CONTENTS
- Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA)
- Mid-day meal scheme
- Leprosy
- Meta’s AI Supercomputer
- India on Ukraine crisis
- Fundamental duties
Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA)
Context:
A committee constituted by the Union Home Ministry in December to study the withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, or AFSPA, from Nagaland, slated to submit a report within 45 days as claimed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, is yet to conclude its findings.
- The panel was formed in the wake of growing civilian anger against the botched ambush by an elite unit of the Army that led to the killing of 13 civilians at Oting in Nagaland’s Mon district on December 4.
Relevance:
GS-II: Polity and Constitution, GS-II: Governance, GS-III: Internal Security Challenges
Dimensions of the Article:
- Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA)
- AFSPA Acts in force
- Powers Given to an officer of the Armed Forces in a “disturbed” area under AFSPA
- Arguments Against AFSPA
- Important Criticisms of AFSPA and commissions regarding AFSPA
- Constitutionality of AFSPA
- Supreme Court judgment on AFSPA
- Reactions to the killing of 14 civilians by security forces in Nagaland
- Who are the Nagas?
- What is the Naga Issue?
- Peace Initiatives with the Naga
- No clarity on peace process
Click Here To Read More: Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA)
Mid-day Meal Scheme
Context:
Responding to criticism on not starting mid-day meals despite opening of schools a week ago, the Delhi government said that it has been distributing dry rations instead as only half of the students were attending its schools.
- For 100% children to get the benefit of mid-day meal, door to door delivery of dry ration is being done now. As soon as there is 100% attendance in schools, door to door ration delivery will be stopped and mid-day meals will be started.
Relevance:
GS-II: Social Justice and Governance (Issues related to Health and Nutrition, Issues related to Children, Welfare Schemes, Government Policies and Initiatives)
Dimensions of the Article:
- About the PM POSHAN (Poshan Shakti Nirman) scheme (New MDM)
- How the Mid-Day-Meal Scheme came to be?
- Has the Mid-Day-Meal Scheme helped?
- About the recent study on long term impact of MDM scheme
- Criticism of MDM scheme and Implementation
- PM Poshan Shakti Nirman scheme is not to be confused with: Poshan Abhiyaan
Click Here To Read More: Mid-day Meal Scheme
Leprosy
Context:
According to the latest report by the Leprosy Mission Trust India, the Covid-19 pandemic and its ensuing recommendations on social distancing and lockdowns caused a fall of 62.5% in the detection of active leprosy cases between April and September 2020 in four States — Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.
Relevance:
GS II- Health
Dimensions of the Article:
- What is Leprosy?
- What are the symptoms?
- How does it spread?
Click Here To Read More : Leprosy
Meta’s AI Supercomputer
Context:
Facebook-parent Meta announced that it is building an AI supercomputer, the AI Research SuperCluster (RSC). The company said that this will be the fastest supercomputer in the world once fully built by mid-2022. The device is said to accelerate AI research and help in building the metaverse, the next major computing platform.
Relevance:
GS III- Science and Technology
Dimensions of the Article:
- What are supercomputers?
- What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?
- What is the RSC?
- Current challenges
Click Here To Read More: Meta’s AI Supercomputer
India on Ukraine Crisis
Context:
At an emergency meeting called by the UNSC on the Russia-Ukraine crisis, India said the immediate priority was de-escalation. The meeting came after Russia’s President Vladimir Putin recognised the independence of two Russian-backed separatist regions in eastern Ukraine.
Relevance:
GS-II: International Relations
Dimensions of the Article:
- 6 takeaways from New Delhi’s statement at the UN
- About the Russia – Ukraine crisis
- What are Russia’s and the West’s interests in Ukraine?
- What are the Minsk agreements on the Ukraine conflict?
- Conclusion: For a peaceful resolution
Click Here to Read More: India on Ukraine Crisis
Fundamental Duties
Context:
Recently, The Supreme Court issued notices to the Centre and states in a writ petition seeking the enforcement of the fundamental duties of citizens as enshrined in the Constitution of India.
- The petition, argues that citizens have a duty to uphold the ideals of the country and to contribute to its growth and betterment, and that not carrying out the fundamental duties of the citizen has a direct bearing on the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution.
Relevance:
GS II- Polity (Indian Constitution)
Dimensions of the Article:
- How were the fundamental duties incorporated in the Constitution?
- What are the fundamental duties of the citizen?
Click Here To Read More: Fundamental Duties
-Source: Indian Express
