Daily Current Affairs 29.03.2022
Important News: India
States can identify minorities: Centre
Why in News
- In an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs said “state governments can also declare a religious or linguistic community as a ‘minority community’ within the state”.
Key Points
- The affidavit was filed in response to a 2020 petition by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay, who said that as per the 2011 Census, Hindus were a minority in Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, J&K, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Punjab and that they should be given minority status in these states in accordance with the principle laid down by the Supreme Court in its 2002 TMA Pai ruling.
- In the TMA Pai case, the SC had said that for the purposes of Article 30 that deals with the rights of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions, religious and linguistic minorities have to be considered state-wise.
Centre's Stand:
- The Centre said the petitioners’ argument is not correct since states can also certify institutions as being minority institutions as per the rules of the said state.
- The Centre gave the example of how Maharashtra notified ‘Jews’ as a minority community within the State. Again, Karnataka notified Urdu, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Marathi, Tulu, Lambadi, Hindi, Konkani and Gujarati as minority languages within the State.
Minorities notified by the Government of India:
- Parliament has the legislative competence and the Central government has the executive competence to notify a community as a minority under Section 2(c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act of 1992.
- The Central government notified six communities, namely Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis and Jains, as minorities under Section 2(c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act of 1992.
- Similarly, Section 2(f) of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions Act provides that ‘minority’ means a community notified as such by the Central government.
Source: Indian Express
National Water Awards
Why in News
- President of India, Ram Nath Kovind felicitated the winners of the 3rdNational Water Awards instituted by the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti and launched the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain campaign 2022 on 29th March 2022 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
Key Points
- The States of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu have got the first, second and third prizes respectively in the Best State category.
About National Water Awards:
- The first National Water Award was launched by the Jal Shakti Ministry in 2018.
- The Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti gave 57 awards to States, Organizations, Individuals etc. in 11 different categories.
Note:
- In India, the situation is particularly challenging as India is home to about 18% of the world’s population but we have just 4% of the fresh water resources of the world.
- In May 2019, the Ministry of Jal Shakti was created after the merger of erstwhile Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
- To transform Jal Andolaninto a Jan Andolan, Jal Shakti Abhiyan and Jal Jeevan Mission were launched in 2019.
- On 22ndMarch 2022, the Prime Minister of India launched the “Catch the Rain, where it falls, when it falls” campaign.
Source: PIB
National Commission for Women launches Legal Services Clinic
Why in News
- The National Commission for Women (NCW)in collaboration with Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) has launched a legal aid clinic.
Key Points
- NCW is also planning to set up similar legal services clinics in other State Commissions for Women.
- Under the new legal aid clinic, counseling will be provided for walk-in complainants, women in distress will be given legal assistance, advice and information on various schemes of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)/ DSLSA, assistance in mahilajansunwai, free legal aid, hearings in matrimonial cases and other complaints registered with the Commission will be provided among other services.
About National Commission for Women:
- It was established on 31 January 1992 under the provisions of the Indian Constitution, as defined in the 1990 National Commission for Women Act.
- The first head of the commission was Jayanti Patnaik.
- Rekha Sharma is the current chairperson.
Source: newsonair
Important News: State
Assam and Meghalaya signed historic agreement for settlement of inter-state border dispute
Why in News
- In presence of the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, a historic agreement was signed in New Delhi by the Chief Minister of Assam HimantaBiswaSarma, and the Chief Minister, Meghalaya Conrad K. Sangma, for settlement of the interstate boundary between the States of Assam and Meghalaya, in respect of 6 out of 12 areas of difference.
Key Points
- Since July last year, Assam Chief Minister HimantaBiswaSarma and his Meghalaya counterpart Conrad Sangma have been in talks to resolve the long-standing dispute along its 884-km-long border.
- While there are 12 areas of dispute between the two states, in July 2021, both governments identified six areas (Hahim, Gizang, Tarabari, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pilingkata, Ratacherra) for resolution in the first phase.
Note:
- During British rule, Assam included present-day Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya besides Mizoram, which later became separate states.
- Meghalaya was carved out of Assam in 1972, and has held a different interpretation of the border since.
Source: Indian Express
Gujarat gets India's first 'steel road'
Why in News
- The Diamond City of India, Surat, Gujarat has become the first in India to get a road that is made out of steel waste.
Key Points
- Built by Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel India with CSIR India (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) & CRRI (Central Road Research Institute) along with the government think tank NITI Aayog, the steel slag road is a stellar example of sustainable development.
- Millions of tonnes of steel slag are produced by steel industries and these have had no alternate use thus far.
- Laid in the Hazira Industrial Area, the road consists of 100% processed steel slag.
Source: ET
Important News: Polity
Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022
Why in News
- Union Minister of State for Home, Ajay MisraTeni, introduced the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill2022 in the Lok Sabha.
Key Points
- The Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill 2022 authorises law enforcement agencies to collect, store and analyse physical and biological samples of convicts and other persons for the purposes of identification and investigation in criminal matters.
- The Bill seeks to repeal The Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920 whose scope was limited to taking recording finger impressions and foot-print impressions of a limited category of convicted and non-convicted persons and photographs on the order of a Magistrate.
- The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) will be the repository of physical and biological samples, signature and handwriting data that can be preserved for at least 75 years.
- Resistance to or refusal to allow the taking of measurements under this Act shall be deemed to be an offence under section 186 of the Indian Penal Codes.
Related Initiatives taken by the Government:
- The Home Ministry is working on the integration of the fingerprint database of the Central Finger Print Bureau (CFPB), and the NIST Fingerprint Image Software (NFIS).
- Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems
Source: The Hindu
Important News: Appointment
Gilbert Houngbo will be the next Director-General of ILO
Why in News
- Gilbert Houngbo from Togo will be the next Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Key Points
- Gilbert Houngbo was elected by the ILO’s Governing Body, comprising representatives of governments, workers and employers, during their meeting in Geneva.
- Houngbo is currently President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
- He will be the 11th Director-General of the ILO, and the first African to hold the post.
- His five-year term will begin on October 1, 2022. The current Director-General, Guy Ryder, from the United Kingdom, has held the office since 2012.
About International Labour Organization (ILO):
- It is a United Nations agency whose mandate is to advance social and economic justice through setting international labour standards.
- Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
- Formation: 11 April 1919
- The ILO has 187 state members.
- India is a founder member of the International Labour Organization.
Note:India has assumed the Chairmanship of the Governing Body of ILO in 2020.
Source: ET
Important News: Books
NITI Aayog and FAO launch book titled Indian Agriculture towards 2030
Why in News
- Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar released a book titled Indian Agriculture towards 2030: Pathways for Enhancing Farmers’ Income, Nutritional Security and Sustainable Food and Farm Systems, at an event organized by NITI Aayog and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
Source: PIB
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