Supreme Court’s Assertion on AMU’s Minority Status
Context: The Supreme Court reaffirms that an educational institution maintains its minority status despite statutory regulation of its administration. The Centre clarified that minority educational institutions, including Aligarh Muslim University, are not obligated to follow the reservation policy outlined in the Central Educational Institute (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006. Relevance: GS II: Polity and Governance […]
Anganwadi Workers Strike in Andhra Pradesh
Context: Anganwadi workers in Andhra Pradesh are on strike, seeking improved wages and benefits. The State government has responded by invoking the Essential Services and Maintenance Act (ESMA), 1971, imposing a six-month ban on their strikes due to the perceived impact on Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) at Anganwadi Centres. Relevance: GS II: Polity and […]
Understanding the Tenth Schedule
Context: The Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly has declined to disqualify 40 MLAs from the Eknath Shinde faction, acknowledging it as the authentic Shiv Sena. The appointment of whip by this group has been deemed valid. Additionally, 14 MLAs from the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) group were not disqualified, citing technical reasons under the Tenth […]
Delhi High Court’s Recommendations on Organ Transplant Timelines
Context: The Delhi High Court has suggested an optimal timeframe of 6-8 weeks for concluding organ transplant procedures involving living donors. In a directive to the government, the court emphasized the importance of adhering to specific timelines for every stage of organ donation applications, aligning with The Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues (THOT) Act, […]
Rollover Plan for Republic Day Parade Tableaux Showcase
Context: The Ministry of Defence introduces a rollover plan allowing States and Union Territories an opportunity to present their tableaux in the Republic Day Parade, addressing concerns raised by some states excluded from the 2024 event. Relevance: GS II: Polity and Governance Dimensions of the Article: States/Union Territories Selected for Republic Day Parade 2024: Additional […]
Law Against Hit-and-Run
Context: The recent nationwide protests by transporters and commercial drivers, particularly in Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, and Punjab, have highlighted the controversy surrounding Section 106 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS). This section, imposing severe penalties for hit-and-run incidents, has sparked discontent among the driving community. The countrywide truckers’ strike has now been […]
Supreme Court Verdict on Bilkis Bano Case
Context: The Supreme Court has struck down the remission granted by the Gujarat government to 11 convicts, who are out of jail, in the Bilkis Bano case. The apex court directed these convicts to report to jail authorities within two weeks. Relevance: GS II: Polity and Governance Dimensions of the Article: Supreme Court Verdict on […]
Intersection of Privacy Rights and Section 132 of Income-Tax Act
Context: The pivotal ruling in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy vs Union of India, 2017, established the fundamental right to privacy in India. Despite this, apprehensions have arisen regarding the implications of Section 132 of the Income-Tax Act, 1961, which appears to confer extra-constitutional powers. These powers, aimed at income tax searches and seizures, raise concerns as […]
Child Marriage in India: Lancet Study Findings
Context: A study published in the Lancet Global Health on December 15th, 2023, reveals that one in five girls and one in six boys in India are still getting married below the legal age of marriage. The study compiled data from five National Family Health Surveys spanning from 1993 to 2021. Relevance: GS II: Polity […]
New Regulations for Symbol Allocation to RUPPs
Context: The Election Commission of India has implemented fresh regulations for the allocation of symbols to Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs). To obtain symbols, these parties are now required to submit audited accounts from the past three financial years, expenditure statements from the last two elections, and the signature of the authorized party official along […]