Current Affairs Quiz

Centre-State Clashes on Vice Chancellor Appointments

• The University Grants Commission (UGC) has proposed that new regulations appoint Vice Chancellors (VCs) in universities.
• This has caused disputes between states and the Centre.
• The draft UGC (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment and Promotion of Teachers and Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2025 is about these upcoming appointments.
• Central universities are established under parliamentary acts and administered by the Centre, with the President of India acting as Visitor.
• VC appointment committees include two nominees from the university's Executive Council and one from the Visitor.
• State-specific laws often determine the composition of search committees.
• Private institutions follow similar procedures, with UGC playing a limited role through its nominee on the search committee.
• Regulation 7.3 of the UGC Regulations, 2018 demands the inclusion of a UGC nominee in VC search committees
• State University Acts, passed by State legislatures, have their own provisions for VC appointments. States, such as Tamil Nadu, argue that imposing UGC nominees erodes their autonomy.
• Constitution's Article 254(1) states that Central laws prevail over State laws in the Concurrent List, but this applies only to plenary laws, not delegated legislation like UGC regulations.
• Landmark rulings like Ch. Tika Ramji v. State of Uttar Pradesh (1956) and Indian Express Newspapers v. Union of India (1984) clarify that subordinate legislation cannot override plenary laws.

Impact Of VC Appointment Disputes

• Administrative vacancies in universities delay critical decisions, including staff appointments and conferral of degrees.
• Hinders academic excellence.

Should Voter IDs Be Linked With Aadhaar?

• Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) have accused each other of tampering with electoral rolls ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, reviving the debate over linking voter IDs with Aadhaar.
• The Election Commission (EC) launched the National Electoral Rolls Purification and Authentication Program (NERPAP) in 2015 to eliminate duplicate entries in electoral rolls by linking voter IDs (EPIC) with Aadhaar. Over 300 million voters were linked within three months.
• The Supreme Court restricted mandatory Aadhaar use to welfare schemes and PAN
• Voters were required to submit Aadhaar information via Form 6 for new registrations (to establish identity) and Form 6B for authentication by existing voters
• Submission of Aadhaar was made voluntary, and alternate documents could be provided if Aadhaar unavailability.
• Mandatory submission of Aadhaar is feared to disadvantage groups without it, despite provisions for alternate documentation.
• Mandatory Aadhaar infringes on informational autonomy as individuals should have the right to choose alternatie identification documents.
• Linking Aadhaar's demographic data with voter ID details risks potential misuse, privacy violations, and surveillance concerns.
• Aadhaar establishes residence, not citizenship

New Data Protection Rules Notified

• The Union government released the draft Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules, 2025 to enforce the provisions of the DPDP Act, 2023.
• Data Fiduciaries (entities processing personal data) must provide clear and easily understandable notices to Data Principals (users).
• The notices should specify types of data collected, the purpose of processing, and user rights like consent withdrawals or filing complaints.
• Registered entities, i.e Consent Managers, help users manage their data permissions.
• The government and its agencies process data for benefits, subsidies, or services following specific legal or policy standards.
• Data Fiduciaries implement security measures, ensure third-party Data Processors adhere to safeguards and report any personal data breaches to users and the Data Protection Board (the Board must be notified within 72 hours)
• Personal data is deleted when unused for a defined period (e.g three years for e-commerce) Users are notified 48 hours before erasure, and can retain the dat aif they wish
• Significant Data Fiduciaries (SDFs) are subject to additional compliance requirements, including appointing Data Protection Officers (DPOs), conducting periodic audits, and implementing risk assessments.

Blood Money (Diya)

• Discussion around 'blood money' entails reparations to the victim's family.
• In Islamic Sharia law blood money or "Diya" are monetary form of reparations to families.
• State and community may impose more laws or fees around this concept.
• Saudi Arabia mandates blood money for unintentional death
• India has plea bargaining as most similar, where guilty party will negotiate their sentence.
• Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973 allows lighter sentences through mutual agreement between defendant and victim.

Karnataka HC Struck Down Green Energy Rules by Centre, State

• Karnataka High Court (HC) invalidated key green energy rules introduced by the central government and adopted by the Karnataka government on the basis that the central government exceeded its authority under the Electricity Act, 2003
• The Electricity Act, 2003 is a comprehensive law that governs the generation, transmission, distribution, trading, and use of electricity in India.
• Central government regulations enabling consumer purchase of green energy directly through the open market were struck down via Electricity (Promoting Renewable Energy Through Green Energy Open Access) Rules, 2022

Appointing Retired HC Judges On 'Ad Hoc' Basis

• The Supreme Court (SC) recently suggested appointing retired judges temporarily on an ad hoc (as required) basis
• Legal basis Article 224A of the Indian Constitution allows the CJ of a HC to request a retired judge to act as an ad hoc judge for the HC with the prior consent of the President of India

Arunachal Pradeshs Anti-Conversion Law

• Arunachal Pradesh government is working to revive a 1978 Act
• Enacted in 1978, the law aims to prevent forced or induced religious conversions amidst fears of erosion of indigenous faiths like Donyi-Polo worship and traditional Buddhist practices.
• Critics argue that this violates right to freedom of religion under Article 25 of the Indian constitution

First Advance Estimates

• The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the First Advance Estimates (FAE) of India's GDP growth for the current financial year (2024-25 or FY25).
• India's nominal GDP is expected to be Rs 324 lakh crores by March-end. This is a growth of 9.7 percent over the last financial year (FY24).
• The nominal GDP is used to arrive at the US dollar equivalent figure for the size of the Indian economy. At an exchange rate of 85 rupees to a dollar, India's GDP in FY25 will be $3.8 trillion.

Indonesian President as Chief Guest in Republic Day Celebration

• President of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto paid a State Visit to India. He also attended the celebrations of the 76th Republic Day of India as the Chief Guest.
• strengthened Maritime Cooperation and cyber security cooperation.

India, Afghan Taliban Govt. Hold Key Meet In Dubai

• Meeting between Governments occurred with Facilitation by UAE.
• India has been acknowledging "sensitivity" towards aid and diplomatic concerns
• India emphasized the importance of preventing anti-India terror groups from operating on Afghan soil.

Border Fencing Row With Bangladesh

• India summoned Bangladesh’s Acting High Commissioner over border security and fencing issues.
• The 1975 Joint India-Bangladesh Guidelines states that defence structures can not be built within 150 yards of the international boundary (zero line).

150 Years Of IMD

• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) celebrated its 150th anniversary on January 15, 2025.
• India aims to make climate/weather data smart by 2047

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