Top News Highlights- 16 July 2024

India Joins UN-led Conference on Afghanistan in Doha

• Objective: To find ways to improve the lives of Afghan people under Taliban rule.
• Participation: India is one of 25 countries participating, supplementing previous efforts such as the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue and Moscow Format consultations.
• Significance: A peaceful and stable Afghanistan is crucial for regional connectivity, security, energy resources, and curbing drug trafficking.
• India’s Role: Although India has not officially recognized the Taliban, it is providing humanitarian aid, continuing educational scholarships, and monitoring projects in Afghanistan.

Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill, 2024

• Purpose: To curb ‘Urban Naxalism’ which involves recruiting, propagandizing, and funding naxals in urban areas.
• Key Provisions: The bill allows declaring organizations unlawful and grants power to district magistrates or police commissioners for prosecution.
• Difference from Rural Naxalism: Urban Naxalism is less centered on violence but more on logistical and ideological support.

Air Pollution’s Impact on Pollinators

• Study Findings: Air pollution disrupts scent trails, impairing bees’ and wasps’ ability to locate flowers, mates, or prey, with ozone being the most harmful pollutant.
• Impact on Agriculture: Pollination, essential for plant reproduction, is severely affected, which can reduce crop yields and biodiversity.

Gram Nyayalayas: Status and Challenges

• Objective: To provide affordable and quick justice to citizens at their doorsteps.
• Key Features: These mobile courts have civil and criminal jurisdiction and settle disputes through conciliation.
• Issues: Poor implementation with only 309 functional out of 6,000 required Gram Nyayalayas, and non-mandatory establishment by states.

Vibrant Village Programme (VVP)

• Objective: Comprehensive development of selected villages along the northern border in Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and Ladakh.
• Key Features: Focus on skill development, livelihood generation, tourism, and financial inclusion to improve border security through community participation.

Supreme Court Asserts Powers of Central Information Commission (CIC)

• Genesis: CIC is a statutory body under the Right to Information Act, of 2005, to ensure greater access to information for Indian citizens.
• Functions: Receiving and inquiring into complaints under the RTI Act.
• Recent Development: The Supreme Court has affirmed that the CIC has the power to constitute benches and frame regulations.

Key Terms and Descriptions

1. Urban Naxalism: Refers to the ideological and logistical support of Naxal activities in urban areas, distinct from the rural, violent Naxalism.
2. Gram Nyayalayas: Mobile village courts established under the {Gram Nyayalayas Act 2008 are intended to provide quick and accessible justice.
3. Vibrant Village Programme (VVP): A centrally sponsored scheme for developing villages along the northern border to enhance security and promote community involvement in border management.
4. Central Information Commission (CIC): A statutory body under the RTI Act, 2005, responsible for ensuring public access to information and handling RTI complaints.