PERIYAR IAS CURRENT AFFAIRS - 8 AUGUST 2017
Date : 8 AUGUST 2017
Paper 2:
Topic: Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution,
features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
Article 35A: Centre’s move for debate stirs hornet’s nest
The Centre’s move seeking “larger debate” over Article 35A of the Constitution, which empowers the Jammu and Kashmir legislature to define “permanent
residents” of the state and provide special rights and privileges to them, has triggered a political storm with several parties warning
against any tinkering of the provision.
What you need to know about Article 35A?
Article 35A is a provision in the Constitution that empowers the
Jammu and Kashmir legislature to define permanent residents of the state. It
was added through the Constitution(Application
to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954, issued under Article 370.
The Jammu and Kashmir Constitution was adopted on November 17,
1956. It had defined a Permanent Resident as a person who was a state subject
on May 14, 1954, or who has been a resident of the state for 10 years, and has
lawfully acquired immovable property in the state, the article.
What’s the case now?
Attempts to undo Article 35A of the Indian Constitution would
strike a fatal blow to the nationalists in the state. There is an ongoing case
in the Supreme Court challenging the validity of the Article, which prevents
non-J&K state subjects from settling and buying property in the state.
However, Kashmiris are apprehensive that such a move would open the sluice
gates for a demographic transformation of the Valley.
The J&K government is also concerned at the reluctance of the
Union government to file a counter affidavit in the Supreme Court. Against the
backdrop of the escalating protests in Kashmir, this issue could potentially be
explosive.
Sources: the hindu.
Topic: Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal
mechanisms and institutions.
Nine High Courts oppose all-India judicial service
Nine High Courts have opposed a proposal to have an all-India service for the lower judiciary,
eight have sought changes in the proposed framework and only two have supported
the idea. However, most of the High Courts want the administrative control over
the subordinate judiciary to remain with the respective High Courts.
Background:
The government had given a fresh push to the long-pending proposal
to set up the new service to have a separate cadre for the lower judiciary in
the country. The idea was first mooted in the 1960s. Seeking to overcome the
divergence of views, the government had recently suggested to the Supreme Court
various options, including a NEET-like examination, to recruit judges to the
lower judiciary. There were vacancies of 4,452 judges in subordinate courts in
the country.
Need for an all- India Judicial Service:
The quality of judicial officers in the
subordinate judiciary is a matter of concern. The ever continuing
decline in their quality will delay delivery of justice, increase pendency of
cases, impair quality of judgments, and in turn affect competence of higher
judiciary as well.
§ The proposal for setting up an AIJS, in the lines of Indian Civil
Service, is hanging fire for more than five decades despite there were several
proposals and decisions including that of the apex court, in its favour.
§ There is widespread hope that AIJS can deal with great many ills
Indian judiciary face right now and revitalize it into a far more vibrant
constituent of Indian governance and democracy.
§ The precise purpose of AIJS is to create a rigorous mechanism for appointment of persons of
highest ability, impartiality and integrity to the district courts and to equip
the subordinate judiciary in turn to serve as the feeder line for appointment
of competent judges to the high courts or eventually the Supreme Court.
Who administers lower judiciary in the country?
In the Indian Constitution the judiciary and executive remained
separate but the control of lower judiciary remains vested with the high
courts.
Sources: the hindu.
Topic: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
NCRB merged with bureau of police research
The government has merged the National Crimes Records Bureau
(NCRB) – which, over the years, has been the principal source of reference by
policy makers, police, criminologists, researchers and media – both in India
and abroad, with the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D).
§ NCRB’s functions will now be placed under the Director General of
BPR&D, who will oversee all the data collection related to Crime in
India, Accidental Deaths and Suicides, Prison Statistics and Fingerprints.
Why was the merger necessary?
It was felt that if the researchers of BPR&D, which conducts
its own researches and commissions many to private institutes/bodies to study
the crime patterns, policing and other related aspects, and statisticians of
NCRB work together, there will be more accurate and research based data
collection.
Opposing view:
Some are not happy with the decision as both bureaus have
different functions. NCRB’s core function is to collect data on crimes related
to IPC and other sections, courts, convictions etc which are taken from states
and union territories and then analysed. On the other hand, BPRD’s research is
not related to crime. It focusses more on research and data collection on how
police, central paramilitary forces work, manpower problems, pattern of
registration of crime, or influences of police on society etc. therefore, there
is no clarity how both these organisations will work together.
About NCRB:
The NCRB was established in 1986 with a mandate to empower Indian police with information technology solutions and
criminal intelligence to enable them to enforce the law effectively.
§ It also compiles data on crimes, prosecutions, traffic related
prosecutions, and prisons, suicides etc and its annual report were extensively
globally to present India’s crime figures. The primary crime collection bureau
also has the database of all the fingerprints in India and also plays a role in
capacity building for government’s ambitious project – Crime and Criminal
Tracking Networks and Systems (CCTNS).
§ NCRB’s data on crimes against women, particularly rapes, has
shaped government’s policies on safety of women in last few years.
Sources: the hindu.
Topic: Issues relating to development and management
of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Second phase of measles-rubella vaccination drive launched in eight
states, UTs
Aiming to eliminate measles and curb instances of rubella by 2020,
the Centre has rolled out the second phase of its measles-rubella (MR)
vaccination campaign in the country. Nearly 3.4 crore children across eight
states and union territories — Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh,
Kerala, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu — will
be covered in this stage.
Background:
The Union health ministry’s campaign against the two diseases
intends to cover approximately 41 crore children in a phased manner, making it
the largest-ever worldwide. Under the measles-rubella (MR) vaccination
campaign, all children in the age group of 9 months to less than 15 years will
be vaccinated in a phased manner across the nation. Following the campaign, MR
vaccine will become a part of routine immunization and will replace measles
vaccine, currently given at 9-12 months and 16-24 months of age of child.
The first phase of the campaign was launched across five states —
Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Lakshadweep and Puducherry — in February this year.
More than 3.3 crore children were vaccinated, reaching out to 97% of the
intended age group. The drive was carried out at schools, community centres and
medical institutes, covering children between the ages of nine months and 15
years.
bout Measles- Rubella:
While measles is a viral infection that can be fatal, congenital
rubella syndrome is responsible for irreversible birth defects. Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) is a cause of public health concern. CRS is characterized by
congenital anomalies in the foetus and newborns affecting the eyes (glaucoma,
cataract), ears (hearing loss), brain (microcephaly, mental retardation) and
heart defects, causing a huge socio-economic burden on the families in
particular and society in general.
According to a study by the University College of Medical
Sciences, Delhi, “1-15% of all infants suspected to have intra-uterine
infection were found to have laboratory evidence of CRS (congenital rubella
syndrome). About 3-10% of suspected CRS cases are ultimately proven to have
confirmed CRS with the aid of laboratory tests. CRS accounts for 10-15% of
pediatric cataract. 10-50% of children with congenital anomalies have
laboratory evidence of CRS. 10-30% of adolescent females and 12-30% of women in
the reproductive age-group are susceptible to rubella infection in India.”
Sources: pib.
Topic: India and its neighbourhood- relations.
India, Iran Call For Early Operationalisation Of Chabahar Port
India and Iran have expressed commitment for early completion and
operationalisation of Chabahar Port besides strengthening bilateral ties.
§ India has also conveyed it’s readiness to aid Iran in taking up
operations in Chabahar Port during the interim period between the actual
activation of contract. The Iranian side earlier had requested India to provide
up to 150 million dollar credit and had made it a condition for activation of
the Chabahar Port contract.
Background:
India and Iran had signed a pact for the development of Chabahar
port in May 2016. India will develop and operate the Chabahar port. India Ports
Global, a recently formed port project investment arm of the shipping ministry
and a joint venture between the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust and the Kandla
port, will invest $85 million in developing two container berths with a length
of 640 metres and three multi-cargo berths.
Where is Chabahar port?
Iran’s Chabahar port is located on the Gulf of Oman and is the
only oceanic port of the country. The port gives access to the energy-rich
Persian Gulf nations’ southern coast and India can bypass Pakistan with the
Chabahar port becoming functional.
Why Chabahar port is important for India?
Access to Afghanistan: The first and foremost significance of the Chabahar port is
the fact that India can bypass Pakistan in transporting goods to Afghanistan.
Chabahar port will boost India’s access to Iran, the key gateway to the
International North-South Transport Corridor that has sea, rail and road routes
between India, Russia, Iran, Europe and Central Asia.
Countering Chinese presence: Chabahar port will be
beneficial to India in countering Chinese presence in the Arabian Sea which
China is trying to ensure by helping Pakistan develop the Gwadar port. Gwadar
port is less than 400 km from Chabahar by road and 100 km by sea.
Iran as military ally: With Chabahar port being developed and operated by India,
Iran also becomes a military ally to India. Chabahar could be used in case
China decides to flex its navy muscles by stationing ships in Gwadar port to
reckon its upper hand in the Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf and Middle East.
Boost to imports: With Chabahar port becoming
functional, there will be a significant boost in the import of iron ore, sugar
and rice to India. The import cost of oil to India will also see a considerable
decline. India has already increased its crude purchase from Iran since the
West imposed ban on Iran was lifted.
Sustainable connectivity: Chabahar port will ensure in the establishment of a
politically sustainable connectivity between India and Afghanistan. This is
will, in turn, lead to better economic ties between the two countries.
Humanitarian assistance: From a diplomatic perspective, Chabahar port could be used
as a point from where humanitarian operations could be coordinated.
Ease of access: The Zaranj-Delaram road
constructed by India in 2009 can give access to Afghanistan’s Garland Highway,
setting up road access to four major cities in Afghanistan – Herat, Kandahar,
Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif.
Sources: pib.
Paper 3:
Topic: Challenges to internal security through communication networks,
role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges,
basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention.
Centre extends Assam’s ‘disturbed area’ tag for another month under
AFSPA
The Centre has extended the Armed Forces
(Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in Assam for one more
month, declaring the entire state of Assam as a “disturbed” area due to various
violent activities by insurgent groups ULFA, NDFB, and others.
§ The Union home ministry has also declared Meghalaya’s border areas
adjoining Assam, and three districts in Arunachal Pradesh as “disturbed” under
the AFSPA for two more months with effect from August 3.
What is AFSPA?
AFSPA, enacted in 1958, gives powers to the army and state and
central police forces to shoot to kill, search houses and destroy any property
that is “likely” to be used by insurgents in areas declared as “disturbed” by
the home ministry.
§ The Act provides army personnel with safeguards against malicious,
vindictive and frivolous prosecution.
§ Security forces can “arrest without warrant” a person, who has
committed or even “about to commit a cognizable offence” even on “reasonable
suspicion”.
What are ‘disturbed’ areas?
The state or central government considers those areas as
‘disturbed’ “by reason of differences or disputes between members of different
religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities.
How is a region declared ‘disturbed’?
Section (3) of the Afspa empowers the governor of the state or
Union territory to issue an official notification in The Gazette of India,
following which the Centre has the authority to send in armed forces for
civilian aid. Once declared ‘disturbed’, the region has to maintain status quo
for a minimum of three months, according to The Disturbed Areas (Special
Courts) Act, 1976.”
Sources: the hindu.
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