CABINET APPROVES BILL TO REGULATE SURROGACY
Focus: GS-II Governance, Prelims Why in news? The Union Cabinet on 26th February 2020 approved the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2020, allowing a “willing” woman to be a surrogate mother and proposing that the Bill would benefit widows and divorced women besides infertile Indian couples. The Cabinet approved the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill after incorporating the recommendations […]
SC PASSES INTERIM ORDER ON MAHADAYI TRIBUNAL’S AWARD
Why in news? The Supreme Court passed an interim order allowing an application by the State of Karnataka to notify the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal’s award. The implementation of the award would, however, be subject to the final judgment of the Supreme Court in the civil appeals filed by Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra, challenging the […]
MLAS WITH CRIMINAL CASE IN DELHI LA
Why in news? 61% of newly elected MLAs declared criminal cases as opposed to 34% in 2015 The seventh Delhi Assembly have almost double the number of MLAs who have declared criminal cases against them compared to the sixth Assembly that was elected in 2015 According to an analysis by the Association for Democratic Reforms […]
SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS CHANGES TO SC/ST ATROCITIES LAW
Why in news ? SC upheld the legality of amendments to SC/ST atrocities act by the parliament The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act of 2018, which nullified its own controversial March 20, 2018 judgment diluting the stringent provisions of the Dalit protection law […]
WHAT IS PUBLIC SAFETY ACT? (PSA)
Details: The Public Safety Act (PSA), 1978, of Jammu & Kashmir is an administrative detention law that allows detention of any individual for up to two years without a trial or charge. The Public Safety Act allows for the arrest and detention of people without a warrant, specific charges, and often for an unspecified period […]
SC STRIPS MANIPUR MINISTER OF HIS OFFICE
Focus: GS-II Governance, Prelims Why in news? In an extraordinary display of its constitutional powers, the Supreme Court on 18th March 2020, stripped Manipur Cabinet Minister, who is facing disqualification proceedings for defection, of his office and banned him from entering the Assembly with immediate effect. Article 142 The Supreme Court in the exercise of […]
NEW BILL HALVES TERMS OF PRESIDENTS, VPS OF LOCAL BODIES
Focus: GS-II Governance, Prelims Why in news? In an attempt to bring about major changes in the functioning of the rural local bodies in Karnataka, the government on 18th March 2020, tabled a new Bill to reduce the term of the offices of presidents and vice-presidents of gram panchayats, taluk panchayats, and zilla panchayats from […]
UIDAI CAN ISSUE NOTICE ON COMPLAINT
Focus: GS-II Governance, Prelims Why in news? The government informed the Lok Sabha on 17th March 2020, that the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) may issue a show-cause notice on receiving a complaint from “any person” or law enforcement agencies to ascertain if Aadhaar was procured through fraudulent means. What happens in case of an Allegation? […]
ABORTIONS TILL 24 WEEKS FOR SPECIAL CATEGORIES
Focus: GS-II Social Justice, Governance, Prelims Why in news? The Lok Sabha on 17th March 2020, passed a Bill to extend the upper limit for permitting abortions from 20 weeks to 24 under special circumstances. The “special categories of women” include rape survivors, victims of incest, the differently abled and minors, Health Minister said moving […]
RANJAN GOGOI NOMINATED TO RAJYA SABHA
Focus: GS-II Governance, Prelims Why in news? President Ram Nath Kovind on 16th March 2020, nominated former Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi to the Rajya Sabha. Announcement In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-clause (a) of clause (1) of article 80 of the Constitution of India, read with clause (3) of that […]