Present Affairs 22 February 2025
Contents
- NMC’s Pointers for Disabled Candidates Arbitrary, Guidelines SC
- Idea of Sexual Equality Should Be A part of Syllabus: SC
- Amid Rising Menace from Drones, Military to Strengthen Its Air Defence
- Assam: Transfer to Recognise Bathouism Highlights Authorities Dedication to Protect Nature-Primarily based Faiths
- Restoring Land, Restoring Peace: How Sustainable Land Administration Can Ease International Conflicts
NMC’s pointers for disabled candidates arbitrary, guidelines SC
Background:
- The Supreme Court docket dominated towards the Nationwide Medical Fee’s (NMC) eligibility standards requiring MBBS candidates to have “each palms intact, with intact sensation and ample power.”
- The case concerned a candidate with 50% locomotor and 20% speech incapacity who cleared NEET however was denied admission by the NMC’s Evaluation Board.
Relevance : GS 2(Social Points)
Court docket’s Observations:
- The criterion was termed arbitrary, ableist, and opposite to the Structure.
- Justice Viswanathan highlighted that such necessities violate:
- Article 41: Proper to work, training, and public help.
- Rights of Individuals with Disabilities (RPwD) Act.
- UN Conference on the Rights of Individuals with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
- The judgment criticized the “a” strategy, stressing cheap lodging for disabled candidates.
Key Rulings:
- Directed NMC to revise pointers and submit a report by March 3.
- Allowed the candidate’s admission to Authorities Medical School, Sirohi, Rajasthan.
Significance:
- Upholds the constitutional and human rights of individuals with disabilities.
- Reinforces the precept of inclusion and non-discrimination in medical training.
- Units a precedent for addressing ableism in statutory rules.
Implications:
- Medical establishments should adapt to inclusive admission insurance policies.
- Promotes broader dialogue on accessibility in skilled fields.
- Paves the best way for coverage reforms supporting disabled aspirants.
Idea of sexual equality should be a part of syllabus: SC
Background:
- The Supreme Court docket requested the Centre to include sexual equality, ethical and moral coaching, and etiquette into the varsity syllabus.
- The Bench was led by Justice B.V. Nagarathna with Justice S.C. Sharma.
Relevance : GS 2(Schooling ,Social Points)
Court docket’s Observations:
- Ethical training is commonly uncared for in colleges; wants obligatory inclusion.
- Equality between little kids should start at house—dad and mom ought to keep away from gender-based discrimination.
- Society nonetheless holds misogynistic beliefs, marginalizing ladies post-marriage.
Petitioner’s Argument:
- Senior advocate Aabad Ponda highlighted:
- Lack of early training on gender equality contributes to rising crimes towards ladies.
- 50% of the inhabitants (ladies) face insecurity and societal pressure.
- Commercials and visible media ought to promote zero tolerance for rape and consciousness of stringent legal guidelines.
- Harsher punishments alone are not ample; mindset change is essential.
Court docket’s Instructions:
- Ordered the Union authorities to submit measures taken to introduce sexual equality within the curriculum.
- Recalled how Environmental Science grew to become a compulsory topic by way of SC orders—ethical training ought to comply with go well with.
Key Takeaways:
- Early training can fight gender bias and violence towards ladies.
- Public consciousness campaigns by way of media and cinema halls beneficial.
- Requires long-term options over knee-jerk punitive measures.
Implications:
- Concentrate on mindset change slightly than solely on stricter punishments.
- Colleges anticipated to play a central position in selling gender sensitivity.
- Reinforces the significance of gender parity for societal progress.
Amid rising risk from drones, Military to strengthen its air defence
Background:
- Rising use of drones, loitering munitions, and disruptive applied sciences has escalated aerial threats.
- Current conflicts just like the Ukraine conflict spotlight the problem of quantifying and countering drone-based threats.
Relevance : GS 3(Expertise)
Military’s Key Initiatives:
- Induction of latest fragmentation ammunition for ~1,300 air defence weapons (L-70 & Zu-23).
- Air burst ammunition, laser, and microwave weapons in procurement pipeline.
- Sensible ammunition and high-end air defence upgrades underway.
QRSAM System Improvement:
- Indigenous Fast Response Floor-to-Air Missile (QRSAM) contract finalization in 4-5 months.
- Developed by DRDO with a 30 km vary.
- First Prototype Mannequin (FoPM) anticipated 12 months post-contract; full manufacturing in 18 months.
- Deliberate in each wheeled and tracked configurations.
Akash Missile Enhancement:
- Enhanced Akash missile to bear high-altitude trials within the subsequent 45 days.
Future Plans:
- Tender issued for 30mm fragmentation ammunition for classic weapons.
- Request For Proposal (RFP) out for successor to L-70 and Zu-23 weapons (220 items) with sensible ammunition.
- Trials in July 2025, contract award anticipated by Could-June 2026.
- Concentrate on indigenous procurement—no imports deliberate.
Implications:
- Strengthening air defence capabilities to counter evolving aerial threats.
- Boosts self-reliance in defence expertise by way of indigenous programs.
- Addresses challenges posed by swarm drones and disruptive warfare applied sciences.
Assam: Transfer to recognise Bathousim highlights authorities dedication to protect nature-based faiths, says skilled
Background:
- Bodoland Territorial Area (BTR) in Assam now contains Bathouism as an official faith choice in utility types (e.g., admissions, start & loss of life certificates).
- Transfer goals to protect nature-based indigenous faiths and distinct Bodo identification.
Relevance : GS 2(Governance)
About Bathouism:
- Conventional religion of the Bodos—largest plains tribe in Assam.
- Bathoubwrai (Sibwrai): Supreme God symbolizing the supreme soul (Poromatma).
- Philosophy based mostly on 5 components:
- Bar (Air) | San (Solar) | Ha (Earth) | Or (Hearth) | Okhrang (Sky)
- Parallels with Panchatatva in Hinduism.
- Sijou plant (Euphorbia splendens): Residing image of Bathoubwrai; central to worship rituals.
Authorities Initiatives:
- Bathou Puja: Declared state vacation on second Tuesday of Magh month.
- Union Residence Minister Amit Shah reaffirmed dedication to protect nature-centric faiths on the thirteenth Triennial Convention of All Bathou Mahasabha (Jan 2024).
Significance of Recognition:
- Reinforces cultural roots whereas embracing modernity.
- Promotes spiritual inclusivity and identification preservation.
- Similar to recognition of Sarnaism (practiced in Chota Nagpur Plateau)—each emphasize nature worship and ancestral reverence.
Implications:
- Strengthens Bodo group’s cultural heritage.
- Displays authorities’s inclusive strategy in the direction of indigenous beliefs.
- Potential to encourage comparable recognition for different tribal faiths in India.
Restoring land, restoring peace: How sustainable land administration can ease world conflicts
Key Focus:
- Addressing land degradation is significant not just for environmental well being but additionally for battle prevention and group rebuilding.
Relevance : GS 2(Worldwide Relations) , GS 3(Atmosphere and Ecology)
Highlights of the Floor for Peace Report (Dec 2024):
- Land Degradation & Battle Hyperlink:
- Environmental degradation and useful resource shortage escalate regional and world conflicts.
- 80 % of conflicts (1950–2000) occurred in biodiversity hotspots.
- Case Research:
- Rohingya Migration (Bangladesh): Forest cowl dropped from 8,500 ha to 4,500 ha (2016–2018) because of refugee strain.
- Nigeria: Peace settlement between Tiv and Igede teams improved resource-sharing and stability.
- Colombia: Peace offers enhanced land restoration and cocoa farmers’ group cohesion.
Initiatives & International Efforts:
- Peace Forest Initiative (PFI):
- Launched at UNCCD COP14 (2019, New Delhi).
- Goals to ease intercommunity tensions by way of Sustainable Land Administration (SLM).
- Targets 17 websites throughout 44 nations.
- Different Key Frameworks:
- COP28 Declaration, Rio Conference, NATO’s 2023 Local weather Change and Safety Evaluation.
Challenges:
- Funding Scarcity:
- 40 % of intrastate conflicts stem from pure sources, but lower than 10 % of worldwide funding targets land points.
- Non-public investments principally favor biodiversity hotspots.
- Implementation Hurdles:
- Complicated funding processes, capability gaps, and poor planning can worsen conflicts.
- Examples:
- Banni Grasslands (India): Introduction of invasive species disrupted livelihoods.
- Chilika Lake (Odisha): Restoration led to financial misery for conventional fishers.
Suggestions & Approach Ahead:
- Combine land restoration into peacebuilding and safety methods.
- Leverage local weather funds, donor assist, and worldwide agreements.
- Concentrate on community-driven, situation-specific options.
- Promote technical diplomacy and multi-level cooperation.
- Scale up efforts by way of the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration and world reforestation initiatives.
Backside Line:
Restoring degraded land is pivotal for environmental stability, peace, and socio-economic resilience. Sustainable and inclusive approaches, backed by strong funding and political will, are important to interrupt the cycle of degradation and battle.
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