Nearly half of sex offence cases not being investigated in time

News Important For:  GS paper- 2 I Functions and Responsibilities of the Union and the States.

Context

The recent analysis found that crime data of seven states highlights the irregular implementation of criminal law (amendment) act, 2018.

 

 

About           

●       The studies suggest that investigation into nearly half the sexual offences cases are not being completed within the stipulated 60-day period.

●       The Supreme Courthas observed  that trial had been completed in only 4% of the 24,000 cases of sexual offences that were filed from January to June.

●       In many States, the fast-track courts designated to handle rape cases are also handling other criminal cases leading to delay in verdicts.

●       According to the ITSSO analysis in the seven States Haryana, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh. Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand final reports were submitted in less than half of the reported cases.

 

 

 

Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences (ITSSO)   ●       The Union Home Ministry has launched the initiatives for women safety. ●       These initiatives will include launch of Emergency Response Support System in 16 states/UTs and Mumbai city, Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences (ITSSO) and Safe City Implementation Monitoring Portal. ●       It aims to monitor and track time-bound investigation. ●       It is part of the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and System (CCTNS) that connects over 15,000 police stations across the country

 

Source link:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sexual-offence-cases-not-being-probed-in-stipulated-time-report/article28429991.ece

 

 

Speed restrictions and sound alerts mooted for protection of dolphins

News Important For:  GS paper- 3 I Biodiversity, Science and Technology

Context

The Ministry of Shipping is taking steps to protect dolphins in the national waterway-1 on ganga.

 

 

 

Analysis

●       The steps are being initiated in the country's only one dolphin reserve on river ganga.

●       Steps such as blowing of sirens and restricting speed of vessels on experiencing a dolphin on voyage are finalized.

●       Another major step includes fitting vessels with propeller guards and dolphin deflectors to minimise dolphin accidents and using non-toxic paints for painting vessels.

●       The mitigations are based on Comprehensive Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) study on National Waterway-I including on stretches falling within VGDS.

About Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Reserve

●       The Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary (VGDS), from Sultanganj to Kahalganj on the Ganga in Bihar is the only dolphin sanctuary in the country.

●       It is on National waterway-1.

●       The speed of vessels would be restricted to 2.7 knots in Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary (VGDS) area to reduce the noise generation from propeller.

●       lf any aquatic mammal/dolphin is spotted, then the measures will be taken to push it away through sirens/signals .

Concerns

●       Dolphins are difficult to spot and even after they are spotted and sirens are sounded it will not only disturb them more but also a number of other migratory birds and aquatic fauna.

Source link:

 https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/speed-restrictions-and-sound-alerts-mooted-for-protection-of-dolphins/article28429832.ece

 

 

‘India must push for Afghan polls’ 

News Important For:  GS paper- 2 I India and its neighborhood relations

Context

As per the expert opinion India has been less engaged in Afghanistan matters and Taliban issues.

 

 

 

Analysis

●       The decreasing involvement of India into Afghanistan issues may prove fatal for the country and a region as a whole.

●       India has publicly cautioned against postponing presidential polls and has also shown hesitation about joining talks with the Taliban.

●       It is also not officially involved in any of the major regional multilateral conferences held to discuss Afghanistan’s future.

●       Chabahar Port has also been neglected by divulging less funds towards the progress of the port this budget session.

●       This will hugely impact the Indo-Afghan relations and will distort Afghanistan trade with India.

●       U.S. sanctions are also affecting the trade relations in south east asia and middle east.

Way Forward

●       India should strategically engage in Afghanistan issues following its neighborhood first policy to maintain peace and security in the region and also for trade related issues.

 

Source link:

 https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-must-push-for-afghanistan-polls-kabul-ex-envoy/article28430694.ece

 

 

India is home to 1,256 species of orchid, says first comprehensive survey

News Important For:  GS paper- 3 I Biodiversity, environment and conservation.

Context

 The Botanical Survey of India has released the first survey on Orchids.

 

 

About

●       An orchid of India is a Pictorial Guide and a publication detailing all the species of India was unveiled earlier this month by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

●       Orchids can be broadly categorized into three life forms:

 Epiphytic

●       Plants growing on other plants including those growing on rock boulders and often termed lithophytes.

●       Abundant up to 1800 m above the sea level and their occurrence decreases with the increase in altitude.

Terrestrial

●       Plants growing on land and climbers and grow directly on soil, are found in large numbers in temperate and alpine region.

mycoheterotrophic

●       Plants which derive nutrients from mycorrhizal fungi that are attached to the roots of a vascular plant.

●       Mostly associated with ectomycorrhizal fungi, are found in temperate regions, or are found growing with parasites in tropical regions.

●       They are basically found in the Himalayas, North East and Western Ghats.

●       The highest number of orchid species is recorded from Arunachal Pradesh followed by Sikkim and West Bengal.

●       North-east India rank at the top in species concentration, the Western Ghats have high endemism of orchids.

●       Among the 10 biogeographic zones of India, the Himalayan zone is the richest in terms of orchid species followed by Northeast, Western Ghats, Deccan plateau and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

About Orchids

●       It has a unique shape and ornamentation.

●       Orchids have complex floral structure that facilitates biotic cross-pollination and makes them evolutionarily superior to the other plant groups.

●       The entire orchid family is listed under appendix II of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora)

●       Any trade of wild orchid is banned globally.

Source link:

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/india-is-home-to-1256-species-of-orchid-says-first-comprehensive-survey/article28429797.ece

 

 

 

NCRB’s annual reports to be out soon

News Important For:  GS paper- 2 I Responsibilities of various Statutory, Regulatory and various Quasi-judicial Bodies.

Context

The annual crime report compiled by National Crime Records Bureau for year 2017 will be published soon.

 

 

About NCRB

●       NCRB is nodal agency under Union Home Ministry for authentic source of data on crime on various parameters including accidents, suicides from across all the states of the country and prisons for policy matters and research. 

●       It was established in 1986 as the central police organization.

●       It is headquartered in New Delhi.

●       It is implementing and monitoring agency of Crime & Criminal Tracking Network System (CCTNS), a Mission Mode Project under the National e-Governance Plan of Government.

●       It also imparts training in Information Technology (IT) and Fingerprint Science for Indian Police Officers as well Foreign Police officers.

●       NCRB publishes 4 annual publications on Crime, Prison Statistics, Accidental Deaths & Suicides and Fingerprints.

●       These publications served as principal reference points on crime statistics.

Source link: 

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ncrb-annual-reports-to-see-the-light-of-day-soon/article28430213.ece

 

 

Law Commission to be formed soon    

News Important For:  GS paper- 2 I Statutory, Regulatory and various Quasi-judicial Bodies.

Context

The cabinet has approved the constitution of Law commission of India for 3 years.

 

 

 

Analysis

●       The three-year term of the 21st Law Commission ended on August 31 2018.

●       The formation of law commission has been delayed further due to election issues.

About Law Commission

●       The Law Commission of India is a non-statutory body constituted by the Government of India from time to time.

●       The Commission was originally constituted in 1955 and is reconstituted every three years.

Composition

●       A full-time Chairperson

●       four full-time Members (including a Member-Secretary)

●       Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs as ex officio Member

●       Secretary, Legislative Department as ex officio Member; and not more than five part-time Members.

Source link:

 https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/law-commission-to-be-formed-soon/article28430767.ece