Must Read News Articles I 27th February 2020

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Trouble lurks behind the bilateral bonhomie

The article talks about the recent visit of USA president Donald Trump to India. It stresses on the increasing cooperation between two countries in the sectors like defence, energy, counter terrorism etc. However, it also mentions the where full potential of bilateral relations have not been realised (such as trade).

When court pronounces a verdict, without giving reasons
Recently, a nine ­judge Bench of the Supreme Court resorted to a non­-speaking order. 

Time and again, the Supreme Court has un­equivocally  endorsed and underlined the requirement of giving reasons in support of an order. It has often chastised subordinate in­ stitutions for their failure to supple­ment their orders with reasons.

The article highlights that that non – speaking orders undermine judicial integrity.

Cabinet approves bill to regulate surrogacy

The Union Cabinet has approved the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2020, which allows widows and divorced women to be surrogate mothers. The Bill aims to ensure effective regulation of the surrogacy service by banning commercial surrogacy and allowing altruistic surrogacy

The bill incorporated all recommendations made by 23-member Rajya Sabha Select Committee, which studied an earlier version of the draft legislation.

The amended bill is reformed version of the draft legislation which was passed by Lok Sabha in August 2019 

In place of “close relative”, the bill has now proposed that the surrogate mother should be “willing” woman.

The Bill proposes to regu­late surrogacy by establish­ing a National Surrogacy Board and State Surrogacy Boards  and appropriate authorities in the States and Union Territories respec­tively. The proposed insu­rance cover for a surrogate mother has now been in­ creased to 36 months from 16 months earlier.

When to call in the Army

The article highlights that the Armed Forces are called in by civil power when public security is in “manifest danger” from an unlawful assembly

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Still no finality, third time around

On January 27, nine Bodo groups signed an agreement (memorandum of settlement) with the Centre and the Assam government in New Delhi. It promises more legislative, exec­utive an administrative autono­my under the Sixth Schedule to Bodoland  Territorial Council (BTC) and expansion of the BTC territory in lieu of statehood. The Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD), the autonomous region governed by BTC, will be known as Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) after demarcation of the augment­ed territory.

Since 1987, Bodo groups have fought, often violently, for a separate state called Bodoland to be carved out of Assam as a designated homeland for the community.

The agreement does not have any provision for separate state for Bodos.  Instead, it seeks to “augment area and powers” of the existing Bodoland Territorial Council and “streamline its functioning”.

The article argues that there are indications that the new Bodo accord does not spell closure of the statehood movement by Bodo group.

Centre to revamp IT Act

Minister for Electronics and IT has said that the government will soon kick­start the process of re­vamping the nearly 20­year old Information Technology Act, 2000, with an aim to bring it in tune with the technological advancements with a focus on stronger fra­mework to deal with cyber­ crimes

Cabinet gives clearance for Technical Textile Mission

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the setting up of a National Technical Textiles Mission at a total outlay of ₹1,480 Crore. The aim is to position the country as a global leader in technical textiles and in­crease the use of technical textiles in the domestic mar­ket. The Mission will be imple­mented for four years from2020­-2021 and will have four components.