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31st Aug 2021
34 STATES/UTS NOW IMPLEMENTING RATION CARD SCHEME: GOVT
Recently, the One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) Plan has now became operational in two more states/UTs-Delhi and West Bengal, and expanding the scheme to 34 states/UTs covering nearly 75 Crore beneficiaries.
- The NCT of Delhi and West Bengal being the latest to enable the ONORC plan from 23rd July 2021 and 13th August 2021 respectively.
- The two remaining states -Assam and Chhattisgarh are targeted for integration under ONORC in next few months.
- The scheme was launched on a pilot basis in four states in 2019.
- The government decided a nation-wide rollout of the scheme in all states and Union Territories by March 2021.
- The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution in association with State/UT Governments is implementing ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ (ONORC) plan.
- It is aimed at nation-wide portability of ration cards under the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA).
- It is aimed at enabling migrant workers and their family members to buy subsidised ration from any fair price shop anywhere in the country under the National Food Security Act, 2013.
- It is based on technology that involves details of beneficiaries’ ration card, Aadhaar number, and electronic Points of Sale (ePoS).
- The system identifies a beneficiary through biometric authentication on ePoS devices at fair price shops.
- The system runs with the support of two portals i.e. Integrated Management of Public Distribution System (IM-PDS) and Annavitran which host all the relevant data.
- The Annavitran portal maintains a record of intra-state transactions i.e. inter-district and intra-district and the IM-PDS portal records the inter-state transactions.
- The NFSA beneficiaries were not able to access their PDS benefits outside the jurisdiction of the specific fair price shop to which they have been assigned.
- The government envisioned the ONORC to give them access to benefits from any fair price shop.
- The full coverage will be possible after 100% Aadhaar seeding of ration cards has been achieved, and all fair price shops are covered by ePoS devices.
- The idea was to reform the Public Distribution System (PDS), which has been historically marred by inefficiency and leakages.
- Any citizen, who is declared under Below Poverty Line (BPL) category, will be eligible to get the benefit of this scheme across the country.
- The directions under Section-38 of the NFSA have been issued to all States/UTs to cover all eligible disabled persons under the NFSA.
- All States/UTs have also been advised to identify needy persons from the weaker sections of the society including disabled persons and issue NFSA ration cards to all eligible persons/households.
- The beneficiaries will be identified on the basis of their Aadhaar based identification through the electronic point of sale (PoS) device.
- The scheme aims to ensure all beneficiaries, especially migrants get ration (wheat, rice and other food grains) across the nation from any Public Distribution System (PDS) shop of their own choice.
- The scheme is launched with the purpose that no poor person should be deprived of getting subsidised food grains under the food security scheme when they shift from one place to another.
- It aims to reduce instances of corruption by middlemen and fraudulence in ration cards to avail benefits from different states.
- The scheme is also aimed at reducing the incidents of hunger deaths in the country, to further improve rankings in the Global Hunger Index.
- The monument was first opened by then President Dr Rajendra Prasad on April 13, 1961, as a grateful nation’s tribute to the victims of the massacre on April 13, 1919
- In response to the massive gathering, the British officer Col. Reginald Edward Harry Dyer ordered his troops to fire into the crowd, killing several hundred people.
- The Prime Minister, who is the chairperson of the Jallianwala Bagh Memorial Trust, has dedicated the memorial to the public in the presence of other trust members.
- The members included the Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Governor V P Singh Badnore, and several parliamentarians from the region.
- A 28-minute Sound and Light show re-enacted the events of April 13, 1919, to be shown free of cost every evening.
- A Salvation Ground has been built for visitors to sit in silence to honour the martyrs.
- Four new galleries have been created through adaptive re-use of underutilised buildings in the complex to showcase the historical value of events that took place in Punjab during that period.
- It also has a sculpture of Guru Nanak Dev, Sikh warrior Banda Singh Bahadur, and a statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
- On April 13, which was Baisakhi, a large crowd of people from Amritsar and neighbouring areas gathered at Jallianwala Bagh for a public meeting in defiance of orders banning public assemblies.
- A furious General Dyer ordered his troops to fire into the innocent, unarmed crowd, without even issuing a warning.
- The ground was surrounded on all sides by high walls that made escape impossible, and as the soldiers kept shooting.
- The Rowlatt Act (Black Act) was passed on March 10, 1919, authorizing the government to imprison or confine, without a trial, any person associated with seditious activities.
- It led to nationwide unrest and Mahatma Gandhi initiated Satyagraha to protest against the Rowlatt Act.
- On April 7, 1919, Gandhi published an article called Satyagrahi, describing ways to oppose the Rowlatt Act.
- On October 14, 1919, the Disorders Inquiry Committee was formed to inquire about the massacre.
- It later came to be known as the Hunter Commission.
- The Hunter Commission was directed to announce their verdict on the justifiability, or otherwise, of the steps taken by the government.
- All the British officials involved in theadministration during the disturbances in Amritsar were interrogated including General Dyer and Mr. Irving.
- The members of the Hunter Commission were:
- Chairman: Lord William Hunter, ex- Solicitor-General
- F. Rice, Additional Secretary to the Government of India (Home Department)
- Justice G.C. Rankin, Judge of the High Court, Calcutta
- Major General Sir George Barrow, Commandant of the Peshawar Division
- Sir Chimanlal Setalvad
- Pandit Jagat Narayan
- Sardar Sultan Ahmed Khan
- It is an Offshore Patrol Vessel designed and built indigenously by M/s Larsen & Toubro Ship Building Ltd.
- It is fitted with advanced technology Radars, Navigation and Communication Equipment, Sensor and Machinery capable of operating in tropical sea conditions.
- It will be based at Visakhapatnam and operate on India's Eastern Seaboard under the Operational and Administrative Control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region (East).
- It will be deployed extensively for EEZ surveillance and other duties as enshrined in the Coast Guard Charter, to safeguard the maritime interests of India.
- It is the last vessel in the series of seven OPVs built by L&T under a Ministry of Defence contract signed in 2015.
- The other OPVs are 'Vikram', 'Vijay', 'Veer', 'Varaha', 'Varad' and 'Vajra'.
- The word 'Vigraha' has very beautiful interpretations in our texts.
- On the one hand, its meaning has been told to be ‘free from any kind of bondage’ and on the other hand, it has also been interpreted to mean the specific ‘bondage of one's duty and obligations’.
- Its design and construction process has been certified by American Bureau of Shipping as well as Indian Registrar of Shipping.
- It is armed with a 40/60 Bofors gun and fitted with two 12.7 mm Stabilised Remote Control Gun (SRCG) with Fire Control System.
- It is equipped with Integrated Bridge System (IBS), Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS), Automated Power Management System (APMS) and High-Power External Firefighting (EFF) system.
- It is designed to carry one Twin Engine Helicopter and four high speed boats for Boarding Operation, Search and Rescue, Law Enforcement and Maritime Patrol.
- It is capable of carrying limited pollution response equipment to contain oil spill at sea.
- The OPVs are long-range surface ships, capable of operation in maritime zones of India, including island territories with helicopter operation capabilities.
- It is a highly versatile ship, designed to perform Economic Exclusion Zone management roles.
- Their roles include coastal and offshore patrolling, policing maritime zones of India, control and surveillance, anti-smuggling and anti-piracy operations with limited wartime roles.
- According to police, intelligence inputs suggest that an outfit called the Dimasa National Liberation Army (DNLA) was behind the attack.
- It is a new insurgent group, formed in 2019.
- It was committed to revamp the national struggle and fight for the liberation of a sovereign, independent Dimasa Nation.
- It aimed to “develop a sense of brotherhood among the Dimasa and also to rebuild the trust and faith among the Dimasa society for regaining the Dimasa Kingdom”.
- The Dimasas (or Dimasa-Kacharis) are the earliest known rulers and settlers of Assam.
- They now live in Dima Hasao, Karbi Anglong, Cachar, Hojai and Nagaon districts of central and southern Assam, as well as parts of Nagaland.
- The book ‘A History of Assam’ describes the Dimasa-Kacharis as “aborigines” or the “earliest known inhabitants of the Brahmaputra Valley”.
- Prior to Ahom rule, the Dimasa kings ruled large parts of Assam along the south bank of the Brahmaputra between the 13th and 16th centuries.
- They are believed to be the descendants of the rulers of the ancient Kamarupa kingdom.
- Their earliest historically known capital was Dimapur (now in Nagaland), and later Maibang in North Cachar Hills.
- The hill districts of Assam i.e. Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao (earlier North Cachar Hills) have had a long history of insurgency by Karbi and Dimasa groups.
- Both districts are now protected under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, and allows for greater political autonomy and decentralised governance in certain tribal areas of the Northeast.
- They are run by the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council and the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council respectively.
- In Dima Hasao, the demand for statehood began in the 1960s, along with other tribal sections of undivided Assam.
- Karbi Anglong and North Cachar remained with Assam on a promise of more power by the then government, including implementation of Article 244 (A), which allows for an ‘autonomous state’ within Assam in certain tribal areas.
- Historical absence of pre-British and British colonial polices: The absence of historical linkages has created a space for later day feelings of cultural and political differences amongst ethnic communities with the rest of India.
- Use of force as an effective way: Most of the ethnic communities view ‘the use of force’ as more effective than non-violent dissent in getting New Delhi's attention which is physically so far away.
- Continuous lack of economic opportunities: It creates incentives for unemployed youths to join armed movements where they earn a salary.
- Aid from neighbouring countries: The existence of external help from Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar has perpetuated the insurgencies.
- It is an IT-based solution for vehicle registration by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to facilitate seamless transfer and re-registration of vehicles.
- It is a newly introduced number series for vehicle registration across India specifically meant for those vehicle owners who shift from one state to another on a regular basis.
- It signifies Bharat and will replace the state letters in the number plate denoting the state of vehicle registration, like UP or DL.
- The BH series number plates will be applicable for private vehicles as of now which means these plates will have white background with black numbers.
- Without the BH series mark whenever a vehicle owner moves to a new state, they need to first get a No Objection Certificate (NoC) from the Parent State for assignment of a new registration mark in another state.
- Then in order to get a new registration mark the user will have to pay road tax on prorata basis to the new State
- The user will then have to apply for refund of the road tax in the parent State on which is a cumbersome process and varies from one state to another.
- It will be available on voluntary basis to Defense personnel, employees of Central Government/ State Government/ Central/ State Public Sector Undertakings and private sector companies/organizations, which have their offices in four or more States/Union territories.
- It will be available for select vehicle owners who are subject to frequent transfers and relocations.
- The registration mark will be in a YY BH #### XX format – where:
- YY denotes the year of first registration;
- BH is code for Bharat Series;
- #### is the randomized four digit number; and
- XX are two alphabets
- It will facilitate free movement of personal vehicles across States/UTs of India upon relocation to a new State/UT.
- A vehicle bearing this registration mark shall not require assignment of a new registration mark when the owner of the vehicle shifts from one state to another.
- For BH series, the road tax will be paid only for 2 years, post which, owner can move to another state and pay applicable tax of the new state.
- These include air bubbles, vaccine passports, travel corridors and even a traffic light system.
- The latest addition to this list is Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL), introduced by Singapore.
- The VTLs are basically an extension of travel corridors albeit only for travellers who have been fully vaccinated.
- Singapore has established VTLs with two jurisdictions i.e. Germany and Brunei Darussalam.
- It is allowing fully vaccinated passengers from these two places to arrive in Singapore for any travel purpose without quarantine requirements.
- Singapore will designate specific flights with the country on the other side of the lane only for passengers having a Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP) issued by the Singapore government.
- The fully vaccinated passengers will be able to apply for a VTP from September 1 for travel from September 8 onwards on the designated flights.
- Singapore citizens and permanent residents do not need to apply for the VTP to travel back home under the VTL.
- The travellers must be fully vaccinated to apply for a VTP.
- It implies that an individual will be considered fully vaccinated 14 days after they have received the full regimen of a vaccine authorised by WHO for emergency use.
- It includes the Serum Institute of India’s Covishield.
- Applications for a VTP must be made between seven to 30 calendar days before the intended date of entry into Singapore.
- The quarantine requirements have been done away with for passengers arriving on VTL flights.
- The passengers must still get an RT-PCR test done 48 hours ahead of the scheduled departure time and prepay for their post-arrival Day 3 and Day 7 Covid-19 PCR tests when applying for the VTP.
- It is also important to note that travellers to Singapore must have only been to their country or region of departure and/or Singapore in the last 21 consecutive days before departing for Singapore.
- It is an annual celebration that recognises the value of small businesses in our society.
- It is celebrated every year on August 30.
- It is observed with the goal of encouraging small businesses and offering job opportunities to the jobless.
- Its primary goal is to emphasize the importance of small-scale enterprises in creating work possibilities for individuals living in both rural and urban regions.
- India is home to more than 6.3 crore MSMEs, which have the ability and capability to access international markets and work as ancillaries to larger international firms.
- In terms of exports, the sector holds high potential in various sub-sectors such as textiles, leather & leather goods, pharmaceuticals, automotive, gems & Jewellery etc. with overall contribution of 45 percent.
- Revision of MSME definition: In line with Government of India's top focus on energizing MSMEs in the country, Government of India approved the upward revision of MSME definition on 1st June 2020 under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Package.
- The Government revised the MSME classification by inserting composite criteria of both investment and annual turnover.
- Udyam Registration: Udyam is an online and simplified procedure of filing of registration which enables MSMEs to obtain registration without any documentation and fees.
- It is a globally benchmarked process and a revolutionary step towards Ease of Doing Business.
- The Ministry of MSME has also commenced API integration of Udyam Registration portal with GeM so that MSMEs can participate in Government procurement easily.
- Champions Portal: CHAMPIONS is an online platform to help and handhold the MSMEs specially in this difficult time.
- It is an ICT based technology system aimed at making the smaller units big by solving their grievances, encouraging, supporting, helping and handholding throughout the business lifecycle.
- The platform facilitates a single window solution for all needs of MSMEs.
- National SC-ST Hub (NSSH): National SC-ST Hub has been launched to promote entrepreneurship culture in the SC-ST community and fulfill the 4% procurement target mentioned in the Public Procurement Policy order, 2018
- To boost entrepreneurship among SC/ST population and for maximum on-ground penetration, several interventions have been undertaken to cater to the challenge of market linkages, finance facilitations, capacity building etc.
- Self-Reliant India (SRI) Fund: The scheme is expected to facilitate equity financing of Rs.50,000 crore in the MSME Sector.
- The infusion of equity will provide an opportunity to get MSMEs listed in stock exchanges.
- It will also facilitate MSMEs to scale-up their business & growth and will help creating more jobs in the MSME sector.
- Procurement Policy: For providing marketing support to MSEs, all Central Ministries/Government Departments and CPSEs are required to procure 25% of their annual requirements of goods and services from MSEs including 4% from MSEs owned by SC/ST and 3% from MSEs owned by women entrepreneurs under the Public Procurement Policy.
- Establishment of Enterprise Development Centers (EDCs): With a view to provide Information related to MSMEs at one place, Enterprise Development Centres (EDCs) have been conceptualized.
- Till date Ministry of MSME has set up 102 EDCs across India.
- The aim of these centers is to build a network of entrepreneurial leaders by providing professional mentoring and handholding support services to existing as well as aspiring MSMEs with special focus on rural enterprises on continuous basis.
- The Cosmea Financial Holdings Pvt Ltd and Tally Solutions Pvt Ltd have applied to the RBI for a small finance bank licence.
- It was made public in India on September 16, 2015, after the Reserve Bank of India approved to set up small financial institutions, called small finance banks, as per the Union Budget of 2014-2015.
- It is a specific segment of banking created by RBI under the guidance of Government of India with an objective of furthering financial inclusion.
- It aims to undertake basic banking activities to un-served and underserved sections including small business units, small and marginal farmers, micro and small industries and unorganized entities.
- Like other commercial banks, these banks can undertake all basic banking activities including lending and taking deposits.
- It is mandatory for Small Finance Banks to set up at least 25 percent of its branches in the unbanked remote and rural areas.
- The SFBs require a minimum capital requirement of ₹ 100 Cr.
- The Small Finance Banks are subjected to follow the rules and regulations set by the RBI.
- These rules include maintenance of the CRR or cash reserve ratio, and STR or statutory liquidity ratio.
- The Small Finance Banks can even take up activities like distribution of mutual funds, insurance products, and pension products, but only after approval from RBI.
- The SFBs can engage in foreign exchange business as per their customer’s needs.
- All Small Finance Banks deal with basic lending and deposit activities, like loans and deposits.
- Deposits- All Small Finance Banks provide Fixed and Recurring Deposits.
- The interest rates charged by these banks on Fixed Deposit and Recurring Deposit are comparatively higher than that of regular banks.
- Loans- All Small Finance Banks deal with retail loan products like Personal, Housing, and Auto loans.
- These Banks are required to extend 75% of their Adjusted Net profit for the priority sector.
- In addition to that, 50% of the loans lent must be up to ₹ 25 Lakh.
- Other Products- Small Finance Banks deal in other products as well such as Distribution of Mutual Funds, Pension Products, Insurance Products, Foreign Exchange, Debit Cards, Savings and Current Account Deposits
- The small finance banks were set to reach out to the unbanked population in the remote and unprivileged areas.
- The SFBs are required to focus their products more towards the priority sector, which includes:
- Facilitating funds to poor people for housing;
- Lending for agriculture and allied activities; and
- Funding to micro and small industries and weaker sections of the society
- Minimum paid-up voting equity capital/ net worth requirement shall be Rs.200 crore.
- Payments Banks like Paytm an IndiaPost and Fino can apply for conversion into SFB after 5 years of operations if they are otherwise eligible as per these guidelines.
- Licensing window will be open ‘on-tap’: The on-tap facility allows RBI to accept applications and grant licence for banks throughout the year.
- This policy also allows aspirants to apply for universal bank licence any time, subject to fulfilling certain conditions.
- SFBs will have general permission to open banking outlets from the date of commencement of operations.
- SFBs will be given scheduled bank status immediately upon commencement of operations.
- For Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs), aspiring to voluntarily transit into SFBs, the initial requirement of net worth shall be at Rs.100 crores that will have to be increased to Rs.200 crores within 5 years from the date of commencement of business.
- According to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the purpose of classification is to make sure the best athlete wins, based on criteria such as skill, fitness and tactics.
- The athletes are classified according to the impact their impairment has on key sporting activities.
- All athletes competing must be given a sport class and sport class status to ensure a fair and level playing field which is done by an international classification panel.
- The purpose of Classification is to define who is eligible to compete in a Para sport and groups athletes with an eligible impairment into sports classes, according to how much their impairment affects their ability to carry out the fundamental activities in a specific sport.
- The athletes undergo evaluation on-site by classifiers who are trained by every sport’s respective international federation before their competition.
- The classifiers decide on the classification status based on the sport and impairment type.
- The classification may not take place at every tournament.
- After the evaluation is over, the classification panel designates ‘sports class status’ to every athlete, which indicates if evaluations are required on the same athlete in the future.
- As per the World Para Athletics classification rules, a classification panel can decide to conduct further evaluation sessions on an athlete ‘based on a number of factors.’
- These, the rules state, include but are not limited to situations, where the Athlete has only recently entered Competitions, sanctioned or recognised by World Para Athletics;
- has a fluctuating and/or progressive Impairment/Impairments that is/are permanent but not stable; and/or
- has not yet reached full muscular skeletal or sports maturity
- The Paralympic Movement offers sport opportunities for athletes with physical, visual and intellectual impairments and these can be divided into 10 eligible impairment types which must be permanent in nature.
- Physical Impairment
- Impaired muscle power: Reduced force generated by muscles or muscle groups, may occur in one limb or the lower half of the body. Examples include: spinal cord injury (complete or incomplete, tetra-or paraplegia), muscular dystrophy, post-polio syndrome and spina bifida.
- Impaired passive range of movement: Para athletes with impaired range of movement have a restriction or a lack of passive movement in one or more joints. Examples include: arthrogryposis and contracture resulting from chronic joint immobilization or trauma affecting a joint.
- Loss of limb or limb deficiency: Para athletes with limb deficiency have total or partial absence of bones or joints as a consequence of trauma (for example traumatic amputation), illness (for example amputation due to bone cancer) or congenital limb deficiency (for example dysmelia).
- Leg-length difference: Para athletes that have a difference in the length of their legs as a result of a disturbance of limb growth, or as a result of trauma.
- Short stature: Para athletes with short stature have a reduced length in the bones of the upper and lower limbs and/or trunk. Examples include: achondroplasia, growth hormone dysfunction, and osteogenesis imperfecta.
- Hypertonia: Para athletes with hypertonia have an increase in muscle tension and a reduced ability of a muscle to stretch caused by damage to the central nervous system. Examples include: cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury and stroke.
- Ataxia: Para athletes with ataxia have uncoordinated movements caused by damage to the central nervous system. Examples include: cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, stroke and multiple sclerosis.
- Athetosis: Para athletes with athetosis have continual slow involuntary movements. Examples include cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury and stroke.
- Visual Impairment
- Para athletes with impaired vision have reduced or no vision caused by damage to the eye structure, optical nerves or optical pathways, or visual cortex of the brain.
- Examples include: retinitis pigmentosa and diabetic retinopathy.
- Intellectual Impairment
- Para athletes with an intellectual Impairment have a restriction in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour in which affects conceptual, social and practical adaptive skills required for everyday life.
- This Impairment must be present before the age of 18.
- Any Impairment not listed in the above is referred to as a non-eligible Impairment which includes:
- Pain
- Hearing impairment
- Low muscle tone
- Hypermobility of joints
- Joint instability, such as unstable shoulder joint, recurrent dislocation of a joint
- Impaired muscle endurance
- Impaired motor reflex functions
- Impaired cardiovascular function
- Impaired respiratory functions
- Impairment metabolic functions
- Tics and mannerisms, stereotypes and motor perseveration
- It is a long-billed skulking shorebird of muddy edges in freshwater wetlands.
- It is the largest snipe in Australia, with cryptic, mainly brown, plumage.
- It breeds in Japan and spends the non-breeding season mainly in eastern Australia.
- It is a shy, secretive bird that is generally widely dispersed in low numbers across wetland and grassland areas.
- It is listed as 'Least Concern' under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
- It is a non-breeding migrant to the south east of Australia including Tasmania, passing through the north and New Guinea on passage.
- Latham's Snipe breed in Japan and on the East Asian mainland.
- Latham's Snipe are seen in small groups or singly in freshwater wetlands on or near the coast, generally among dense cover.
- They are found in any vegetation around wetlands, in sedges, grasses, lignum, reeds and rushes and also in saltmarsh and creek edges on migration.
- They also use crops and pasture.
- A person appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court, before entering upon his Office, has to make and subscribe an oath or affirmation before the President, or some person appointed by him for this purpose.
- In his oath, a judge of the Supreme Court swears:
- to bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India;
- to uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India;
- to duly and faithfully and to the best of his ability, knowledge and judgement perform the duties of the Office without fear or favour, affection or ill-will; and
- to uphold the Constitution and the laws
- The oath of office to new judges is administered in the CJI's court room.
- A person to be appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court should have the following qualifications:
- He should be a citizen of India.
- He should have been a judge of a High Court (or high courts in succession) for five years; or
- He should have been an advocate of a High Court (or High Courts in succession) for ten years; or
- He should be a distinguished jurist in the opinion of the president
- A judge of the Supreme Court can be removed from his Office by an order of the president.
- The President can issue the removal order only after an address by Parliament has been presented to him in the same session for such removal.
- The address must be supported by a special majority of each House of Parliament (i.e., a majority of the total membership of that House and a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of that House present and voting).
- The grounds of removal are two i.e. proved misbehaviour or incapacity.
- It is an infectious disease spread by infected mosquitoes.
- It spreads from birds to humans with the bite of an infected Culex mosquito.
- It can lead to a fatal neurological disease in humans.
- The virus causes West Nile fever in around 20 per cent of cases, according to World Health Organization (WHO).
- It is related to the Zika, dengue and yellow fever viruses.
- People who get WNV usually have no symptoms or mild symptoms.
- The symptoms include a fever, headache, body aches, skin rash, and swollen lymph glands.
- They can last a few days to several weeks, and usually go away on their own.
- According to WHO, WNV was first isolated in a woman in the West Nile district of Uganda in 1937.
- It was identified in birds (crows and columbiformes) in Nile delta region in 1953.
- Before 1997, WNV was not considered pathogenic for birds, but at that time in Israel a more virulent strain caused the death of different bird species presenting signs of encephalitis and paralysis.
- Human infections attributable to WNV have been reported in many countries for over 50 years.
- If West Nile virus enters the brain, it can be life-threatening.
- It may cause inflammation of the brain, called encephalitis, or inflammation of the tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, called meningitis.
- There are no specific vaccines or treatments for human WNV disease.
- The best way to avoid WNV is to prevent mosquito bites.
- The treatment is supportive for patients with neuro-invasive West Nile virus, often involving hospitalization, intravenous fluids, respiratory support, and prevention of secondary infections.
- Scientists have said that milder temperatures attributed to climate change could cause diseases such as the WNV to become more widespread.
- The resolution was sponsored by France, UK and the US with 13 members voting in favour, none against and permanent, veto-wielding members Russia and China abstaining.
- It was the first resolution adopted by the powerful 15-nation Council on the situation in Afghanistan following the takeover of Kabul by the Taliban.
- The measure did not cite a "safe zone" mentioned by French President Emmanuel Macron.
- The resolution has demanded that the territory of Afghanistan not be used to threaten any country or shelter terrorists.
- The resolution expects that the Taliban will adhere to commitments made by it on regarding the safe and orderly departure from the country of Afghans and all foreign nationals.
- The resolution demands that Afghan territory should not be used to finance terrorist acts, and reiterates the importance of combating terrorism in Afghanistan.
- The resolution expects that the Taliban will adhere to commitments regarding the safe, secure, and orderly departure from Afghanistan of Afghans and all foreign nationals.
- The resolution calls on the relevant parties to work with international partners to take steps to strengthen security and to prevent further casualties.
- It held its first session on 17 January 1946 at Church House, Westminster, London.
- The United Nations Charter established six main organs of the United Nations, including the Security Council.
- It gives primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security to the Security Council, which may meet whenever peace is threatened.
- All members of the United Nations agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council.
- Under the United Nations Charter, the functions and powers of the Security Council are:
- to maintain international peace and security in accordance with the principles and purposes of the United Nations;
- to investigate any dispute or situation which might lead to international friction;
- to recommend methods of adjusting such disputes or the terms of settlement;
- to formulate plans for the establishment of a system to regulate armaments;
- to determine the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression and to recommend what action should be taken;
- to call on Members to apply economic sanctions and other measures not involving the use of force to prevent or stop aggression;
- to take military action against an aggressor;
- to recommend the admission of new Members;
- to exercise the trusteeship functions of the United Nations in "strategic areas"; and
- to recommend to the General Assembly the appointment of the Secretary-General and, together with the Assembly, to elect the Judges of the International Court of Justice.
- The bench of Justices Indira Banerjee and V Balasubramanian was hearing an externment order, issued by a deputy commissioner of police in Maharashtra against journalist Rahmat Khan.
- An externment order was issued under Section 56(1)(a)(b) of the Maharashtra Police Act.
- The section provides for the removal of individuals from an area, if the authorities suspect that they may commit an offence.
- The court said that the FIRs against Khan were filed because of his complaints and described them as “vindictive and retaliatory”.
- The judges also clarified that sections 56 to 59 of the Maharashtra Police Act particularly applied to the elements of society that cannot be punished by penal action after judicial trial.
- Article 19(1)(d) guarantees the citizen the right to move freely throughout the territory of India.
- He/she can move freely from one state to another or from one place to another within a state.
- The grounds of imposing reasonable restrictions on this freedom are two, namely, the interests of general public and the protection of interests of any scheduled tribe.
- The entry of outsiders in tribal areas is restricted to protect the distinctive culture, language, customs and manners of scheduled tribes and to safeguard their traditional vocation and properties against exploitation.
- The freedom of movement has two dimensions, viz, internal (right to move inside the country) and external (right to move out of the country and right to come back to the country).
- Article 19 protects only the first dimension.
- The second dimension is dealt by Article 21 (right to life and personal liberty).
- Article 19(1)(e) guarantees the citizen the right to reside and settle in any part of the territory of the country.
- This right has two parts:
- The right to reside in any part of the country, which means to stay at any place temporarily; and
- The right to settle in any part of the country, which means to set up a home or domicile at any place permanently
- The State can impose reasonable restrictions on the exercise of this right on two grounds, namely, the interest of general public and the protection of interests of any scheduled tribes.
- The right of outsiders to reside and settle in tribal areas is restricted to protect the distinctive culture, language, customs and manners of scheduled tribes and to safeguard their traditional vocation and properties against exploitation.
- Article 19(1) states that All citizens shall have the Right to Freedom (Protection of certain rights regarding freedom of speech, etc):
- to freedom of speech and expression;
- to assemble peaceably and without arms;
- to form associations or unions;
- to move freely throughout the territory of India;
- to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India; and
- to practice any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business
- The clause (2) states that nothing in sub-clause (a) of clause (1) shall affect the operation of any existing law, or prevent the State from making any law, in so far as such law imposes reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the right conferred by the said sub-clause in the interests of:
- The sovereignty and integrity of India;
- The security of the State;
- The friendly relations with foreign States;
- Public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court; and
- Defamation or incitement to an offence
- These six rights are protected against only state action and not private individuals.
- These rights are available only to the citizens and to shareholders of a company but not to foreigners or legal persons like companies or corporations, etc.
- The State can impose ‘reasonable’ restrictions on the enjoyment of these six rights only on the grounds mentioned in the Article 19 itself and not on any other grounds.
POSTED ON 31-08-2021 BY ADMIN
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General Studies
Political Science and International Relations
Some Reference Essays
List of previous year essay topics (1997-2019)
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