9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – September 30th, 2023

Dear Friends,
9 PM Brief is our prime initiatives for the preparation of current affairs. What we are providing in this initiative:
- Ensure that all relevant facts, data, and arguments from today’s newspaper are readily available to you.
- We have widened the sources to provide you with content that is more than enough and adds value not just for GS but also for essay writing.
It is our endeavor to provide you with the best content, and your feedback is essential for the same. We will be anticipating your feedback and ensure the blog serves as an optimal medium of learning for all the aspirants.
For previous editions of 9 PM Brief – Click Here
For individual articles of 9 PM Brief– Click Here
Download Factly and 9 PM Weekly Compilations | Arranged Subject-wise and Topic-wise |
Mains Oriented Articles
GS PAPER - 2
Global dispute settlement, India and appellate review
Source: This post is created based on the article ‘Global dispute settlement, India and appellate review’ published in The Hindu on 30th Sep, 2023.
Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2, International Relations
News: The G-20 Declaration emphasized the need for reforms in the World Trade Organization (WTO). It was aimed to enhance its functions and ensure a comprehensive dispute settlement system available to all members by 2024.
Significance of WTO’s dispute settlement system
Firstly, the WTO’s Dispute Settlement System (DSS) operates as a two-tier panel and appellate body. It has been non-functional since 2019 because U.S. blocked the appointment of appellate body members.
Second, WTO’s DSS has been hailed as the crown jewel of the WTO.
Third, it has been more successful compared to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). ICJ has solved just around 190 cases since 1947 compared to 493 rulings by DSS since its establishment in 1995.
Fourth, it has the scope of appellate review and mechanisms to enforce rulings.
Fifth, it ensures uniformity in the application of law globally, through the appellate review process at the international level.
What is the significance of Investor-State-Dispute Settlement (ISDS)?
With the U.S. leaning towards dejudicialisation of international trade law, Investor-State-Dispute Settlement (ISDS) has become a principle means to solve the international disputes.
ISDS mechanism is a key component of Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs), which has seen 1,257 cases initiated as of January 1, 2023.
It offers a more comprehensive solution than existing mechanisms like annulment proceedings.
What are the challenges faced by ISDS?
The ISDS mechanism, primarily used to settle international investment law disputes, lacks an appellate review. The ISDS mechanism, without an appellate review, has resulted in inconsistent and different decisions of the same provision, creating instability for states and investors.
What should be done?
Introducing an appellate review in ISDS can rectify legal errors, harmonize varying interpretations, and bring coherence to the system.
Article 29 of the Indian model BIT also indicates that India seems to favor an appellate review in ISDS.
The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law or UNCITRAL’s working group III, is focusing on ISDS reforms. It will be important to decide the form and mechanism that this appellate review system should follow.
Push for more women, this time in the police
Source: This post is created based on the article ‘Push for more women, this time in the police’ published in The Hindu on 30th Sep, 2023.
Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2 – Social Issues –
News: Recently, One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment Bill, 2023 has been passed. The bill reserves one-third of total seats in various legislative bodies for women for 15 years. The article proposes a similar reservation in the police force.
Read for more details of this section – Women Reservation Bill-Explained Pointwise
What is the present status of women in the police force?
Most states have policies to fill 30% or 33% of vacant police posts with women through horizontal reservation.
However, the actual representation of women in the State police force is around 10.47% as of January 1, 2021. As per Minister of State of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) statement in the Rajya Sabha, the representation of women in the police force (as of January 1, 2022) remained at 11.7% of the total State police force.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has urged states to increase this representation to 33%.
Facts that support the reservation for women in the police force
First, with changes in the criminal laws, certain procedures, like recording statements or conducting searches, mandate the involvement of a woman police officer.
Second, National Crime Records Bureau data indicates that about 10% of total crimes were against women in 2021.
Third, The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act has further increased the demand for women in the police force.
Fourth, Women have proven their capability in various police duties.
What steps have been taken by the government to promote gender equality in police force?
The MHA has been incentivizing states to implement police reforms, including merging women police with regular police and establishing recruitment boards.
women police have been merged with the regular police.
The MHA also provided a special grant to encourage States to establish a ‘women desk’ in every police station.
Most States have a policy to fill up 30% or 33% of the vacant posts (of direct recruitment) with women in their police forces through horizontal reservation.
What are the challenges in ensuring gender equality in police force?
Police’ being a ‘State’ subject in the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution, the implementation of ‘police reforms’ remains primarily a concern of the States.
The actual percentage of women in the police force is not as per the state policy. For example, Bihar provides for 35% reservation for women and 3% for backward caste women, but the actual number of women in the force is about 17.4%. Whereas, in Himachal, there no such reservation policy, but 20% vacancies of constables are filled up by women.
Many states have not been enthusiastic in implementation of the reforms pushed by central government. The establishment of the Police Recruitment Board is one such reform.
To truly encourage more women to join the police force, states need to provide a conducive environment and essential infrastructure.
Taming Big Tech
Source: This post is created based on the article ‘Taming Big Tech’ published in Business Standard on 30th Sep, 2023.
Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2 – Liberalization of Industrial Policies
News: Big Tech companies, often referred to as MAMAA (Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Apple), are facing increased scrutiny and legal challenges.
Recently, significant cases began in the US against Alphabet (Google) and Amazon.
Europe has already imposed massive fines on these tech giants and introduced new laws to increase competition and protect consumer rights.
In India, Google has been fined in two cases, with another still under review.
What are the concerns against these tech giants?
In the past, the internet was seen as a free space for businesses to grow. But now, concerns have risen about how these companies use personal data, show paid content, and avoid taxes.
The financial power of these companies is also huge. Their profitability rates double the S&P 500 average. Therefore, they can easily remove competition.
They are criticized for practices like pre-installing software, limiting interoperability, and acquiring potential competitors.
These companies have become so powerful that they challenge governments.
Some of their actions, like buying competitors or controlling too much of a market, are being questioned. For example, Australia made a law to help news publishers get fair treatment.
What is the way forward for big techs?
These companies are defending themselves and making some changes. For example, Meta has stopped certain ads for teenagers, and Google is sharing more data.
However, it is not sufficient. They might have to make even bigger changes in the future.
GS PAPER - 3
Narco Taliban – Why Afghan meth is India’s big headache
Source: This post is created based on the article ‘Narco Taliban’ published in The Times of India on 30th Sep, 2023.
Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 – Internal Security
News: Methamphetamine, a strong illegal drug, is becoming more popular worldwide, with Afghanistan as a key source. This drug is replacing heroin.
Afghanistan has now become a hub for methamphetamine.
The UN office on drugs and crime (UNODC) has emphasized the increase in meth trafficking from Afghanistan.
What are the efforts taken by government to fight drug menace from Afghanistan?
Government has launched Operation Samudragupt to combat maritime drug trafficking from Afghanistan.
The amount of seized meth in India has seen a significant rise from 4.2 kg in 2018 to 357 kg in 2022.
What are the challenges in front of India?
According to the European Foundation for South Asian Studies, Afghanistan is transforming into a narco-state. Illegal drug has now become the dominant economic sector.
The natural presence of ephedra plants in Afghanistan, a key ingredient for meth, makes the situation even more challenging.
The drug’s affordability and India’s growing youth unemployment create a high-risk environment. there’s a risk unemployed youth might start using the affordable drugs.
40th…Now What? India’s Innovation Index 2023
Source: This post is created based on the article ‘40th…Now What?’ published in The Times of India on 30th Sep, 2023.
Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 – Indian Economy – India’s Industrial Policies
News: India’s innovation rank in 2023 index is still too low.
India’s rise to 40th position in the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s global innovation index.
India has jumped 26 places over the last ten years. It is an appreciable rise. However, India is still low, when compared to other countries.
What are the challenges?
First, Countries like Turkey, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Iran have seen even more significant progress.
Second, India’s modest R&D expenditure poses challenges for its future competitiveness. The index points out that adhering to Moore’s Law is becoming costlier. It anticipated the doubling of computer chip speed and capability every 18-24 months. Establishing factories for advanced chips requires investments exceeding $20 billion.
Third, India has only 4 science and technology clusters in the top 100 globally, compared to China’s 24 and the US’s 21. While Japan, Canada, and South Korea also have 4 clusters, their populations are much smaller than India’s.
Concentration of innovation and capital in cities like Bengaluru, Delhi, Chennai, and Mumbai indicates that a significant portion of India’s potential remains untapped.
India’s wildlife, decimated by hunting and forest exploitation, found succour in national parks
Source: This post is created based on the article ‘India’s wildlife, decimated by hunting and forest exploitation, found succour in national parks’ published in The Times of India on 30th Sep, 2023.
Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 – Biodiversity Conservation
News: Article discusses the evolution of forest and wildlife conservation efforts in India.
Evolution of the forest and wildlife conservation in India
Evolution of forest conservation
In the late 19th century, India witnessed massive deforestation, leading to discussions about setting aside land for ecological reasons.
The colonial government reserved about a quarter of India for forests, primarily in timber-rich regions like the Western Ghats and Central Provinces. It later became the foundation for national parks.
This was in response to concerns about sustaining the colonial military and railways, which relied heavily on forest resources.
Evolution of wildlife conservation
Concerns about wildlife conservation emerged in the 1920s, against the backdrop of rampant hunting. The first national park was established in 1936, but the destruction of forests and hunting persisted.
Wildlife Protection Act was introduced in 1972, which banned commercial forestry and hunting in protected areas. In 1976, wildlife conservation became a shared responsibility between the central and state governments.
What were the challenges faced by conservation efforts?
The forest department’s dual role in logging and conservation posed conflicts.
Officers faced threats from the hunting lobby and sometimes their colleagues.
What is the present state of conservation efforts?
Challenges: 1) Reduced Forest area and minimal growth in protected regions.
2) Poaching remains a concern in many areas.
3) Indian national parks differ from those worldwide due to land constraints and high population density.
4) to balance wildlife conservation with the needs of communities living around national parks
Significance: Species like rhinoceros, lions, tigers, elephants, and the brow-antlered deer have benefited from national parks.
The focus now should be on expanding protected areas and ensuring the robustness of wildlife protection laws.
Extended exclusion – on AFSPA
Source: This post is created based on the article ‘Extended exclusion – on AFSPA’ published in The Hindu on 30th Sep, 2023.
Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 – Internal Security
News: The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) will remain in effect in the hill areas of Manipur for another six months from October.
This decision comes amidst the ongoing violent ethnic conflict between the Meitei and the Kuki communities since May.
Why is the decision to extend AFSPA in the hill area criticized?
The decision to exclude the Imphal valley from AFSPA imposition has been criticised by many sections in the state. The army feels that absence of the law is hampering its operations against insurgent groups in the area. These groups may be using the unrest to gain a foothold in the State.
On the other hand, it is also being seen as another instance of the government’s partisan conduct.
What is the rationale provided by the government for its decision?
The decision to maintain the status quo on ‘disturbed areas’ might be due to the challenges in assessing the ground situation amidst ongoing law and order maintenance.
What should be done?
Given the tensions between the community and the Assam Rifles, there’s a risk of escalating conflicts. The Centre needs to prioritize reconciliation efforts between the two communities to prevent further deterioration.
On semiconductors, jugaad won’t do
Contents
Source: The post is based on the article “On semiconductors, jugaad won’t do” published in The Indian Express on 30th September 2023.
Syllabus: GS 3 – Indigenization of Technology, Growth & Development
Relevance: Benefits and challenges associated with setting up semiconductor fabrication unit in India.
News: India is finally building its first semiconductor fabrication unit, which is a significant advancement for the country, promising both economic and geopolitical advantages.
How has India’s industrial policy evolved from the 1970s to the present day?
Unlike the 1970s when people had a negative view of a protected or tariff-controlled economy, today, there is more acceptance of industrial policies that support specific sectors, and protectionism is no longer seen negatively.
Further, India’s economy has grown a lot in recent years. It is now the third-largest economy in the world in purchasing power parity terms, and people in India are consuming more goods and services.
What potential benefits can the new semiconductor fabrication unit bring to the country?
India is a leader in the design of semiconductors, and many Indians and people of Indian origin work for top tech companies around the world. However, India’s manufacturing sector is still not very strong.
Therefore, India’s new semiconductor fab has the potential to help the country make more parts and components, and to create more jobs for skilled workers.
What challenges are associated with establishing a semiconductor fabrication unit in India?
India needs a culture of excellence for semiconductor success. Indian products often fall short in last-mile aspects like packaging, after-sales service, and finishing touches due to “jugaad” instead of innovative solutions.
Further, a lack of international standards has encouraged subpar products and boosted the repair industry’s growth. Additionally, irregular power supply issues have resulted in expensive captive power plant construction.
However, jugaad won’t work for semiconductors as they can’t handle power fluctuations, even the slightest interruption can lead to million-dollar losses.
Hence, semiconductor manufacturing process must be perfect, packaging must meet high standards, and transportation impeccable.
Must Read: Semiconductor manufacturing in India: significance and challenges
What can be the way ahead?
China spent decades moving up the value chain, while India is just beginning. Hence, to succeed, India must link areas of excellence with the broader economy.
Until this integration occurs, new semiconductor fabs will need safeguards from market and government failures, similar to the way ISRO was protected to achieve excellence, including lunar missions.
As illicit trade booms, seizure mount
Source: The post is based on the article “As illicit trade booms, seizure mount: 3.5 tonnes of gold, 18 crore cigarette sticks and 90 tonnes of heroin caught in FY23” published in The Indian Express on 30th September 2023.
Syllabus: GS 3 – Internal Security – Linkages of Organized Crime with Terrorism
Relevance: Findings of the report related to organized crimes in India
News: A report titled ‘Hidden Streams: Linkages Between Illicit Markets, Financial Flows, Organised Crime and Terrorism’ has been released recently by FICCI CASCADE.
What are the key findings of the report?
Illicit Financial Flows – Value Gap India (2009-2018): India has faced significant financial losses from misinvoiced imports and exports, with import misinvoicing alone causing a $9 billion loss in government tax revenue.
Additional losses come from uncollected value-added tax (VAT), customs charges, and corporate income tax.
Between 2009 and 2018, misinvoicing caused a total value gap of over $674.9 billion, leading to significant revenue losses to the government.
Terror and Crime in India: Economic Impact of Violence for India: India spends a lot of money on fighting terrorism and crime because the country is facing a growing number of security threats. In 2021, it spent $1170 billion at PPP, equivalent to 6% of its GDP.
Approximately 80% of these expenditures are dedicated to security measures. The report predicts that as India’s economy expands, the expenses associated with addressing terrorism and crime will also rise.
Organised Crime and Illegal Economy in India: As per data from the Global Organized Crime Index (2021), India’s organized crime actors have a relatively low aggregate score of 4.3, compared to the global benchmark of 5.2 among 122 countries.
However, India’s criminal networks score is higher at 6, exceeding the 5.8 average due to their widespread involvement in illegal activities, including drug and human trafficking, as well as the illegal wildlife trade.
Further, India’s overall illegal economy scores is at 6.3, surpassing the 5-country average among 122 surveyed. (Chart 1)
This implies that India has fewer criminal actors but a wider involvement in illegal activities like drug and human trafficking, as well as the illegal wildlife trade.
Drug Economy in India: India’s proximity to major drug-producing regions like the Golden Triangle and Golden Crescent has led the transportation and distribution of controlled substances.
In recent years, drug trafficking in India has surged, with over twice as many drug seizures in 2014-2022 compared to 2006-2013. The report identified cannabis as the prevalent drug in India along with synthetic drugs and heroin surpassing the global average.
What lies ahead?
Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs Chairman Sanjay Kumar Agarwal stressed that combating illicit trade, including counterfeiting, smuggling, and tax evasion, is vital for preserving India’s economic stability.
Chart 1
Source: The Indian Express
Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)
Jharkhand CM writes to PM, seeks recognition of Sarna religious code for tribals
Contents
Source: The post is based on the article “Jharkhand CM writes to PM, seeks recognition of Sarna religious code for tribals” published in “Indian Express” on 28th September 2023.
What is the News?
Jharkhand Chief Minister has written to the Prime Minister seeking recognition of the ‘Sarna’ religious code for tribals.
What is Sarna religion?
Followers of Sarna faith regard themselves as belonging to a distinct religious group.
They are nature worshippers.The holy grail of the Sarna faith is “Jal (water), Jungle (forest), Zameen (land)”.
The followers of Sarna faith pray to the trees and hills while believing in protecting the forest areas.
Believers of Sarna faith do not practice idol worship, nor do they adhere to the concept of the Varna system, heaven-hell, etc.
The followers are largely concentrated in the tribal belt states of Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam.
What are Sarna faith people demanding?
Sarna followers are demanding to include ‘Sarna’ as a separate religion for indigenous people in the next census.
A separate ‘Sarna’ code in the census is the key to a distinct identity for tribals as without it, they are classified as Hindus or Muslims or Christians.
How will Sarna’s recognition as a separate religion help?
Recognition as a separate religious community will enable better protection of their language and history.
Law Commission against lowering age of consent under POCSO Act
Source: The post is based on the article “Law Commission against lowering age of consent under POCSO Act” published in “The Hindu” on 30th September 2023.
What is the News?
The Law Commission has recommended the government to retain the existing age of consent under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
What is the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act?
What are the recommendations given by the Law Commission on the POCSO Act?
Age of Consent in POCSO Act: The Law Commission has recommended the government to retain the existing age of consent under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.The current age of consent in India is 18 years.
– It said that reducing the age of consent would have a direct and negative bearing on the fight against child marriage and child trafficking.
Tacit Approval: The Law panel suggested amendments in the POCSO Act, 2012 for cases where children aged 16 to 18 give tacit approval, not legal consent.
– The panel also advised the courts to tread with caution even in cases related to adolescent love, where criminal intention may be missing. This will ensure that the law is balanced, thus safeguarding the best interests of the child.
Union Minister launches the Intelligent Grievance Monitoring System (IGMS) 2.0 Public Grievance portal and Automated Analysis in Tree Dashboard portal of DARPG
Source: The post is based on the article “Union Minister launches the Intelligent Grievance Monitoring System (IGMS) 2.0 Public Grievance portal and Automated Analysis in Tree Dashboard portal of DARPG” published in “PIB” on 30th September 2023.
What is the News?
The Union Minister of State for Personnel has launched the Intelligent Grievance Monitoring System (IGMS) 2.0 public grievance portal.
What is Intelligent Grievance Monitoring System (IGMS) 2.0?
IGMS is an artificial intelligence(AI) driven Grievance Monitoring System.
It aims to enhance the efficiency of the public grievance redressal process.
Developed by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) in collaboration with IIT Kanpur.
The system provides real-time analysis of grievances received and resolved, as well as state-wise and district-wise data.It also helps identify the root cause of grievances, allowing for targeted interventions.
Significance: In India, the common man raises around 20 lakh grievances annually on the CPGRAMS portal.However, manually classifying and monitoring these grievances is a challenging and time-consuming task.
– Therefore, the launch of the IGMS 2.0 Dashboard will significantly expedite the grievance redressal process, enabling the concerned ministries and departments to respond more effectively.
What is the Centralized Public Grievances Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS)?
Renewable Energy Company IREDA gets upgraded from ‘Schedule B’ to ‘Schedule A’ Central Public Sector Enterprise
Contents
Source: The post is based on the article “Renewable Energy Company IREDA gets upgraded from ‘Schedule B’ to ‘Schedule A’ Central Public Sector Enterprise” published in “PIB” on 30th September 2023.
What is the News?
Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) has been upgraded from ‘Schedule B’ to the ‘Schedule A’ category of Central Public Sector Enterprises.
How are CPSE’s grouped into different schedules?
The Department of Public Enterprises, Ministry of Finance has laid down criteria for initial as well as re-categorization of Central Public Sector Enterprises(CPSEs) into appropriate schedules.
All CPSEs are required to be categorized into four schedules, namely, Schedule ‘A’, Schedule ’B’, Schedule ‘C’ and Schedule ‘D’.
The categorization of CPSE has implications mainly for organizational structure and salary of Board level incumbents of the concerned CPSE.
What is Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd.(IREDA)?
IREDA is a Mini Ratna (Category–I) non-banking financial institution under the administrative control of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
It is a Public Limited Government Company established as a Non-Banking Financial Institution (NBFC) in 1987.
IREDA has been notified as a “Public Financial Institution” under section 4 ‘A’ of the Companies Act, 1956 and registered as NBFC with Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Purpose: It is primarily engaged in promoting, developing and extending financial assistance for setting up projects relating to new and renewable sources of energy and energy efficiency/conservation.
Motto: ENERGY FOR EVER
Funding: IREDA generates its revenue through the interest and principal repayments from the projects it finances, as well as by raising funds from the market and through borrowings.
How will IREDA elevation from ‘Schedule B’ to the ‘Schedule A’ category help?
The elevation of IREDA to the ‘Schedule A’ category opens the door for its upgradation from “Mini Ratna (Category– I)” to “Navratna” status.
This will grant increased financial autonomy to IREDA, allowing the organization to make more strategic decisions to further its commitment to accelerating the adoption of renewable energy solutions across the country.
PM’s call for Ek Tareekh Ek Ghanta Ek Saath could be world’s largest voluntary effort for a cleaner India
Source: The post is based on the article “PM’s call for Ek Tareekh Ek Ghanta Ek Saath could be world’s largest voluntary effort for a cleaner India” published in “PIB” on 30th September 2023.
What is the News?
Government of India has launched ‘Ek Tareekh Ek Ghanta Ek Saath’ Initiative.
What is Ek Tareekh Ek Ghanta Ek Saath?
It is an initiative focused on hardcore cleanliness activities, specifically shramdaan (voluntary labor) for the purpose of promoting cleanliness and sanitation in India.
The goal is to mobilize citizens to come together for one hour at 10 am on 1st October and work towards cleaning various public places.
This effort is meant to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, whose Jayanti (birthday) falls on October 2nd, and to honor his vision of a clean and hygienic India.
Significance: This initiative will help in visible cleanliness and promote a cleaner and more hygienic environment across the country.
What is Swachhata Pakhwada – Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2023?
22nd Law Commission submits report on e-FIR
Source: The post is based on the article “22nd Law Commission submits report on e-FIR” published in “PIB” on 30th September 2023.
What is the News?
The 22nd Law Commission of India has given several suggestions related to the electronic first information reports (e-FIR).
What are the recommendations given by the 22nd Law Commission report related to e-FIR?
e-FIR: At present, the electronic registration of FIRs is being implemented in eight states, but only for specific crimes.
– The Law Commission highlights that e-FIRs can be especially beneficial in areas where visiting a police station is not feasible due to security or infrastructural issues.It can also help overcome reluctance by police officers to file FIRs for petty offenses.
Limited roll out of e-FIR: The Law Commission has recommended allowing the filing of electronic first information reports (FIRs) for cognisable offenses in all cases where the accused is unknown and all cognisable offenses with a jail term of up to three years where the accused is known.
– Note: According to The Code of Criminal Procedure,1973 cognisable offences are those in which police officers can arrest an accused without a warrant or court permission, and are typically more serious such as murder, rape or abduction.
– Non-cognisable offenses are those in which police officers do not have the authority to arrest without a warrant.
Amendments: The commission has recommended suitable amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, Indian Evidence Act, 1872, the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Indian Penal Code,1860 and other legislation to support e-FIR registration.
Verification and Prevention of False Complaints: To prevent false e-FIRs and complaints, the Commission suggests verifying the complainant or informant through e-authentication techniques such as OTP verification of the mobile number and mandatory uploading of valid ID proof like Aadhaar or government-approved IDs.
– The Commission also recommends imposing a minimum punishment, including imprisonment and fines, for false registration of e-complaints or e-FIRs.
Exemptions: The Commission recommended against allowing registration of e-FIR in all cases.It referred to the Supreme Court’s landmark verdict in Lalita Kumari v. State of Uttar Pradesh, in which the court held that preliminary enquiry should be conducted in cases pertaining to matrimonial disputes, commercial offences, medical negligence and corruption, among others.
New guidelines propose no admissions to students below Class 9 at coaching centres
Source: The post is based on the article “New guidelines propose no admissions to students below Class 9 at coaching centers” published in “The Hindu” on 30th September 2023.
What is the News?
Rajasthan Government has issued guidelines to regulate coaching institutes in Kota, a coaching hub.
Who recommended these guidelines?
The guidelines were recommended by a high-powered committee headed by the Principal Secretary (Higher & Technical Education) of Rajasthan Government.
The committee was appointed to look into the issue of suicides by the students in the coaching hub of Kota.
In 2023, 23 students have died by suicide.This year has recorded the highest number of students’ suicides since 2013.
What are the key guidelines issued by the high-powered committee in Rajasthan?
– Students below Class 9 may not be admitted to coaching institutes.
– Confidentiality of test results is essential.
– Batches should be formed alphabetically rather than based on students’ ranks.
– There should be no glorification of toppers.
– No segregation of students based on their ranks.
– A policy should be formulated for an easy exit from coaching centers with a refund of fees within 120 days.
– Routine tests at coaching institutes were halted for two months to reduce mental pressure on students.