This page contains "30Th July 2018" current affairs analysis from different newspapers and magazines like The Hindu, Indian express, PIB and Yojna.
Quality and relevance are two key features considered while writing the content, all the topics are based on the pattern of previously asked questions in exams like UPSC CSE, IAS, State PCS, SSC, Banks PO and likewise competitive exams.
Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)
Why in news ?
The Supreme Court refused to adjourn a proposed hearing on a batch of petitions challenging its verdict of 2013 that had re-criminalised consensual carnal sex between two adults.
What is Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code
Chapter XVI, Section 377 of IPC referring to "unnatural offences" was introduced in 1861, during the British rule of India.
Section 377 refers to "unnatural offences" and mandates that whoever voluntarily has carnal inter course against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to 10 years, and shall also be liable to pay a fine.
Offences under Section 377 with respect to sex between consenting adults were decriminalised by the High Court of Delhi on July 2009. But the judgement was overturned by the Supreme Court of India on 11 December 2013, holding that amending or repealing Section 377 should be a matter left to Parliament, not the judiciary.
On February 2016, during the final hearing of the petitions filled by the Naz Foundation and others, a three member bench headed by CJI said petitions submitted will be reviewed afresh by a five-member constitutional bench.
On August 2017, SC stated that protection of sexual orientation lies at the core of the fundamental rights and that the rights of the LGBT population are real and founded on constitutional doctrine.
Not only "anal penetration" but sexual acts such as "fellatio" may be punishable under this act.
On December 2013, Supreme Court, virtually denied the LGBT community the right of choice and sexual orientation while upheld the criminalisation of gay sex and dismissed the LGBT community as a negligible part of the population.
In Aug, 2017, the fight against Section 377 got a major boost when a nine-judge Bench of the Supreme Court held that "the right to privacy" is a fundamental right intrinsic to life and liberty.
172nd Law Commission Report had recommended the deletion of Section 377.
June 2018, A person's choice of a partner is a fundamental right, and it can include same-sex partner, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud.
Granting visa process liberalised for minorities from three nations
In a bid to curb corruption and money extortion involved in "Visa extension, Visa transfer and grant of Citizenship in India" for minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afganistan, the Home Ministry has come up with liberalised process for granting long-term visas (LTVs) to them.
Under the initiative the security clearance time limit of applicants has been reduced from 45 days to 21 days. An application is forwarded to three agencies for verification - 1) State government, 2) Intelligence Bureau and the 3) Home Ministry. State governments has to pass the application within 21 days, otherwise the application will be deemed to be cleared.
Visa facility for persecuted Hindus from Pakistan was started in 2011 and further liberalised in 2014.
What is Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2015 ?
In 2015, Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Afghanistan nationals who came to India on or December 31, 2014 and belonging to the Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Christian and Jain communities got concessions from the government regarding their stay in India without proper documents or expiry of documents. These persons were also allowed to register properties and take up employment in all Indian states except Assam.
The Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2015 was proposed to grant citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Parsis, Christians and Buddhists from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh who came to India before 2014.
The bill was strongly opposed in Assam saying, the move will pave the way for granting citizenship to illegal Hindu immigrants from Bangladesh in Assam and that is in violation of the Assam Accord, 1985.
What is Seva Bhoj Yojna ?
In a bid to reimburse Central Share of Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) and Integrated Goods and Service Tax (IGST) on Food/Prasad/Langar/Bhandara offered by Religious Institutions, The Ministry of Culture, Government of India has launched a new scheme named "Seva Bhoj Yojna".
What is Seva Bhoj Yojna ?
"Seva Bhoj Yojna" having a total layout of 325 Crores Rupees for Financial Years 2018-19 and 2019-20, envisages to lessen the financial burden of such Charitable Religious Institutions(Temples, Gurudwara, Mosque, Church, Dharmik Ashram, Dargah, Matth, Monasteries etc) who provide Food/Prasad/Langar free of cost without any discrimination to Public/Devotees.
Religious Institutions covered under the scheme
In order to applying for financial assistance/grant under the scheme the religious institution must be at least 5 years old and should be providing free food to at least 5000 people in a month.
These institutions must be covered under either of the following provisions: 1) Section 10( 23BBA) of the Income Tax Act.
2) Institutions registered as Society under Societies Registration Act ( XXI of 1860)
3) A Public Trust under any law of the time
4) Institutions registered under Section 12AA of Income Tax Act.
Procedure to get grant
Eligible religious institutions will be registered with Ministry of Culture for a time period ending with finance commission period, these registrations can be renewed by the ministry based on performance evaluation.
The institutions applying for grant have to submit the reimbursement claim to designated authority of GST Department at State level in the prescribed format.
Eligible institutions will be registered with Darpan and details of registration and documents submitted by the institutions for verification purpose can be viewed by the general public, GST authorities and the institution themselves on the portal.
Registered institutions will be responsible to intimate the Ministry about any changes being made in Memorandum of Association, Office bearers or addition / deletion of the location of the free food services.
Related documents submitted by the institutions for verification will be validated by a committee constituted for the purpose within 4 weeks.
DigiYatra scheme for air passengers
Why such a scheme is needed ?
DigiYatra initiative will help the Indian Aviation to enter in the most innovative air networks in the world by transforming the flying experience for passengers.
The initiative aimed to provide Indian air travellers a seamless, consistent and paperless service experience at every touch point of their journey.
What is DigiYatra scheme ?
In a bid to add Digital experience for Air Travellers, The Ministry of Civil Aviation has started a "DigiYatra" Platform. DigiYatra Platform is based on "Air Sewa" which brings together all the stakeholders on a common platform for handling customer grievances and disseminating real-time data.
DigiYatra, an industry-led initiative is co-ordinated by the Civil Aviation Ministry in line with the PM Narendra Modi's Digital India's vision, that aims to transform the nation into a digitally empowered society.
A time-bound action plan will be started based on the recommendations submitted by a committee constituted by Ministry of Civil Aviation for the purpose. The committee has to submit their recommendations in 30 days, these recommendations will be open for public comments and discussions for another 30 days before being included in proposed action plan.
How "DigiYatra" will help passengers ?
The scheme is based on 4 key pillars: Connected Passengers, Connected Airports, Connected Flying and Connected Systems, to provide passengers following benefits:
1) Effective trips planning by identifying price trends and estimated future airfares at the time of ticket booking.
2) Automated check-ins by optionally linking their Aadhaar to airlines and other ecosystem at the time of booking, this will eliminate the paper-based intervention.
3) Advanced biometric security solutions to walk-through security scanners swiftly.
4) Various information like protocols, airline timings, queue lengths at airport and notifications about congestion and delays will be provided to travellers.
5) Experience zones to provide customised digital offerings for customer engagement.
6) Augmented reality apps and interactive kiosks to navigate through the airport conveniently using digital guidance systems.
7) Facility to submit grievances, share experiences and provide feedback.
8) Get a prompt when their luggage reaches the baggage claim belt.
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