. No. Topic Name Prelims/Mains 1.      About the Digital India Prelims & Mains 2.      Details of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India Prelims & Mains 3.      About the PM CARES Fund Prelims & Mains 4.      Details of the Dragon Fruit Cultivation Prelims Specific Topic 1 – About the Digital India:GS II Topic à Government Policies and Interventions ·       The Core Values of the Digital India Vision Are: ·       Digital infrastructure is a resource for all citizens. ·       On-demand services and governing. ·       Citizens’ digital empowerment   ·       Objectives: ·       to get India ready for a knowledge-based future. ·       Realizing that IT Will Be the result of IT Plus IT (Indian Talent) (Information Technology) ·       placing a focus on technology to support change.   ·       The various Digital India Programs’ plans: ·       The Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing, or The Diksha Initiative ·       It acts as the nation’s educational digital infrastructure. The most recent digital technology will be available to every teacher in the country. ·       eNAM: This pan-Indian electronic trading platform, which was introduced on April 14, 2016, connects Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) from all the States. ·       eSanjeevani is the brand name of the telemedicine service platform run by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. ·       DigiBunai: DigiBunai enables weavers to convert saree designs into loom-compatible files and generate digital artwork. ·       The Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) project was started by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) to offer street vendors low-interest loans. It encourages street vendors to adopt digital transactions. ·       The contact tracing programme Aarogya Setu was one of the digital solutions suggested by the Covid-19. ·       A number of significant government programmes, such as BharatNet, Make in India, Startup India and Standup India, industrial corridors, etc., are available through the Digital India programme.   ·       Important accomplishments: ·       Enhanced Electronic Payments: The UPI’s debut made digital payments more popular all around the nation. ·       UPI’s aid with payments and transactions benefits everyone, from major enterprises to independent street vendors. ·       Additionally, it motivates other private actors to offer substitutes for digital payments, which have drastically changed the Indian economy ·       Simplified Business Processes: To assist businesses in streamlining their operations, the Electronic Customer Identification System (e-KYC), the Electronic Document Storage System (DigiLocker), and the Electronic Signature System (eSign) were developed. ·       The JAM Trinity and Beyond The JAM trinity—Jan Dhan, Aadhar, and Mobile—was initially turned on to stop system leakage. The entire Covid immunisation programme was started by this one small action, making India the only country after the United States to administer 20 crore COVID 19 Jabs.   ·       Next Steps: ·       A variety of problems, including taxation challenges, limited infrastructure, bad internet, a lack of cooperation among various institutions, and digital illiteracy, are impeding its proper implementation. For this programme to succeed to the fullest, a number of challenges must be overcome. ·       Here are six specific steps that could help India become the new digital benchmark as we commemorate six years since the launch of Digital India. India is using 4.0 to help it achieve its goals and reach a five trillion dollar GDP. ·       Promoting a scientific approach in which judgments are made without regard to perception. ·       Lower gadget prices and easier access to data, particularly for smartphones. ·       Accelerated technology and constant connectivity (5G, 6G). ·       High-caliber information in the local tongue. ·       A dedicated environment for ombudsmen, grievance representation, and dispute resolution that is safe and secure online. ·       Finally, more government services will be made available online and more agencies will interact with one another. electricity in plenty, green technologies, and renewable energy ·       Agritech, health tech, smart cities, e-governance, retail management, and simple banking and payment solutions can now be implemented thanks to Digital India, which has been building the infrastructure for years. Source à The Indian Express  2 – Details of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India:GS II Topic à Appointment to various Constitutional Posts ·       Introduction: ·       The Indian Constitution’s Article 148 designates the Comptroller and Auditor General as an autonomous office (CAG). ·       He is one of the pillars of India’s democratic system of government and the chairman of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department. ·       He is in charge of overseeing the nation’s whole financial system on both the federal and state levels as the protector of the public purse. ·       In the area of financial management, he is responsible for respecting the Indian Constitution and parliamentary rules.   ·       Constitutional Conditions for the CAG Office:   ·       Article 148 provides a general overview of the CAG’s appointment, oath, and responsibilities. ·       The duties and authority of India’s Comptroller and Auditor General are covered under Article 149. ·       According to Article 150, the President may establish a format for the Union and State accounts based on suggestions from the CAG. ·       At the request of the President, the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India shall provide reports on the financial statements of the Union to each House of Parliament. ·       Section 279: The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India determines and certifies the calculation of “net proceeds,” and his or her certificate is definitive.   ·       Appointment, Timeframe, and Removal: ·       Th President of India signs and seals a warrant that names the CAG. ·       The CAG shall serve in that capacity until they reach the age of 65 or for a term of six years, whichever occurs first. ·       He is free to resign whenever he wants by sending a letter to the president. ·       He can be removed from office by the president using the same justifications and procedures as a justice of the Supreme Court. In other words, the president has the power to oust him if both Houses of Parliament pass a resolution to that effect with a special majority, either on the grounds of proved malfeasance or incapacity.   ·       To guarantee and

  . No. Topic Name Prelims/Mains 1.      About the Curative Petition Prelims & Mains 2.      Details of the Lumpy Skin Disease Prelims & Mains 3.      About the International Atomic Energy Agency Prelims & Mains 4.      Details of the Government e-Marketplace Prelims Specific Topic 1 – About the Curative Petition:GS II Topic à Judiciary Related Issues ·       Origin: ·       Ashok Hurra and another case (2002), which addressed the question of whether a party who had been wronged was still entitled to any relief against the Supreme Court’s final ruling or order even after a review petition had been denied, is where the Supreme Court of India first conceptualised the curative petition. ·       Objectives: ·       Its two main objectives are to stop both legal system abuse and miscarriages of justice. ·       Constitutional Background: ·       The curative petition concept is supported by Article 137 of the Indian Constitution. It declares that the Supreme Court has the power to review any decision made (or order issued) by it on rules and laws approved in accordance with Article 145. Within 30 days of the date of the decision or judgement, a petition of this kind must be filed.   ·      Procedure: ·       A curative petition may be filed when a review plea challenging the verdict is denied. ·       The case may be taken into consideration if the petitioner can demonstrate that the natural justice principles were disregarded and that the court neglected to hear him before issuing a decision. ·       It must be uncommon as opposed to frequent. ·       A bench of the three senior-most judges and, if available, the judges who made the pertinent decision must first receive a curative petition. The majority of the judges believe that the matter shouldn’t be scheduled before the same Bench unless a hearing is necessary. ·       The Bench may, at any moment while it is considering the curative petition, ask a seasoned attorney to act as an amicus curiae (Friend of the court). ·       Judges normally rule on curative petitions in chambers unless a specific request for an open court hearing is granted.   ·       Rejection Standards: ·       If the Bench decides at any moment that the petition lacks validity, the petitioner can face penalties. Source à The Hindu 2 – Details of the Lumpy Skin Disease:GS II Topic à Health Related Issues ·       About: ·       It is caused by a virus called the Capripoxvirus and is “an escalating concern to animals globally.” ·       It has genetic origins with the viral groups that cause goatpox and sheeppox. ·       Due to vectors like blood-feeding insects, the main targets for infection are cattle and water buffalo. ·       Symptoms: Round, hard nodes that resemble lumps will appear on the animal’s skin or hide. ·       excessive secretions coming from the lips and nose.   ·       Spread: ·       Because the disease is not zoonotic, humans cannot get it and it does not spread from animals to humans. ·       LSD has only been discovered in Africa and a tiny area of West Asia since its discovery in 1929. ·       In Asia and the Pacific, North West China, Bangladesh, and India were the first locations to record it in 2019.   ·       Treatment: ·       Immunization is the most effective strategy to control the condition because there is no known treatment for it. ·       When an animal has fully recovered, it is no longer vulnerable to infection and cannot spread it to other animals. LSD control and eradication depend on early discovery followed by a quick and widespread immunisation programme. ·       Source à The Indian Express   3 – About the International Atomic Energy Agency:GS II Topic à International Organizations  ·       About: ·       The international centre for atomic and nuclear cooperation is the IAEA. It is the UN’s property. In cooperation with its member countries and a wide range of partners, it supports the use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. ·       Origins and History of the IAEA: ·       The IAEA was influenced by the address given by former US President Dwight Eisenhower to the UN General Assembly in 1953. ·       This was the organization’s first name and address when Atoms for Peace was formally created in 1957. ·       The UN organisation known as the IAEA is headquartered in Vienna, Austria. ·       The promotion of secure, safe, and peaceful nuclear technologies is still the fundamental objective of the organisation. ·       There are 171 members of it at the moment. The newest member of the IAEA is Saint Lucia, which joined in 2019. ·       India became a member of the group in 1957. ·       The IAEA ensures the peaceful use of nuclear technologies in order to advance both the Sustainable Development Goals and global peace and security (SDGs). ·       The organization’s current director general is Rafael Mariano Grossi. ·       The IAEA and Mohamed ElBaradei, the organization’s former director general, were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005. ·       Despite being an independent international organisation, the IAEA sends the UNGA a report every year. ·       The IAEA has regional offices in Geneva, New York, Toronto, and Tokyo. Also home to research facilities are Austria, Italy, and Monaco.   ·       The IAEA’s activities: ·       The responsibilities of the IAEA are discussed below: ·       Encouraging and assisting in the development and peaceful application of nuclear technologies. ·       Putting in place and overseeing safety precautions to ensure that the IAEA’s research, development, and other activities aren’t used for hostile ends. ·       Applying the stringent, all-encompassing safeguards required by the NPT and other international agreements in non-nuclear weapon states (NNWS) that have ratified such agreements.   ·       The IAEA’s activity is divided into three primary areas: ·       Safety and security ·       both science and technology ·       Security and certification ·       Iran has given IAEA inspectors access to one of the two sites where undocumented nuclear activities may have taken place in the early 2000s. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran Nuclear Deal, was signed in 2015 by Iran and

    . No. Topic Name Prelims/Mains 1.      About the Disqualification of MLAs Prelims & Mains 2.      Details of thePegasus Virus Prelims & Mains 3.       About the Sub Categorization of OBCs Prelims & Mains 4.      Details of the Aircraft Carrier Vikrant Prelims Specific Topic 1 – About the Disqualification of MLAs:GS II Topic à Election Related Issues ·       According to the constitution, a person is ineligible to hold a position in the Legislative Council (MLC) or the Legislative Assembly (MLA) if they: ·       he occupies any lucrative position with the Indian government, a state, or another entity that the state has designated. ·       Any competent court may declare any member insane. ·       He is either bankrupt, insolvent, or has a charge sheet. ·       He is not a citizen of India. ·       He has formally sworn allegiance to a foreign government or opted to become a citizen of another nation.   ·       According to Schedule 10 of the Anti-Defection Act, a person is ineligible to serve as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) or Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) if: ·       An elected official willingly renounces their political party membership. ·       Any instructions supplied by his political party or anybody else with the power to do so are disregarded by an elected member of such a House when he votes or abstains from voting. ·       Under the Representation of the People (RP) Act of 1951, a person is disqualified to serve as a member of the Legislative Assembly or the Legislative Council if they are deemed responsible for participating in unethical election-related behaviour. ·       Any person guilty of a crime and sentenced to jail time in accordance with Sections 8 (1), (2), and (3).   ·       Office of Profit: ·       The term “office of profit” is not defined in the Constitution. ·       However, sections 102 (1) and 191 (1), which put the concept of an office of profit into practise, established restrictions on MPs holding federal and state government positions.   ·       Guidelines for determining whether a business is profitable: ·       Four broad notions have arisen for determining whether a position is susceptible to the constitutional disqualification. ·       Whether the government has the power to appoint, remove, and carry out the duties of the office. ·       Regardless of whether the employment is paid in any way, ·       Whether the person holding the post has the power to influence through patronage and whether the organisation where the office is held has government authority (releasing funds, allocating land, awarding licences, etc.). Source à The Hindu 2 – Details of the Pegasus Virus:GS III Topic à Internal Security of India ·       About: ·       It is a type of spyware that falls under the category of malware. ·       Its purpose is to covertly access devices, gather user data, and then relay that data to whoever is using the software to spy. ·       Pegasus was developed by the Israeli business NSO Group, which was created in 2010. ·       The first known iteration of Pegasus, which researchers discovered in 2016, targeted phones via spear-phishing, a technique for deceiving a target into clicking on a malicious link in text messages or emails. ·       But since then, NSO’s offensive powers have increased. So-called “zero-click” attacks, which are successful without the phone owner’s assistance, can lead to Pegasus infections. ·       These usually make use of “zero-day” vulnerabilities, or operating system flaws or issues that the phone’s maker is not yet aware of and hence has not been able to fix.   ·       Targets: ·       International human rights campaigners, journalists, and lawyers have been the targets of phone spyware distributed to despotic countries by an Israeli intelligence agency. ·       Government officials, opposition figures, and Indian ministers are included on the list of people whose phones may have been compromised by the spyware. ·       In 2019, WhatsApp filed a lawsuit against Israel’s NSO Group in a US court, alleging that the firm was launching cyberattacks against the service via malware infections on mobile devices.   ·       Recent Indian events: ·       The Cyber Surakshit Bharat Initiative was launched in 2018 with the aim of increasing public awareness of cybercrime and strengthening the capacity of frontline IT staff and Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) across all government ministries. ·       The National Cybersecurity Coordination Center (NCCC) was founded in 2017 to monitor incoming internet traffic and communication metadata—tiny bits of information tucked away inside each communication—to spot cyberthreats in real time. ·       Developed in 2017, the Cyber Swachhta Kendra platform enables internet users to clean their computers and other electronic devices by getting rid of viruses and spyware. ·       Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C): I4C has just had its official launch by the government. ·       India has also developed a nationwide reporting system for cybercrime. ·       The primary organisation that deals with cybersecurity issues like phishing and hacking is CERT-IN (Computer Emergency Response Team – India).   ·       Legislation: ·       Information Technology Act of 2000 ·       Personal Data Protection Bill of 2019 ·       Organizations operating Internationally: ·       The development and standardisation of telecommunications and cyber security issues are significantly influenced by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialised organisation within the United Nations. ·       By harmonising national laws, advancing investigative techniques, and encouraging more international cooperation, the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime seeks to combat Internet and computer crime (cybercrime). It came into force on July 1st, 2004. ·       This agreement has not been ratified by India.   Source à The Indian Express 3 – About the Sub Categorization of OBCs:GS II Topic à Government Policies and Interventions ·       About: ·       The Central List’s Other Backward Classes (OBCs) Sub-categorization was the focus of the Commission’s inquiry. ·       The extension is in effect from July 31, 2021, through January 31, 2022, for an extra six months.   ·       This has the following benefit: ·       The “Commission” will be able to provide a comprehensive report on the topic of sub-categorizing OBCs after speaking with several stakeholders thanks to the anticipated

    . No. Topic Name Prelims/Mains 1.      About the Monuments of National Importance Prelims & Mains 2.      Details of the National Food Security Act Prelims & Mains 3.      About the G 20 Prelims & Mains 4.      Details of the Yakshagana Prelims & Mains 1 – About the Monuments of National Importance:GS I Topic à Art and Culture Related Issues ·       The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 defines an ancient object as any building, sculpture, inscription, etc. that has been around for more than 100 years. ·       About ASI: ·       The Ministry of Culture’s Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is the leading agency for conducting archaeological studies and preserving the nation’s cultural heritage. ·       Functions: The ASI’s principal focus is the preservation of historically significant ancient monuments, archaeological sites, and relics. Furthermore, it enforces the 1958 requirements of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, which govern all archaeological activity in the nation. The Antiquities and Art Treasure Act of 1972 is also governed by it. ·       In order to dig and preserve India’s old building history, Alexander Cunningham served as the first Archaeological Surveyor of India (ASI), which was established in 1861 by a statute signed into law by Canning. ·       The Archaeological Survey of India is the Nodal Agency for Designating Monuments of National Importance (ASI). ·       A national monument is what? The Ancient Monument and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, defines “Ancient Monument.” According to the Act, an ancient monument is any building, monument, cave, rock art, or inscription that has historical or archaeological significance. Additionally, an ancient monument must have been in existence for at least 100 years. ·       The Monuments of National Importance are to be preserved, protected, and promoted by the Central Government. ·       Sites: The Archaeological Survey of India is currently responsible for safeguarding 3,691 monuments across the country (ASI). Uttar Pradesh had the most of them, followed by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.   Source à The Indian Express 2 – Details of the National Food Security Act:GS II Topic à Government Policies and Interventions ·       The 2013 National Food Security Act (NFSA): ·       Goal: To ensure that people have access to enough good food in sufficient quantities at costs that allow them to live respectably throughout their whole life cycle. ·       75% of the rural population and up to 50% of the urban population are covered by the Targeted Public Distribution System, which provides subsidised foodgrains (TPDS). ·       NFSA serves 67% of the entire population as a whole.   ·       Eligibility: ·       Priority TPDS coverage for households is required, per State government regulations. ·       households that are subsidised by the current Antyodaya Anna Yojana. ·       Provisions: ·       A person should consume 5 kg of food each month at a cost of Rs. 3/2/1 per kg of rice, wheat, or coarse grains. ·       35 Kg of foodgrains will continue to be given to each existing AAY home each month. ·       Meals and maternity benefits for expectant moms and nursing mothers that total at least Rs. 6,000 during pregnancy and the first six months following childbirth. ·       meals for young people up to age 14. ·       Beneficiaries receive a food security stipend if their meals or food grains are not provided as required. ·       creating state and district-level channels for handling complaints.   ·       Number of Beneficiaries: ·       As of now, here were 9.01 crore people, or around 2.37 crore households, participating in Antyodaya Anna Yojana. ·       While the prioritised households consist of almost 70.35 crore people. ·       The NITI Aayog’s recommendations are important because: ·       The overall number of persons covered will rise from the current 81.35 crore to 89.52 crore, an increase of 8.17 crore, if the rural-urban coverage ratio stays the same (67% of the total population) (based on the projected 2020 population). ·       This will result in an increased subsidy demand of Rs. 14,800 crore. ·       The Center might save up to Rs. 47,229 crore if the national coverage ratio were to be lowered lower. ·       The government can use this amount of savings to address other crucial issues, like health and education.   ·       Problems with the Move: ·       The underprivileged segment of society will be burdened by both food insecurity and unemployment during the Covid-19 pandemic. ·       Some of the states might be against the move. ·       Other suggestions: ·       Shanta Kumar’s HLC (High Level Committee) had suggested lowering the coverage ratio from 67% of the population to 40%. ·       It states that a coverage rate of 67% of the population is excessive and should be reduced to somewhere around 40%, which will comfortably include BPL households and others who earn even more. ·       The Central Issue Prices (CIP) of foodgrains released from the central pool, which have remained fixed for a number of years, have been suggested for adjustment in the Economic Survey- 2020-21.   Source à The Hindu 3 – About the G 20:GS II Topic à International Relations ·       About: ·       The G20 is a loose coalition of 19 nations, the EU, and officials from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. ·       The largest advanced and rising economies in the world make up the G20 membership, which collectively accounts for more than 80% of global GDP, 75% of global commerce, and 60% of global population.   ·       How did the G20 get started? ·       This ministerial-level meeting was created as a result of the G7 inviting both developed and developing nations to discuss the 1997–1999 ASIAN Financial Crisis. Meetings between central bank governors and finance ministers first started in 1999. ·       The globe recognised the need for new consensus building at the highest political level during the 2008 Financial Crisis. The G20 leaders will henceforth meet once a year, it was determined. ·       The G20 finance ministers and central bank governors continue to meet separately twice a year to help prepare for these summits. They get together at the same time as

    . No. Topic Name Prelims/Mains 1.      About the Brahmos Missile Prelims & Mains 2.      Details of the Benami Property Law in India Prelims & Mains 3.      About the Plea of Remission Prelims & Mains 4.      Details of the Defamation in India Prelims & Mains 1 – About the Brahmos Missile:GS III Topic à Science and Technology Related Issues ·       Background: ·       The Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme was started by Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam at the beginning of the 1980s, and it went on to produce a variety of guided missiles with a wide range of capabilities and ranges, including the Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Akash, and Nag. ·       Early in the 1990s, India’s strategic leadership understood the need for cruise missiles, which are guided missiles that precisely deliver heavy payloads over great distances while travelling almost constantly for the majority of their flight paths. ·       The need was primarily made clear by the use of cruise missiles in the Gulf War. ·       An international agreement was signed in Moscow in 1998 by Dr. Kalam, the head of the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), and N. V. Mikhailov, the Russian Federation’s deputy defence minister at the time. ·       As a result, BrahMos Aerospace was developed by DRDO and NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOM), a joint venture in which India and Russia each own 50%. ·       In 1999, the two governments provided cash to the DRDO and NPOM laboratories, which they used to begin building missiles.   ·       About: ·       The booster engine of the two-stage BrahMos missile uses solid fuel. ·       Before disengaging, the first stage of the missile drives it to supersonic velocity. ·       The liquid ramjet or second stage of the missile accelerates it as it travels, bringing it closer to three times the speed of sound. ·       The missile is stealthy because it may travel in a variety of directions and has a very small radar signature. ·       The “fire and forget” type missile can reach the target from a cruising altitude of 15 km and as low as 10 m. ·       Cruise missiles like the BrahMos are launched at a distance that allows the attacker to avoid defensive counterfire and are referred to as “standoff range weapons.” ·       The BrahMos has a top speed that is three times quicker than subsonic cruise missiles, a flying range that is 2.5 times longer, and a higher range. ·       An improved-range BrahMos air-launched missile was recently tested using a Sukhoi-30 MKI. ·       The recently launched INS Visakhapatnam recently tested a sophisticated sea-to-sea BrahMos variant.   ·       Future: ·       As a result of the evolving requirements of multi-dimensional warfare, the BrahMos is undergoing significant advancements, and efforts are being made to build variants with higher ranges, manoeuvrability, and accuracy. ·       The models that are now being tested have ranges of up to 350 km as opposed to the original’s 290 km. ·       Versions with hypersonic speed and even greater ranges—up to 800 km—are allegedly in the works. ·       Additionally, efforts are being made to improve the functionality of the present versions while reducing their size and signature.   Source à The Hindu 2 – Details of the Benami Property Law in India:GS II Topic à Corruption Related Issues ·       What is benami property? ·       Benami (without a name) property is defined as real estate acquired in another person’s name. The person who made the purchase is known as the benamdar, and the asset is known as the benami asset. The person who provided the financing is the real owner. ·       What actions are considered as benami transactions? ·       Examples of assets include anything that is moveable, immovable, tangible, intangible, any right or interest, or legal documents. As a result, benami could include even gold or financial assets.   ·       The Benami Transaction (Prohibition) Act of 1988 governs: ·       The Act outlines methods for seizing benami assets and prohibits benami transactions. ·       When someone acquires or transfers property that has been purchased or supplied for by another person, it is known as a benami transaction. ·       What does the 2016 Benami Transactions (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act aim to accomplish?   ·       Amendments to the 1988 Benami Transaction (Prohibition) Act include: ·       Benami transactions should be redefined to encompass a wider array of prospective legal remedies. ·       What are the penalties for using Benami transactions? ·       Establish tribunals and adjudicating bodies as well as an appellate court to handle Benami transactions. ·       The Bill exempts anyone from the Benami Act who reveal their benami properties through the income disclosure system. ·       According to the bill, “property” refers to both movable and immovable, tangible and intangible things. If a property is jointly held, the tax payer must present financial documentation.   ·       Prohibition of Benami Transactions Amendment Act 2016: ·       Violators of benami transactions risk a fine and up to 7 years in prison. ·       Dissemination of false information is punishable by a fine and a maximum five-year jail sentence. ·       Government expropriation of Benami properties is permitted without compensation. ·       The starting officer may order that property be kept in possession. The initiating officer may then refer the situation to the adjudicating authority, who will consider the evidence and make a determination. ·       The appellate tribunal hears appeals against judgments rendered by the adjudicating body. The High Court may hear appeals regarding decisions made by the Appellate Tribunal.   ·       Why were these amendments required? ·       To effectively criminalise Benami transactions and so discourage law-breaking through unethical behaviour, allowing the Union Government to seize Benami property through legal means. ·       The Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Bill was developed to tackle domestic black money. Source à The Indian Express 3 – About the Plea of Remission:GS II Topic à Judiciary Related Issues ·       Context: ·       Recently, utilising the 1992 remission policy rather than the 2014 one, a commission constituted by the Gujarat government released all 11 defendants in the Bilkis Bano case.   ·       The Laws That

  . No. Topic Name Prelims/Mains 1.      About the Review Petition Prelims & Mains 2.      Details of the United Nations Security Council Prelims & Mains 3.      About the Organic Farming Prelims & Mains 4.      Details of the Chabahar Port Prelims & Mains   1 – About the Review Petition:GS II Topic à Judiciary Related Issues ·       Constitutional provision: ·       Under Article 137 of the Constitution, the Supreme Court’s decisions or orders may be challenged. ·       Overview of the Review’s Petition: ·       The Court may review its rulings only to correct a “patent error” and not “minor faults of small importance.” A review is in no way an underhanded appeal. ·       This suggests that the Court is allowed to correct major errors that resulted in a miscarriage of justice rather than reexamining the case from the beginning.   ·       submitting a petition for review: ·       In accordance with the Civil Procedure Code and the Supreme Court Rules, anyone who considers that a decision is incorrect may ask for it to be reviewed. This implies that not every party to a lawsuit needs to ask for a review of the judgement. ·       The review petition must be submitted within 30 days of the ruling or order’s date. ·       The court may occasionally grant a petitioner’s request for an extension of time to file a review petition if they can provide convincing justifications for the delay.   ·       Motives for Considering the Review Petition ·       It should be emphasised that the Court does not evaluate each review petition that is submitted. Once the justification for the request has been proved, it solely utilises its discretion to grant a review petition.   ·       The Supreme Court has established three grounds for requesting a review of a judgement it has rendered: ·       the discovery of fresh, pertinent facts or proof that, after reasonable diligence, the petitioner was unaware of or unable to provide; ·       mistake or error that is evident from the surface of the record; or ·       any additional sufficient defence that is comparable to the other two defences. ·       Judicial procedure: ·       Review petitions are typically decided without the oral arguments of counsel. The judges hear it “through circulation” in their hearing rooms. ·       However, in exceptional cases, the court will allow an oral hearing. A panel of three judges must evaluate review petitions in all cases involving the death penalty in front of the public, the Supreme Court declared in a 2014 decision. ·       Review petitions are heard by the same judges who made the original order or judgement that is being appealed.   ·       Alternatives if Review Petition is denied: ·       In the Roopa Hurra v. Ashok Hurra case, the court introduced the idea of a curative petition, which may be heard after a review petition is denied (2002). Whatever the case, the Supreme Court’s ruling cannot be considered unjust. ·       A curative petition is comparable to a review petition in that it is often not given an oral hearing and is only reviewed on a very small number of reasons.   Source à The Hindu 2 – Details of the United Nations Security Council:GS II Topic à International Relations ·       About: ·       The Security Council was established by the UN Charter in 1945. It is one of the six main organisations of the UN. ·       The UN’s remaining 5 institutions are the General Assembly (UNGA), Trusteeship Council, Economic and Social Council, International Court of Justice, and Secretariat. ·       Its main responsibility is to support the maintenance of global peace and security. ·       The council’s headquarters are in New York.   ·       Members: ·       The fifteen members of the council are composed of five permanent members and ten non-permanent members appointed for two-year terms. ·       The five permanent members are the United States, the Russian Federation, France, China, and the United Kingdom. ·       India became a non-permanent member of the UNSC last year (2021), joining for the ninth time. It will be a council member from 2021 to 2022. ·       The General Assembly elects five of the 10 non-permanent members annually for tenure of two years. According to regions, the 10 non-permanent seats are distributed. ·       Each month, the 15 council members that make up the body rotate holding the presidency.   ·       Power to vote: ·       Each member of the Security Council has one vote. Decisions are made by the Security Council by a majority vote of nine members, including the permanent members. In the event that one of the five permanent members votes “no,” the resolution cannot be approved. ·       Whenever the Security Council deems that a member’s interests are particularly harmed, any UN member who is not a member of the Security Council is allowed to participate in discussions without having a vote.   ·       India and UNSC: ·       India significantly contributed to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights’ (UDHR) writing in 1947–1948 and passionately denounced apartheid in South Africa. ·       India has helped shape policies on a variety of issues, including as the UN’s admission of former colonies, resolving deadly conflicts in the Middle East, and maintaining peace in Africa. ·       It has significantly aided the UN, particularly in maintaining world peace and security. ·       India has sent more than 160,000 soldiers and many police officers to 43 peacekeeping missions. ·       Given its population, geography, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), economic potential, civilisational legacy, cultural diversity, political system, and historical and current contributions to UN activities, India’s demand for a permanent seat on the UNSC is absolutely reasonable.   ·       UNSC issues include the following: ·       Lack of meeting records and minutes: ·       The UNSC doesn’t follow the same rules as the rest of the UN, and none of its meetings are ever recorded. ·       Additionally, there isn’t a “text” of the meeting available for discussion, correction, or opposition.   ·       UNSC power struggle: ·       The veto authority of the UNSC’s five permanent members is out of date in today’s world. ·       The

  . No. Topic Name Prelims/Mains 1.      About the Rule of Law Prelims & Mains 2.      Details of the Cloudburst Events Prelims & Mains 3.      About the Polio Virus Prelims & Mains 4.      Details of the Aadhar Voter ID Linkage Prelims & Mains 1 – About the Rule of Law:GS II Topic à Constitution Related Issues ·       Meaning: ·       The term “rule of law,” which was initially used in England, has found acceptance in India. The rule of law is mentioned in Article 13 of the Indian Constitution. ·       No one is above the law, regardless of their position or standing, and everyone is subject to the judgement of normal courts of law, to put it simply. ·       The concept of the rule of law states that no one should be subjected to arbitrary or harsh treatment. ·       The phrase “rule of law” refers to the idea that the law must apply to individuals or groups of individuals rather than to a man or a ruler. ·       “Legal principles of broad application, recognised by the governing bodies or authorities, and formulated in the form of an axiom” is how Black’s Law Dictionary defines “rule of law.” ·       A situation where the law controls the state and every one of its citizens is referred to as a “rule of law” in the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary.   ·       The rule of law in India and the constitution: ·       All three branches of government are subject to the Constitution since the judiciary, the legislature, and the executive must not only abide by its provisions but also carry them out. ·       Judicial review is expressly acknowledged by the Constitution, and people are free to approach the High Court and the Supreme Court to uphold their constitutional rights. If the Executive or the government abuses their power or acts dishonestly, ordinary courts of law have the ability to annul those actions. ·       The idea of the rule of law, which in this case refers to the ability of the legal system to judge all administrative action according to the legality standard, is the fundamental and most distinctive aspect of our constitutional system, according to the Supreme Court of India in Chief Settlement Commissioner Punjab v. Om Prakash. ·       The Court went on to say that the idea of a dual state, in which government action is maintained in a privileged position of immunity from judicial inspection, is rejected by the rule of law concept.   Source à The Hindu 2 – Details of the Cloudburst Events:GS I Topic à Geography related issues ·       About: ·       Cloudbursts are brief, powerful downpours that occur in specific locations. ·       Unexpected precipitation that exceeds 100 mm per hour across a 20 to 30 square kilometre area is referred to as this meteorological phenomenon. ·       It frequently occurs in the Indian Subcontinent as a monsoon cloud travels from the Arabian Sea or the Bay of Bengal up to the Himalaya, crossing the plains and occasionally dumping up to 75 millimetres of rain every hour.   ·       Occurrence: ·       The relative humidity and cloud cover are at their maximum levels due to the low temperatures and little winds, which can cause many clouds to condense quickly and produce a cloudburst. ·       When temperatures rise, the sky can hold more and more moisture, and this moisture can rain as a quick, intense downpour for a short while, generally a half or an hour, generating flash floods in mountainous areas and urban floods in cities. ·       Cloudbursts are sudden, heavy downpours that are different from rain because rain is simply condensed water falling from a cloud. ·       Rainfall that surpasses 100mm per hour is referred to as a cloudburst. ·       The cloudburst comes naturally, but it does so abruptly, extremely unexpectedly, and with a lot of rain.   ·       Effects of climate change: ·       Numerous studies have shown that cloudbursts will become more common and intense as a result of climate change in many regions of the world. ·       The annual average global temperature is projected to momentarily increase to 1.5°C over pre-industrial levels in at least one of the following five years, according to the World Meteorological Organization, which stated this possibility in May 2021. ·       A 90% likelihood exists that at least one year between 2021 and 2025 would surpass 2016 as the warmest year on record, according to the report. ·       It is noted that there are more cloudbursts there since the decadal temperature rise in the Himalayan region is greater than the rate of temperature rise globally.   ·       Prediction: ·       Since cloud bursts expand swiftly, there is no accurate way to estimate when they will happen. ·       An expensive, very precise network of radars is required to determine the possibility of a cloud burst. ·       Only the areas most likely to suffer high rainfall can be identified on a short-range basis. Much of the damage can be avoided by understanding the locations and meteorological factors that encourage the development of cloud bursts.   Source à The Indian Express 3 – About the Polio Virus:GS II Topic à Health related issues ·       About: ·       The crippling and potentially fatal viral infection known as polio damages the nervous system. ·       There are three distinct wild poliovirus strains, each different from the others in terms of immunology: ·       Wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) ·       Wild poliovirus type 2 (WPV2) ·       Wild poliovirus type 3 (WPV3) ·       The same symptoms, such as irreversible paralysis or even death, are present in all three strains. Due to genetic and virological differences, these three strains are unique viruses that must each be eradicated separately. ·       Spread: ·       The virus is most frequently transmitted from person to person through faeces and the mouth, while it can also happen less frequently through a shared vehicle (for example, through contaminated water or food). ·       The majority of affected children are under five years old. The virus develops in the colon before moving