Current Affairs January 2024

Cancellation of FCRA Registration

• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) cancelled the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registrations of the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) and World Vision India (WVI) in January 2024.
• The MHA accused CPR of redirecting foreign donations to support protests and legal challenges against development projects, alleging misuse of funds and FCRA violations.
• WVI, which received the highest foreign donations among NGOs registered since 1986, had its registration revoked for alleged FCRA violations spanning 2012-13 to 2020-21.
• The FCRA aims to regulate foreign donations to protect internal security and align with democratic principles.
• Amendments in 2010 and 2020 refined regulations, including Aadhaar requirements and a complete ban on domestic transfer of foreign funds.

Wildlife (Protection) Licensing Rules, 2024

• The central government introduced the Wildlife (Protection) Licensing (Additional Matters for Consideration) Rules, 2024, amending the wildlife trade rules of 1983.
• The changes, effective from January 16, 2024, mark the first revision since 1983.
• Notable alterations include the retention of restrictions on Schedule I species, like tigers and elephants, with the provision for consultation.
• However, licensing restrictions for Schedule II species, which cover endangered mammals, birds, turtles, geckos, and snakes, have been removed without clear justification.

Construction of the Ram Temple

• The Ram temple in Ayodhya was inaugurated on January 22, 2024, marking the culmination of a 200-year-old saga.
• The temple, designed in the Nagara Style of Temple Architecture, spans 71 acres and showcases traditional craftsmanship with pink sandstone.
• The timeline of the Ram Janmabhoomi Movement traces back to 1751, gaining momentum in the 19th century with tensions leading to the violent clash near the Babri Masjid in 1855.

Vijay Raghavan Panel on DRDO Functioning

• The nine-member Vijay Raghavan panel was established by the government to address concerns about the functioning of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• The panel submitted a comprehensive report, which includes recommendations for refocusing on research and development (R&D) and advising against involvement in productization and production cycles.

18th Annual Status of Education Report 2023

• The 18th Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2023, titled ‘Beyond Basics,' focuses on students' activities, basic and applied reading and math abilities, and digital awareness and skills.
• ASER is an annual citizen-led survey in rural India, conducted since 2005, providing representative estimates of enrollment and learning levels.
• The report highlights various aspects, including enrollment rates, vocational training, basic abilities, language and arithmetic skills, digital awareness, and foundational numeracy skills.

World Economic Forum 2024

• The World Economic Forum (WEF) is hosting its Annual Meeting from January 15 to January 19, 2024, in Davos, Switzerland.
• WEF is a platform for key diplomatic moments, including meetings between North and South Korea, discussions on German reunification, and significant milestones in South African politics.

Multidimensional Poverty - NITI Aayog

• NITI Aayog released a Discussion Paper titled 'Multidimensional Poverty in India since 2005-06,' which highlights that 24.82 crore people have escaped multidimensional poverty in the last nine years.
• The paper utilizes data from National Family Health Surveys (NFHS) conducted in 2005-06, 2015-16, and 2019-21 to analyze long-term poverty trends.
• The National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) measures deprivations across three equally weighted dimensions: Health, Education, and Standard of Living.

Swachh Survekshan Awards

• The Swachh Survekshan Awards 2023 were conferred by the President of India at Bharat Mandapam, hosted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
• Indore and Surat were jointly awarded the cleanest city title, with Indore retaining this position for the 7th consecutive year.

Website Blocking by the Government

• The reply to a Right to Information (RTI) application revealed a significant increase in website blocking orders in India from 2013 to October 2023.
• The number of website blocking orders grew from 62 in 2013 to 6,954 by October 2023.

Concerns over new Hit and Run Law

• The recent protests by transporters and commercial drivers, particularly against Section 106 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, highlight concerns about the severity of penalties for hit-and-run incidents.
• While the government aims to address road safety and accountability, protesters argue that the law lacks nuance and may disproportionately affect drivers.

2023 - Warmest Year on Record

• 2023 emerged as the warmest year on record, surpassing the previous record set in 2016.
• The global average temperature in 2023 was 1.48°C warmer than the average of the 1850-1900 pre-industrial level.

Supreme Court Verdict on Article 370

• The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Adani group and SEBI, rejecting the transfer of the investigation to other bodies.
• The court emphasized that the power to transfer an investigation must be exercised only in exceptional circumstances and with cogent justifications.

16th Finance Commission being Constituted

• The creation of the Sixteenth Finance Commission is in accordance with Article 280(1) of the Constitution of India.
• Dr. Arvind Panagariya, a former Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog, has been appointed as the Chairman of the Sixteenth Finance Commission.
• The commission has specific terms of reference, including the distribution of tax proceeds between the Union and States, principles governing grants-in-aid to States, and measures to strengthen State finances for local bodies.### Allahabad High Court Criticizes Lawyers' Strikes
• The Allahabad High Court, led by Acting Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta and Justice Kshitij Shailendra, has expressed strong disapproval of lawyers' strikes.
• The court emphasized that strikes in the legal profession cause significant judicial time wastage, harm social values, and contribute to the pendency of cases, affecting the justice delivery system.

Supreme Court Reaches Full Strength

• The Supreme Court of India has achieved its full sanctioned strength of 34 judges with the swearing-in of Justice PB Varale.
• Justice Varale, previously serving as the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court, was recommended for this position by the Supreme Court Collegium on January 19.
• He becomes the third sitting judge from the Dalit community in the Supreme Court, alongside Justices BR Gavai and CT Ravikumar.

'One Nation One Election'

• A recent survey conducted by the Central government revealed that 81% of respondents support the concept of 'One Nation One Election'.
• The survey, which received 20,972 responses, was part of an initiative to explore changes in legal and administrative frameworks to enable simultaneous elections in India.
• The high-level committee overseeing this initiative is chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind and includes notable members like Ghulam Nabi Azad, Arjun Ram Meghwal, NK Singh, and Harish Salve.

Kerala High Court Initiates Digital Accessibility Training

• The Kerala High Court has launched a four-day digital accessibility training program for 51 visually challenged court staff.
• The initiative aligns with the Supreme Court e-committee's goal of enhancing digital infrastructure accessibility for persons with disabilities in the Indian judicial system.

Review Petitions Challenge Supreme Court's Decision

• Review petitions have been filed before the Supreme Court challenging its recent unanimous verdict upholding the abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Supreme Court Directs High Courts

• A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court has directed all High Courts in the country to set up committees to implement the recommendations of the Second National Judicial Pay Commission.
• The committees will be responsible for implementing the recommendations with respect to salaries and service conditions of members of the district judiciary and for dealing with grievances of judicial officers.

Bilkis Bano Gangrape Case

• A division bench of the Supreme Court has quashed the Gujarat government's decision to allow the premature release of eleven men convicted in the Bilkis Bano gangrape case.
• The Court held that the convicts who were set free by the State have to report back to the jail authorities within two weeks.

Delhi High Court Upholds Validity of Anti-Profiteering Law

• The Delhi High Court has held that Section 171 of the CGST Act, which mandates that reduction in rate of tax on any supply of goods or services has to be passed on as a commensurate reduction in price to the consumers, falls within the law-making power of the parliament.
• The bench said that Section 171 lays out a clear legislative policy, does not delegate any essential legislative function, and is not a price-fixing mechanism.

Right to Clean Air

• A division bench of the Supreme Court has berated the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for suggesting that trucks heading to an Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Delhi's Tughlakabad be diverted to ICDs outside the National Capital Region (NCR).
• The Court said that the right to clean air is not the entitlement of people living in Delhi alone, and a suggestion to divert trucks to other ICDs was unjustified and unwarranted.

Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023

• The Supreme Court has made it clear that the right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutes under Article 30 of the Constitution is not meant to ghettoize any religious community.
• The Court noted that it is permissible for such institutes to admit students from other religious communities too.### India-Maldives Relations
• Maldives is a key maritime neighbour of India in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), located 300 nautical miles from the Indian mainland (West coast) and 70 nautical miles from the Minicoy Island in Lakshadweep.
• The country's location holds significant strategic importance to India, especially amid China's growing engagements in the region.
• Maldives recently signed agreements with China, elevating their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership.
• Britain relinquished control of the Maldives in 1965, marking a historical point in India-Maldives relations.
• The Maldives and Lakshadweep Islands are separated by the Eight Degree Channel.
• Until the first half of the 12th century, Buddhism was the principal religion in the Maldives.
• Maldivian politics has witnessed an "India Out" campaign, branding Indian presence as a threat to Maldivian sovereignty.
• The Maldives transitioned to a democratic nation in 2008.
• The current Maldives' President has set a deadline of 15th March 2024, for the withdrawal of Indian troops.
• Indian tourists have become the leading source market for Maldives, accounting for 11.2% of total tourist arrivals in 2023.

Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023

• The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023, repeals the colonial-era law of the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867.
• The Bill introduces the role of the Press Registrar General, responsible for issuing registration certificates for all periodicals.
• The Press Act of 1835 (Metcalfe Act) is often referred to as the Liberated Press Act of 1835, as it repealed restrictive press restrictions.
• The Vernacular Press Act, 1878, was enforced to regulate the vernacular press in India.
• The Press Registrar General is responsible for issuing registration certificates for all periodicals under the Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023.

Red Sea Attacks

• One ship on its way to India was struck by a drone attack on Saturday, roughly 200 nautical miles (370 km) off the coast of Gujarat.
• The Red Sea attacks have been carried out by rebels, who have been in a civil war with the Yemeni government for about a decade.
• The attacks are to protest Israel's military offensive in Gaza.
• The disruption at the Red Sea route, for instance, is estimated to push the prices of Indian agricultural products by 10 to 20 per cent, as shipments would be routed through the Cape of Good Hope.

Caste-Based Discrimination in Prisons

• Caste-based discrimination of prisoners, segregation of manual work among them according to caste-hierarchy and treatment of inmates from the denotified tribes as "habitual offenders" within the four walls of jails across India is a "very important issue" and needs to be addressed.
• Prison manuals in more than 10 States, including Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, continue to have provisions which sanction discrimination and forced labour on the ground of caste in prisons.
• Labour is segregated on the basis of caste, and Dalits even have a separate ward in prisons.
• Caste discrimination continues despite changes in the prison manuals, and these provisions in the prison manuals of the States should be repealed.

Bilkis Bano Case

• The Supreme Court struck down the remission granted by the Gujarat government to 11 convicts who were serving life imprisonment for the gangrape of Bilkis Bano during the communal riots in Gujarat.
• The men, who had been granted early release on August 15, 2022, after serving 14 years in jail, were directed by the top court to surrender within two weeks.
• The court said that as per the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), 1973, an application for remission can only be before the government within whose territorial jurisdiction the applicant was convicted, in this case, Maharashtra, and not where the offence took place, in this case, Gujarat.

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