National Voters Day
Context :
National Voters Day is observed on 25 January. To mark the foundation day of Election Commission of India (ECI).
The day is observed at the National Level, Assembly Level, Constituency Level, State Level, Polling Station Level, and District Level.
Aim :
The day is observed to provide the youth with a sense of citizenship, empowerment, and pride in electoral participation. India is the largest democracy in the world with about 91 crore citizens registered as voters.
Theme :
The theme for 2020 National Voters Day is “Electoral Literacy for Stronger Democracy”. The theme aims to promote the electoral process among newly eligible young voters in the country.
Article 326- Right to Vote:
Article 326 of the Indian constitution states that no person can be denied the right to vote if he fulfills the need for Adult Suffrage, that is, the person must be above the age of 18. The Right to Vote is not mentioned in the Part-3 of the constitution and hence it is a constitutional right and not a fundamental right.
Election Commission of India (ECI) :
ECI was established on 25 January 1950. It’s a constitutional body deriving its authority from Article 324 of the Constitution and Representation of the People Acts. The day was started in 2011. Year 2020 marks 10th National Voters Day.
International Summit on Women in STEM
Context :
The Department of Biotechnology (Ministry of Science & Technology) organized an International Summit on Women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in New Delhi in January 2020.
Aim :
To boost the participation of women in the STEM fields for the development of a scientific career.
Theme :
Visualizing the Future: New Skylines.
Highlights :
- The objective of the summit was to showcase successful women in the field of STEM as real-world examples of women scientists, doctors and engineers as well as the rewards associated with it.
- STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)
- It is a curriculum based on the idea of educating students in 4 specific disciplines — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — in an interdisciplinary and applied approach.
- A robust STEM education creates critical thinkers, problem-solvers, and next-generation innovators.
- India is one of the countries that produce the highest number of scientists and engineers, the growth of STEM has picked up significantly over the last few years.
- According to the National Science Foundation, it is predicted that 80% of the jobs created in the next decade will require some form of math and science skills.
- Despite having the top-quality talent, the exam-focused education model of India has limited students when it comes to innovation, problem-solving and creativity. This is where the STEM players come in to fill this gap.
- Under Article 51A of the Constitution of India it is a duty of every citizen of India to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform.
First war memorial for animals to come up in Meerut
Context :
Government is to set up a war memorial for animals in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. The memorial will be set up at the Remount and Veterinary Corps (RVC) Centre and College in Meerut. RVC is where the army breeds, rears, and trains dogs, mules and horses.
War memorial in Meerut :
- The memorial will feature a heroine who lost her life in a counter-insurgency operation in Kashmir in 2016.
- It will feature some others who acquitted themselves creditably in the Kargil war India fought with Pakistan in 1999.
- The proposal is yet to receive approval from the Ministry of Defence.
- It will be India’s first animal war memorial.
- The memorial aims to recognize the heroic acts of the animals on the battlefield, devotion to duty and outstanding contribution to military service alongside soldiers.
- The monument has been planned to be set up similar to the National War Memorial in Delhi but on a smaller scale.
- The names and service numbers of over 350 handlers, 300 dogs, and a few horses and mules will be inscribed on granite tablets at the memorial.
Corruption Perception Index 2019
Context :
Corruption Perception Index 2019 has been released. It is prepared by Transparency International.
What is Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) :
It is a composite index that draws from 12 surveys to rank nations around the globe. It has become a benchmark gauge of perceptions of corruption and is used by analysts and investors.
How are the countries ranked :
It ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption, according to experts and business people.
It uses a scale of zero to 100, where zero is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean. More than two-thirds of countries score below 50 on this year’s CPI, with an average score of just 43.
Performance of India and neighbours:
- With a score of 41, India is at the 80th spot.
- The rank is also shared by China, Benin, Ghana and Morocco.
Key observations:
- This year’s analysis shows corruption is more pervasive in countries where big money can flow freely into electoral campaigns and where governments listen only to the voices of wealthy or well-connected individuals.
- Not only are more than two-thirds of countries — along with many of the world’s most advanced economies — stagnating, some are seriously backsliding.
- In the last eight years, only 22 countries have shown significant improvement on the CPI, while almost as many have declined.
Indian scenario:
Even in democracies, such as Australia and India, unfair and opaque political financing and undue influence in decision-making and lobbying by powerful corporate interest groups, result in stagnation or decline in control of corruption.
79th Foundation Day of ITAT
Context :
Recently, the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) celebrated its 79th foundation day.
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal :
- Establishment: Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) is a quasi-judicial institution set up in 1941under section 5A of the Income Tax Act, 1922.
- Initially, it had three Benches at Delhi, Kolkata (Calcutta) and Mumbai (Bombay).
- But presently ITAT has 63 Benches at 27 different stations covering almost all the cities having a seat of the High Court.
- ITAT is referred to as ‘Mother Tribunal’ being the oldest Tribunal in the country.
- Initially, it had three Benches at Delhi, Kolkata (Calcutta) and Mumbai (Bombay).
- Functions: It deals with appeals under the Direct Taxes Acts namely, the Income-tax Act, 1961.
- The orders passed by the ITAT are final, an appeal lies to the High Court only if a substantial question of law arises for determination.