Critically Endangered Animal Species of India

• Despite possessing only 2.4% of the world’s land area, India accounts for 7-8% of all recorded species, which includes 45,000 species of plants and 91,000 species of animals. 

Why do wildlife species get endangered?

• Loss of Habitat.
• It can happen naturally like in case of dinosaurs.
• Human activities like development for housing, industries, agricultural reduce can eliminate native species directly.
• People also kill wild animals throw pesticides, hunting, collision with cars.
• The over-exploitation of many vulnerable species led to the result of unregulated international trade. Governments adopted the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973.

India’s rich biodiversity at a glance

• India, covering just 2.4% of the world''s land area, is home to 7-8% of all recorded species, including 45,000 plant and 91,000 animal species.
• With 10 biogeographic zones, it hosts 8.58% of mammals, 13.66% of birds, and significant biodiversity. India contains four of the world''s 34 biodiversity hotspots.

India’s international obligations

• India has obligations under a large number of treaties and agreements having a bearing on the environment.
• Mention may be made of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora 1973, the Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer 1985, the Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer 1987, the Convention on the Control of the Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal 1989, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change 1992 and the Convention on Biological Diversity 1992 etc.

Conservation Policies and Legislation in India

• Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has been set up to gather intelligence about poaching and unlawful trade in wild animals and animal articles and to achieve inter-state and trans-boundary coordination in enforcement of wildlife laws.
• Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980: The act seeks to conserve forests and biodiversity by restricting the use of forest land for non-forest purposes.
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972:  It provides for punishment for violation of its provisions. The Act also provides for forfeiture of any equipment, vehicle or weapon that is used for committing wildlife offence(s).
• National Biodiversity Act: The National Biodiversity Act of 2002 was enacted to regulate the management of biological resources in India, ensuring the fair sharing of benefits derived from these resources.
• The State/Union Territory Governments have been requested to strengthen the field formations and intensify patrolling in and around Protected Areas.
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has formulated the 3^rd ‘National Wildlife Action Plan’ for a period of 2017 to 2031 to save wild animals in the country.
• Financial assistance is provided to the State/Union Territory Governments under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes of ‘Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats’, ‘Project Tiger’ and ‘Project Elephant’, for providing better protection to wildlife and improvement of habitat.
• World Wildlife Conservation Day is observed on December 4, signifying a crucial initiative in the ongoing efforts to safeguard and preserve the dwindling populations of wildlife species worldwide. Furthermore, this observance aims to combat wildlife crime and advocate for the enforcement of the Endangered Species Act.

World Wildlife Day 2024 

• World Wildlife Day, observed annually on March 3, is a significant global event aimed at raising awareness about the importance of wildlife conservation and promoting sustainable practices.
• Theme for World Wildlife Day 2024 is "Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation."

Important species listed as Critically endangered species:

Conclusion:

• After India''s independence, industrialization near forests led to deforestation and species extinction. The 1972 Stockholm Conference and subsequent laws like the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, aimed to address these issues. The Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2021, seeks better wildlife management and protection.

Appointment of SC judges

• In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 124(2) of the Constitution of India, President Droupadi Murmu appointed Delhi High Court’s Chief Justice Manmohan as a judge of the Supreme Court on December 3.
•  Once he takes oath as judge of the Supreme Court, its working strength would rise to 33, one short of the sanctioned strength of 34, which includes the Chief Justice of India.
• The two vacancies in the apex court arose after retirements of Justice Hima Kohli and former CJI D.Y. Chandrachud.
• The retirement age of SC judges is 65 years, while High Court judges demit office at 62. 
•  The Supreme Court collegium on November 28 recommended the elevation of Justice Manmohan to the top court.
•  While recommending his name, the collegium has taken into consideration the fact that, at present, the bench of Supreme Court is represented by only one judge from the High Court of Delhi.
• Following the elevation of Justice Manmohan, Justice Vibhu Bakhru was appointed as the acting Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court. 

What is the collegium system?

•  The collegium system is a forum including the Chief Justice of India and four senior-most judges of the SC, which recommends appointments and transfers of judges. 
•  Judges of the higher judiciary are appointed only through the collegium system, and the government has a role only after names have been decided by the collegium.

Appointment of SC judges

• The CJI and judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President under clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution.
• Whenever a vacancy is expected to arise in the office of a judge of the Supreme Court, the CJI will initiate a proposal and forward his recommendation to the law minister to fill up the vacancy.
• The opinion of the CJI for appointment of a judge of the Supreme Court should be formed in consultation with a collegium of the four senior-most judges of the apex court.
• The opinion of members of the collegium in respect of each of the recommendations as well as the senior-most judge in the Supreme Court from the High Court from which a prospective candidate comes, would be made in writing. The CJI must transmit his opinion as also the opinion of all concerned to the government of India as part of record.
• After receipt of the final recommendation of the CJI, the law minister will put up the recommendations to the Prime Minister, who will advise the President in the matter of appointment.

Appointment of HC judges

• The High Court stands at the head of a state’s judicial administration.
• Article 214 of the Indian Constitution provides for a High Court for each state. The Seventh Constitutional Amendment Act of 1956 authorised the Parliament under Article 231 to establish a common High Court for two or more states and a Union Territory. 
• Articles 214 to 231 of the Constitution deals with the organisation, independence, jurisdiction, powers, procedures and other issues related to the High Courts.
•  The Chief Justice and judges of the High Courts are appointed by the President under Article 217(1) of the Constitution.
• To be eligible for appointment as a HC judge one must be a citizen of India, have held a judicial office in India for ten years or must have practised as an advocate of a High Court or two or more such courts in succession for a similar period.

Conflict in Syria

·        Syrian rebels'' capture of Aleppo from President Bashar al-Assad has brought the Syrian civil war back into focus, jolting frontlines that had been dormant for years with implications for the region and beyond.

·        A sharp escalation in fighting in Syria’s Aleppo Governorate has displaced thousands and caused heavy civilian casualties, prompting urgent warnings from senior UN officials about the growing humanitarian crisis and threat to regional stability.

·         The alarm comes amid a sharp escalation in fighting in the Aleppo Governorate, spreading to parts of Idlib and Hama governorates and leaving the situation volatile and unpredictable.

·         Renewed fighting last week led by the terrorist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and other armed factions has engulfed parts of Aleppo, Idlib and Hama, destabilising frontlines that had remained unchanged since 2020.

·        It is the first time control of the city has shifted since 2016, when government forces, backed by Russia and Iran, defeated rebels who had controlled Aleppo’s eastern districts.

·         Russia, which deployed its air force to Syria in 2015 to help Assad, is conducting airstrikes in support of the army.

·         It marks the most serious escalation of the conflict in years.

Situation in Syria

·         The crisis in the Syrian Arab Republic is extending into its fourteenth year – with more people than ever sliding into deeper poverty and 16.7 million people in need of humanitarian assistance and protection. 

·         After over a decade of conflict, Syria remains the world’s largest refugee crisis. Since 2011, more than 14 million Syrians have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety. More than 7.2 million Syrians remain internally displaced in their own country. 

·        Adding to the suffering, Syria is grappling with the aftermath of the catastrophic earthquakes in February 2023, which inflicted severe human and material damage.

·         Approximately 5.5 million Syrian refugees live in the five countries neighbouring Syria — Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt. Germany is the largest non-neighbouring host country with more than 850,000 Syrian refugees.

·        Over half a million people have fled Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon and crossed into Syria since late September, and there remains a steady flow of movement, with thousands of people driven across the border into Syria every day.

When did the Syrian refugee crisis begin?

·        The Syrian refugee crisis began in March 2011 as a result of a violent government crackdown on public demonstrations in support of teenagers who were arrested for anti-government graffiti in the southern town of Daraa. The arrests sparked public demonstrations throughout Syria which were violently suppressed by government security forces. The conflict quickly escalated and the country descended into a civil war that forced millions of Syrian families to flee their homes. 

Where do Syrian refugees live?

·        Syrian refugees have sought asylum in more than 130 countries, but the vast majority live in neighbouring countries within the region.

·        Approximately 92 per cent of refugees who have fled to neighbouring countries live in rural and urban settings, with only roughly five percent living in refugee camps. However, living outside refugee camps does not necessarily mean success or stability. More than 70 per cent of Syrian refugees are living in poverty, with limited access to basic services, education or job opportunities and few prospects of returning home.

·        Millions of refugees have lost their livelihoods and are increasingly unable to meet their basic needs — including accessing clean water, electricity, food, medicine and paying rent. 

·        The economic downturn has also exposed them to multiple protection risks, such as child labor, gender-based violence, early marriage and other forms of exploitation.

UN’s peace plan 

·        The UN Security Council passed a resolution in 2015 aimed at ending the conflict, calling for a new constitution, UN-supervised elections and transparent and accountable governance.

·         Implementation has gone nowhere. UN Syria envoy Geir Pedersen said the escalation showed a collective failure to bring about a political process and urged substantive negotiations to find a way out of the conflict.

Drug trafficking in India

·        India’s fight against narcotic substances is complex and multifaceted, involving enforcement actions coupled with advanced detection technologies, international cooperation and robust legal frameworks. 

·        The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) continues to play a pivotal role in this battle, making significant seizures and dismantling and busting drug syndicates and networks. 

·        The DRI released the ‘Smuggling in India Report’ 2023-24. 

·        In 2023-24, DRI booked 109 cases involving 8,223.61 kg of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances including 107.31 kg of cocaine, 48.74 kg of heroin, 136 kg of methamphetamine, 236 kg of mephedrone and 7348.68 kg of ganja.

·        The seizures indicate an increasing trend of smuggling of cocaine through air passenger routes, from 21 cases in 2022-23 to 47 cases in 2023-24, with a majority of seizures at airports.

Directorate of Revenue Intelligence

·        The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence is the apex anti-smuggling agency of India, working under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs, Ministry of Finance. It is tasked with detecting and curbing smuggling of contraband, including drug trafficking and illicit international trade in wildlife and environmentally sensitive items, as well as combating commercial frauds related to international trade and evasion of Customs duty.

Availability and use of wide range of drugs

·         In recent years, India has witnessed a marked increase in the availability and use of a wide range of narcotic substances. This includes traditional drugs like cocaine, heroin, cannabis and opium, as well as synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine and MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy), and some of the New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) that have emerged on the global stage. 

·        The diversity and potency of these substances pose significant health risks to users and challenge the capacities of law enforcement agencies.

·        As the global drug trade evolves, so do the methods and routes used by traffickers to smuggle drugs into and out of the country. The country’s robust economy and burgeoning youth population targeted as a lucrative market by the drug syndicates, further complicates the efforts in controlling the drug menace.

·        India faces significant challenges with the trafficking of various drugs. Proximity to opium growing countries and clandestine laboratories for further processing, aids in trafficking of heroin through various routes into India. 

·        Cannabis, including its more potent forms like charas and ganja, continues to be illicitly cultivated in remote areas and forests and further processed, trafficked and traded. 

·         Along with this, hydroponic weed, hashish, and various other forms of cannabis origin drugs have emerged. Synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine, MDMA and NPS are increasingly smuggled into India 

·        from the northeast land border. The rise of synthetic opioids like fentanyl poses new challenges.

·         As a major pharmaceutical manufacturer globally, India has also witnessed the clandestine export of pharmaceutical products that can substitute for narcotic substances.

Yaba - Crazy Medicine

·        Yaba, a potent drug tablet that combines methamphetamine and caffeine, mostly produced in Myanmar, takes its name from the Thai phrase “yaa baa”, meaning “crazy medicine”. 

·         This colloquial term reflects the intense rush and hyperactivity induced by the drug, which has become particularly prevalent in Southeast Asia. 

·        Originally developed for military use during World War II to enhance stamina and alertness among soldiers, Yaba has evolved into a recreational drug infamous for its severe addiction potential and devastating health effects. 

·        In recent years, law enforcement agencies have observed a troubling increase in its circulation, leading to significant seizures across the region.

Major drug trafficking routes:

• 1) The Death Crescent: This region, comprising Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan, is a primary source of heroin trafficked into India. This heroin is routed to India mainly through Africa and Gulf regions, in addition to traditional routes through India-Pakistan border and maritime routes.
• 2) The Death Triangle: This area, encompassing Myanmar, Laos and Thailand, is a significant source of synthetic drugs and heroin. Drugs from this region often enter India through the northeastern states, where difficult terrain, and porous borders makes trafficking easier at multiple entry points. 
• 3) Maritime Routes: The vast coastline of India presents opportunities for drug traffickers to use maritime routes. 
• 4) Air Routes: Drug trafficking through air route has also become a potent method for smugglers due to the speed and increasing volume of international air traffic. Drugs are often concealed in luggage, courier packages or ingested by carriers (known as “mules”).

Cocaine trafficking:

• Cocaine trafficking has seen a marked increase in India, particularly through direct routes from South America and via African countries. The number of cases involving cocaine smuggling by air has risen year on year, presenting significant challenges to Indian law enforcement agencies.
• The number of cases involving this route, particularly via air travel, has escalated each year. A majority of the smuggling involves body concealment of narcotics. This method often evades detection through standard airport screening methods, posing a considerable challenge for enforcement agencies.
• Baggage concealment remains the second most prevalent form of smuggling. The financial landscape for the flow of money back to source countries has also undergone significant changes. Payments for narcotics through cryptocurrency have been on the rise.

Heroin trafficking:

• Heroin is majorly sourced from Afghanistan and trafficked into India through various routes like air, land and maritime pathways. Myanmar also acts as a major source for heroin entering into India.
• Heroin seizures by DRI have shown a decreasing trend compared to the previous financial year, aligning with global trends reported by international agencies. Most of the heroin seizures made by DRI during the last year involved trafficking through air routes via African countries and land routes through the porous northeast  borders. Instances of smuggling heroin through the Indo-Pak border at Attari have also been noticed. 

Cannabis seizures:

•  India has a long history of cannabis cultivation and use, with the plant growing naturally in many parts of the country. Cannabis cultivation and use are illegal in India under the NDPS Act, 1985, except for medical and scientific purposes.
• This has led to a thriving black market for cannabis and its derivatives. India is home to several renowned cannabis varieties. Among these, Idukki Gold, Mysore Gold, Malana Cream and Sheelavathi stand out as major varieties, each named after their respective regions of cultivation.
• Sheelavathi, which is grown in the Andhra-Odisha border, is the most frequently traded illegally, and majority of seizures done by enforcement agencies involve this particular variety.
• In addition, cases of hydroponic weed variety coming from the USA, Thailand and other countries have also been observed by DRI. Hydroponic weed is cannabis grown in nutrient-rich water without soil, allowing for precise control over the growing environment.
• Hashish, or hash, is a concentrated form of cannabis made by compressing the plant’s resinous trichomes into a solid substance. It is typically more potent than ganja, which refers to the dried flowers and leaves of the cannabis plant. Instances of smuggling hashish to Sri Lanka in boats have been noticed by enforcement agencies.

Domestic legal framework

·        Drug law enforcement in India derives its strength from Article 47 of the Constitution of India, which reads: “The State shall endeavour to bring about prohibition of the consumption except for medicinal purposes of intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are injurious to health”.

 In alignment with this constitutional mandate, Parliament enacted the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. The Act prohibits, except for medical or scientific purposes, the manufacture, production, trade, use, etc, of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. 

• To tackle the drug menace, India adopted the policy of empowering multiple agencies to enforce the NDPS Act, 1985, DRI being one such agency.
• DRI plays a pivotal role in this battle, making significant seizures and dismantling/busting drug syndicates and networks. 
• However, evolving trends in drug trafficking and the emergence of new psychoactive substances necessitate continuous innovation and adaptation in enforcement strategies. 
• By understanding these trends and addressing policy gaps, efforts to combat the growing threat of narcotic substances and safeguard public health and safety can be further strengthened.

Extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA): Unveiling its role in cancer

•  Extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) has emerged as a significant player in cancer biology challenging long-held genetic principles.
• Once dismissed as a rare occurrence, ecDNA is now recognized for its role in cancer progression, metastasis and drug resistance. Recent studies led by the eDyNAmiC team have shed light on its formation, function and implications in oncology.
• In normal cells, DNA resides in 23 pairs of chromosomes within the nucleus. However, processes like DNA damage or errors during cell replication can result in fragments of DNA breaking away to form circular structures known as ecDNA.
• First identified 50 years ago, ecDNA was initially deemed irrelevant due to its presence in only 1.4% of tumors.
• Modern genomic techniques revealed its prevalence in nearly 40% of cancer cell lines and up to 90% of certain tumor types highlighting its critical role.

Characteristics:

• Contains multiple copies of oncogenes (genes capable of causing cancer).
• Freely moves within the nucleus forming hubs where oncogene expression is amplified.

Formation Triggers:

• Environmental factors: Smoking, chemical exposure.
• Genetic mutations: Linked to chromothripsis, a process where chromosomes break and rearrange.

Role in Cancer Growth:

• ecDNA often carries oncogenes enhancing their expression beyond what is possible with chromosomal DNA. Oncogenes are a group of genetic mutations that may cause cancer. They''re a mutated form of genes that manage cell growth. When these genes change into oncogenes, they cause cells to grow and divide uncontrollably. Oncogenes are powerful.
• The dynamic nature of ecDNA accelerates tumor evolution aiding cancer cells in resisting treatments.
• ecDNA interacts with other ecDNA forming zones where oncogenes are overexpressed. This contributes to aggressive tumor behavior.

ecDNA and Genetic Laws

• Violation of Mendel’s Law:
• Mendel’s third law posits that genes on different chromosomes are inherited independently. ecDNA, however, is passed on in clusters during cell division preserving specific oncogene combinations—a phenomenon termed the “jackpot effect.”
• This discovery redefines gene inheritance patterns. Coordinated segregation of ecDNA during cell division boosts cancer cell survival and adaptability.

DNA: Structure, Types, and Replication

 Hornbill Festival begins in Nagaland

•  Nagaland Governor La Ganesan and Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio symbolically declared the 25th edition of the Hornbill Festival open with the beating of the traditional Naga gong.
• Thousands of tourists, both domestic and foreign, thronged the picturesque Naga Heritage Village in Kisama to witness the commencement of the 10-day festival in Nagaland.
• The festivities got off to an extravagant start with a fusion of Naga tradition and modernity being showcased by the artistes under the banner of Task Force for Music and Arts (TaFMA) alongside cultural performances from partner countries Japan, Wales and Peru enthralling the audience.
•  The festivities will conclude on December 10.

Hornbill Festival

•  Conceptualised in the year 2000, the Hornbill Festival is a ten day annual tourism promotional event organised by the state government to showcase Nagaland’s rich and traditional cultural heritage in all its ethnicity, diversity and grandeur. 
• Dubbed as the “Festival of Festivals” this event provides a unique platform for visitors to witness not only the Naga cultural diversity converged at one venue but also the states of Northeast India as a means of cultural exchange, while adventure, sports, art, handicraft, fashion, music, literature, etc also come as part of the special package.
• During Hornbill, which takes place from December 1 to 10, the entire Naga culture is showcased in full splendour in the Kisama village of Kohima district. 

Nagaland

• Nagaland came into being on December 1, 1963 as the 16th state of the Indian Union. Kohima is the state capital. 
• With a geographical area of about 16,579 sq km, the state shares its  borders with Assam in the North and West, Myanmar and Arunachal Pradesh in the East and Manipur in the South. The topography of the state is nearly all hilly. 
• Many rivers cut through this mountainous terrain, the main ones being Dhansiri, Doyang, Dikhu, Milak, Tizu and Zungki.
• •the state has a population of about 1.9 million. These people are composed of 17 different major tribes, each representing a unique cultural system. 
• With a population density of 120 persons per sqkm, generally one major or minor tribe enjoys predominance across each of the 16 administrative districts.

 LWE AFFECTED DISTRICTS IN THE COUNTRY

·        There are 38 districts in nine states affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in the country, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on December 4.

·        During the last five years, 60 districts have been freed from Left-Wing Extremism, the minister added. 

Naxalite movement

·        In 1967, a peasant uprising took place in the Naxalbari police station area of Darjeeling hills district in West Bengal. Beginning from the Naxalbari police station, the peasant movement spread to several states of India and came to be referred broadly as the Naxalite movement.

·        The supporters of the Naxalite movement advocated the use of violent means to achieve their political goals. 

·        According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Communist Party of India (Maoist), is the major Left Wing Extremist (LWE) outfit responsible for a majority of incidents of violence and killing of civilians and security forces. The Peoples’ Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), the armed wing of CPI (Maoist), resorts to guerrilla warfare.

·         Over the years, governments have taken stern measures in dealing with the Naxalite movement. 

·         Human rights activists have criticised the governments for violating constitutional norms in dealing with the Naxalites.

Govt’s action plan to curb LWE

·        As per Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, subjects of ‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are with the state governments. The government of India has been supplementing the efforts of states affected by Left Wing Extremism. 

·        The government of India has adopted an integrated approach to deal with the LWE by addressing the areas of security, development and promoting good governance simultaneously. 

·        To achieve this, a National Policy and Action Plan has been put in place since 2015 that adopts a multi-pronged strategy in the areas of security, development, ensuring rights and entitlements of local communities.

·        Between 2019-20 and 2023-24 Rs 4,350.78 crore have been released for capacity building of the LWE affected states under the Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS), Security Related Expenditure (SRE)   and Special Central Assistance (SCA) schemes.

·        • Further, Rs 560.22 crore have been given to central agencies for helicopters and addressing critical infrastructure in security camps in LWE affected areas, under the Assistance to Central Agencies for LWE Management (ACALWEM) Scheme. 

On development front, several initiatives have been taken which include:

·        For expansion of road network, 14,529 km of roads have been constructed so far in LWE affected areas.

·        To improve telecom connectivity, 6,524 towers have been commissioned.

·         For financial inclusion of the local population in the LWE affected districts, 5,731 Post Offices have been opened. Further, 1,007 bank branches and 937 ATMs have been opened in 30 most LWE-affected districts.

·        For skill development 46 ITIs and 49 Skill Development Centers (SDCs) have been made functional in LWE affected districts.

·        For quality education in tribals in LWE affected districts 178 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) have been functional in LWE affected districts.

·        Under Civic Action Programme, Central Armed Police Forces (CRPF, BSF, SSB and ITBP) deployed in LWE affected areas undertake various civic activities for welfare of the local people and to wean away the youth from the influence of the Maoists.

·         Tribal Youth Exchange Programs (TYEPs) are being organised through Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) for outreaching tribal youth of LWE affected districts.

Improvement in LWE scenario

·        The LWE scenario has improved significantly both in terms of reduced violence and constriction of geographical spread. 

·        The number of LWE related violent incidents have come down by 73 per cent in 2023 compared to that of 2010. 

·        The number of resultant deaths (security forces + civilians) have also reduced to 138 in 2023 from 1,005 in 2010, a reduction of 86 per cent. 

·        Due to the improved LWE scenario, the number of LWE affected districts have reduced from 126 to 90 in April 2018, to 70 in July 2021 and further to 38 districts in April 2024.

Packaged mineral drinking water now in ‘high-risk food’ category: FSSAI

Food business operators dealing in non-alcoholic soft beverages, packaged drinking water and mineral water will now be subject to a mandatory, annual, third-party inspection

• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has re-classified packaged drinking water and mineral water as a high-risk food category, mandating stricter regulatory controls and annual facility inspections.

• The re-classification by the FSSAI follows recent amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011, which previously removed mandatory BIS certification requirements for certain food products.

• The re-classification is designed to strengthen consumer protection and maintain rigorous quality control in the packaged water industry. 

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been established under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 which consolidates various Acts and orders that have hitherto handled food related issues in various ministries and departments. 

• The FSSAI is a statutory body established under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

• FSSAI was created for laying down scientific standards for food articles and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.

The main functions of FSSAI include:

i) Setting globally benchmarked regulations, standards and guidelines.

ii) Facilitating compliance through licensing, registration, inspection and improved laboratory network.

iii) Building capacity of regulatory staff as well as food business operators.

iv) Driving public health initiatives in the true spirit of convergence.

v) Leveraging IEC (Information, Education & Communication) and BCC (behaviour change communication) techniques to build a food safety culture.

vi) Embracing technology to streamline processes. 

vii) Forging strategic partnerships to generate and exchange knowledge and best practices.

Supreme Court issues directives for strict implementation of POSH Act

·        The Ministry of Women and Child Development recently launched the SHe-Box portal, an online system designed to help in better implementation of various provisions of ‘The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013’ (also known as POSH Act).

·        This Act mandates the appropriate government to monitor its implementation and maintain data on the number of cases filed and disposed of.

·        The complaint registration system is live with effect from October 19, 2024 after on-boarding of maximum number of central ministries/departments. Since then, a total of nine complaints have been received on the portal.

POSH Act

·         The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act came into force with effect from December 9, 2013. Known as the POSH Act, it seeks to cover all women, irrespective of their age or employment status, and protect them against sexual harassment at all workplaces both in public and private sector, whether organised or unorganised.

·        The Act envisages a mechanism in the form of Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) and Local Complaints Committee (LCC). All workplaces employing 10 or more workers are mandated under the Act to constitute an ICC. 

·        Complaints from workplaces employing less than 10 workers or when the complaint is against the employer will be looked into by the LCC. 

·        The Act casts a responsibility on every employer to create an environment that is free from sexual harassment. Under it employers are required to organise workshops and awareness programmes at regular intervals for sensitising employees about the provision of this legislation.

What is sexual harassment at the workplace?

·        Sexual harassment at the workplace is any unwelcome sexually defined behaviour that has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with the individual’s work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, abusive or offensive working environment.

·         The Sexual Harassment of Women (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act states that if the following circumstances occur or are present in relation to, or connected with any act or behaviour of sexual harassment, it may amount to sexual harassment at the workplace:

·        i) Implied or explicit promise of preferential treatment in her employment.

·        ii) Implied or explicit threat of detrimental treatment in her employment.

·        iii) Implied or explicit threat about her present or future employment status.

·        iv) Interference with her work or creating an intimidating or offensive or hostile work environment for her.

·        v) Humiliating treatment likely to affect her health or safety.

·        •Today, all workplaces in India are mandated by law to provide a safe and secure working environment free from sexual harassment for all women.

What is the purpose of SHe-Box portal?

·        The SHe-Box portal is an initiative of the Ministry to provide a publicly available centralised repository of information related to Internal Committee (IC) and Local Committee (LC) constituted at various workplaces, across the country, whether in government or private sector. It is also an end to end integrated complaint monitoring system. 

·        It provides for designating a nodal officer for every workplace who is required to ensure updation of data/information on a regular basis for real time monitoring of complaints.

·        A complaint on the portal can be filed by an aggrieved woman or any other person on behalf of the complainant. If the person filing a complaint is the aggrieved woman herself, she has to login on to the portal by registering her basic details such as her work status, name, phone number, and email. 

·        • If the person filing a complaint is any other person, he/she has to login on to the portal by registering his/her name, relationship with the complainant and undertaking from the complainant along with the work status, name, phone number, and email of the aggrieved woman/complainant. 

·        Depending on the status of her employment, the person filing a complaint is required to select the IC/LC of the workplace where they want to submit the complaint. 

·         If the IC/LC of the aggrieved woman is registered on the portal, the complaint will be automatically submitted and forwarded to the IC/LC concerned. 

·         In case, the IC of her workplace is not registered on the portal, the portal provides for an online process to obtain details of that workplace from the complainant and inform the State Nodal Officer and District Nodal Officer of the state/UT and district concerned to ensure early registration of that internal committee.

·        The SHe-Box portal has a monitoring dashboard for Nodal Officers at the Centre/state/UT level and district level, to see the number of cases filed, disposed and pending, including those beyond the prescribed timeline. 

·        Similar feature is built for the complainant to track the status of her complaint. 

·        The portal is so designed that it masks the details of the complainant to maintain confidentiality. 

·         Except the chairperson of the IC/LC, no other person is able to see the details or nature of the complaint registered.

·         Time prescribed under the POSH Act for inquiry is 90 days.

What is the US presidential pardon and How it differs from Indian President ?

US President Joe Biden has granted an unconditional pardon to his son Hunter Biden, who was facing sentencing for federal tax and gun convictions.

President Pardon Power in the US

The pardoning power in the United States originates from the British monarch''s "royal prerogative of mercy," which allowed monarchs to grant pardons to convicted individuals and was originally used to commute or replace death sentences. 

The President has the authority to grant pardons under the United States Constitution. He can issue pardons for federal criminal offenses before or after conviction, but the pardon does not remove the conviction from the record.

Pardon Power under the Indian Constitution

In India, Article 72 of the Constitution empowers the President to grant pardons, commutations, remissions, respites, or reprieves to convicts. Article 161 confers similar powers on the Governor. These powers are exercised with the advice of the council of ministers.

In India, a pardon releases the offender from conviction, punishment, and disqualification. 

In the Epuru Sudhakar case (2006), the Supreme Court ruled that the exercise of pardon power is subject to judicial review, particularly for arbitrariness, mala fides, or additional considerations.