Syllabus: GS-II

Subject: Polity

Topic: Institutions

Issue: Law Commission of India

Context:  22nd Law Commission recommendations.

• The commission recommended that criminal defamation should be retained within the scheme of criminal laws in India.
• The right to reputation is derived from Article 21 (Right to life and personal liberty) of the Constitution and hence needs to be protected.
  • The recommendation is aligned with the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Subramanian Swamy case.
  • The case affirmed the constitutionality of criminal defamation under Section 499 of the IPC 1860, as a reasonable restriction under Article 19(2) of the Constitution.

Law Commission of India

• An executive body established by an order of the Government of India.
• Function : To research and advise the government on legal reforms.
• 22nd Law Commission was appointed with Justice Rituraj Awasthi as the chairperson.

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS-III

Subject: Environment, Ecology and Disaster Management (B)

Topic: Renewable Energy

Issue: Pradhan Mantri Suryoday Yojana

Synopsis:

• Centre will effectively bear the entire cost of setting up rooftop solar systems for households that consume less than 300 units of electricity per month.
• Public sector units such as NTPC will identify households and install RTS(rooftop solar) systems free of cost.
• Households with a consumption over 300 units also can use the scheme. However, they would be required to fund 40% of the cost.

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS-III

Subject: Economy

Topic: Agriculture and allied sector

Issue: Bharat Rice

Tags: #Bharat_rice #NAFED #NCCF

Context: The government to start selling Bharat Rice at ₹29 a kg in the retail market.

Synopsis:

• Objective: To control prices and provide relief to consumers and check inflationary trends in the food economy.
• Bharat Rice will be made available in 5 kg and 10 kg packs through the NAFED,NCCF and Kendriya Bhandar.
• The government is already selling Bharat Atta and Bharat Dal (chana) to keep a lid on inflation.
• Measures taken to curb rice inflation:
  • Export restrictions imposed.
  • The stock position of all rice categories will have to be declared on the portal of the department of food and public distribution every week.

National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing  Federation of India Ltd (NAFED)

• NAFED was set up in 1958 with the objective to promote Cooperative marketing of agricultural produce to benefit the farmers.
• Registered under the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002.
• It has become a major agricultural procurement and marketing agency in India.

National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India (NCCF)

• Established in 1965,it functions as the apex body of consumer cooperatives, promoting the consumer cooperative movement.
• Registered under the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002.

Kendriya Bhandar

• The Central Govt. Employees Consumer Cooperative Society Ltd. popularly known as Kendriya Bhandar was set up in 1963 as a welfare project for the benefit of Central Govt. employees and public at large.
• Its objectives include – to obtain, distribute and market food stuffs, essential commodities and other consumer goods at reasonable prices.

Source: Mint

Syllabus: GS-III

Subject: Economy

Topic: Infrastructure

Issue: Capital Expenditure

Synopsis:

• The central government’s debt stood at 1% of GDP, at the end of March 2023.
• Debt-to-GDP ratio = (Public debt / GDP) * 100%

Source: Mint

Syllabus: GS-II

Subject: Polity

Topic: Directive Principles of State Policy

Issue: UCC in States.

Context: The five-member committee headed by retired Supreme Court Judge submitted The Uttarakhand UCC draft.

The key aspects of the report:

• Uttarakhand UCC draft exempts tribals, and prioritizes women’s equality.
• Bans polygamy, and fixes uniform marriage age across religions.
• Halala, iddat, triple talaq to be punishable offenses.
• Adoption rights to be uniform under the Juvenile Justice Act.
• Mandatory registration for live-in relationships is recommended.
• Expected to serve as a model for other states.

UCC

Syllabus: GS

Subject: Miscellaneous

Topic: Medal/Prizes

Issue: Kendriya Ghihmantri Dakshata Padak

Synopsis:

• This new medal replaces the Union Home Minister’s
  • Special Operation Medal.
  • Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Investigation.
  • Asadharan Aasuchana Kushalata Padak, and
  • Union Home Minister’s Awards for Meritorious Service in Forensic Science

• Recognizes achievements in areas like counter-terrorism, arms control, and prevention of narcotics smuggling.
• Eligible recipients include personnel from police forces, security organizations, intelligence wings, and forensic science departments nationwide.

Medal features Sardar Patel’s face on the obverse and the Ashoka Chakra on the reverse.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus: GS-III

Subject: Economy

Topic: Poverty

Issue: MPI

Context: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that 25 crore Indians were lifted out of poverty over the past decade, based on a discussion paper by NITI Aayog.

Summary:

1. Multidimensional poverty in India decreased from 29.17% in 2013-14 to 11.28% in 2022-23.
2. Health metrics rely on National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data, conducted every five years.
3. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh saw significant reductions in poverty, according to the study.

Source: Indian Express