THE VERITY LIBERATE

 ~Preet. The fifth summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) grouping was recently held in Colombo, Sri Lanka (Host for the Fifth Summit).  The primary consequence of this meeting was the signing of the BIMSTEC Charter. The members were supposed to convene once every two years under this Charter. The BIMSTEC now has a worldwide presence as a result of the Charter. It has an emblem and a flag.  It has a formally stated goal and values to which it will adhere. In keeping with the organization's evolution into a formal structure, the leaders of the member nations have decided to split the group's operations into seven sectors, with India leading the security pillar. The Master Plan for Transport Connectivity, which will establish a framework for regional and domestic connectivity, was announced at the summit. A pact on mutual legal aid in criminal proceedings was also signed by member countries. A Memorandum of Agreement

 ~Preet The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) just released its flagship State of World Population Report 2022, titled "Seeing the Unseen: The Case for Action in the Neglected Crisis of Unintended Pregnancy." The United Nations Population Fund is a UN General Assembly subsidiary that acts as a sexual and reproductive health institution. The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC) determines its mandate. It was created in 1967 as a trust fund and began operating in 1969. The United Nations Population Fund was formally renamed in 1987, although the previous term, 'UNFPA' for the United Nations Fund for Population Activities, was kept. UNFPA works directly to address the SDGs for health (SDG3), education (SDG4), and gender equality (SDG5) (SDG5). UNFPA is exclusively funded by voluntary contributions from donor governments, international organisations, the business sector, foundations, and individuals, rather than the UN budget. Every year between

 ~Preet. The Union government has informed the Supreme Court (SC) that state governments can now confer minority status to any religious or linguistic group, including Hindus. The Supreme Court had sought the Union government's answer in a petition seeking directives for the development of standards for recognising minorities at the state level. The term "minorities" appears in a few articles of the Constitution but is never defined.  The petition claimed that Hindus are a'minority' in six Indian states and three Union Territories yet were allegedly unable to benefit from minority-specific initiatives. Plea According to the 2011 census, Hindus have become a minority in Lakshadweep (2.5%), Mizoram (2.75%), Nagaland (8.75%), Meghalaya (11.53%), J&K (28.44%), Arunachal Pradesh (29%), Manipur (31.39%), and Punjab (38.40 percent ). In these states, they should be granted minority status in accordance with the concept established by the Supreme Court in its 2002 TMA

 ~Preet. Australia has announced the formation of a new Defence Space Command Agency to counter the rising influence of Russia and China in space. It will assist Australia in defining and lobbying for space-related goals within the government, business, friends, and even international partners.  The agency will teach individuals to be space specialists, assist in strategic space planning, and be able to participate in any changes addressing the refining of space policy. With the agency in place, Australia will determine scientific and space goals while also aiming to create an efficient space infrastructure. All of the agency's activities – including design, building, and maintenance – will be subject to the Defence Ministry of Australia's requirements and constraints. The notion of space weaponization emerged in the early 1980s as part of the United States' "Strategic Defense Initiative," commonly known as the "Star Wars" programme. The plan was to thro

 ~Preet. In a recent decision, the Supreme Court ruled that a state legislature has the authority to levy taxes on lotteries run by other states within its jurisdiction. Previously, the Karnataka High Court ruled that substantial provisions of the Karnataka Police (Amendment) Act, 2021, which prohibited internet gambling and skill-based gaming platforms, were unconstitutional. The Supreme Court ruled in 2020 that lottery, gaming, and betting are taxed under the 2017 Goods and Services Tax (GST) Act. The decision was made in response to appeals filed by the governments of Karnataka and Kerala against decisions of their respective High Courts to overturn laws enacted by their legislatures to tax lotteries organised and promoted by the states of Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Manipur in Kerala, and Karnataka. The High Courts ruled that the two states' tax rules were unlawful and unconstitutional, and ordered Kerala and Karnataka to repay the money received as tax from lotteries

 ~Preet The government recently began the process of amending criminal legislation such as the Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Indian Evidence Act. In this quest, the Ministry of Home Affairs has solicited input from a variety of stakeholders, including Governors, Chief Ministers, the Chief Justice of India, Chief Justices of several High Courts, and others. Previously, the 111th, 128th, and 146th Parliamentary Standing Committee reports urged a complete overhaul of the country's criminal justice system. During British administration in India, criminal laws were codified, and they remain largely unchanged even in the twenty-first century. Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay is credited as being the primary architect of India's criminal law codifications. The Indian Penal Code, 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, among other laws, govern criminal law in India. Criminal law is seen as the most visible manifestation

 ~Preet The 2021 World Air Quality Report was just issued, and it provided an assessment of the situation of global air quality in 2021. IQAir is a Swiss organisation that assesses air quality based on the concentration of Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5. IQAir seeks to engage, educate, and motivate governments, researchers, non-governmental organisations, businesses, and individuals to collaborate in order to enhance air quality and promote healthier communities and cities.  The 2021 World Air Quality Report was just issued, and it provided an assessment of the situation of global air quality in 2021. IQAir is a Swiss organisation that assesses air quality based on the concentration of Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5. IQAir seeks to engage, educate, and motivate governments, researchers, non-governmental organisations, businesses, and individuals to collaborate in order to enhance air quality and promote healthier communities and cities.  Air pollution is currently regarded as the world's

 ~Preet. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has wheeled out its Artemis I lunar mission to the launchpad for testing at Florida's Kennedy Space Center.  NASA's Artemis project, named after Apollo's twin sister in Greek mythology, is billed as the next phase of lunar exploration. Artemis is also the moon goddess. It is the first in a series of more sophisticated missions that will allow humans to explore the Moon and Mars. NASA's Artemis programme seeks to place people on the moon by 2024, as well as to land the first woman and person of colour on the moon. NASA will build an Artemis Base Camp on the Moon's surface and a gateway (a lunar outpost orbiting the Moon) in lunar orbit to facilitate robot and astronaut exploration. The gateway is a vital component of NASA's long-term lunar activities, serving as a multi-purpose outpost in lunar orbit. Other space agencies are also participating in the Artemis programme. The Canadian Space Agency ha

 ~Preet. A two-judge panel of the Supreme Court recently gave a divided ruling on whether Section 155(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure shall apply to the investigation of an offence under Section 23 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act, 2012. (POCSO). A police officer cannot investigate a non-cognizable offence without the direction of a Magistrate, according to Section 155(2) CrPC. Section 23 of the POCSO addresses the offence of disclosing the identify of the victim of a sexual offence. One of the judges stated that disclosing the identity of a child who is a victim of sexual offences or who is in dispute with the law is a basic violation of the kid's right to dignity, as well as the right not to be embarrassed.  Child sexual abuse is a multifaceted issue that has a detrimental influence on children's physical safety, mental health, well-being, and behavioural characteristics. Child abuse and exploitation have been exacerbated by mobile and digital techn

 ~Preet. The Japanese Prime Minister recently paid an official visit to India to attend the 14th India-Japan Annual Summit. The Summit took place at the 70th anniversary of the beginning of diplomatic ties between the two countries, as well as India's 75th anniversary of independence. Earlier, the Indian Prime Minister virtually launched a Japanese 'Zen Garden - Kaizen Academy' at Gujarat's Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA). Japan will invest Rs 3.2 lakh crores in India over the next five years. 7 JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) loans to several states for projects in connectivity, water supply and sewage, horticulture, healthcare, and wildlife protection. Japanese firms have inked an agreement to introduce Johkasou technology for decentralised wastewater treatment in India. It is utilised in locations where sewage infrastructure has yet to be built. The Sustainable Development Initiative for the North Eastern Region of India was launched with a focus

 ~Preet. The European Space Agency's ExoMars 2022 mission will not launch as scheduled in September 2022, since the agency has halted all collaboration with Russia's space programme Roscosmos. Previously, Russia's space agency ROSCOSMOS stated that it will not work with Germany on cooperative experiments in the Russian component of the International Space Station (ISS). It is a two-stage project, with the first stage launched in 2016 atop a Proton-M rocket, consisting of the European Trace Gas Orbiter and a test lander dubbed Schiaparelli. The orbiter was successful, but the test lander failed on its way to Mars. The second stage of the mission, which includes a rover and a surface platform, was initially scheduled for July 2020. However, due to technological difficulties, it was postponed until September. The European Space Agency (ESA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) were the original ExoMars collaborators, however NASA withdrew out in 2012 ow

 ~Preet Saudi Arabia recently killed 81 individuals, including seven Yemenis and one Syrian person, for terrorism-related and other capital offences. As a result, the Iranian government has suspended discussions with the nation. Both countries have had strained diplomatic relations for a long time. Regional foes Iran and Saudi Arabia, which broke diplomatic ties in 2016, will hold direct talks in 2021, sponsored by Iraq, as UN-led attempts to resolve a conflict in Yemen fail. In Iraq, they had four rounds of discussions. Religious conflicts dating back centuries have strained relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran. They each adhere to one of Islam's two major branches. Iran is predominantly Shia Muslim, whereas Saudi Arabia considers itself to be the foremost Sunni Muslim power. Historically, Saudi Arabia, a monarchy and the cradle of Islam, considered itself as the Muslim world's leader. However, in 1979, the Islamic revolution in Iran produced a new sort of state in the area

 ~Preet. While hearing a criminal appeal against the Bihar government, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) recently chastised a counsel for submitting a'sealed cover report' to the court. Courts have regularly used sealed cover jurisprudence in recent years, for example, in the Rafale Fighter Jet Deal 2018, 2014, the BCCI Reforms Case, the Bhima Koregaon Case 2018, and so on.  It is a practise utilised by the Supreme Court and sometimes lesser courts of requesting or accepting material from government entities in sealed envelopes that only judges may open. While the theory of sealed cover is not defined by law, the Supreme Court draws its authority to apply it from Rule 7 of Order XIII of the Supreme Court Rules and Section 123 of the Indian Evidence Act of 1872. According to Rule 7 of Order XIII of the Supreme Court Rules, if the Chief Justice or court directs that certain information be kept under sealed cover or is of a confidential nature, no party will be permitted to access

~Preet. A Delhi court has granted bail to a former Congress (Political Party) councillor in a charge brought under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967 (UAPA) in connection with the 2020 anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, (CAA) rallies.  The CAA grants citizenship to six undocumented non-Muslim communities (Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians) who entered India on or before December 31, 2014, from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. It exempts members of the six communities from prosecution under the Foreigners Act of 1946 and the Passport Act of 1920. The two Acts outline the penalties for illegally entering the country and staying on expired visas and permits. The court granted release to the accused notwithstanding the prosecution's argument that there were limits inherent in Section 43D(5) of the UAPA, a clause that makes bail almost hard to award since it allows little opportunity for judicial reasoning. The defence contended that Section 4

Maternal Mortality in India 2017-19. ~Preet. The Registrar General of India's Sample Registration System (SRS) just published the most recent special bulletin on Maternal Mortality in India (2017-19). According to the World Health Organization, maternal death is defined as the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of a pregnancy termination from any cause connected to or worsened by the pregnancy or its care. The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) is defined as the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births within a certain time period. The Ministry of Home Affairs is in charge of the Registrar General of India.  Aside from conducting the Population Census and monitoring the implementation of the Registration of Births and Deaths in the country, it has been providing fertility and mortality estimates using the Sample Registration System (SRS). SRS is the country's biggest demographic sample survey, providing direct estimates of maternal mortality through a nation

The Reserve Bank of India's $5 billion dollar-rupee swap idea. ~Preet. As part of its liquidity management programme, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently held a USD 5 billion dollar-rupee swap auction. This action will result in the injection of dollars and the evaporation of the rupee from the financial system. This will relieve inflationary pressures and boost the rupee. It is a forex technique in which the central bank purchases another currency with its own currency or vice versa. Swap of Dollars and Rupees: The central bank purchases dollars (US dollars or USD) from banks in exchange for Indian rupees (INR) and then immediately enters into a counter-deal with banks pledging to sell dollars at a later date. When the central bank sells dollars, it pulls out an equivalent amount of rupees, diminishing rupee liquidity in the economy. Because the transaction conditions are predetermined, there are no exchange rate or other market risks with these swap transactions.  The RBI so

UNESCO to protect Ukraine's heritage sites.  ~Preet. In light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has recently advocated for preventive measures to safeguard Ukraine's threatened cultural legacy.  To prevent intentional or unintentional destruction, the agency is labelling cultural sites and monuments throughout Ukraine with the unique "Blue Shield" logo of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. UNESCO is a United Nations specialised organisation (UN). It aims to promote peace via worldwide collaboration in education, science, and culture. It was established in 1945 and is headquartered in Paris, France. It is made up of 193 members and 11 associate members. India became a member of UNESCO in 1946. The United States and Israel formally left UNESCO in 2019.  Armed wars have always wreaked devastation on people's lives throughout

Guardianship of Minors: All about it. ~Preet Recently, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in Madras High Court requested that all records include the mother's name in addition to the father's. Changes to the requirements for Passport and Permanent Account Number (PAN) cards have recently occurred, allowing an applicant to provide their mother's name if she is a single parent. However, this remains an annoyance when it comes to school certificates and other paperwork that require the father's name as the guardian. PAN is a method of recognising different types of taxpayers in the country. The Ministry of External Affairs liberalised its passport issue procedures and took a number of initiatives in December 2016. Certain amendments were made in response to the suggestions of a three-member committee comprised of the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Women and Child Development that investigated different issues with passports for children following di

The Democracy Report 2022: what it says. ~Preet According to the newest analysis from Sweden's University of Gothenburg's V-Dem Institute, the average worldwide citizen's degree of democracy in 2021 is down to 1989 levels, with the post-Cold War period's democratic achievements fading swiftly in recent years. The title of the report is 'Democracy Report 2022: Autocratisation Changing Nature?' Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) creates the world's biggest democracy dataset, containing over 30 million data points for 202 nations from 1789 to 2021. The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance previously issued the Global State of Democracy Report, 2021. (International-IDEA).  The research categorises nations into four regime categories based on their Liberal Democratic Index (LDI) scores: Liberal Democracy, Electoral Democracy, Electoral Autocracy, and Closed Autocracy. Based on 71 factors that comprise the Liberal Component Index (LCI) and th