Top News Highlights- 27 August 2024

Supreme Court’s Ruling on Anticipatory Bail under SC/ST Act

• Key Judgement Insight: The Supreme Court has clarified that the bar on anticipatory bail under Section 18 of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act does not apply unless a prima facie case under the Act is established.
• Judicial Interpretation: Intention to humiliate based on caste identity is crucial for applying the SC/ST Act.
• Legal Reference: Section 438 of the CrPC dealing with anticipatory bail is overridden by Section 18 of the SC/ST Act only under specific conditions.

BioE3 Policy Approval

• Policy Focus: The BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment) aims to foster high-performance biomanufacturing.
• Economic Impact: It supports the Net Zero carbon economy and promotes a circular bio-economy, potentially doubling the biotech sector to $300 billion by 2030.
• Key Benefits: Establishment of Biomanufacturing & Bio-AI hubs to accelerate technology development and commercialization.

Left Wing Extremism Eradication Plan

• Government Stance: The Home Minister announced that LWE will be eradicated by March 2026 through combined security and developmental measures.
• Strategic Measures: Includes the SAMADHAN strategy, fortified police stations, and development programs like Eklavya Model Residential Schools.
• Current Challenges: Persistent socio-economic issues and governance gaps fuel LWE in affected regions.

Unified Pension Scheme Introduction

• Pension Reform: The new Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) merges the benefits of the Old and New Pension Schemes, effective from April 2025.
• Financial Security: Provides assured family pensions and inflation indexation, aiming to enhance retirement security for government employees.

Expansion of Lakhpati Didi Initiative

• Economic Empowerment: The initiative aims to increase the number of SHG members earning over ₹1 lakh annually to 3 million by the next fiscal year.
• Support Mechanisms: Includes financial inclusion through the SHG-Bank Linkage Program and marketing support via SARAS Collection on the Government e-Marketplace.

Vigyan Dhara Scheme Consolidation

• Research and Development: This unified scheme aims to bolster S&T capacity building and align research efforts with the Anusandhan National Research Foundation.
• Strategic Impact: Expected to strengthen India’s R&D landscape and enhance efficiency in fund utilization across merged schemes.

Key Concepts and Policies

• SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989: Aims to prevent offenses against SC/ST communities, with special courts and relief measures for victims.
• BioE3 Policy: Supports bio-based product manufacturing through biotechnological advancements, contributing to sustainable and economic growth.
• Unified Pension Scheme (UPS): Combines features of previous pension schemes to provide a stable and predictable pension income for retirees.
• Lakhpati Didi Initiative: Part of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission, it fosters financial empowerment among women in rural India.
• Vigyan Dhara: Aims at S&T capacity building and integrating various research and development schemes under one umbrella to enhance India’s scientific research ecosystem.