LLP Master Compendium PDF

LLP MASTER COMPENDIUM INGOUDE Prepared By : COMPANY Legal Learning Program Telegram Channel: @LLPCLAT Table of Contents General Elections 2024.................................................................................................................................. 2 Electoral Bond Scheme.................................................................................................................................. 5 Project Nimbus and Strawberry..................................................................................................................... 7 Citizenship Amendment Rules........................................................................................................................ 8 Indian Navy Personals in Qatar..................................................................................................................... 9 New Criminal Laws...................................................................................................................................... 10 Landslides in Wayand.................................................................................................................................. 13 Amendments in Waqt Act 1995..................................................................................................................... 15 India—China Border Agreement, Line of Actual Control (LOC), China Renamed Places in Arunachal Pradesh, Chinese Road Construction in Shaksgam Valley.......................................................................... 16 Uniform Civil Code...................................................................................................................................... 18 Hema Committee Report.............................................................................................................................. 18 Great Nicobar Island Project....................................................................................................................... 19 Nalanda University...................................................................................................................................... 21 Kochi-Lakshadweep Optical Fiber Connection Project.............................................................................. 23 Ram Temple, Gyanvapi Mosque Issue, Shahi Idgah & Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple Tata Sons Museum of Temples, BAPS Temple in UAE, Places of Worship Act.......................................................................... 24 Election in Jammu and Kashmir, Constitution (J&K) ST Order (Amendment) Bill, Resolution on removal of article 370................................................................................................................................................ 27 Household Consumption Expenditure Survey.............................................................................................. 29 World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan........................................................................................................... 30 New Rocket Launchport in Tamil Nadu....................................................................................................... 31 New Electric Vehicle Policy......................................................................................................................... 32 Delhi Excise Policy Case............................................................................................................................. 33 India TB Report 2024................................................................................................................................... 34 PM-SURAJ and NAMASTE Scheme............................................................................................................ 36 India-Russia Annual Summit, Terror Attack on Moscow’s Crocus City Hall, Putin’s 5th term................. 36 Sub-Classification of SCs and STs............................................................................................................... 39 Bihar and AP Demand for Special Category Status.................................................................................... 40 India-Maldives Row..................................................................................................................................... 42 Semiconductor Chip Manufacturing Technology........................................................................................ 44 Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant.............................................................................................................. 48 Bilkis Bano Case and Remission.................................................................................................................. 49 P V Narasimha Rao Case............................................................................................................................. 50 Pegasus Spyware.......................................................................................................................................... 52 Surge in Global Gold Prices........................................................................................................................ 52 Gaganyaan Astronauts Shortlisted for Axiom-4 Mission............................................................................. 54 Astronauts Stuck in ISS................................................................................................................................ 56 Path to Peace Summit.................................................................................................................................. 57 IndiaAI Mission............................................................................................................................................ 59 BIMSTEC Charter came into Force............................................................................................................. 62 23rd Law Commission Formed.................................................................................................................... 63 BioE3 Policy & Vigyan Dhara..................................................................................................................... 64 Tripura Peace Pact...................................................................................................................................... 65 Cabinet Approved Simultaneous Elections.................................................................................................. 68 Taiwan Earthquake and Pacific Ring of Fire.............................................................................................. 69 16th BRICS Summit...................................................................................................................................... 71 India Won Gold at Chess Olympiad............................................................................................................. 72 Anti-Reservation Protest in Bangladesh...................................................................................................... 74 Israel Hezbollah Conflict............................................................................................................................. 78 Iran-Pakistan Conflict.................................................................................................................................. 82 Global Hunger Index 2024........................................................................................................................... 83 SpaceX’s Mechazilla.................................................................................................................................... 84 UN Summit of the Future............................................................................................................................. 85 6th QUAD Summit 2024............................................................................................................................... 87 Ratan Tata.................................................................................................................................................... 89 Paralympics Games 2024............................................................................................................................. 92 India-Canada Relations............................................................................................................................... 95 Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh Killed............................................................................................................. 96 The Nobel Prize in Physics 2024.................................................................................................................. 97 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2024............................................................................................... 98 Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2024.................................................................................................................... 99 Nobel Prize in Economics 2024................................................................................................................... 99 Nobel Prize in Literature 2024................................................................................................................... 100 Nobel Peace Prize 2024............................................................................................................................. 101 IndiGo places largest-ever order in aviation history................................................................................. 103 Various Cyclones........................................................................................................................................ 105 1 Notes on MIT For the following topics notes have already been uploaded on the main channel of LLP: @llpclat India-China Border Agreement Maratha Reservation Bill Northern Ireland Conflict, Good Friday Agreement, Windsor Framework, Brexit Olympics 2024 General Elections 2024 ❖ The 2024 General Elections in India concluded with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) securing 293 out of the 543 seats (42.5% votes) in the Lok Sabha, thus forming the government once again. The BJP itself won 240 seats (36.56% votes), a decrease from its previous tally of 303 in the 2019 elections. ❖ The main opposition, the Indian National Congress (19.49%), and its Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) won 234 seats (40.6% votes). Within this alliance, the INC secured 99 seats, ❖ Key regional parties that contributed to the overall seat distribution included the Samajwadi Party led by Akhilesh Yadav (37 seats), All India Trinamool Congress (29 seats), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (22 seats), and the Telugu Desam Party (16 seats), among others. ❖ Simultaneously elections were also held in Andra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh. Odisha and Sikkim. ❖ The BJP won the Assembly elections in Odisha with 78 seats, while the incumbent BJD could only secure 51 seats. The 24-year-long tenure of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik come to an end. The halfway mark for forming the government is 74 in 147-member Odisha Legislative Assembly. ❖ In Andra Pradesh, NDA popularly referred as Kutami, led by the Telugu Desam Party won the election in a landslide, winning 164 of the 175 seats. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) won 135 out of 144 contested seats, while the Jana Sena Party (JSP) won all the 21 seats it contested with and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) winning 8 out of 10 contested seats. The incumbent YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) only won 11 seats. N. Chandrababu Naidu is all set to be sworn as the 18th CM of AP. ❖ In Sikkim, incumbent CM Prem Singh Tamang scored a second term as his party the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) registered a mammoth victory by winning 31 out of 32 assembly seats. The main opposition Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) won one seat. BJP and Congress contested on 31 and 12 seats, respectively. The two leading parties covered all the seats, giving no space to national parties like BJP and Congress in the state once again. ❖ The state of Arunachal Pradesh, comprised of 60 Legislative Assembly seats. The incumbent state government of BJP retained their government and won 46 seats in the 2024 elections, which is 5 more than their numbers in 2019. The National People’s Party secured the second position with 5 seats, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) got 3, the People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA) got 2, the Indian National Congress got just 1. Other were claimed by Independent candidates. Incumbent, Pema Khandu will continue as CM. 2 Modi’s Third Term ❖ The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by Narendra Modi has returned to power for a historic third straight term at the Centre. For the first time since 1962, a government has returned for a third term after completing two consecutive terms spanning a decade. ❖ However, the result signifies the end of single-party dominance and heralds the return of a true coalition government at the Centre. NDA coalition comprises of 38 parties notable of which are, BJP, Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] led by Nitish Kumar, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) led by Chandrababu Naidu, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) by Chirag Paswan, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) by Jayant Chaudhary, National People's Party (NPP) by Conrad Sangma, Jana Sena Party by Pawan Kalyan, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction). Only two out of these, BJP and NPP are recognised as National Parties. The NDA has lost a few allies, such as the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in Tamil Nadu and, the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) in Haryana, and the Kuki People’s Alliance (KPA) in Manipur. Modi contested from the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat and won by a margin of 1.5 lakh votes. ❖ Coalition government is defined as when several political parties join hands to form a government and exercise political power based on a common agreed programme. Majority mark to form government is 272 Seats in Lok Sabha. ❖ Recommendations of Commissions on Coalition: Punchhi Commission Recommendation: The Punchhi Commission established clear rules for how Governors should handle appointing Chief Ministers in hung assemblies. These guidelines hold true for President as well: In case no party or pre-poll coalition has a clear majority, Governor should select the Chief Minister in the order preference indicated here. The group of parties which had pre-poll alliance commanding the largest number The largest single party staking a claim to form the government with the support of others A post-electoral coalition with all partners joining the government A post-electoral alliance with some parties joining the government and the remaining including independents supporting the government from outside ❖ The Sarkaria Commission had found that problems in Indian federalism came from a lack of consultation and dialogue between the Centre and states. Other Development in 2024 General Election ❖ Women: India has elected 74 women MPs to Lok Sabha in the 2024 general election four less than in 2019 and 52 more than in India’s first elections in 1952. ❖ These 74 women make just 13.63% of the elected strength of the Lower House compared to 46% of MPs in South Africa, 35% in the UK, and 29% in the US. Indira Gandhi has been India’s first and only woman Prime Minister. Trinamool Congress will send the highest percentage of women to Lok Sabha (37.9%). ❖ NOTA: In Indore the “None Of The Above” (NOTA) received more than 2 lakh votes. This is the highest-ever NOTA number for any Lok Sabha constituency ever. The NOTA option was introduced for the first time in the general elections in 2014. ❖ NOTA has no legal consequence attached to it as even if the highest number of votes in a seat are polled for NOTA, the second most successful candidate wins. ❖ In Haryana, NOTA has been treated as a fictional candidate. ❖ This election saw some of the youngest candidates becoming Members of Parliament at the tender age of 25 years. Pushpendra Saroj and Priya Saroj from the Samajwadi Party (SP), Shambhavi Choudhary from Lok Janshakti Party (RV), and Sanjana Jatav from Indian National Congress (INC) are the four candidates who managed to clinch victory at the age of 25 years. ❖ DMK candidate TR Balu won Sriperumpudur constituency of Tamil Nadu state consecutively for the third time at the age of 82 years. With this he became the oldest candidates to be elected in this Lok Sabha Election. ❖ The average age of the 18th Lok Sabha is 56 years, which is lower than 59 which was the average age of the 17th Lok Sabha. ❖ Priyanka Jarkiholi contested from the Chikkodi seat of Karnataka on the ticket of Indian National Congress won the elections and become the first tribal women to win on a general category parliament seat. 3 ❖ The party with the second highest number of seats and not a part of the government can nominate its leader as the leader of opposition. The minimum number of seats required for a party to be eligible to nominate opposition leader is 55 (10% of the total seats) in case of Lok Sabha. Incumbent: Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha and Mallikarjun Kharge in Rajya Sabha. Inaugural Holders: Ram Subhag Singh (LS) and Shyam Nandan Prasad Mishra (RS). ❖ Shankar Lakhwani registered the highest margin in this Lok Sabha election with a margin of 11.72 lakh votes in Indore when he beat NOTA. The INC candidate dropped out and joined the BJP. ❖ Shiv Sena (SS) candidate Ravindra Dattaram Waikar won the closest victory of the 2024 battle when he edged out his SS(UBT) rival by 48 votes in North-West Mumbai. ❖ BJP won at least one Lok Sabha seat in every state of India except for Tamil Nadu in the 2024 Lok Sabha Election. ❖ Two individuals, in jail for terror charges, have won their seats. In Punjab, Amritpal Singh won from Khadoor Sahib. In Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir, Sheikh Abdul ‘Engineer’ Rashid, also beat his closest rival. ❖ Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa, an Independent candidate, won in Faridkot. His father Beant Singh was one of the bodyguards who killed Indira Gandhi in 1984. ❖ Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) & National People’s Party (NPP) are the only two national parties which did not win a single seat. Currently there are 6 national parties in India: BJP, INC, Communist party of India (Marxist), AAP, Bahujan Samaj Party and NPP. ❖ Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, the TDP candidate from Guntur will become the richest Lok Sabha MP with an asset of Rs 5700 crore. Jyotirmay Singh Mahato from Bengal (BJP) at with assets worth Rs 5 lakh was the poorest candidate. ❖ Some actors who will be seen in the 18th Lok Sabha include Kangana Ranaut, Arun Govi, Hema Malini, Shatrughan Sinha, Manoj Tiwari, Ravi Kishan, Suresh Gopi, Deepak ‘Dev’ Adhikari, Rachana Banerjee and June Malia. ❖ The only time a single party has managed 400 paar was in 1984 when Rajiv Gandhi won 414 seats. ❖ BJP's Lallu Singh lost the Faizabad Lok Sabha constituency, by over 50,000 votes to SP's Awadhesh Prasad which includes Ayodhya where the Ram Mandir is situated. After 20 years, Congress won the Allahabad Lok Sabha constituency again. The grand old party's last MP from Allahabad was Amitabh Bachchan. Lok Sabha (The House of the People) ❖ Article 81 of the Indian Constitution outlines the composition of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament. ❖ Article 81 also mandates that the number of Lok Sabha seats allotted to a state would be such that the ratio between that number and the population of the state is, as far as possible, the same for all states. This is to ensure that every state is equally represented. However, this logic does not apply to small states whose population is not more than 60 lakh. ❖ It is the Lower House (First Chamber or Popular House and it represents the people of India as a whole. ❖ The maximum strength of the Lok Sabha is fixed at 550 out of which 530 members are to be the representatives of the states and 20 of the UTs. ❖ The current strength of Lok Sabha is 543, out of which 530 members represent the states and 13 represent the UTs. o The first House constituted in 1952 had 497 seats and the second Lok Sabha elected in 1957 had 503 members. ❖ Earlier, the President also nominated two members from the Anglo-Indian community, but by the 95th Amendment Act, 2009, this provision was valid till 2020 only. ❖ This number has remained unchanged since the 1971 census due to a freeze on the reallocation of seats until the first census after 2026. ❖ The 42nd Amendment Act (1976) introduced a freeze on the reallocation of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies until the year 2000. ❖ This was extended by the 84th Amendment Act (2001) until the first census after 2026. ❖ The primary reason for the freeze was to ensure that states that had implemented family planning programs effectively were not penalized by a reduction in their number of seats. 4 ❖ The representatives of states are directly elected by the people from the territorial constituencies in the states. By the Union Territories (Direct Election to the House of the People) Act, 1965, the members of Lok Sabha from the UTs are chosen by direct election. ❖ One of the most important functions of the Lok Sabha is to select the executive, a group of persons who work together to implement the laws made by the Parliament. ❖ Powers: Decisions in Joint Sitting: Any ordinary law needs to be passed by both the Houses. However, in case of any difference between the two Houses, the final decision is taken by calling a joint session of both the Houses. Due to a larger strength, the view of the Lok Sabha is likely to prevail in such a meeting. ❖ Power in Money Matters: Lok Sabha exercises more powers in money matters. Once the Lok Sabha passes the budget of the government or any other money related law, the Rajya Sabha cannot reject it. ❖ The Rajya Sabha can only delay it by 14 days or suggest changes in it, however, the former may or may not accept these changes. ❖ Power over Council of Ministers: The Lok Sabha controls the Council of Ministers. If the majority of the Lok Sabha members say they have ‘no confidence’ in the Council of Ministers, all ministers including the Prime Minister, have to quit. ❖ Qualifications: S/He should be not less than 25 years of age. ❖ S/He should declare through an oath or affirmation that s/he has true faith and allegiance in the Constitution and that a/he will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India. ❖ S/He must possess such other qualifications as may be laid down by the Parliament by law and must be registered as a voter in any constituency in India. ❖ Person contesting from the reserved seat should belong to the Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe as the case may be. ❖ Must not be convicted by the court with imprisonment of Two or more years ❖ Disqualifications: On Constitutional Grounds: o If s/he holds any office of profit under the Union or state government (except that of a minister or any other office exempted by Parliament). o If s/he is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a court. o If s/he is an undischarged insolvent. o If s/he is not (or not anymore) a citizen of India. o If s/he is disqualified under any law made by Parliament. ❖ On Statutory Grounds (Representation of People Act, 1951): o Found guilty of certain election offences/corrupt practices in the elections. o Convicted for any offence resulting in imprisonment for two or more years (detention under a preventive detention law is not a disqualification). o Has been dismissed from government service for corruption or disloyalty to the State. o Convicted for promoting enmity between different groups or for the offence of bribery. o Punished for preaching and practising social crimes such as untouchability, dowry and sati. ❖ Tenure: Lok Sabha: The normal term of Lok Sabha is five years. But the President, on the advice of the Council of Ministers, may dissolve it before the expiry of five years. In the case of national emergency, its term can be extended for one year at a time. But it will not exceed six months after the emergency is over. ❖ Tenure: The presiding officer of Lok Sabha is known as Speaker. S/He remains the Speaker even after Lok Sabha is dissolved till the next House elects a new Speaker in her/his place. o Ganesh Mavlankar (Dada Saheb) was the first speaker of the Lok Sabha. He is considered as the father of Lok Sabha. o In the 17th Lok Sabha, Om Birla was the Speaker. o M. A. Ayyangar was the first deputy speaker of the Lok Sabha. ❖ In the speaker’s absence, a Deputy Speaker (elected by the House) presides over the meetings. Electoral Bond Scheme ❖ The Supreme Court(SC) struck down the electoral bonds scheme that allows anonymous donations to political parties, citing it as unconstitutional. ❖ The Supreme Court gave this judgment in the case of Association for Democratic Reforms & Anr. v. Union of India & Ors. ❖ SC asserted that transparency regarding funding to political parties is crucial for informed electoral decisions, affirming that the scheme infringes upon the right to information as enshrined in Article 19(1)(a). 5 ❖ Background: The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), Common Cause and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) filed petitions in the Supreme Court challenging the aforesaid amendments. ❖ On 16th October 2023, the petitioners approached the Supreme Court to hear the case of Electoral Bond Scheme prior to the 2024 General Elections. ❖ A Bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y Chandrachud, with Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra referred noting the importance of the issue and referred the case to a five-judge Constitution Bench. ❖ On 31st October 2023, a five-judge Constitution Bench led by CJI D.Y Chandrachud, with Justices Sanjiv Khanna, B.R. Gavai, J.B. Pardiwala, and Manoj Misra heard arguments over three days ❖ The Supreme Court is deciding whether the current electoral bonds scheme facilitates anonymous corporate funding to political parties and whether it was wrongly certified as a Finance Act. The Court's decision will affect transparency in election funding. About Electoral Bonds ❖ The electoral bonds system was introduced in 2017 by way of a Finance bill and it was implemented in 2018. ❖ They serve as a means for individuals and entities to make donations to registered political parties while maintaining donor anonymity. ❖ Features: State Bank of India (SBI) issues the bonds in denominations of Rs 1,000, Rs 10,000, Rs 1 lakh, Rs 10 lakh, and Rs 1 crore. Payable to the bearer on demand and interest-free. Purchased by Indian citizens or entities established in India. Can be bought individually or jointly with other individuals. Valid for 15 calendar days from the date of issue. ❖ Authorized Issuer: SBI is the authorized issuer. Electoral Bonds are issued through designated SBI branches. ❖ Eligibility of Political Parties: Only the political parties registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and have secured not less than 1% of the votes polled in the last general election to the House of the People or the Legislative Assembly, are eligible to receive electoral bonds. ❖ Purchase and Encashment: Electoral Bonds can be purchased digitally or through cheques. ❖ Encashment only through an authorized bank account of the political party. ❖ Transparency and Accountability: Parties must disclose their bank account with the Election Commission of India (ECI). Donations are made through banking channels, ensuring transparency. Political parties are obligated to explain the utilization of the funds received. ❖ Benefits: Enhanced transparency in political party funding. Accountability in disclosing donation utilization. Discouragement of cash transactions. Preservation of donor anonymity. ❖ In 2018, when the Electoral Bond Scheme was introduced, these bonds were made available for a period of 10 days each in January, April, July and October, as may be specified by the central government. ❖ An additional period of 30 days was to be specified by the Central Government in the year of the General election to the House of People. ❖ The Electoral Bonds shall be valid for 15 calendar days from the date of issue and no payment shall be made to any payee Political Party if the Electoral Bond is deposited after expiry of the validity period. ❖ Amended Additional Period of 15 Days: Introduced a new para, stating that an additional period of 15 days shall be specified by the Central Government in the year of general elections to the Legislative Assembly of States and Union territories with Legislature. ❖ Through an amendment to the Finance Act 2017, the Union government has exempted political parties from disclosing donations received through electoral bonds. ❖ ECI has set limits for a candidate of a political party (but not on the party) on how much they can spend in an election. ❖ For the Lok Sabha elections, the expenditure limit is ₹95 lakhs in large states and ₹75 lakhs in smaller states and union territories. ❖ Individuals contesting an MLA election in large states like Uttar Pradesh and Punjab could spend up to ₹40 lakhs on their election campaign. In smaller states like Goa and Manipur, their electoral expenditure can be ₹ 28 lakhs (earlier limit was ₹28 lakh and ₹20 Lakhs). 6 ❖ Candidates for election to Lok Sabha must pay a security deposit of ₹25,000. For state assembly elections the amount is ₹10,000. ❖ Any candidate who fails to secure more than one-sixth (16.6%) of the total valid votes cast in a first-past- the-post voting system would lose his security Deposit. ❖ We had our first general elections in 1951-52 Donations Received through Electoral Bonds ❖ In a recent released report, the ADR went into detail on which parties received the most amount of funds through the scheme, who donated the fuds and from where. ❖ The total donation received declared by the national parties for FY 2022-23 was Rs. 850.5 Crore from 12,167 donations. ❖ A total of ₹719.8 crore from 7,945 donations was declared by the BJP followed by ₹79.9 crore from 894 donations declared by the congress. ❖ The donations declared by the BJP are more than five times the aggregate declared by Congress, AAP, NPEP and CPI(M) for the same period. ❖ BSP declared that the party did not receive any donations above Rs 20,000 during FY 2022-23, as it has been declaring for the past 17 years. ❖ Segregation of donations according to state was made by ADR based on the addresses provided by the parties in their donations report to the Election Commission. ❖ Top 5 states which contributed to National Parties (FY 2022-23): 1. Delhi, 2. Gujarat, 3. Maharashtra, 4. Karnataka and 5. West Bengal. ❖ A total of 3,318 donations to the national parties were made by corporate/business sectors amounting to Rs 680.49 crore (80% of total donations) while 8,567 individual donors donated Rs 166.62 crore (19.592% of total donations) to the parties during FY 2022-23. Project Nimbus and Strawberry ❖ In April, Google terminated 20 more employees protesting against Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion defence contract between Google and Israel. ❖ About: It is a contract signed in 2021 under which Google and Amazon will provide Israel with cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) services. The contract allows Israel to have its own “landing zone” into Google Cloud where it can store and process data, and access AI services safely. ❖ The Project is designed to be a self-contained ecosystem with its data centers located within Israel, governed by the highest security standards. It will offer unparalleled efficiency and security, allowing Israel’s military and government to tap into cloud services without the vulnerabilities that come with external dependencies. ❖ Protest: Google employees are staging protests because Google is the provider of this technology to Israel. There are concerns that Israel can use it to increase surveillance of and unlawful data collection on Palestinians, thus violating their right to privacy and freedom of expression. ❖ Israel can also use this technology to facilitate the ongoing expansion of its illegal settlements on Palestinian land (in West Bank). There have also been multiple reports of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) using AI to attack and fire at targets in Gaza. ❖ Google’s Response: Google has clarified that this project is for workloads running on their commercial platform by Israeli government ministries such as finance, healthcare, transportation, and education and is not directed at highly sensitive or classified military workloads relevant to weapons or intelligence services. Project Strawberry ❖ OpenAI is expected to release its most advanced AI model, codenamed Project Strawberry, between September and November 2024. ❖ This model might be integrated into the upcoming ChatGPT-5, the new version of OpenAI's chatbot. ❖ Project Strawberry (Previously Project Q* (Q-star)) is aimed at creating Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) i.e., AI with cognitive abilities similar to the human brain. ❖ Features and Capabilities: It has shown capabilities in solving complex puzzles and performing advanced cognitive tasks. ❖ It is reported to handle mathematical problems more effectively than its predecessors. ❖ It is expected to have the capability to perform autonomous research online. ❖ It will play a crucial role in generating high-quality synthetic data for future models, particularly Project Orion. 7 ❖ Project Orion is being designed to outperform GPT-4. It could use a combination of Project Strawberry and high-quality synthetic data that would likely reduce errors and hallucinations compared to its predecessors and other AI models. Citizenship Amendment Rules ❖ The Indian government notified the rules for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019, paving the way for its implementation after over 4 years since its passage by Parliament in December 2019. ❖ The CAA, 2019 is an Indian legislation that provides a path to Indian citizenship for migrants belonging to six religious minorities: Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. ❖ Historical Context: The government has previously taken steps to address the plight of refugees, including amendments to the Citizenship Rules in 2004 and notifications in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2018. ❖ CAA Rules 2024: The application process for citizenship under CAA has been made under Section 6B of the Citizenship Act, 1955. Applicants need to prove their country of origin, religion, date of entry into India, and knowledge of an Indian language to qualify for Indian citizenship. ❖ Proof of Country of Origin: Relaxed requirements allow various documents, including birth or educational certificates, identity documents, licenses, land records, or any document proving previous citizenship of the mentioned countries. A local priest may issue an “eligibility certificate” under the CAA Act, 2019 to validate the religion of an applicant ❖ Date of Entry into India: Applicants can provide 20 different documents as proof of entry into India, including visas, residential permits, census slips, driving licenses, Aadhaar cards, ration cards, government or court letters, birth certificates, and more. ❖ Mechanism for Implementation of Rules: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has assigned the task of processing citizenship applications under the CAA to the Postal department and Census officials under the Union government. ❖ Background and security checks will be conducted by Central security agencies like the Intelligence Bureau (IB). Final decisions on applications will be made by empowered committees led by the Director (Census Operations) in each State. ❖ These committees will include officials from various departments, including the Intelligence Bureau, Post Master General, State or National Informatics Centre, and representatives from the State government's Department of Home and Divisional Railway Manager. ❖ District-level committees, headed by the Superintendent of the Department of Post, will sift through applications, with a representative from the District Collector's office as an invitee. ❖ Processing of Applications: The Empowered Committee and District Level Committee (DLC), instituted by the Centre, will process citizenship applications, bypassing state control. ❖ DLC will receive applications, and the final decision will be made by the Empowered Committee, headed by the Director (Census Operations). Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 ❖ Citizenship in India: Citizenship is the legal status and relationship between an individual and a state that entails specific rights and duties. ❖ Citizenship in India is listed in the Union List under the Constitution and thus is under the exclusive jurisdiction of Parliament. ❖ The Constitution of India, on 26th January, 1950, established categories of people eligible for Indian citizenship. ❖ Parliament enacted the Citizenship Act, 1955. The Act specifies that citizenship may be acquired in India through five methods: by birth in India, by descent, through registration (A person of Indian origin residing in India for 7 years), by naturalisation (extended residence in India), and by incorporation of territory into India. ❖ Children born in India to ambassadors are not eligible for Indian citizenship based solely on their birth in the country. ❖ About: The Citizenship Act, 1955 was amended in 2019 to grant citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, or Christian migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. ❖ Under the amendment, migrants who entered India on 31st December 2014, and had suffered “religious persecution or fear or religious persecution" in their country of origin would be made eligible for accelerated citizenship. 8 ❖ It exempts the members of the six communities from any criminal case under Foreigners Act, 1946 and Passport Act, 1920 which specify punishment for entering the country illegally and staying on expired visas and permits. ❖ Relaxations: Under the Citizenship Act, 1935, one of the requirements for citizenship by naturalization is that the applicant must have resided in India during the last 12 months, as well as for 11 of the previous 14 years. ❖ The 2019 amendment relaxes the second requirement from 11 years to 6 years as a specific condition for applicants belonging to these six religions, and the aforementioned three countries. ❖ Exemptions: CAA will not apply to regions mentioned under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which include Tribal Areas in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. ❖ Additionally, areas covered by the Inner Line Permit system (ILP) are also exempt from the CAA. The concept of Inner Line separates the tribal-majority hills of the Northeast from the plains areas. To enter and stay in these areas, an Inner Line Permit (ILP) is needed. Currently, Inner Line Permit regulates visit of all persons, including Indian citizens, to Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Nagaland. ❖ Concerns Related to the CAA, 2019: The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019 has raised various concerns, primarily regarding its constitutional implications and potential for disenfranchisement. Critics argue that the provision granting citizenship based on religion violates Article 14 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees equality before the law. The linkage of the CAA with the National Register of Citizens (NRC) also raises fears of disenfranchising citizens unable to provide documentation. Specific concerns in Assam revolve around potential conflicts with the Assam Accord of 1985, which established citizenship criteria. Additionally, the focus on religion for citizenship eligibility raises broader questions about secularism and social cohesion, with critics highlighting the exclusion of certain religious communities from the CAA's provisions. ❖ Note: The Matua community of West Bengal (Hindu refugees from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) , have welcomed the CAA rules. The notification coincides with the birth anniversary of Harichand Thakur, a founder of the Matua sect, born in 1812 in present-day Bangladesh. ❖ Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Asaduddin Owaisi, Jairam Ramesh, Ramesh Chennithala, and Mahua Moitra, and political organisations such as the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), National People’s Party (Assam), Muslim Students’ Federation (Assam), and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) have challenged the CAA act in the Supreme Court. ❖ In October 2022, a Bench comprising then Chief Justice of India U U Lalit and Justices Ravindra Bhat and Hima Kohli passed an order stating that final hearings would begin in December 2022 after CJI Lalit’s retirement. However, the case has not been heard since. ❖ Apart from the equality argument, part of the challenge to the CAA also rests on the fate of Section 6A of The Citizenship Act, 1955, which too is under challenge before the SC. ❖ In December 2023, a five-judge Constitution Bench led by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud reserved its verdict on the validity of Section 6A, which was introduced in the Citizenship Act after the signing of the Assam Accord between the Centre and the leaders of the Assam movement in August 1985. Indian Navy Personals in Qatar ❖ Qatar has released the eight Indian Navy veterans that were jailed on the charges of spying. ❖ The individuals were arrested in August 2022 and faced charges related to breaching sensitive secrets. ❖ Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Captain Saurabh Vasisht, Commander Amit Nagpal, Commander Purnendu Tiwari, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, Sailor Ragesh were arrested. ❖ Commander Purnendu Tiwari (retd), the managing director of the firm. He received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award in 2019 from the then President of India, Ram Nath Kovind. ❖ Charges were also framed against two Qatari nationals, one of whom is Khamis al-Ajmi, CEO of Dahra Global. Al-Ajmi was kept in solitary confinement for a period of two months starting in October 2022 until he was granted bail. An Omani national, who had also been detained, was released just before the beginning of the FIFA Football World Cup. ❖ The Indian government and family of the navy officers hired the legal firm ‘Office of Majid Al Hajri’ to fight their case but later replaced them with the law firm of ‘Ahmad Ali Al Hal’. This happened after emerged that the previous law firm was showing ‘incompetency’ in representing the interest of the Indian Nationals. 9 ❖ Background: The company, Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services, for whom the eight Indians worked, described itself as a "local business partner" of Qatar's governmental agencies including defence. ❖ In 2020, Qatar signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Fincantieri an Italian shipbuilding firm to build submarines. The project also involved the maintenance of Qatar's naval fleet and construction of a naval base. However, the MoU was reportedly not implemented. As of May 2023, the Fincantieri company had no existing contracts for submarines with Qatar. However, based on a 2016 agreement with the Qatar's Ministry of Defence, work on finishing seven surface vessels – including four corvettes, two patrol vessels and one amphibious vessel was in progress. ❖ Qatar is reportedly seeking a smaller variety of the U212 Near Future submarine, a submarine project in Italy built with a German firm Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft’s cooperation. ❖ Background of the Case Accusations: The accused individuals, while employed by Al Dahra in Doha, were allegedly accused of breaching sensitive secrets at the time of their arrest in 2022 in Qatar. ❖ Dahra Global Technologies and Consultant Services, the company they worked for, was also linked to the production of advanced Italian-origin submarines known for their stealth capabilities. ❖ However the specific charges against the eight Indian nationals have not been made public by Qatari authorities. ❖ Previous Trials: The case has seen two trials in March and June of 2023. While the detainees were granted consular access on multiple occasions, both Indian and Qatari authorities have maintained a veil of secrecy around the case, citing its sensitivity. ❖ India's Reaction: India has expressed deep shock and concern over the death sentences imposed on its citizens and is exploring all possible legal options to secure their release. ❖ The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has conveyed the high importance attached to this case and reiterated its commitment to providing consular and legal assistance to the detained individuals. ❖ Affect on India-Qatar Relation: The case in Qatar tests India’s ties with the tiny but powerful Gulf state with whom it has tried to build friendly ties. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Qatar in June 2016. Earlier, in March 2015, the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, paid a State Visit to India. ❖ Considering Qatar’s heft in international diplomacy – from hosting the Taliban’s global mission in Doha to its current role in securing the release of US hostages from the captivity of Hamas – Delhi will be working the levers with the Qatari establishment. ❖ The remittances which the Indian expatriate community in Qatar send to India are estimated to be around 750 million dollar per annum. ❖ Qatar is a significant supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to India, accounting for a substantial portion of India's LNG imports. ❖ Options India has to Prevent these Navy Personnels: Diplomatic Options: India can engage in direct diplomatic negotiations with the Qatari government to seek a resolution to the case. Given the strategic and economic importance of the relationship between the two countries, diplomatic leverage can play a significant role. ❖ The government can also use diplomatic pressure to prevent meting out the death penalty. ❖ Among the possibilities being looked at is filing an appeal against the verdict or using an agreement signed by India and Qatar in 2015 for the transfer of convicted prisoners so that they can complete their sentence in their home country. ❖ Legal Options: The first step is to appeal within the judicial system in Qatar. The individuals sentenced to death can file appeals within the Qatari legal system. ❖ If due procedures are not followed or an appeal process is missing, then India can invoke International Court of Justice (ICJ) jurisdiction. ICJ acts as a world court with two fold jurisdiction i.e. legal disputes between States submitted to it by them (contentious cases) and requests for advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by United Nations organs and specialized agencies (advisory proceedings). ❖ India can also file a clemency petition to the Emir of Qatar Tamin bin Hamad who pardon many prisoners on Qatar National Day (18 December). New Criminal Laws ❖ Recently enacted three new criminal laws Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) are set to take effect from 1st July 2024, 10 replacing the colonial-era Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and Indian Evidence Act. Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) ❖ BNS replaces the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and introduces significant alterations including: ❖ Retention and Incorporation of Offences: The BNS maintains existing IPC provisions on murder, assault, and causing hurt, while incorporating new offenses like organized crime, terrorism, and group-related grievous hurt or murder. It also adds community service as a form of punishment. ❖ Terrorism: Defined as acts threatening the nation's integrity or causing terror among the populace. Penalties range from death or life imprisonment to imprisonment with fines. ❖ Organized Crime: Includes offenses like kidnapping, extortion, financial scams, cybercrime, and more. Punishments vary from life imprisonment to death, with fines for those committing or attempting organized crime. ❖ Mob Lynching: BNS identifies murder or severe injury by five or more individuals on specific grounds (race, caste, etc.) as a punishable offence, carrying life imprisonment or death penalty. ❖ Sexual Offences Against Women: Retaining IPC sections on rape, voyeurism, and other violations, BNS raises the age threshold for gangrape victims from 16 to 18 years. Additionally, it criminalizes deceptive sexual acts or false promises. ❖ Sedition Revisions: BNS eliminates the sedition offense, replacing it with penalizing activities related to secession, armed rebellion, or actions endangering national sovereignty or unity through various means. However, critics argue that despite the sedition law's alteration from 'rajdroh' to 'deshdroh,' concerns remain over its essence and application. ❖ Death by Negligence: The BNSS elevates the punishment for causing death by negligence from two to five years under Section 304A of the IPC. However, it stipulates that doctors, if convicted, will still face the lower punishment of two years imprisonment. ❖ Supreme Court Compliance: Aligns with certain Supreme Court decisions by excluding adultery as an offense and introducing life imprisonment alongside the death penalty for murder or attempted murder by a life convict. ❖ Criticism of BNS: Retention of IPC Provisions on Rape and Sexual Harassment: The BNS retains the provisions of the IPC on rape and sexual harassment. It does not consider recommendations of the Justice Verma Committee (2013) such as making the offence of rape gender neutral and including marital rape as an offence. Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) ❖ BNSS replaces the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) and introduces significant alterations including: ❖ Detention Conditions: The BNSS alters rules for undertrials, restricting release on personal bond for those accused in severe offenses, including life imprisonment cases and individuals facing multiple charges. ❖ Medical Examination: It broadens the scope of medical examinations, allowing any police officer (not just a sub-inspector) to request one, making the process more accessible. ❖ Forensic Investigation: Mandates forensic investigation for crimes punishable by at least seven years' imprisonment. ❖ Sample Collection: Extends the power to collect finger impressions and voice samples, even from individuals not under arrest, expanding beyond the CrPC's specimen signatures or handwriting orders. ❖ Timelines: The BNSS introduces strict timelines: medical reports for rape victims within 7 days, judgments within 30 days (extendable to 45), victim progress updates within 90 days, and charge framing within 60 days from the first hearing. ❖ Court Hierarchy: The CrPC organizes India's criminal courts hierarchically, from Magistrate’s Courts to the Supreme Court. It previously allowed cities with over a million people to have Metropolitan Magistrates, but the BNSS eliminates this distinction and the role of Metropolitan Magistrates. The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (BSA) ❖ BSA replaces the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (IEA). It retains most provisions of the IEA including those on confessions, relevancy of facts, and burden of proof. However, it introduces significant alterations including: ❖ Documentary Evidence: Definition Expansion: The BSA broadens the definition of documents to include electronic records alongside traditional writings, maps, and caricatures. 11 ❖ Primary and Secondary Evidence: Primary evidence retains its status, encompassing original documents, electronic records, and video recordings. ❖ Oral and written admissions, along with testimony from a qualified individual examining the documents, are now considered secondary evidence. ❖ Oral Evidence: The BSA permits electronic provision of oral evidence, enabling witnesses, accused individuals, and victims to testify through electronic means. ❖ Admissibility of Electronic Records: Electronic or digital records are granted equivalent legal status as paper records. ❖ Amended Explanation to Joint Trials: Joint trials encompass cases where one accused is absent or has not responded to an arrest warrant, now categorized as joint trials. Indian Penal Code ❖ The Indian Penal Code has its roots in the times of British rule in India. It is known to have originated from British legislation account of its colonial conquests, dating back to the year 1860. Before the East India Company drafted the Indian Penal Code, the Mohammedan law was in effect in India. Mohomedan criminal law applied to both Hindus and Muslims. ❖ In 1834, the First Law Commission, led by Thomas Babington Macaulay, drafted the Indian Penal Code under the Charter Act of 1833, which was submitted to the Governor-General of India Council (Lord Auckland) in 1837, but it was again revised. ❖ The Code was completed in 1850 and presented to the Legislative Council in 1856; however, it did not take its place in British India's statute book following the Indian Rebellion of 1857. ❖ It was finally passed into law on October 6, 1860, after a careful revision by Barnes Peacock, who later became the first Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court. ❖ The Code became effective on January 1, 1862. Unfortunately, Macaulay died near the end of 1859, and he did not live to see his masterpiece become law. ❖ It was applicable to entire then-British India. ❖ However, until the 1940s, it did not apply automatically to the Princely states, which had their own courts and legal systems. ❖ In its 42nd Report in 1971, the Law Commission proposed revising the IPC, and as a result, several changes were made to it. ❖ On September 6, 2018, the Supreme Court of India decriminalised homosexuality (Section 377 of the IPC). ❖ Similarly, On September 27, 2018, a five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court unanimously ruled to repeal Section 497 (Commonly known as adultery). ❖ The code took effect in Jammu and Kashmir on October 31, 2019, as a result of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act of 2019, and it replaced the state's Ranbir Penal Code. ❖ There are 23 chapters and 511 sections in the India Penal Code, which can broadly be classified into four categories: ❖ Chapters I to V: are deal with general matters relating to the extent, definitions, principles of liability, etc. ❖ Chapters VI to XV: are deal with public matters between individuals and the state. ❖ Chapters XVI to XXII: are primarily concerned with criminal offences committed by individuals against individuals or legal entities other than the state. ❖ Chapter XXIII: is residuary in nature, establishing the principles of punishment for attempting to commit an offence where no specific provision has been made. Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) ❖ The fundamental set of laws governing the administration of substantive criminal law is the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). The criminal law in our legal system is principally included in the Code of Criminal Process, 1973, which went into effect on April 1, 1974. ❖ The 1973 Criminal Process Code is divided into 37 Chapters, 484 Sections, and two Schedules. Criminal law’s principal objective is to safeguard society from criminals and lawbreakers. ❖ The first version of the Code of Criminal Process was enacted in 1861, following the passing of the Indian Penal Code in 1860. ❖ Act 10 of 1882 superseded the Code. ❖ Sixteen statutes relating to the criminal procedure have been passed since 1882. ❖ The Code of Criminal Procedure replaced it once more in 1898. ❖ The Code of Criminal Process Amendment Act of 1923 then updated the 1898 statute. 12 ❖ In its 14th Report (1958), the First Law Commission presented significant suggestions for criminal justice reform. ❖ The recommendations of the committee were taken into consideration, and the Code was changed. ❖ Parliament passed the 1973 Code of Criminal Process in response to the recommendations of the Fifth Law Commission’s Forty-First Report. 5th Finance Commission was headed by K.V.K Sundaram ❖ Types of Offences: Cognizable offence: An offence for which a police officer may arrest without a warrant under the provisions of the First Schedule or any other applicable legislation at the time. ❖ Non-cognizable Offense: An offence for which a police officer does not have the authority to arrest without a warrant. ❖ Bailable offence: An offence specified in the First Schedule or made bailable under any other existing law. ❖ Non-bailable offence: A non-bailable offence is a serious offence for which the accused is not eligible for bail. Only by court order can the accused be freed on bond for this offence. Indian Evidence Act 1872 ❖ Evidence Act, 1872 was enacted during British rule in India accredited to Sir James Fitz James Stephens. Although it was introduced by the English government, the same still fits into the modern legal system in India. It came into force on September 1, 1872 ❖ Its 3 Parts, 11 Chapters and 167 sections ❖ The Evidence Act applies to all judicial proceedings before any court in India. The term also includes court martials. Exceptions include proceedings before arbitrators and affidavits presented to an officer or before a court. ❖ The Act goes hand in hand with the evolution of criminal law. ❖ Respecting the technological advancements in recent years, relevance of electronic evidence is also discussed. ❖ The Indian Evidence Act respects the weightage of something witnessed directly as compared to facts heard through someone else. This upholds the importance of direct and real evidence. ❖ The law of evidence also respects the difference between criminal law and civil law and lays provisions accordingly. ❖ The Act also mentions when a fact is proved, disproved or not proved through evidence available. ❖ The burden of proof mostly lies with the prosecution in criminal cases accusing the other, and the plaintiff in civil cases seeking some relief. The Evidence Act 1872 clarifies circumstances whereby a certain fact shifts the burden of proof. ❖ Suspecting force against the accused persons, confessions out of court are not reliable evidence as per the 1872 Act. ❖ The Act confirms circumstances using the term “court may presume” leaving discretionary powers for the judicial officer to or not to respect certain evidence. On the other hand, terms like “shall presume” leave no scope for the judge but mandates acceptance of certain evidence. ❖ The Act is not conclusive with regard to evidence in courts. Other laws like Criminal Procedure Code, Indian Penal Code, Code of Civil Procedure, Indian Stamp Act, etc. also supplement relevant provisions. Landslides in Wayand ❖ The Wayanad district of Kerala has witnessed one of the most devastating landslide-related disasters due to extreme rainfall and fragile ecological conditions. Also, Recently a cloudburst, leading to flash floods in Himachal Pradesh has killed many people and several missing. ❖ The district received over 140 mm of rain in 24 hours, surpassing expectations and recalling the devastating 2018 floods that claimed around 500 lives. ❖ About: A landslide is the downward movement of rock, soil, and debris on a slope, ranging from small shifts to large, destructive events. ❖ It can occur on natural or man-made slopes and is triggered by factors like heavy rainfall, earthquakes, volcanic activity, human activities, and changes in groundwater levels. ❖ Types: Slides, Flows, Spreads, Topples & Falls. ❖ The Landslide Atlas of India by ISRO: India is among the top 5 landslide prone countries globally. 13 Others are China, US, Italy and Switzerland. ❖ In India, about 0.42 million sq. km (12.6% of land area) is prone to landslide hazard. ❖ Reported landslides in India are distributed as follows: 66.5% in the Northwestern Himalayas ❖ 18.8% in the Northeastern Himalayas ❖ 14.7% in the Western Ghats ❖ As per the Geological Survey of India, the economic loss due to landslides may amount to as much as 1% to 2% of the Gross National Product (GNP) in many developing countries ❖ Major Landslide-Prone Areas in India: The Northeastern Region (comprising about 50% of the total landslide-prone areas) ❖ Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir along the Himalayas. ❖ Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu along the Western Ghats ❖ The Araku region in Andhra Pradesh along the Eastern Ghats. ❖ Nearly 17,000 sq km of area in Kerala, mostly on the western side of the Western Ghats, is mapped as landslide-prone. ❖ Major Landslides in India: Kedarnath, Uttarakhand in 2013, Pettimudi, Kerala in 2020, Mumbai, Maharashtra in 2021, Tupal, Manipur in 2022, Raigarh, Maharashtra in 2023, Aizawl, Mizoram in 2024, Shirur, Karnataka in 2024. Defining a National Disaster ❖ Unprecedented rains in Kerala and associated devastation has led to calls for declaring the floods a national calamity. ❖ A “disaster” is defined as per the specifications in Disaster Management Act, 2005. ❖ Accordingly, a “disaster” means a catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence in any area. ❖ This could arise from natural or man-made causes, or by accident or negligence. ❖ It should result in: substantial loss of life or human suffering (or) damage to, and destruction of, property (or) damage to, or degradation of, environment ❖ It should either be of such a nature or magnitude as to be beyond the coping capacity of the community of the affected area. ❖ National disaster The central government has examined proposals in the past to define a national disaster. ❖ However, there is no provision, executive or legal, to declare a natural calamity as a national calamity. ❖ In this regard, the 10th Finance Commission (1995-2000) examined a proposal. ❖ The proposal was to term a disaster “a national calamity of rarest severity” if it affects one-third of the state's population. ❖ The panel did not define a “calamity of rare severity”. But it stated that a calamity of rare severity would necessarily have to be adjudged on a case-to-case basis. ❖ It would have to take into account: the intensity and magnitude of the calamity the level of assistance needed the capacity of the state to tackle the problem the alternatives and flexibility available within the plans to provide relief, etc ❖ Accordingly, 2013 Uttarakhand flood and 2014 Cyclone Hudhud in Andhra Pradesh were classified as calamities of “severe nature”. ❖ Benefits of such a declaration: On declaration as a calamity of “rare severity”/”severe nature”, support to the state government is provided at the national level. ❖ The Centre also considers additional assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund. ❖ A Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) is set up, with the corpus shared 3:1 between Centre and state. ❖ When CRF resources are inadequate, additional assistance is considered from the National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF). NCCF is funded 100% by the Centre. ❖ Relief in repayment of loans or grant of fresh loans to the affected persons on concessional terms are also considered. ❖ How is the funding decided: It works as per the National Policy on Disaster Management, 2009. ❖ The National Crisis Management Committee deals with major crises that have serious or national ramifications. ❖ It is headed by the Cabinet Secretary. ❖ Based on this, a high-level committee approves the central assistance. 14 ❖ It comprises of Finance Minister as chairman, and Home Minister, Agriculture Minister, and others as members. Mission Mausam ❖ The Union cabinet has approved 'Mission Mausam' with an outlay of Rs 2,000 crore over the next two years to enhance India’s ability to predict and respond to extreme weather events and the impacts of climate change. ❖ Focus Areas: It includes accuracy, modelling, radars, satellites, and accurate agromet forecasts. ❖ It will help equip stakeholders, including citizens, to better manage extreme weather events and climate change impacts, enhancing community resilience. ❖ Components of the Mission: o Deployment of next-generation radars and satellite systems with advanced sensors o Development of enhanced Earth system models o A GIS-based automated decision support system for real-time data sharing ❖ Implementation and Support: The mission will be implemented by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, and the National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting – three key institutions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). ❖ The mission will be supported by other MoES bodies – Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research and National Institute of Ocean Technology. ❖ Sectoral Benefits: It will improve monitoring and early warning systems in agriculture, disaster management, and defence, while optimising energy and water resource management. Also, it will support safer aviation and promote sustainable tourism. Amendments in Waqt Act 1995 ❖ Parliament is set to introduce the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, to amend the Waqf Act, 1995 , with the goal of enhancing accountability and transparency in the functioning of Waqf boards. ❖ It seeks to remove certain provisions of the Waqf act, 1995 to reduce the Waqf Boards' unchecked power, which currently lets them declare any property as Waqf without necessary checks. ❖ Key Amendments: Transparency: The Bill outlines around 40 amendments to the current Waqf Act, including that Waqf Boards will be required to undergo mandatory verification for all property claims, ensuring transparency ❖ Gender Diversity: Sections 9 and 14 of the Waqf Act, 1995 will be amended to modify the composition and functioning of the Waqf Board, including the addition of women representatives. ❖ Revised Verification Procedures: New verification procedures will be introduced for Waqf properties to address disputes and prevent misuse, with district magistrates potentially overseeing these properties. ❖ Limited Power: The amendments respond to concerns about the Waqf Boards’ unchecked powers, which have led to extensive land being claimed as Waqf, causing disputes and misuse claims. ❖ For example, in September 2022, the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board claimed the entire Thiruchendurai village, which is predominantly Hindu. ❖ Waqf Act, 1955: Background: The Waqf act was first passed by Parliament in 1954. ❖ It was later repealed, and a new Waqf Act was passed in 1995, which gave more powers to Waqf Boards. ❖ In 2013, the Act was further amended to grant the Waqf Board extensive powers to designate property as 'Waqf Property.' ❖ Waqf: It is the permanent dedication of movable or immovable properties for religious, pious or charitable purposes as recognised by Muslim law. ❖ Management of Waqf: A survey commissioner lists all properties declared as Waqf by conducting local investigations, summoning witnesses, and requisitioning public documents. ❖ The Waqf is managed by a mutawali, who acts as a supervisor. ❖ Unlike trusts established under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882, which can serve broader purposes and be dissolved by the board, Waqfs are specifically for religious and charitable uses and are intended to be perpetual. ❖ Waqfs can be either public, serving charitable ends, or private, benefiting the property owner’s direct descendants. ❖ To create a Waqf, one must be of sound mind and hold valid ownership of the property. Interestingly, the creator of a Waqf, known as the Waqif, does not have to be a Muslim, as long as they profess belief in Islamic principles. 15 ❖ Waqf Board: A Waqf board is a legal entity capable of acquiring, holding and transferring property. It can sue and be sued in court. ❖ It administers Waqf properties, recovers lost properties and sanctions the transfer of immovable Waqf properties through sale, gift, mortgage, exchange, or lease, with at least two-thirds of the board members voting in favour of the transaction. ❖ The Central Waqf Council (CWC), established in 1964, oversees and advises state level Waqf Boards across India. ❖ Waqf Properties: The Waqf board is said to be the third-largest landholder in India after the Railways and the Defence department. ❖ Currently, there are 8,72,292 registered Waqf properties spread across 8 lakh acres. These properties generate Rs 200 crore in revenue. ❖ Once a property is designated as a Waqf, it becomes non-transferable and is detained perpetually as a charitable act toward God, essentially transferring ownership to God. Central Waqf Council ❖ Central Waqf Council is a statutory body under the administrative control of the Ministry of Minority Affairs set up in 1964 as per the provision given in the Waqf Act, 1954. ❖ It is an advisory body to the Central Government on matters concerning the working of the Waqf Boards and the due administration of Auqaf. ❖ Auqaf (also spelled awkaf,) is an Arabic word meaning assets. ❖ The Council consists of Chairperson, who is the Union Minister In charge of Waqf (minister of minority affairs, Kiren Rijiju), such other members, not exceeding 20 in number, as may be appointed by the Government of India. ❖ Each state has a Waqf Board headed by a chairperson, one or two nominees from the state government, Muslim legislators and parliamentarians, Muslim members of the state Bar Council, recognised scholars of Islamic theology and mutawalis. India—China Border Agreement, Line of Actual Control (LOC), China Renamed Places in Arunachal Pradesh, Chinese Road Construction in Shaksgam Valley ❖ (To read about India-China Border Agreement refer to Notes titled “India China Border Agreement” on the main channel of LLP: @llpclat) Line of Actual Control (LAC) ❖ The LAC serves as the boundary separating Indian-controlled territory from Chinese-controlled territory. ❖ India asserts the length of the LAC to be 3,488 km, whereas China contends it to be approximately 2,000 km. ❖ This demarcation is categorized into three sectors: Eastern sector encompassing Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. Middle sector spanning Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. Western sector located in Ladakh. ❖ Disagreements Surrounding the LAC: The primary dispute regarding the LAC arises from its alignment in different sectors. The LAC in the eastern sector follows the 1914 McMahon Line with minor disputes about ground positions. ❖ Major disagreements exist in the Western sector, originating from letters written by Chinese Prime Minister Zhou Enlai to PM Jawaharlal Nehru in 1959. ❖ The LAC was described only in general terms on maps not to scale by the Chinese. ❖ The Chinese claimed to have withdrawn to 20 km behind the LAC in November 1959 after the 1962 War. ❖ During the Doklam crisis in 2017, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson urged India to abide by the "1959 LAC". ❖ Despite subsequent clarifications, ambiguity persisted, leading to contrasting interpretations by both nations. ❖ India's Response to China's LAC Designation: India initially rejected the concept of the LAC in 1959 and 1962, citing concerns over its vague definition and potential exploitation by China to alter ground realities through military force. 16 ❖ India's shift in the LAC approach started in the mid-1980s due to increased border encounters, prompting a review of patrolling boundaries. ❖ India formally accepted the concept of the LAC in 1993 and the two sides signed the Agreement to Maintain Peace and Tranquility at the LAC. ❖ India and China have only exchanged maps for the middle sector of the LAC. Maps were "shared" for the Western sector but never formally exchanged, and the process of clarifying the LAC has effectively stalled since 2002. ❖ The most serious recent episodes of conflict were in Galwan Valley in Ladakh in 2020 and in Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh in 2022. Observers on both sides of the LAC agree that the number of serious military confrontations has increased since 2013. ❖ LAC vs Line of Control with Pakistan: The Line of Control (LoC) was established in 1972 after the Kashmir War, based on the ceasefire line negotiated by the UN in 1948. It has international legal validity and is delineated on a map signed by both countries. ❖ On the other hand, the LAC is not agreed upon by both countries and is not delineated on a map or demarcated on the ground. ❖ India has 15,106.7 km of land border and a coastline of 7,516.6 km including island territories. ❖ The Tin Mukh Peak in Tripura is the meeting point of the borders of Bangladesh, Myanmar, and India ❖ Length of Border India shares with Neighbouring countries India-Afghanistan: 106 km (Durand Line) India-Pakistan: 3,323 km (Redcliffe Line India-China: 3,488 km (McMahon Line) India-Bangladesh: 4,096.7 km (Longest Border) India-Bhutan: 699 km India-Nepal: 1,751 km India-Myanmar: 1,643 km China Renames places in Arunachal Pradesh ❖ China has renamed some places in Arunachal Pradesh, which India rejected stating that assigning “invented” names does not alter the reality that the state “is, has been, and will always be” an integral part of India. ❖ The Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs released the fourth list of standardised geographical names in Zangnan, the Chinese name for Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing claims as part of south Tibet,. ❖ In April 2023 too, India had reacted sharply when China released the third list of standardised names of 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh. ❖ Background: The India-China border dispute refers to the long-standing and complex territorial disputes along their shared border of 3,488 kilometres. ❖ The main areas of dispute are Aksai Chin, located in the western sector, and Arunachal Pradesh, in the eastern sector. ❖ Aksai Chin: China administers Aksai Chin as part of its Xinjiang region, while India considers it part of its UT of Ladakh. The region holds strategic significance due to its proximity to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and its potential as a military route. ❖ Arunachal Pradesh: China claims the entire state of Arunachal Pradesh, referring to it as "South Tibet". India administers this region as a northeastern state and considers it an integral part of its territory. ❖ No Clear Demarcation: The border between India and China is not clearly demarcated throughout and there is no mutually agreed Line of Actual Control (LAC) along certain stretches. LAC came into existence after the 1962 Indo-China war. ❖ The India-China border is divided into three sectors. o Western Sector: Ladakh o Middle Sector: Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand o Eastern Sector: Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim Chinese Road Construction in Shaksgam Valley ❖ India expresses concern over recent Chinese road construction activities in the Shaksgam Valley in the trans-Karakoram tract of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), a territory ceded by Pakistan to China in 1963. ❖ India has consistently rejected the 1963 China-Pakistan Boundary Agreement, which attempted to cede the Shaksgam area to China and assert Shaksgam Valley as its territory. 17 ❖ The Siachen glacier, a vital piece of Indian territory, is situated adjacent to the Shaksgam Valley and holds strategic importance, particularly amidst the 2020 standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh. Uniform Civil Code th ❖ In his speech on the occasion of 78 Independence Day, the Prime Minister called for a uniform civil code (UCC), framing it as a secular civil code. ❖ About: The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is outlined in Article 44 of the Constitution as part of the Directive Principles of State Policy, which states that the government should strive to establish a uniform civil code for all citizens across India. ❖ Goa is the only state in India where a UCC is in place, following the Portuguese Civil Code of 1867. ❖ Historical Context: While the British established uniform criminal laws in India, they avoided standardising family laws due to their sensitive nature. ❖ During the debates the Constituent Assembly discussed the UCC and Muslim members raised concerns about its impact on community personal laws, proposing safeguards for religious practices. ❖ On other hand supporters like K.M. Munshi, Alladi Krishnaswami, and B.R. Ambedkar argued for the UCC to promote equality. ❖ Supreme Court of India’s Stance on UCC: Mohd. Ahmed Khan vs Shah Bano Begum Case, 1985: The Court noted with regret that “Article 44 has remained a dead letter” and advocated for its implementation. ❖ Sarla Mudgal v. Union of India, 1995 and John Vallamattom v. Union of India, 2003: The Court reiterated the need for implementing the UCC. ❖ Shayara Bano v. Union of India, 2017: The Supreme Court ruled that the practice of triple talaq was unconstitutional and violated the dignity and equality of Muslim women. It also suggested that Parliament should pass legislation to regulate Muslim marriages and divorces. ❖ Jose Paulo Coutinho v. Maria Luiza Valentina Pereira Case, 2019: The Court praised Goa as a “shining example” where “the uniform civil code is applicable to all, regardless of religion except while protecting certain limited rights” and called for its implementation across India. ❖ Law Commission’s Stance: In 2018, the 21st Law Commission, led by former Supreme Court judge Justice Balbir Singh Chauhan, released a consultation paper on “Reforms of family law,” stating that the “formulation of a Uniform Civil Code is neither necessary nor desirable at this stage.” Hema Committee Report ❖ The Hema committee report on the Malayalam film industry was released. It has revealed alarming instances of sexual abuse, gender discrimination, and inhuman treatment of women in the Malayalam film industry. The three-member committee was constituted in 2017, based on a petition submitted by the Kerala- based Women in Cinema Collective. ❖ It was led by retired Kerala High Court judge Justice K Hema, with members including veteran actor Sharada and retired IAS officer K B Valsala Kumari. ❖ Key Issues Highlighted: Sexual Abuse: It include unwanted physical advances even before commencing work, rape threats, code names for women who would agree to compromise among other shameful acts. ❖ Casting Couch: The report highlights the prevalence of the casting couch, where women are often forced to exchange sexual favours for job opportunities. ❖ Directors and producers often coerce female actors into making compromises, with those who comply being termed "cooperating artists." ❖ Safety on Film Set: Many female film workers frequently bring their parents or close relatives to the set due to fears of sexual demands and harassment. ❖ Criminal Influence: The report indicates that the Malayalam film industry is plagued by criminal influence. ❖ Fear of Consequences: Although such crimes are covered by the Indian Penal Code and the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act 2013, women in the film industry are apprehensive about the consequences of lodging an official complaint. ❖ Cyberthreats: Online harassment poses a significant challenge for women in cinema, with both female and male artists facing cyberbullying, public threats, and defamation. ❖ Inadequate Facilities: Female artists often refrain from drinking water on set due to inadequate toilet facilities, especially in outdoor locations. 18 ❖ Inhumane Working Conditions: The junior artists lack a minimum remuneration. Junior artists are in some cases “treated worse than slaves” with work extending up to 19 hours. Intermediaries misappropriate a good part of their payments, which are not given on time. ❖ Key Recommendations of the Report: Internal Complaints Committee (ICC): It proposed the mandatory establishment of the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013. ❖ It should include members from Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) and Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA). ❖ Independent Tribunal Proposal: Some members advocated for an independent tribunal to handle cases of harassment and discrimination in the cinema industry. ❖ Written Contracts: Signing written contracts to protect the interest of all those who work in cinema should be made mandatory for all categories of employees including coordinators of junior artists. ❖ Gender Awareness Training Program: It should be made mandatory that all cast and crew attend a basic gender awareness training program before starting the production work. ❖ Women in Producer Role: There should be adequate and timely budgetary support to incentivize movies that are predicated on gender justice both thematically and in the production process. ❖ A single-window system should be established to provide loans at nominal interest rates for movies produced by women (not by proxies of men) and to streamline permissions for shooting. This will simplify production and encourage more women to enter the film industry. ❖ Related Information: A Special Investigation Team (SIT) consisting of senior women police officers has been constituted for conducting a preliminary inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment against a few actors of Malayalam cinema. IG G. Sparjan Kumar will lead the team. H. Venkitesh, ADGP (Crime Branch), will supervise the functioning of the SIT. ❖ The team will have S. Ajeetha Begum, DIG; Merin Joseph, SP, Crime Branch (HQ); G. Poonkuzhali, AIG, Coastal Police; Aiswarya Dongre, Assistant Director, Kerala Police Academy; V. Ajith, AIG Law and Order; and S. Madhusoodanan, (SP Crime Branch); as its members. ❖ The decision comes in the wake of a few women accusing Siddique and Edavela Babu, former general secretaries of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), filmmaker Ranjith, and actors Mukesh, Sudheesh, and Riyas Khan of sexually harassing or misbehaving with them. ❖ The SIT will have to carry out the preliminary inquiry under Section 173 (1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. The officer in charge of a police station may conduct the preliminary inquiry within 14 days of receiving the information relating to the commission of any cognisable offence to ascertain whether there is a prima facie case. Great Nicobar Island Project ❖ The opposition party has described the proposed Rs 72,000-crore infrastructure upgrade at the Great Nicobar Island as a "grave threat" to the island's indigenous inhabitants and fragile ecosystem, and demanded immediate suspension of all clearances and a thorough, impartial review of the proposed project, including by the concerned Parliamentary committees. ❖ The ₹72,000 crore ($8.5 billion approx.) Great Nicobar Island (GNI) Project is a mega project to be implemented at the southern end of the Andaman and Nicobar islands. ❖ The project costing was conceived by NITI Aayog and is being developed by Andaman and Nicobar Islands integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDC). ❖ The project includes an international container transhipment terminal (ICTT), a greenfield international airport, township development, and a 450 MVA gas and solar based power plant over an extent of 16,610 hectares in the island. ❖ The project is to be implemented in 3 phases over the next 30 years. ❖ The port will be controlled by the Indian Navy, while the airport will have dual military-civilian functions and will cater to tourism as well. ❖ A total 166.1 sq km along the south-eastern and southern coasts of the island have been identified for project along a coastal strip of width between 2 km and 4 km. ❖ Some 130 sq km of forests have been sanctioned for diversion, and 9.64 lakh trees are likely to be felled. ❖ Great Nicobar is equidistant from Colombo to the southwest and Port Klang (Malaysia) and Singapore to the southeast, and positioned close to the East-West international shipping corridor, through which a very large part of the world’s shipping trade passes. 19 ❖ The proposed ICTT can potentially become a hub for cargo ships traveling on this route. ❖ The Zoological Survey of India is currently in the process of assessing how much of the coral reef will have to be relocated for the project. ❖ Previously, India has successfully translocated a coral reef from the Gulf of Manner to the Gulf of Kutch earlier. ❖ A conservation plan for the leatherback turtle is also being put in place. ❖ As per the government, the project site is outside the eco-sensitive zones of Campbell Bay and Galathea National Park. ❖ Additionally, a proposal for Little Andaman calls for the development of a new greenfield coastal city to compete with Singapore and Hong Kong. ❖ The Kra Canal is a proposed canal in Thailand that would connect the Gulf of Thailand with the Andaman Sea. It aims to create a shortcut for shipping between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. Coco Islands ❖ They are a small group of islands located in the Bay of Bengal. ❖ Great Coco Island, the largest in the group, lies just 55 km from India’s strategic Andaman and Nicobar Islands. ❖ They are part of the Yangon Region of Myanmar. ❖ It is geologically an extended division of the Arakan Mountains or Rakhine Mountains, submerges as a chain of islands in the Bay of Bengal for a long stretch and emerges again in the form of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. ❖ They are part of the same topography as India’s Andaman & Nicobar Islands. ❖ History: In the early 19th century, the British government in India established a penal colony in the Andaman for the convicts in the Indian subcontinent, and the Coco Islands were a source of food for it. ❖ The British government had reportedly leased out the islands to the Jadwet family of Burma. ❖ The leasing of control of the Coco Islands resulted in poor governance of the islands, which made the British government in India to transfer its control to the government of Lower Burma in Rangoon. ❖ In 1882, the islands officially became part of British Burma. ❖ The islands became a self-governing crown colony even after Burma was separated from British India in 1937. ❖ Japan occupied the islands from 1942 to 1945 during the Second World War. Andaman & Nicobar Islands ❖ The Indian government's renewed focus on developing the Andaman and Nicobar Islands(ANI) underscores their strategic significance in the Indo-Pacific region, prompting efforts to enhance infrastructure and security. ❖ Strategic Importance: Located 700 nautical miles southeast of the Indian mainland, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands add 300,000 sq km to India's exclusive economic zone, with the potential for undersea hydrocarbon and mineral deposits ❖ The islands' strategic location astride the Malacca Strait, makes them a crucial asset for India's ability to monitor and project power in the Indo-Pacific region. ❖ The Malacca Strait is a critical maritime choke point, with more than 90,000 merchant ships carrying about 30% of the world's traded goods passing through it annually. ❖ The islands share maritime boundaries with Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, and Bangladesh, giving India substantial ocean space under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in terms of exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. ❖ Port Blair can become a regional hub for navies to collaborate on disaster relief, medical aid, counter- piracy, search and rescue, and other maritime security initiatives. ❖ History: India's association with Andaman and Nicobar Island dates back to the aftermath of the 1857 War of Independence when the British established a penal colony for Indian revolutionaries. ❖ The islands were occupied by the Japanese in 1942 and later became the first part of India to be liberated from British rule in 1943 when Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose visited Port Blair. 20 ❖ After the Japanese surrender in 1945, the British reoccupied the islands. On the eve of Independence islands were given to India. ❖ The period from Independence until 1962 saw neglect of the islands due to their remote location and dark symbolism. ❖ In 1962, a naval garrison was established due to concerns about a Chinese submarine. In 2001, the Andaman Nicobar Command (ANC) was established in Port Blair after the post-Kargil War security review, marking India's first joint and Unified operational command. ❖ The ANC, established in 2001, is India's first joint/unified operational command, placing forces from all three services and the Coast Guard under a single commander-in-chief. ❖ The ANC is responsible for maintaining comprehensive maritime domain awareness and deterrence capabilities in the strategic Andaman and Nicobar archipelago. ❖ Key Facts: The 150 km Ten Degree Channel is a narrow strait that separates the Andaman Islands from the Nicobar Islands. It is located approximately at the 10-degree latitude mark. ❖ Indira Point is the southernmost tip of the Nicobar Islands. It is situated on Great Nicobar Island and marks the southernmost point of India. ❖ The ANI is home to 5 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups: Great Andamanese, Jarwas, Onges, Shompens and North Sentinelese. ❖ Nicobar Biosphere Reserve harbours a wide spectrum of ecosystems comprising tropical wet evergreen forests, mountain ranges reaching a height of 642 m (Mt. Thullier) above sea level, and coastal plains. ❖ Great Nicobar is home to two national parks, a biosphere reserve ❖ National Parks: Campbell Bay National Park and Galathea National Park ❖ Biosphere Reserve: Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve. ❖ The Mongoloid Shompen Tribe, about 200 in number, live in the forests of the biosphere reserve particularly along the rivers and streams. ❖ Another Mongoloid Tribe, Nicobarese, about 300 in number, used to live in settlements along the west coast. ❖ A&N is also the home of most isolated tribe in the world the Sentinelese who live on the North Sentinel Island in the Bay of Bengal. ❖ Lieutenant Governor: Devendra Kumar Joshi ❖ Legal: Andaman & Nicobar Islands come under the jurisdiction of Calcutta High Court (Port Blair Branch) ❖ Capital: Port Blair ❖ State Animal: Dugong ❖ State Bird: Andaman Wood Pigeon ❖ Flower: Lagerstroemia speciosa ❖ Tree: Padauk ❖ Bishnu Pada Ray won the Lok Sabha Election and is the lone MP representing the Islands. Nalanda University ❖ The campus of Nalanda University was formally inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India. ❖ It is spread across 455 acres, located in Rajgir, Bihar. The site is only 12 km away from the ruins of the ancient Buddhist monastery of the same name. ❖ History: Gupta Emperor Kumaragupta (Shakraditya) of the Gupta dynasty founded Nalanda University in 427 CE in modern Bihar in the early 5th century, and it flourished for 600 years until the 12 th century. ❖ During the era of Harshavardhana and the Palas monarchs, it rose to popularity. ❖ During King Harshavardhana's reign (606-647 AD) Chinese scholar Xuan Zang (also known as Hiuen Tsang and Moksadeva, a 7th-century Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveller, and translator) came here and studied for about 5 years. He also carried back many scriptures from Nalanda, which were later translated into Chinese. ❖ In 670 AD, another Chinese pilgrim I-Tsing visited Nalanda. He stated that Nalanda housed 2,000 students and was supported by money from 200 villages. ❖ A large number of students have come to study from China, Mongolia, Tibet, Korea, and other Asian countries. ❖ Archaeological evidence also indicates contact with the Indonesian Shailendra dynasty, one of whose kings built a monastery in the complex. 21 ❖ Spiritual divines like Lord Buddha and Lord Mahavira meditated in this region, adding to the positive vibrancy of the area. ❖ Great masters such as Nagarjuna, Aryabhatta, and Dharmakirti contributed to the scholarly traditions of ancient Nalanda. ❖ The university was destroyed in 1193 by Bakhtiyar Khilji, a general of the Turkish ruler Qutbuddin Aibak. ❖ It was rediscovered in 1812 by Scottish surveyor Francis Buchanan-Hamilton and later identified as the ancient university by Sir Alexander Cunningham in 1861. ❖ Attacks: The first attack on Nalanda Mahavihara occurred between 455-470 AD during the reign of Emperor Samudragupta of the Gupta Empire. ❖ The attackers were the Hunas, a Central Asian tribal group, primarily motivated by the desire to loot the university's valuable resources. ❖ Emperor Skanda Gupta later re-established the university. It was during his reign that the renowned Nalanda library was founded. ❖ The second attack on Nalanda Mahavihara occurred in the early 7th century, planned by Goudas emperors of Bengal. ❖ The attack was driven by political tensions with Emperor Harshavardhana of Kannauj. ❖ Despite destruction, the university was restored by Harshavardhana, allowing Nalanda to continue its mission of global knowledge dissemination. ❖ Revival: The idea for revival emerged in the early 2000s. Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the Singapore government, and leaders of East Asian Summit (EAS) countries all advocated for Nalanda's return. ❖ In 2007, the proposal to re-establish Nalanda was endorsed at the East Asia Summit in Mandaue, Philipines. This endorsement was re-iterated in the East Asia Summit of 2009, in Hua Hin, Thailand. ❖ The Indian Parliament passed the Nalanda University Act in 2010, providing a legal framework for the new institution. ❖ Nalanda University is envisioned as a collaborative effort between India and other East Asian nations, symbolising a renewed focus on regional knowledge exchange. ❖ In total, 17 countries other than India — Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Mauritius, Myanmar, New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam — have helped set up of the university. Ambassadors of these countries attended Wednesday’s inauguration ceremony. ❖ The Bihar government provided a 455-acre site near the ancient ruins. The architect, B.V. Doshi, designed an eco-friendly campus reflecting the spirit of the past while incorporating modern amenities. Doshi is the first Indian architect to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2018, which is considered one of the most prestigious prizes in architecture. He has also been awarded the Padma Shri (1976), the Padma Bhushan (2020) and Padma Vibhushan (Posthumously) in 2023. He has been awarded the Royal Institute of British Architects' Royal Gold Medal for 2022. His more noteworthy designs include the IIM Bangalore, IIM Udaipur, NIFT Delhi, Amdavad ni Gufa, CEPT University, and the Aranya Low Cost Housing development in Indore which was awarded the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. ?

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