1.Omkareshwar Floating Solar Park, Madhya Pradesh
News
SJVN Green Energy Limited (SGEL), a subsidiary of SJVN Limited, has commissioned the 90 MW Omkareshwar Floating Solar Project in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh.
The project, one of the largest floating solar initiatives in Central and North India, is expected to generate 196.5 million units of energy in its first year.
2.The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is a United Nations agency mandated to protect and support refugees at the request of a government or the UN itself and assists in their return or resettlement.
Main points
● The agency is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and was established on December 14, 1950, by the United Nations General Assembly.
● The UNHCR’s primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and stateless people.
● It works to ensure that everyone has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally, or resettle in a third country.
● The UNHCR operates in over 130 countries, providing protection, emergency shelter, food, medicine, access to justice, and other essential support to people forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, or natural disasters.
● The agency also advocates for durable solutions to displacement, promotes international cooperation, and assists in the repatriation, local integration, or resettlement of refugees.
● The UNHCR is led by the High Commissioner for Refugees, who is appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General with the approval of the General Assembly.
● The High Commissioner reports to the UN General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, and the Secretary-General on the activities of the UNHCR
● The agency’s work is guided by the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, as well as other relevant international laws and human rights instruments.
● The UNHCR also works closely with governments, international organizations, and non governmental organizations (NGOs) to ensure comprehensive protection and assistance to refugees and other persons of concern.
● The UNHCR is financed primarily through voluntary contributions from governments, although it also receives funding from the United Nations regular budget for its administrative costs.
● The agency’s budget is reviewed annually by the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner’s Programme, which is composed of government representatives and provides guidance on policy and program matters
India and Refugee
● India is neither a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, nor does it have any specific domestic legislation pertaining to refugees, let alone refugees with disabilities.
● Given the vast refugee population in the country, it is imperative to establish a uniform, codified framework that provides adequate language for implementing Indiaʼs international commitments.
● This is also necessitated by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which emphasises empowering vulnerable populations, including person with disabilities and refugees.
● To secure the implementation of the aforesaid guarantees, it is crucial to integrate refugees with disabilities into relevant policies and programmes in an accessible manner.
● Effective policy-making also depends on collection of disaggregated data on their health conditions, necessitating swift and systematic identification and registration processes.
3.Removal of Vice president /Rajya sabha
The Vice-President shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office:
Provided that:
(a) a Vice-President may, by writing under his hand addressed to the President, resign his office
(b) a Vice-President may be removed from his office by a resolution of the Council of States passed by a majority of all the then members of the Council and agreed to by the House of the People; but no resolution for the purpose of this clause shall be moved unless at least fourteen days’ notice has been given of the intention to move the resolution;
(c) a Vice-President shall, notwithstanding the expiration of his term,continue to hold office until his successor enters upon his office.
● The procedure of removal of the chairman has to begin with “a resolution moved in the Upper House to remove the vice president, who acts in his dual role as the chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
● The resolution must be passed by 50 per cent of the present members, plus one member, of those present in the House on that day.
● If the resolution gets passed, it has to go to the Lok Sabha to be passed by a simple majority, for it to get accepted,” explained a senior RS MP. This procedure follows from Articles 67 (b), 92 and 100 of the constitution
4.Privilege Motion
A Privilege Motion in the Indian Parliament is a formal complaint raised by a member of parliament (MP) against another MP or a government official for breach of privilege or conduct that undermines the dignity of the House.
● The concept of privilege is fundamental to the functioning of a democratic parliament, as it ensures that MPs can perform their duties without fear of interference or intimidation.
● The Indian Constitution, under Article 105 for the members of the Lok Sabha (Lower House) and Article 194 for the members of the Rajya Sabha (Upper House), grants certain privileges and immunities to MPs to enable them to
carry out their parliamentary functions effectively.
● These privileges include freedom of speech in Parliament and protection against legal action for anything said or voted within the walls of the House.
● When a member of parliament feels that their privileges have been infringed upon or that there has been a breach of parliamentary privilege by another member or an official, they can raise a Privilege Motion.
● The motion is then considered by the Privileges Committee, which is a standing committee of the Parliament.
● The Privileges Committee investigates the matter and reports its findings to the House.
● If the committee finds that there has indeed been a breach of privilege, it can recommend action, which may range from an apology to the House,suspension, or even expulsion of the member found guilty of the breach.
● Privilege Motions are taken very seriously as they are seen as a challenge to the authority and dignity of the Parliament. However, they are also subject to strict rules and procedures to ensure that they are not misused to stifle free speech or to settle political scores.
● The decision of the Privileges Committee is binding on the House, and the recommendations are usually followed unless there are compelling reasons to the contrary.
5. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities (UNCRPD)
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) is an international human rights treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 13, 2006, and entered into force on May 3, 2008.
Information
● The UNCRPD aims to promote, protect, and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity
● The Convention is based on the principles of equality, non-discrimination, full and effective participation and inclusion in society, respect for difference and acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity, and respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities and respect for the right of children with disabilities topreserve their identities.
● The UNCRPD consists of a preamble and 50 articles, which outline the rights of persons with disabilities and establish a series of guiding principles for their inclusion and participation in society.
● The articles cover a wide range of issues, including accessibility, personal mobility, independent living, inclusion in education, employment, housing, health, justice, political participation, and protection against abuse and exploitation.
● One of the key features of the UNCRPD is its emphasis on the social model of disability, which views disability as a result of society’s failure to provide inclusive environments not as an individual’s deficiency.
● This approach encourages the removal of barriers and the creation of supportive environments to enable persons with disabilities to exercise their rights and participate fully in all aspects of life.
● The Convention also includes an Optional Protocol, which allows individual persons with disabilities or groups of persons with disabilities to file complaints directly to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities if they believe their rights under the Convention have been violated.
● As of my knowledge cutoff date in April 2023, the UNCRPD has been ratified by a significant number of countries, making it one of the most widely embraced human rights treaties in history.
● This broad acceptance reflects a global commitment to recognizing and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities.