June Current Affairs PDF

JUNE INTER SERVICES ORGANISATION ACT Currently, the Armed Forces operate under distinct Service Acts like the Army Act of 1950, the Navy Act of 1957, and the Air Force Act of 1950. The ISO Act does not propose any alteration to the existing service acts, rules, or...

JUNE INTER SERVICES ORGANISATION ACT Currently, the Armed Forces operate under distinct Service Acts like the Army Act of 1950, the Navy Act of 1957, and the Air Force Act of 1950. The ISO Act does not propose any alteration to the existing service acts, rules, or regulations. The Act grants Commanders-in-Chief and Officers-in-Command of ISOs the authority to exercise disciplinary and administrative control over service personnel under their command, regardless of their specific branch (Army, Navy, Air Force). Constituting and Classifying ISOs: Existing ISOs like the Andaman and Nicobar Command, Defence Space Agency and the National Defence Academy will be formally recognised under the Act. The central government may constitute an Inter-services Organisation which has personnel belonging to at least two of the three services: the army, the navy, and the air force. ISO will be placed under the command of an Officer-in- Command. A Joint Services Command (tri-service) can also be formed, which will be placed under the command of a Commander-in-Chief. o Applicability and Qualifications: It can be extended to other centrally controlled forces beyond the Army, Navy, and Air Force. It outlines the eligibility criteria for Commanders-in- Chief and Officers-in-Command, specifying high-ranking officers from each service.  o Control and Commanding Officer: The central government retains ultimate authority over ISOs and can issue directives related to national security, administration, and public interest. It establishes the Commanding Officer position, responsible for a specific unit, ship, or establishment within an ISO. They will carry out duties assigned by the higher leadership and have the authority to initiate disciplinary or administrative actions concerning personnel under their command. o Joint command in Andaman and Nicobar Islands is the first Tri-Service theatre command of the Indian Armed Forces, based at Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India. The Indian armed forces currently have 17 commands. There are 7 commands each of the Army and the Air Force. The Navy has 3 commands. Each command is headed by a 4-star rank military officer. o Theaterisation of Armed Forces: It is the integration of the army, air force, and navy under a single unified command structure for a specific geographical area. Under it all the assets and resources of the three services in that area are placed under a single commander responsible for planning and executing all military operations. Inter-Services Organisations (ISOs) Act, 2024 empowers the leadership of ISOs to execute a unified command. Established in 2019, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) is a single-point military advisor to the government, facilitating better coordination in defence planning and procurement.  MAITRI SETU 2024 The Maitri Setu, also known as the India-Bangladesh friendship bridge, is set to open by September, connecting India's landlocked Northeast to the Bay of Bengal. o The bridge is 1.9 kilometres long and connects Sabroom in Tripura with Ramgarh in Bangladesh. o Maitri Setu is constructed over the Feni River o It is a pre-stressed concrete bridge with a single-span structure that facilitates smooth traffic and cargo flow. o Construction was supervised by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL). o NHIDCL was established in 2014 for the development & maintenance of National Highways & Strategic Roads of India. It operates as a nodal agency of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). Bangladesh is the biggest trade partner of India in South Asia and an integral part of India's Act East Policy. The new maritime route from Kolkata to Chittagong will provide the quickest way for the movement of goods and an alternative to the Sittwe Port- Kaladan route. Key Facts about Feni River ▪ It originates in the South Tripura district, passes through Sabroom town in India, and flows into Bangladesh before meeting the Bay of Bengal. ▪ The river is 116 kilometres long from its source to the Bay of Bengal. ▪ Some notable tributaries of the Feni River include the Muhuri River, Raidak River, Chandkhira River, Ryang River, and Kushiyara River. FIRST ALL INDIA SURVEY OF AYUSH 2024  This is the first-ever all-India AYUSH survey conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) from July 2022 to June 2023, that provides valuable insights into the utilisation patterns of these traditional healthcare practices within the Indian population. This survey covered the entire Indian Union, excluding a few inaccessible villages in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. o AYUSH is the acronym of the medical systems that are being practised in India such as: Ayurveda: Ancient system emphasising holistic well-being. Yoga: Union of body, mind, and spirit through physical postures and meditation. Naturopathy: Natural healing using elements like water, air, and diet. Unani: Balance restoration through herbal medicines and humoral theory. Siddha: Traditional Tamil medicine with roots in five elements and humours. Homoeopathy: Highly diluted remedies stimulating self-healing responses. o National Ayush Mission: It was launched in 2014 to promote the traditional and cost-effective AYUSH system of medicine in India. It focuses on strengthening infrastructure development, promoting education and research, manpower augmentation, and quality control in AYUSH. Central Sector Schemes: Ayur Gyan: The scheme aims to promote education, research, and innovation in Ayush and has been approved for the period from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26. AYURSWASTHYA: The AYURSWASTHYA Yojana's Centre of Excellence program grants money to organisations and institutes working in AYUSH. This funding helps them improve their facilities, research, and overall operations.  Champion Service Sector Scheme: It aims to boost medical tourism in India. It goes beyond just promoting traditional medicine systems like Ayurveda and Yoga. The scheme also aims to attract a surge of international patients, tourists, and visitors seeking these unique healthcare options in India. Promotion of International Cooperation in AYUSH: It aims to promote and strengthen awareness and interest about AYUSH Systems of Medicine and to facilitate International promotion, development and recognition of AYUSH. Ayush Oushadhi Gunvatta Evam Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana: It aims to upgrade AYUSH medicine quality and manufacturing in India making them safer, more trusted, and potentially exported worldwide. Conservation, Development, and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants: It aims at promotion, cultivation and preservation of medicinal plants. GLOBAL GENDER GAP REPORT The World Economic Forum released the 18th edition of its annual Global Gender Gap Report for 2024, comprehensively benchmarking gender parity across 146 economies worldwide. It is the longest-standing index, which tracks progress towards closing these gaps over time since its inception in 2006. It benchmarks countries on their progress towards gender parity in four Key dimensions with Submatrices. o The global gender gap score in 2024 is 68.5%, meaning 31.5% of the gap remains unaddressed. Progress has been extremely slow, with only a 0.1% point improvement from 2023. o Iceland (93.5%) remains the world's most gender-equal society for the 15th consecutive year. It is followed by Finland, Norway, New Zealand and Sweden in the top 5 rankings. o 7 out of the top 10 countries are from Europe (Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Ireland, Spain). o Other regions represented are Eastern Asia and the Pacific (New Zealand at 4), Latin America and the Caribbean (Nicaragua at 6), and Sub-Saharan Africa (Namibia at 8). o Spain and Ireland made notable jumps into the top 10 in 2024, climbing 8 and 2 ranks respectively compared to 2023. o Europe leads with 75% of its gender gap closed, followed by Northern America (74.8%) and Latin America & Caribbean (74.2%).  o The Middle East and North Africa region ranks last at 61.7% of its gender gap closed. o Southern Asia region ranks 7th out of 8 regions with a gender parity score of only 63.7%. o Economic & Employment Gaps: o Women's workforce representation lags behind men's across nearly every industry and economy at 42% overall and only 31.7% in senior leadership roles. o The "leadership pipeline" shows a 21.5% point drop from entry-level to managerial level for women globally. o Women's hiring into leadership roles deteriorated in 2023-24 due to worsening economic conditions. o Care Burden Impact: o Women’s workforce participation is recovering from the recent surge in caregiving responsibilities, highlighting the urgent need for equitable care systems. o Equitable care policies like paid parental leave are increasing but remain inadequate in many countries. o Technology & Skills Gaps: o Women remain underrepresented in STEM at 28.2% of that workforce versus 47.3% in non-STEM roles. o Gender gaps exist in skills like AI, big data and cybersecurity which will be crucial for the future of work. INDIA : ▪ India’s Rank: India has slipped two places in the global rankings to 129th in 2024 from 127th in 2023 out of 146 countries. o Within South Asia, India ranked fifth after Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan. Pakistan ranked last in the region. ▪ Economic Parity: India is among the countries with the lowest levels of economic parity, similar to Bangladesh, Sudan, Iran, Pakistan, and Morocco, with less than 30% gender parity in estimated earned income. ▪ Educational Attainment: India showed the best gender parity in secondary education enrolment.  ▪ Political Empowerment: India ranked 65th globally in political empowerment of women and 10th in parity of years with female/male heads of state over the past 50 years. o However, women's representation at the federal level, in Ministerial positions (6.9%), and in Parliament (17.2%) remains low. ▪ Gender Gap Closure: India has closed 64.1% of its gender gap as of 2024. The slip in ranking from 127th to 129th was primarily due to small declines in 'Educational Attainment' and 'Political Empowerment' parameters, although 'Economic Participation' and 'Opportunity' scores saw slight improvements. 50TH G7 SUMMIT The Prime Minister attended the annual G7 summit held in Italy from 13 to 15th June 2024. This summit marked the 50th anniversary of the group. o In the 50th G7 Summit, leaders decided to promote concrete G7 PGII (Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment) initiatives. o This initiative was launched by the US and G7 allies at the 48th G 7 Summit in 2022 that aims to narrow the USD 40 trillion infrastructure gap in the developing world.  o Under this, G7 will mobilise USD 600 billion by 2027 to deliver infrastructure projects to developing and middle-income countries. o G-7 nations committed to promoting the IMEC. o IMEC aims to create a comprehensive transportation network, comprising rail, road, and sea routes, connecting India, the Middle East, and Europe. o The G7 agreed to provide financing of approximately USD 50 billion in additional funding to Ukraine by the end of 2024. o IMEC: o It was signed at the G20 Summit in New Delhi, in September 2023. o This project forms part of the PGII. o The proposed IMEC will consist of Railroad, Ship-to-Rail networks and Road transport routes extending across 2 corridors: o East Corridor: Connecting India to the Arabian Gulf o Northern Corridor: Connecting the Gulf to Europe. o It will also include an electricity cable, a hydrogen pipeline and a high- speed data cable. o India, the US, Saudi Arabia, UAE, the European Union, Italy, France, and Germany are the signatories of IMEC. G7 also extended support for the Lobito Corridor in Central Africa and Luzon Corridor and the Middle Corridor. o Lobito Corridor: It extends from the port city of Lobito on the Atlantic coast of Angola through the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and into Zambia. o Luzon Corridor: It is a strategic economic and infrastructure corridor located on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. Luzon is the largest and most populous island in the Philippines. o Middle Corridor: It is also referred to as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), a vital logistics and transportation network connecting Europe and Asia. o The Great Green Wall Initiative: It is a project aimed at combating desertification and land degradation in the Sahel region of Africa. it aims to create a wall of trees stretching across Africa from west to east to help prevent the spread of the Sahara Desert, improve biodiversity, and provide economic opportunities for local communities. o ABOUT G7:  o The leaders of important international organisations like the European Union (EU), IMF, World Bank and the United Nations are invited. o The G7 originated from the Oil crisis of 1973 and the resulting financial crisis, which forced the leaders of 6 major industrial nations to convene a meeting in 1975. o The participating countries were the US, UK, France, West Germany, Japan, and Italy. o Canada joined in 1976, leading to the formation of the G7. o It was known as the ‘G8’ for several years after the original seven were joined by Russia in 1997, but it was renamed as G7 after Russia was expelled as a member in 2014 following its annexation of the Crimea region of Ukraine. UKRAINE’S “PATH TO PEACE SUMMIT” The two-day Summit on Peace in Ukraine titled “Path To Peace Summit”, held in Switzerland, ended on 16th June 2024. o 80 countries have called for the “territorial integrity” of Ukraine to be the basis for any peace agreement to end the Russia-Ukraine war. o They supported the final joint communique that outlined a "Path to Peace" and focused on 3 agendas: nuclear safety, global food security, and humanitarian issues. o The declaration emphasised the release of all prisoners of war and the return of all deported and unlawfully displaced Ukrainian children and civilians. o Russia, the primary party to the conflict, was not invited by the host, Switzerland, due to the International Criminal Court's indictment of President Vladimir Putin.  o India along with Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates refused to sign onto the final document released at the conclusion of a Peace Summit. o India's non-aligned foreign policy, with its origins in the Bandung Conference of 1955, has been a central tenet of its approach to international conflicts. o According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Russia accounted for approximately 46% of India's total arms imports between 2017-2021. ▪ Trade and Economic Cooperation: o India-Russia relations have been a key pillar of India's foreign policy since the signing of the "Declaration on the India-Russia Strategic Partnership" in 2000, which was further elevated to a "Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership" in 2010. o In 2021, the two countries held their first 2+2 Dialogue (Foreign and Defence Ministers of both countries), highlighting the deeper collaboration. o India has announced a USD 1 billion line of credit for the development of Russia's Far East. ▪ Defence and Security: o It is guided by the Agreement on the Programme for Military Technical Cooperation signed between the two countries. o The Agreement on Program of Military-Technical Cooperation from 2021-2031 was signed during the inaugural meeting of the India-Russia 2+2 Dialogue held in Delhi in December 2021. o India is the top purchaser of Russian military equipment, including the S-400 Triumf Missile system, Kamov 226 helicopters, and T-90S tanks. o Both countries are also collaborating on developing defence technologies such as the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and conducting joint military exercises like INDRA & AviaIndra. ▪ Energy Cooperation: o Russia has vast natural gas reserves and India is shifting towards using more natural gas, actively importing from the Russian Far East. o India and Russia signed their first nuclear cooperation agreement in 1963. It led to construction of reactors at Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant commissioned in 2016. o Both are working on the Rooppur Nuclear Power Project in Bangladesh.  o In 2018, they agreed to jointly develop Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), which are small, efficient nuclear reactors used for electricity generation or industrial heat production. ▪ International Cooperation: o India and Russia are members of various multilateral organisations, such as BRICS, Russia-India-China Grouping (RIC), G20, East Asia Summit, and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which provide opportunities for cooperation on mutual issues. o Russia supports India's aspiration for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council (UNSC). o Russia has endorsed India's membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). o Russia is considerate of India's stance on the Jammu and Kashmir issue in relation to Pakistan. ▪ The two countries are involved in connectivity projects like the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). ▪ Cyber Security: o India and Russia have an "Agreement on Cooperation in International Information Security" to work together in cyber security. o They are also collaborating to combat radicalization and cyberterrorism. Additionally, India plans to work with the Russian Quantum Center to utilise quantum cryptography for enhanced information security in various sectors. Efforts to establish peace: ▪ Ukrainian 10-Point Peace Plan: It was promoted by the President of Ukraine since the 2023 G-20 Summit and outlined key demands. o Withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory. o Restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity as per its internationally recognised borders established in 1991. o Prosecution of war crimes committed by Russia. ▪ Minsk Agreements, 2015: o Minsk Agreements were signed in 2014 and 2015 in the Belarusian capital Minsk. o The Minsk agreements were discussed and agreed upon with the involvement and support of France, Germany, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). These agreements were signed by Ukraine, Russia, and the representative of the OSCE. It aimed to end the initial phase of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. It included:  A ceasefire between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists. Withdrawal of heavy weaponry from the conflict zone. Full Ukrainian government control over the eastern Donbas region. BIMSTEC CHARTER Bahot bada topic hai ekbaar read karlena end me link laga diya hai Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) has recently achieved an important milestone with the charter of the grouping coming into force on 20th May 2024. o BIMSTEC is a regional organisation comprising 7 member states - Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. o It was formed in 1997 with the aim of promoting multifaceted technical and economic cooperation among the countries of the Bay of Bengal region. o The region covered by BIMSTEC is home to around 1.5 billion people, with a combined GDP of over USD 3.8 trillion. o The sub-regional organisation was established in 1997 with the adoption of the Bangkok Declaration. o Initially consisting of 4 Member States, it was known as 'BIST-EC' (Bangladesh, India, Sri-Lanka and Thailand Economic Cooperation). o In 1997, it was renamed 'BIMST-EC' after Myanmar joined. o The admission of Nepal and Bhutan in 2004 led to another name change to the 'Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation' (BIMSTEC). o o Following India's efforts to isolate Pakistan at the 2016 South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation  (SAARC) summit in response to the Uri attacks, BIMSTEC has emerged as a preferable regional cooperation platform, offering an alternative to SAARC in South Asia. o As China expands its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) across South and Southeast Asia, India views this growing presence as a challenge to its regional dominance. o To counter this, India is taking a leading role in BIMSTEC, promoting it as an alternative platform for regional cooperation. o Despite signing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in 2004, BIMSTEC stands far away from this goal. Of the seven constituent agreements needed for the FTA, only two are in place as of now. o Despite BIMSTEC's goal of economic cooperation, regional trade remains low. In 2020, India's trade with BIMSTEC countries only accounted for 4% of its total foreign trade. India-Myanmar border called as "Asia's least open." o BIMSTEC members trade more with non-members than with each other. o According to the FAO, the Bay of Bengal is one of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing hotspots in the Asia-Pacific. https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bimstec-charter-1  INTENATIONAL BIG CAT ALLIANCE India has officially joined the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), which was launched by the Prime Minister in 2023. IBCA aims to protect big cats and their habitats. o The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) is a multi-country, multi-agency coalition of 96 big cat range countries, and non-range countries aimed at conserving 7 big cats and their habitats. o The idea was first proposed by India’s Prime Minister in 2019 and officially launched in April 2023 to mark the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger. o The initiative focuses on the conservation of seven big cat species: the Tigers, Lions, Leopards, Snow Leopards, Cheetah, Jaguar and Puma. o Five of these—tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, and cheetah—are found in India, excluding the puma and jaguar. o Currently, 4 countries (India, Nicaragua, Eswatini, and Somalia) are its members. o The Union Cabinet allocated a one-time budgetary support of Rs 150 crore for the IBCA for five years from 2023-24 to 2027-28. o It includes an Assembly of Members, a Standing Committee, and a Secretariat based in India. o The framework is modelled after the International Solar Alliance (ISA), with a Director-General (DG) appointed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). Big cats refer to large wild cat species, typically belonging to the Panthera genus, though some other species are also included. o Smaller and medium cats, including domestic cats, are classified under the genus Felis o Lions are the only big cats that live in social groups, called prides, and hunt cooperatively. Other big cats are solitary, except for mothers with cubs. o The Siberian tiger, the largest of the big cats, is endangered due to threats like trophy hunting and use in traditional Chinese medicine. o The Indian subcontinent has historically been home to the Bengal tiger, Asiatic lion, Indian leopard, Indian/Asiatic cheetah, and Snow leopard. o The cheetah was declared extinct in India in 1952. In 2022, the Government launched an ambitious initiative to reintroduce African cheetahs into Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.  INTERNATIONAL BOOKER PRIZE 2024 Recently, the International Booker Prize 2024 was awarded to "Kairos" written by Jenny Erpenbeck, and translated by Michael Hofmann. ▪ The International Booker Prize, formerly known as the Man Booker International Prize, established in 2005, is awarded annually for a single book translated into English and published in the United Kingdom or Ireland. o The prize aims to promote global fiction and celebrates the work of translators. ▪ Prize Money: The award comes with 50,000 pounds (USD 64,000), shared equally between the author and the translator. o The shortlisted authors and translators each receive 2,500 pounds. Indian International Booker Prize Laureate:  NAGA INSURGENCY Recently, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a charge sheet in a Guwahati court, accusing the "China-Myanmar module" of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM) of supporting cadres of two banned Meitei outfits to infiltrate India. ▪ The NIA alleges that the NSCN-IM's actions were aimed at exploiting ethnic unrest in Manipur, destabilising the state, and waging war against the Indian government. ▪ The Nagas are an indigenous community residing in the northeastern part of India and the neighbouring areas of Myanmar. ▪ The Naga National Council (NNC) was founded in 1946 and signed a Nine- Point Agreement with the Assam Governor, granting Nagas control over their territory. Naga independence was declared on 14th August 1947. o In the 1950s, the NNC took up arms and resorted to violence over Naga’s sovereignty. The NNC formed the underground Naga Federal Government (NFG) and its military wing, the Naga Federal Army (NFA), in 1952. o Following the Shillong Accord (1975) the NNC split into NSCN, which further split into NSCN (IM) and NSCN (Khaplang) in 1988. o Naga groups are primarily seeking Greater Nagalim, which involves redrawing boundaries to unite all Naga-inhabited areas in the Northeast under one administrative jurisdiction, ultimately aiming for sovereign statehood. It includes various parts of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Assam and Myanmar as well. The demand also includes the separate Naga Yezabo (Constitution) and Naga national flag. Peace Initiatives:  Shillong Accord (1975): A peace accord signed in Shillong saw the NNC leadership agree to disarm, but dissent among leaders led to a split in the organisation. Ceasefire Agreement (1997): The NSCN-IM signed a ceasefire agreement with the government to stop attacks on Indian armed forces. In return, the government would stop all counter-insurgency offensive operations. Framework Agreement with NSCN-IM (2015): In this agreement, the Government of India recognised the unique history, culture and position of the Nagas and their sentiments and aspirations. o There are 16 districts in Manipur, but the state is commonly thought of as divided into ‘valley’ and ‘hill’ districts. The valley region is mostly dominated by the Meitei community. o The Manipur valley is surrounded by low hills and is home to 15 Naga tribes and the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi group, which includes the Kuki, Thadou, Hmar, Paite, Vaiphei, and Zou peoples. o The hill communities (Naga & Kuki) and the Meiteis (valley) have had ethnic tensions since the kingdom era. The Naga movement for independence in the 1950s triggered insurgencies among the Meiteis and Kuki-Zomi. o The Kuki-Zomi groups militarised in the 1990s to demand a state within India called ‘Kukiland’(a state within India). This alienated them from the Meiteis, whom they had earlier defended. o Whereas the meiteis are seeking to restore their tribal status, as recognized before Manipur's 1949 merger with India. Reason For Recent Conflict: o Issues in Delimitation Process: In 2020, during the first delimitation process in the state since 1973, the Meitei community claimed that the Census figures used were inaccurate, while tribal groups (Kuki and Nagas) argued they were underrepresented in the Assembly despite constituting 40% of the population. o Intrusion of Migrants from Neighbour Area: The February 2021 coup in Myanmar has triggered a refugee crisis in India's Northeast, with Meitei leaders claiming a sudden increase of migrants in villages in Churachandpur district. o Trigger For Violence: The initial violent protest arose from the eviction of a Kuki village, with 38 villages in the Churachandpur-Khoupum Protected Forest area termed as "illegal settlements," allegedly violating Article 371C. o The PLA was formed in 1978 and continues to be one of the most violent terror outfits in the northeast and is currently led by M.M. Ngouba.  Status of Conflict in Other North-Eastern States ▪ Mizoram: Before gaining statehood in 1987, Mizoram was a part of Assam and faced militancy due to the Union government's inadequate response to its request for aid during the "Mautam famine," with the Mizo National Front led by Laldenga demanding independence in 1966. ▪ Tripura: The influx of Hindus from British-ruled East Bengal led to the reduction of indigenous tribal people to a minority, sparking a violent backlash and the rise of militant groups demanding restoration of tribal rights. ▪ Assam: The call for deporting illegal migrants led to the emergence of militant groups like the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) in 1979, alongside others such as the Bodo Liberation Tigers and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB). ▪ Meghalaya: The creation of Meghalaya from Assam aimed to meet the distinct requirements of major tribes, including the Garos, Jaintias, and Khasis, but also sparked insurgent movements such as the GNLA and HNLC due to tribal autonomy aspirations. ▪ Arunachal Pradesh: Throughout history, Arunachal Pradesh has generally remained peaceful, but proximity to the Myanmar and Nagaland borders has led to a recent increase in insurgency, with the Arunachal Dragon Force (ADF), later renamed the East India Liberation Front (EALF) in 2001, being the only indigenous insurgency movement in the region. ▪ Need to assess the criteria for ST status (for Meities) in accordance with recommendations from various Committees such as the Lokur Committee (1965) and the Bhuria Commission (2002-2004).  NEET UG 2024 CONTROVERSY BAHOT BADA TOPIC HAI EKBAAR READ KARLENA LINK HAI NICHE The NEET-UG controversy has spotlighted the widespread issue of paper leaks, a malpractice that has plagued India for years. In the past seven years, there have been 70 confirmed exam leaks across 15 states, casting serious doubts on the integrity of the nation's examinations. These leaks have disrupted the schedules of 1.7 crore applicants. The recent NEET-UG 2024 paper leak, affecting an all-India exam with over 24 lakh aspirants, underscores the considerable influence of the paper leak mafia over India's examination syst em. ▪ The NEET exam is conducted online and in 11 languages — English, Hindi, Marathi, Odia, Tamil, Marathi, Urdu Bengali, Telugu, Kannada, and Assamese. ▪ Before the NTA, the test was conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education(CBSE). National Testing Agency(NTA): o The National Testing Agency (NTA) was established in 2017 as a Society registered under the Indian Societies Registration Act, of 1860. o NTA conducts three top undergraduate admissions entrance exams- JEE-Main for engineering, NEET-UG for medicine and CUET-UG for admissions to several other undergraduate courses. o Besides these, the testing agency conducts CUET-PG for postgraduate admissions, UGC-NET and CSIR UGC-NET. o UGC-NET is a test to determine the eligibility for the award of junior research fellowship, for appointment as assistant professor and admission to PhD in Indian universities and colleges. o CSIR UGC-NET is accepted for PhD admissions in Chemical Sciences, Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, and Physical Sciences. o Common Management Admission Test (CMAT), Hotel Management Joint Entrance Examination, Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test and entrance tests for Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), are among other tests conducted by NTA. o NTA is chaired by an eminent educationist appointed by the Ministry of Education.  o The Director General of NTA, in the rank and pay equivalent to the Joint Secretary to Government of India is its Chief Executive Officer. o The Government of India give directions to the NTA and the General Body in respect of its policies and the NTA is bound to comply with such directions. o The administration of the NTA has been entrusted to the Governing Body comprising members from user institutions Functions: o To establish a strong R&D culture as well as a pool of experts in different aspects of testing. o To collaborate with international organisations like ETS (Educational Testing Services). Controversy: o This year, on May 5, over 24 lakh students appeared for the NEET-UG exam at 4,750 centres across 571 cities, including 14 international locations. o The result was declared on June 4, which immediately caused a hue and cry with aspirants raising multiple issues, such as the awarding of grace marks to over 1,500 students, an unusually high number of students achieving perfect scores, and allegations of a leaked question paper. o The results showed that 67 students achieved a total score of 720, which is a higher percentage compared to the previous years' results. In 2023, only two students scored full marks, while three in 2022, two in 2021, and one in 2020. o NTA’s Stance : o NTA said that the number of candidates who appeared in the 2024 exam was almost 3 lakh more than the 2023 number, and “the increase in candidates naturally led to an increase in high scorers due to a larger pool of candidates. o Also, according to the NTA official, the 2024 NEET was “comparatively easier” than previous years. o It was argued that after the maximum marks of 720, the next highest score possible was 716, and that marks of 718 and 719 did not make sense. The NTA explained that some candidates, including six of the toppers, had got “compensatory marks for loss of time. o Supreme Court’s Ruling :  o The Centre has told the Supreme Court that it will conduct a retest for 1,563 students, who were given grace marks in the NEET-UG 2024. The re-exam was conducted on June 23. o The Supreme Court has decided not to stop the admissions counseling process. If any of the 1,563 candidates opt out of the retest, their previous marks without the grace marks will be used for the results. o Government Stance : o The Union Education Minister said the alleged irregularities in the recently held National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) was “an institutional failure of the National Testing Agency”. o The Central Government announced a high-level committee, headed by former ISRO chairman Dr K Radhakrishnan, to look into the functioning and fair conduct examinations by the National Testing Agency (NTA). o The seven-member committee will submit its report in two months. o The Union government removed the NTA chief and put him on “compulsory wait” in the Department of Personnel and Training.. o The CBI has taken over the investigation of NEET UG following the discovery of evidence of a paper leak by investigators in Bihar. o Rules under The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 have been notified.