Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA)
Context: The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested four current and two former officials of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) division of the Union Home Ministry, along with eight others, for allegedly facilitating illegal clearances to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) under the Act, in lieu of bribes. Relevance: GS-II: Polity and Governance (Government Policies & […]
Value of MPs’ Vote for President Poll
Context: The value of the vote of an MP in the presidential polls to be held in July is likely to go down to 700 from 708 due to the absence of a Legislative Assembly in Jammu and Kashmir. Relevance: GS II- Polity and Governance Dimensions of the Article: How is the President elected? Qualifications […]
Status of the Naga Peace Talks
Context: The annual report of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) released recently said that the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) was involved in 44% of insurgency-related incidents in Nagaland in 2020. Relevance: GS II- Polity and Governance Dimensions of the Article: Who are the Nagas and what is the […]
Office of Profit
Context: The Election Commission has sent a warning to Jharkhand’s chief minister, alleging that he held a “office of profit” by granting himself a mining lease in 2021. The chief minister is accused of violating a provision of the Representation of the People Act. Relevance: GS II- Polity and Governance Dimensions of the Article: What is […]
President Has No Role To Play in Perarivalan’s Plea: SC
Context: The Supreme Court has disagreed with the Central government’s suggestion that the court should wait till the President took a call on former PM’s assassination case convict A.G. Perarivalan’s mercy plea referred to him by the Tamil Nadu Governor for a decision. Relevance: GS-II: Polity and Governance Dimensions of the Article: Why in news […]
Punishing hate speech: How is it treated in Indian law?
Context: A recent religious conclave held in Haridwar witnessed inflammatory and provocative speeches by proponents of Hindutva, many of them leaders of religious organisations. There was a threat that if the government resisted the formation of a ‘Hindu Rashtra’, there will be an ‘1857-like’ revolt against the state. Political parties and concerned citizens have termed […]
SC’s views on ‘Indianisation’ of the legal system
Context: At least two Supreme Court judges have in the past few months openly expressed the need to “Indianise” the legal system. Relevance: GS-II: Polity and Constitution (Indian Judiciary) Dimensions of the Article: Views of SC Judges on ‘Indianization’ of Judiciary Understanding what the judges meant by “Indianizing” the judiciary Need for “Indianizing” the Judiciary […]
Maharashtra’s Shakti Act: Death penalty for rape
Context: The Maharashtra Assembly passed the Shakti Criminal Laws (Maharashtra Amendment) Act unanimously, with which it became the second state in India after Andhra Pradesh to approve death penalty for heinous offences of rape and gangrape. Relevance: GS-II: Social Justice and Governance (Issues Related to women, Government Interventions and Policies, Issues arising out of the […]
Tussle over the election of Maharashtra Assembly Speaker
Context: Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government are locked in a tussle over the election of the Speaker of the Assembly. Relevance: GS-II: Polity and Constitution (Constitutional Provisions, Legislature) Dimensions of the Article: Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Election and Term of Office of the Speaker About the issue […]
A progressive step: On panel for AFSPA by Nagaland
Context: The announcement by the Nagaland government that a high-powered panel will be set up to look into the withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in the State – addresses a key concern in the Northeast following the Mon massacre where a botched ambush by an armed forces unit led to the deaths […]