Daily Current Affairs for 15th Dec 2023

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GS PAPER: II

Indira Gandhi Peace Prize

Why in the news?

  • The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2023 has been jointly awarded to Daniel Barenboim and Ali Abu Awwad for their efforts in bringing together the youth and peoples of Israel and the Arab World for a non-violent resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
  • The International Jury of the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development chaired by former Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur observed that Mr. Barenboim and Mr. Awwad have fostered meaningful, mutual social, and cultural understanding, and peaceful public cooperation via the tools of music, dialogue and people’s participation.

Who is Maestro Barenboim?

  • Maestro Barenboim is an Argentine-born distinguished classical pianist and conductor, renowned for performing with and directing some of the leading orchestras in the world.
  • Apart from his musical achievements, he is also known for his relentless endeavour in using music to foster harmony in West Asia.

Who is Mr. Awwad?

  • Mr. Awwad is an eminent Palestinian peace activist who has been working tirelessly with the people of Palestine and Israel for a peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Born in 1972, he was raised in a politically-active refugee family.
  • Unable to meet each other while in prison for three years, he and his mother undertook a 17-day hunger strike, which resulted in achieving permission for a visit.

About Indira Gandhi Peace Prize

  • The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development was instituted in the memory of the former prime minister by a trust (Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust) in her name in 1986.
  • It consists of a monetary award of Rs 25 lakh along with a citation.
  • The award is given to individuals or organisations who work towards ensuring international peace and development, ensuring that scientific discoveries are used to further the scope of freedom and better humanity, and creating a new international economic order.

 

GS PAPER – III

Terror charges invoked in Parliament security breach case

Why in the news?

  • In a major security breach in the Lok Sabha, the Delhi Police invoked sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, an anti-terror law, against four accused persons, as well as sections of the Indian Penal Code related to criminal conspiracy, trespass, provoking a riot, and obstructing a public servant in the discharge of functions.

About UAPA

In order to protect India’s sovereignty and integrity, the Constitution (Sixteenth Amendment) Act, 1963 was passed, giving Parliament the authority to set reasonable restrictions on the-

  • Freedom of speech and expression;
  • Right to assemble peaceably and without arms; and
  • Right to form associations or unions.

Afterward, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967 was created to prevent organizations in India from engaging in unlawful activities.

This act is also referred to as the Anti-Terror Law.

However, in 2019 most recent amendment was made to the act (The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2019) which now empowers the Union Government to designate an individual as a terrorist after following the proper legal procedures.

Background of the UAPA Act

  • In the middle of the 1960s, the Union government was considering enacting strict legislation prohibiting demands for secession. A peasant rebellion in Naxalbari in March 1967 created a sense of urgency. To deal with it, the President issued the Unlawful Acts (Prevention) Ordinance in June 1966.
  • The Act allowed for the designation of an association or group of people as “unlawful” if they engaged in any activities that included actions, words, or statements that supported any claim to bring about “the cession of a part of the territory of India” or its “secession” or that questioned or denied the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
  • Prior to the UAPA’s enactment, associations were being declared unlawful under the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1952.  However, the Supreme Court ruled that the prohibitions clause was invalid since there was no judicial system in place to examine the legality of any restriction.
  • As a result, the UAPA incorporated provisions for a Tribunal that must confirm the notification declaring an outfit unlawful within six months.
  • In its current form, the Act, following amendments in 2004 and 2013, includes provisions to prevent the use of funds for terrorist purposes, including money laundering, the declaration of associations as unlawful, punishment for terrorist acts and activities, acts threatening the nation’s security, including its economic security.
  • Unlawful organizations were formerly prohibited for a period of two years, however, as of 2013, that timeline has been increased to five years.
  • The Act was further amended in 2019 to allow the government to designate an individual as a terrorist.

Extend of the UAPA of 1967

  • The act extends to the whole of India.
  • Anyone in our country who violates this Act’s provisions and is found to be responsible is subject to punishment under this Act.
  • Any person who commits an offense outside of India that is punishable by this Act would be treated in accordance with its provisions in the same way as if the offense had been committed within India.

The provisions of this Act apply also to-

  • Citizens of India outside India;
  • Persons in the service of the Government, wherever they may be;
  • Persons on ships and aircraft, registered in India, wherever they may be.

Declaration of an Association as Unlawful

  • As per UAPA, if the Central Government believes that a certain association is or has become an unlawful association; it may proclaim the association to be unlawful by publishing a notice in the Official Gazette.
  • Each of these notifications must state the grounds for their issuance.
  • No such notification shall take effect until the Tribunal has approved the declaration contained therein except:
  • The Central Government may, for reasons to be stated in writing, declare an association to be unlawful with immediate effect if it believes that circumstances exist that make such a declaration necessary.

Terrorist Organizations

The Central Government may, by order, in the Official Gazette:

  • Add an organization to the Schedule;
  • Add also an organization to the Schedule, which is identified as a terrorist organization in a resolution adopted by the Security Council to combat international terrorism;
  • Remove an organization from the Schedule;
  • Amend the Schedule in some other way.

Who can be called to be involved in terrorism?

An organization called to be involved in terrorism if it-

  • Commits or participates in acts of terrorism, or
  • Prepares for terrorism, or
  • Promotes or encourages terrorism, or
  • Is otherwise involved in terrorism.

Provision of Tribunal under UAPA

  • When a notification declares any association to be unlawful, the Central Government must, within thirty days, refer the notification to the Tribunal for the purpose of determining whether or not there is sufficient justification to declare the association to be unlawful.
  • The Central Government has the authority to appoint a single-member tribunal known as the “Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal” if and when required.
  • The appointment is done by the Central Government, Provided that-
  • The person shall be a Judge of a High court.
  • All the expenses related to the Tribunal shall be defrayed out of the Consolidated Fund of India.
  • In all matters arising out of the performance of its duties, the Tribunal shall have the authority to regulate its own procedure.
  • The Tribunal will have the same authority to conduct an investigation under this Act that a civil court would have under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.

 

GS PAPER – III

The Barracuda: India’s fastest solar electric boat

Why in news?

  • India’s fastest solar electric boat was ceremoniously launched at the Navgathi Panavally yard in Alappuzha.

Features of boat:

  • This boat was jointly developed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders and Navalt.
  • It is named after the swift long fish, is designed by Navalt for workboat purpose.
  • It has a top speed of 12 knots and a range of 7 hours on a single charge, the 14 metre long and 4.4 m wide vessel harness twin 50 kw electric motors , a marine grade LFP battery and 6 KW solar power.
  • It is engineered to navigate through waves as tall as four metres and operates without noise, vibration and air pollution.

What is Navalt Solar?

  • It is country’s prominent marine tech company specialising in the manufacturing of solar electric vessels and decarbonising the maritime sector.
  • It was awarded the world’s best start-up under the mobility and transportation category at the Berlin start up energy Transition Awards 2023.

 

GS PAPER – III

Supreme Court Guideline: on following CBI manual related to Personal digital devices

Why in news?

  • A case was filed by foundation for media professionals in SC for the urgent need on guideline for seizures of personal digital devices.
  • The Supreme Court on 14th December ordered the centre to adhere to directives in CBI manual.

What is the case?

  • 300 devices seized from 90 Journalists.
  • It was amounted to the violation of their right to privacy and it has risk of losing their life’s work when police carry off their computers and drives after raid.
  • In Pegasus case the privacy became another concern.

What is the recent update?

  • Sc ordered the centre to adhere to directives in the CBI manual to protect the integrity of personal data stored in electronic devices seized during searches conducted.
  • The court said procedure under the CBI manual would be followed till the centre brings out new guidelines in six weeks.
  • The things which are in consideration are CBI manual, suggestion from the petitioners in the case and Karnataka cyber crime investigation manual.
  • Government will need maximum of three months to finalise and court listed the case on February 6.

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