Table of Contents
Special Topic: “horrendous acts of mobocracy”
• Supreme Court of India has again done the nation a service by breaking a silence.
• Chief Justice of India-led bench spoke on the shameful phenomenon of mob violence and vigilantism and lynching that has erupted frequently and flagrantly across states ruled by parties of all hues in recent days.
• Government has so far failed to acknowledge the gravity of the recurring crime.
• Opposition has also been a mute spectator
• The court asked the central and state governments to discharge their constitutional duty of maintaining law and order to ensure peace and protect the secular ethos.
• Governments were duty bound to ensure that rule of law prevailed in a democratic set-up and treat those indulging in violence as criminals needed stern punishment.
• Framing elaborate guidelines to prevent, remedy and punish mob lynching, the court, which recently sought the Centre’s response on allegations that its proposed social media hubs will profile social media users, ordered the Centre and states to curb circulation of inflammatory messages.
• The court must be applauded for the unambiguous way in which it has expressed its revulsion.
• The Apex Court has suggested measures and given guidelines, for prevention, redressal and punishment of the crime of mob violence.
• Designated fast track courts to try the culprits and prompt departmental action against police
officers and administrative officials who fail to uphold the law.
• The court has also recommended that a special law be framed by Parliament, creating a separate offence of lynching.
• These suggestions should now become the starting point for a wider exercise of consultation and discussion that involves the legislature, central and state governments.
• It is sobering that in 21st century India the apex court should call for a new law for lynching.
• The court’s words must be a reproach for and they must prod not just the legislature and executive, but also the people.
•How is mob violence to be defined?
• What will be the distinction, overlap or intersection between vigilantism, communal violence and hate crime?
• What will be the role of the Centre and the state in the framing of the law and its implementation?
• Can a law, howsoever well-framed, be effective in the absence of political will?
Lok Sabha
• Speaker Sumitra Mahajan today admitted the No Confidence Motion moved by the Opposition on the opening day of the Monsoon session of Parliament.
• The motion will be taken up for discussion on Friday.
• Seven hours have been alloted for the discussion, and voting will be held on the same day.
Cabinet
• Approved the signing of MoU amongst BRICS Nations on the Regional Aviation Partnership Cooperation viz. Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
• Salient features
• Public Policies and best practices in regional services;
• Regional Airports;
• Airport infrastructure management and air navigation services;
• Technical cooperation between regulatory agencies;
• Innovation;
• Environment Sustainability; including deliberation of global initiatives;
• Qualification and Training;
• Other fields as mutually determined
• The MoU signifies an important landmark in the civil aviation relations between India and other BRICS Member States and has the potential to spur greater trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchanges amongst the BRICS Nations.
• Ex-post facto approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Cuba on cooperation in the field of Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy. The MoU was signed on 22.6.2018.
• This will be of immense importance to both countries considering their shared cultural heritage.
• The Traditional Systems of Medicine in India are well organized, codified and well documented comprised of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Homoeopathy. These systems hold tremendous potential in the global health scenario. The Ministry of AYUSH having the mandate to promote, propagate and globalize these Traditional Systems has taken effective steps by entering into MoU with 10 countries for Cooperation in the field of Traditional Medicine.
• The MoU will facilitate better understanding of the regulatory aspects between the two sides and help in increasing India’s export of medical products to Cuba and better coordination in international fora.
• Ex-post facto approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), India and National Agency for Drug and Food Control (BPOM), Indonesia on cooperation in the field of pharmaceutical products, pharmaceutical substances, biological product and cosmetics regulatory functions. The MoU was on signed on 29th May, 2018 in Jakarta.
• The MoU is expected to forge better understanding about each other’s regulatory requirements and would be beneficial to both the countries. It could also facilitate India’s export of pharmaceutical products.
• It will also establish a framework for fruitful cooperation and exchange of information between the two countries in matters relating to Pharmaceutical products regulation on the basis for equality, reciprocity and mutual benefit.
• Further, it will facilitate better understanding between the regulatory authorities of the two countries.
• Ex-post facto approval of the “Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA)” signed in 2010 and Approval for fresh MRA between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CPA), Ireland for promotion of mutual cooperation framework for the advancement of accounting knowledge, professional and intellectual development, advancing the interests of their respective members and positively contributing to the development of the accounting profession in Ireland and India.
• The MRA will provide opportunities to members of both the parties to be exposed to best practices of either country and thus expand their scalability to cater to demand of newer markets.
• Approved Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF), Bahrain to work together to strengthen the accounting, financial and audit knowledge base within Bahrain.
• Salient Features:
• ICAI will provide technical assistance to BIBF by reviewing the current curriculum of BIBF related to accounting and finance;
• ICAI will recommend introduction of its CA Course curriculum that will facilitate BIBF students to write ICAI’s Examination with an aim to acquire membership of ICAI;
• ICAI will provide technical assistance in holding ICAI’s professional examination for qualified BIBF students;
• Approved signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and National Board of Accountants and Auditors (NBAA), Tanzania to establish mutual co-operation framework in the areas of Member Management,
Professional Ethics, Technical Research, Continuing Professional Development, Professional Accountancy Training, Audit Quality Monitoring, Advancement of Accounting Knowledge, Professional and Intellectual Development.
• The MoU will develop a mutually beneficial relationship in the best interest of ICAI members, students and their organizations. The MoU will provide an opportunity to the ICAI members to expand their professional horizons.
• The MoU will foster strong working relations between the ICAI & NBAA, Tanzania.
Department of Atomic Energy
• Nuclear Power Park refers to a site with a number of large capacity reactors with a total capacity of 6000 MW or more.
• The Kudankulam site, presently has two reactors – KKNPP 1&2 (2X1000 MW) in operation and two reactors, KKNPP 3&4 (2X1000 MW) under construction.
• In addition, work for setting up two more units – KKNPP 5&6 (2X1000 MW) at this site has commenced.
• On progressive completion of Units 3 to 6, the Kudankulam site having a total capacity of 6000 MW will be a nuclear power park.
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