made several attempts in the past to regulate the media but all such attempts came crashing down in the wake of public outcry. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Government regulations are not desirable as these could interfere with the freedom of speech and expression enshrined in the Constitution (Article 19).</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The second alternative is self-regulation. Although ideal, it is easier said than done and continues to be a pipedream.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The News Broadcasters Association (NBA), which was set up in 2008, in turn, set up the National Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA), to regulate content.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The NBSA does suffer from some serious shortcomings. First, its writ extended only to its members, which was limited due to its voluntary membership. Those who were unhappy with a verdict found it easy to walk out.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The government needs to step in to provide this unique model with statutory backing, extending its jurisdiction to non- members as well.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'regulating-tv-news-channels', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/b7a8/r92mlmtor12syhy6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/b7a8/r92mlmtor12syhy6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Regulating TV news channels', 'metakeyword' => 'Regulating TV news channels', 'metadescription' => 'The Court underlined the need for laying down clear guidelines, and their effective implementation, for the media against hate speech.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/yfq1nb2h8n3idbc/3.Regulating+TV+news+channels.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 47 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5801, 'title' => 'Essential items', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> Rajya Sabha has passed the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 which is aimed at deregulating commodities such as cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oils, onion and potatoes.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill had been introduced and passed in Lok Sabha last week. It replaces an ordinance that the government had promulgated on June 5, along with two other ordinances on the farm sector.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">After the amendment, the supply of certain foodstuffs — including cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oils, potato — can be regulated only under extraordinary circumstances, which include an extraordinary price rise, war, famine, and natural calamity of a severe nature. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In effect, the amendment takes these items out from the purview of Section 3(1), which gives powers to central government to “control production, supply, distribution, etc, of essential commodities”.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">There is no specific definition of essential commodities in the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. Section 2(A) states that an “essential commodity” means a commodity specified in the Schedule of the Act.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Act gives powers to the central government to add or remove a commodity in the Schedule. The Centre, if it is satisfied that it is necessary to do so in public interest, can notify an item as essential, in consultation with state governments.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Schedule at present contains seven commodities — drugs; fertilisers, whether inorganic, organic or mixed; foodstuffs including edible oils; hank yarn made wholly from cotton; petroleum and petroleum products; raw jute and jute textiles; seeds of food-crops and seeds of fruits and vegetables, seeds of cattle fodder, jute seed, cotton seed.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">By declaring a commodity as essential, the government can control the production, supply, and distribution of that commodity, and impose a stock limit.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The key changes seek to free agricultural markets from the limitations imposed by permits and mandis that were originally designed for an era of scarcity. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The move is expected to attract private investment in the value chain of commodities removed from the list of essentials, such as cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oils, onions and potatoes.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The private sector had so far hesitated about investing in cold chains and storage facilities for perishable items as most of these commodities were under the ambit of the EC Act, and could attract sudden stock limits. The amendment seeks to address such concerns.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'essential-items', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/c2ea/zeefmi4zugteth86g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/c2ea/zeefmi4zugteth86g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Essential items', 'metakeyword' => 'Essential items', 'metadescription' => ' Rajya Sabha has passed the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 which is aimed at deregulating commodities such as cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oils,', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/n8fvksn2szi1zx6/4.Essential_items.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 48 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5802, 'title' => 'Appointment of Supreme court judges', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As the US Presidential election approaches, Republicans and Democrats are in a tussle regarding filling up of the Supreme Court seat, vacated by the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The polarising debate has dominated headlines, with Republicans hurrying to push through their nominee at the last moment, and livid Democrats claiming breach of precedent.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Federal and state courts in the US are separate, and the 9-member US Supreme Court is the apex forum of the federal system. State systems have their own top courts, and are typically called State Supreme Courts.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In India, judges have a fixed retirement age – 65 for the Supreme Court and 62 for High Courts. In the US, federal judges can serve for life– their terms only ending if they resign, pass away or if they are impeached and convicted by Congress.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The US Constitution lays down no requirements for Supreme Court justices. Although the 9-member Bench typically consists of previous circuit court judges, it has included in its ranks distinguished lawyers, law professors, even politicians.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Appointment of SC judges in India</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Every Judge of the Supreme Court shall be appointed by the <strong>President</strong> by warrant under his/her hand and seal after consultation with such of the Judges of the Supreme Court and of the High Court in the States as President may deem necessary for the purpose and shall hold office until he attains the age of <strong>65</strong> years.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Eligibility</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Indian Constitution says in <strong>Article 124 [3]</strong> that in order to be appointed as a judge in the Supreme Court of India, the person has to fit in the following criteria:</span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He/She is a citizen of India and</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">has been for at least five years a Judge of a High Court or of two or more such Courts in succession; or</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">has been for at least ten years an advocate of a High Court or of two or more such Courts in succession; or</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">is, in the opinion of the President, a distinguished jurist.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Important features</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Once appointed, the judges can hold office until the complete 65 years. They cannot be removed during their tenure except on proved misbehaviour or incapacity.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The procedure for removal is too difficult. The motion has to be passed by a majority of the total members of both houses of Parliament and two-thirds of the members present and voting.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The salaries of the Judges and the administrative expenses of the Supreme Court are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India [CFI] and are not subjected to the vote of Parliament.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Judges of the Supreme Court cannot plead or act in any court or before any authority within the territory of India after retirement.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'appointment-of-supreme-court-judges', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/f299/5eiw8hovs6w0uwi6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/f299/5eiw8hovs6w0uwi6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Appointment of Supreme court judges', 'metakeyword' => 'Appointment of Supreme court judges', 'metadescription' => 'As the US Presidential election approaches, Republicans and Democrats are in a tussle regarding filling up of the Supreme Court seat, vacated by the death', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/aro927n064b7oj4/5.Appointment_of_Supreme_court_judges.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 49 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5830, 'title' => 'Astronauts voting from space', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">NASA astronaut Kate Rubins, who will be aboard the International Space Station (ISS) on the day of the US presidential elections, will cast her vote from space.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Aboard the ISS, missions can last for over six months, and American astronauts have been able to cast their vote via a special absentee ballot system.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In 1997, a bill passed by the Texas legislatures established the technical voting process for astronauts, all of whom live in Texas and gave them the ability to vote remotely from space. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In the 2016 presidential elections, astronauts Edward Michael Fincke and Greg Chamitoff, who were living and working onboard the ISS, cast their vote by accessing a secure secret ballot.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In 1997, NASA’s David Wolf became the first astronaut to cast his using this provision while he was aboard the Russian Space Station Mir.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The rule states that a person who is on a space flight during the early-voting period or on election day can vote by this method provided they apply by a Federal Postcard Application (FPCA).</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A day before US Election Day, an encrypted electronic ballot is uplinked to the astronauts, who then use a set of unique credentials that are sent to them individually by e-mail.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In this way, they can access their ballots and after casting their vote, they downlink them back to Earth to the county clerk’s office.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Absentee voting system in India</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Only certain categories of people are eligible to register as postal voters. The Representation of the People Act-1950<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absentee_ballot#cite_note-47">[47]</a> (RPA) section 20(8) allows postal ballots for:</span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">People on polling duty</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Members of the armed forces and state police as well as their wives</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Employees of the Government of India who are officially posted abroad</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The President</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">People in preventive detention, </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Disabled and those above the age of 65 years old can use postal vote. </span></span></p> </li> <li><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Prisoners can not vote at all.</span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'astronauts-voting-from-space', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/b4b3/c9xew53m2dp4zvv6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/b4b3/c9xew53m2dp4zvv6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Astronauts voting from space', 'metakeyword' => 'Astronauts voting from space', 'metadescription' => 'NASA astronaut Kate Rubins, who will be aboard the International Space Station (ISS) on the day of the US presidential elections, will cast her vote from space.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/3vjsc3notpeh4q2/3.Astronauts_voting_from_space.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 50 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Miscellaneous', 'keyword' => 'miscellaneous-1', 'id' => (int) 5887, 'title' => 'Consent and reliability in narco and polygraph tests', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A spokesperson for the Uttar Pradesh government said that polygraph and narcoanalysis tests would be conducted as part of the investigation into the Hathras murder case.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm">&n