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 […]
J&K throws open local real estate to all citizens
Context: The Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory governments, at the first ever ‘J&K Real Estate Conference’ held in Jammu have decided to throw open local real estate for “second homes and summer homes” to all the citizens of the country, in a major push to attract investments from real estate bigwigs. […]
Appointments to Law Commission under consideration
Context: The Government has informed the Supreme Court that appointment of Chairperson and Members of the 22nd Law Commission of India, the Government’s top body to recommend crucial legislative reforms, is under consideration. The setting up of the 22nd Law Commission was constituted by the Government on February 21, 2020. However, no progress has been […]
Judicial ‘inaction’ favours those in power
Context: High pendency of cases, large number of vacancies and the Collegium system of appointment were among the key issues raised by Lok Sabha members on while debating a bill that seeks to bring clarity on when Supreme Court and High Court judges will get enhanced pension on attaining a certain age. Relevance: GS-II: Polity […]
Cooperation awaits its ‘finding Raiffeisen’ moment
Context: ‘Cooperation has failed, but cooperation must succeed,’ wrote the All India Rural Credit Survey Committee in 1954. These were the words of Venkatappiah, first Executive Director of Reserve Bank of India and member of the Committee. Relevance: GS-II: Polity and Constitution (Constitutional Provisions, Cooperatives Movement in India) Dimensions of the Article: Co-operative Movement in […]
Nagaland probe on AFSPA and 1997 SC judgment
Context: The killing of civilians in a botched ambush by the armed forces in Nagaland’s Mon district and its violent fallout have put the spotlight on the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act [AFSPA] of 1958. The death of 15 people — six of them coal miners “mistaken” as extremists — and a soldier over 24 […]
SC stays OBC quota in local body polls in Maharashtra
Context: The Supreme Court stayed the local body election in seats reserved for Other Backward Class (OBC) in Maharashtra. Relevance: GS-II: Polity and Constitution (Historical Underpinnings of the Indian Constitution, Constitutional Provisions and Features), GS-II: Governance (Government Policies and Initiatives) Dimensions of the Article: About OBC reservation in local bodies What is the history of […]
Centennial Year of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)
Context: President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, inaugurated the Centennial Year Celebration of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in the Central Hall of Parliament House. Relevance: GS-II: Polity and Constitution (Constitutional Provisions, Parliamentary Committees) Dimensions of the Article: Public Accounts Committee’s History Key points about the PAC Role of the PAC What are the challenges […]