International Day of Women and Girls in Science is observed on 11 February
Context :
International Day of Women and Girls in Science is observed on 11 February. The day aims to achieve the empowerment of women and girls and promote the participation of women and girls in science.
According to the UN, less than 30% of researchers worldwide are women. Only around 30% of all female students select Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)-related fields in higher education. The day aims to achieve international development goals including 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).
Theme :
The theme for the year 2020 is ‘Investment in Women and Girls in Science for Inclusive Green Growth’. The theme aims to encourage and motivate girls and women to opt for science.
History :
In 2015, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared 11 February as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. The day was implemented by UNESCO and UN Women. UNESCO’s global priority is gender equality. It provides support to young girls in their education and provides them an opportunity. UNGA aimed to achieve full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls. It also aims to achieve gender equality and promote science.
National Deworming Day
Context :
NDD is observed bi-annually on 10th February and 10th August in all states and UTs followed by mop-up activities.
About the National Deworming Day :
- The National Deworming Day is a single fixed-day approach to treating intestinal worm infections in all children aged 1- 19 years.
- It will mobilize health personnel, state governments and other stakeholders to prioritize investment in control of Soil Transmitted Helminth (STH) infections one of the most common infections.
- All the children are provided deworming tablet in schools and anganwadis. Besides the deworming tablet, various health promotion activities related to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) are organised in schools and anganwadis.
- The NDD program is a cost-effective program at scale that continues to reach crores of children and adolescents with deworming benefits through a safe medicine Albendazole.
Background :
India carries the highest burden of worm infestation and 64% of Indian population less than 14 years of age are at risk of Soil Transmitted Helminths (STH) or worms’ infestation (WHO). Soil Transmitted Helminths (STH) interfere with nutrients uptake in children; can lead to anaemia, malnourishment and impaired mental and physical development. The situation of undernutrition and anaemia which is linked to STH ranges from 40% to 70% in different population groups across the country (WHO). They also pose a serious threat to children’s education and productivity later in life.
Supreme Court upholds changes to SC/ST atrocities law
What’s the issue :
The Supreme Court has upheld a 2018 amendment which barred persons accused of committing atrocities against those belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes from getting anticipatory bail. The Court upheld the constitutionality of Section 18A of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act of 2018. The sole purpose of Section 18A was to nullify a controversial March 20, 2018, judgment of the Supreme Court diluting the stringent anti-bail provisions of the original Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act of 1989.
Views of the Court :
- A High Court would also have an “inherent power” to grant anticipatory bail in cases in which prima facie an offence under the anti-atrocities law is not made out.
- Besides, a High Court, in “exceptional cases”, could also quash cases to prevent the misuse of the anti-atrocities law.
- However, the courts should take care to use this power to grant anticipatory bail “only sparingly and in very exceptional cases”. It should not become a norm lest it leads to miscarriage of justice and abuse of the process of law.
What’s there in the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act of 2018 :
- A preliminary inquiry is not essential before lodging an FIR under the act and the approval of senior police officials is not needed.
- There is no provision for anticipatory bail to the accused being charged with SC/ST Act.
Why stringent provisions against SC/ST atrocities are necessary :
Such stringent terms, otherwise contrary to the philosophy of bail, are absolutely essential, because a liberal use of the power to grant pre-arrest bail would defeat the intention of Parliament.
The express provisions of the Constitution and statutes like the Act, meant to protect the oppressed classes, underline the social or collective resolve to ensure that “all humans are treated as humans, that their innate genius is allowed outlets through equal opportunities and each of them is fearless in the pursuit of her or his dreams”.
Way ahead :
Unless provisions of the Act (anti-atrocities law) are enforced in their true letter and spirit, with utmost earnestness and dispatch, the dream and ideal of a casteless society will remain only a dream, a mirage. The marginalisation of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities is an enduring exclusion and is based almost solely on caste identities.
Background :
In March 2018, Supreme Court diluted the stringent provisions of SC/ST Act (Subhash Kashinath Mahajan v. State of Maharashtra).
The verdict saw a huge backlash across the country. The government filed a review petition in the Supreme Court and subsequently amended the 1989 Act back to its original form.
Guidelines issued by the Supreme Court and rationale behind it:
Supreme court gave the judgement on the pretext that Innocents cannot be terrorised by the provisions of the SC/ST Act and their fundamental rights need to be protected.
- The court said that public servants could be arrested only with the written permission of their appointing authority.
- In the case of private employees, the Senior Superintendent of Police concerned should allow it.
- A preliminary inquiry should be conducted before the FIR was registered to check if the case fell within the ambit of the Act, and whether it was frivolous or motivated, the court ruled.
U.S. nod for air defence system sale to India
In news :
- U.S. Department of State has approved the potential sale of a $1.867 billion Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) to India.
- The Integrated Air Defence Weapon System, also known as the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS), provides integrated air missile defence
- The IADWS system includes radar, launchers, targeting, and guidance systems, advanced medium-range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM) and Stinger missiles, and related equipment and support
AMRAAM :
- The AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM)
- It is an American beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) capable of all-weather day-and-night operations fire-and-forget weapon
- AMRAAM is the world’s most popular beyond-visual-range missile
Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF)
In news :
- Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) has been established under provision of the Companies Act, 2013.
- The amounts such as dividends, applications money, matured deposits etc, which have remained unpaid or unclaimed for a period of 7 years are required to be transferred to the IEPF.
- The Amounts credited to IEPF are maintained under the Consolidated Fund of India (Article 266 of the Constitution).
- The fund is utilized for promoting investor awareness and protection of investor interests.
- The Fund is also utilised for distribution of any disgorged amount among eligible applicants for shares or debentures, shareholders, debenture-holders or depositors who have suffered losses due to wrong actions by any person, in accordance with the orders made by the Court.
- When a person or entity in the securities market makes a profit by fraudulent means, a ‘disgorgement’ order is issued to repay those gains to affected investors with interest.
- For administration of Investor Education and Protection Fund, the Government of India in 2016, established Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority under the provisions of section 125 of the Companies Act, 2013. The Authority is under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
Source: PIB