Supreme Court Restores Minority Status to Aligarh Muslim University (AMU)
The SC set aside the 1967 S. Azeez Basha judgment which had ruled that the AMU lacked minority status being established for Muslims.
It ruled that neither the fact that an institution was statutorily created nor governmental funding derailed the minority character of an institution.
It noted that what mattered is the “brain behind” the institution, a principle that must be found while determining its minority character, to that extent, the Article 30(1) rights for religious and linguistic minorities are well-supported.
NTPC Launches World’s First CO₂ to Methanol Plant in Vindhyachal
NTPC’s new produces methanol by synthesizing CO2 captured from a flue gas from a PEM electrolyzer.
This technology reduces energy demands for methanol production and supports India’s ‘Methanol Economy’.
Energy storage is enhanced, importing dependence on oil is decreased, and carbon capture utilization efforts are boosted.
India’s Diplomatic Re-engagement with Afghanistan
India reopened selective contacts with Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban, which set up a technical team for humanitarian assistance.
Over 3,000 Afghan students were awarded scholarships in 2023, and India attended the Afghanistan Regional Cooperation meeting in Kabul.
Main concerns include to balance Pakistan’s power, maintaining regional order, and protecting strategic investments such as the Salma Dam and Zaranj-Delaram highway.
Global Conference on Ending Violence Against Children in Bogotá
Co-hosted by the countries of Colombia, Sweden, UNICEF, and WHO, the conference reviewed child maltreatment, which affected 50% of children in the world.
Three out of five children face corporal punishment at home, which causes mental health issues and dropout at school.
Some proposals made for preventing it include digital safety, anti-bullying programs, and child exploitation prevention.
SC Rules Compromise Invalid for Sexual Assault Cases under the POCSO Act
The SC has upheld the contention that under the POCSO Act cases relating to sexual assault cannot be compounded due to its significant societal consequence.
Citing the case of 2019 Laxmi Narayan the court asserted, that the crime against society can never be bargained
POCSO Act being gender-neutral the crime against child sexuality attracts draconian penalty and the same can extend even up to capital punishment also.
Scheme for Strengthening the Medical Device Industry Launched
Launched ₹500 cr scheme for the development of the Indian medical device sector as a self-reliant initiative
Key constituents are support for R&D labs, skill development, and clinical studies
Target Market is $30 bn by 2030.
Challenges high import dependency, lack of infrastructure, and low capital investment.
Supreme Court Rules on NCLT Operational Challenges
The SC emphasized problems of staff and operational issues at NCLT that led to inefficiencies in handling insolvency and restructuring cases.
Founded under the Companies Act, decisions of NCLT can be appealed at NCLAT and further in the Supreme Court, which are final appeals.
Key Terms and Concepts
Article 30(1): It ensures that the rights of the linguistic and religious minorities are granted for establishing and running educational institutions.
Methanol Economy: An initiative by which methanol becomes an alternate fuel to reduce dependence on oil and the emission of harmful gases.
POCSO Act: A law is created that protects a child against sexual abuse, in which ample penalties are laid based on the category of offenses.
NCLT and NCLAT: They deal with disputes relating to the company law and insolvency matters, under the Companies Act, 2013.
Government schemes: The Government of India has launched a Medical Device Industry Scheme, where the focus is given to the development of infrastructure, skill development, and R&D to boost the Indian medical device sector.
