In a first, Mallya declared a ‘fugitive economic offender’

GS PAPER - 03 SECURITY - money-laundering and its prevention.

 

Context:

         ★ Former liquor baron Vijay Mallya became the first Indian businessman to be declared a fugitive economic offender on January 2, under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act.

         ★ The decision was pronounced by a special  Prevention of Money Laundering (PMLA) court in Mumbai.

 

More about the news:

         ★ The order was passed under Section 2F of FEOA against Mallya by the PMLA court.

         ★ The Special PMLA rule in favour of an application moved by the Enforcement Directorate.

         ★ It will allow the investigative agency to seize all his properties under the new law.

 

Fugitive economic Offender:

               ★ A fugitive economic offender is an individual who has committed some specified offence(s) involving an amount of one hundred crore rupees or more and has absconded from India or refused to come back to India to avoid or face criminal prosecution in India.

               ★ A Fugitive Economic Offender is a person declared so by a 'Special Court' set up under the Prevention of Money-laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, against whom an arrest warrant has been issued in respect of any of the economic offences provided in the schedule to Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2018 and who has left India so as to avoid criminal prosecution, or being abroad, refuses to return to India to face criminal prosecution.

               ★ The word, Fugitive economic offender  is defined in Section 2(1)(f) of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2018 which lays down measures to deter economic offenders from evading the process of Indian law by remaining outside the jurisdiction of Indian courts.

 

Implications of being a fugitive economic offender:

              ★ The property of a fugitive economic offender, resulting from the proceeds of crime, including benami property, can be confiscated once he is declared so by the Court

              ★ Properties abroad are also liable for confiscation

              ★ Further, he would be disentitled from defending any civil claim

              ★ An Administrator will be appointed to manage and dispose of the confiscated property.

         

Fugitive Economic Offender Bill 2018:              ★ The Bill allows for a person to be declared as a fugitive economic offender (FEO) if:                   ☆ (i) an arrest warrant has been issued against him for any specified offences where the value involved is over Rs 100 crore, and                    ☆ (ii) he has left the country and refuses to return to face prosecution.               ★ To declare a person an FEO, an application will be filed in a Special Court (designated under the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act, 2002) containing details of the properties to be confiscated, and any information about the person’s whereabouts.  The Special Court will require the person to appear at a specified place at least six weeks from issue of notice.  Proceedings will be terminated if the person appears.            ★ The Bill allows authorities to provisionally attach properties of an accused, while the application is pending before the Special Court.            ★ Upon declaration as an FEO, properties of a person may be confiscated and vested in the central government, free of encumbrances (rights and claims in the property).  Further, the FEO or any company associated with him may be barred from filing or defending civil claims.   Key Features:           ★ Under the Bill, any court or tribunal may bar an FEO or an associated company from filing or defending civil claims before it.  Barring these persons from filing or defending civil claims may violate Article 21 of the Constitution i.e. the right to life.  Article 21 has been interpreted to include the right to access justice.             ★ Under the Bill, an FEO’s property may be confiscated and vested in the central government.  The Bill allows the Special Court to exempt properties where certain persons may have an interest in such property (e.g., secured creditors).  However, it does not specify whether the central government will share sale proceeds with any other claimants who do not have such an interest (e.g., unsecured creditors).            ★ The Bill does not require the authorities to obtain a search warrant or ensure the presence of witnesses before a search.  This differs from other laws, such as the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973, which contain such safeguards.   These safeguards protect against harassment and planting of evidence.             ★ The Bill provides for confiscation of property upon a person being declared an FEO.  This differs from other laws, such as CrPC, 1973, where confiscation is final two years after proclamation as absconder.

                                                                                                                                    Source:- The Hindu

Intellectually challenged persons have right to live with dignity, says SC judge

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections

 

Context:

         ★ Supreme Court judge Justice A K Sikri on Saturday raised concern about the rights of persons with mental illness, saying it was an issue of their human rights and they had a right to live with dignity.

 

More about the news:

           ★ A writ petition was filled by Gaurav Kumar Bansal alleged that some of the patients suffering from mental illness, who are lodged in Faith-Based Mental Asylum situated near Mohalla Kabulpur, Badayun District, Uttar Pradesh, are kept under chains.

           ★ The bench of Justice AK Sikri and Justice S Abdul Nazeer Observing that issues raised in the petition were of serious concern and need immediate attention

           ★ The Court said, This is not only inhuman and violative of rights of such persons under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, as even a person suffering from mental disability is still a human being and his dignity cannot be violated

           ★ The court also added that keeping such patients under chains is also against the spirit of Section 95 of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017.

           ★ The bench requested Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta to appear on behalf of Union of India.

                                                                                                                                     Source:- The Hindu

MGNREGA scheme faces fund shortage

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

 

Context:

         ★ Several labour and rights activists from various parts of the country on Friday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to strengthen the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), claiming 99 per cent of this year's allocation were exhausted and no additional funds have been approved.

         

Fund crisis :

         ★ According to the Management Information System (MIS), 99 per cent of this year's allocation is already exhausted and no additional funds have been approved.

         ★ With the lean agricultural season beginning soon, the demand for work will increase but the programme is starved of funds

 

Delays in wage payments:

         ★ Sanjay Sahni, a labourer and activist from Bihar's Muzaffarpur said the workers are not getting payments even after months of waiting.

         ★ MGNREGA is not working in a proper way, though people are willing to work. As per law, job should be given in 15 days and the payment in next 7-15 days. But we have to wait for months for work and even longer for payments.

         ★ Fund crisis at the peak of employment season and long payment delays have made matters worse for workers.

        ★ Additionally, meagre wage rates in MGNREGA mean that the programme is not lucrative enough for workers. In 17 states they are lower than the state’s agricultural minimum wage. All this is resulting in the weakening of the Act.

           

MGNREGA:        ★ The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is a employment guarantee act        ★ It was introduced in 2005 through the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005.        ★ In 2010, NREGA renamed as MGNREGA   Aim:         ★ To enhance livelihood security of household in rural areas of India   Objective:         ★ To provide guaranteed 100 days of wage employment per year to each rural household         ★ Creation of durable rural assets         ★ Social inclusion of women, SCs and STs         ★ Strengthen the Panchayati Raj Institutions   Coverage:        ★ The Act currently covers all districts with the exception of those that have a 100% urban population.   Features:        ★ Demand driven scheme: Worker to be hired when he demands and not when the Government wants it.        ★ Gram Panchayat is mandated to provide employment with 15 days of work application, failing which worker is entitled to unemployment allowance        ★ Payment of wages within 15 days of competition of work, failing which worker is entitled to delay compensation of 0.05%/ day of wages earned        ★ Minimum one-third of the workers should be women        ★ Wages to be paid according to the Minimum Wages Act 1948 for agricultural labourers in the State        ★ Social Audit to be done by Gram Sabha   Achievements:        ★ MGNREGA has been a powerful instrument for empowerment of poor women through its effect on livelihood security and social protection. In FY2015-16 out of the total employment through MGNREGA, 56% was generated for women.        ★ Reduced distressed rural to urban migration and also seasonal migration by providing work closer to home and decent working conditions.        ★ Has helped in the upliftment of SCs and STs through creation of livelihood opportunities. The percentage of Scheduled Caste workers has consistently been about 20% and Scheduled Tribe workers has been about 17%        ★ Sustainable assets have been created linked to conservation of natural resources and has helped in overall development of Gram Panchayats.       ★ Payment of wages through bank accounts/ post office has led to large financial inclusion of the poor.      ★ The average daily wage rate of farm workers has grown sharply after MGNREGA

                                                                                                                         Source:- Business Standard

Scientists unearth Asia's first fossil Dioscorea yam leaf

GS PAPER - 01 GEOGRAPHY - geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.

 

Context:

         ★ When scientists R. C. Mehrotra and Anumeha Shukla from Lucknow’s Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences were leading a dig in the Eocene-era (38-56 million years ago) Gurha lignite mine in Bikaner in western Rajasthan, they obtained two well-preserved fossils of large leaves.

 

Key findings of the study:

             ★ A quaint fossilised leaf is one of the most recent finds throwing light on India’s past. The leaf fossil is the first of Dioscorea yams from Asia and hints at a Gondwanan origin to these plants, claim scientists.

             ★ Referring to herbarium sheets available at Dehradun’s Forest Research Institute, the team identified it as a species of Dioscorea, a kind of yam that grows as a herbaceous vine in the humid tropics of India and other countries.

             ★ They also used the morphological features of the leaves — venation and leaf shape — to rule out other plants that look very similar to it. When they compared it to the other Dioscorea fossils obtained from Europe, Africa and America, they found it to be very distinct.

             ★ The team named their new find Dioscorea eocenicus: the first ever Dioscorea fossil recorded from Asia. Currently, species of Dioscorea in India are found in the humid, tropical forests of the country.

              ★ Based on this, the team infer that such tropical forests must have flourished in this part of Rajasthan during early Eocene. Other fossil plants observed in the mine also suggest this historical climate in the area, which is now dry and consists of desert vegetation.

 

what caused such a drastic change in climate?

              ★ As the Indian subcontinent broke away from the supercontinent Gondwanaland many millions of years ago and drifted towards the Equator, the resulting tropical weather created lush tropical forests here.

              ★ As the landmass moved further north and away from the equator, dry vegetation replaced these forests

                                                                                                                                Source:- The Hindu

Molecular mechanism of prostate cancer subtype unravelled

GS PAPER - 03 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.

Context:

         ★ The molecular mechanism and pathobiology of SPINK1-positive prostate cancer subtype, the second most recurrent and aggressive in nature, that affects about 15% of patients has been finally unravelled.

         ★ The study was done by a multi-institutional team led by Prof. Bushra Ateeq from the Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur.

 

SPINK1:

         ★ The SPINK1-positive prostate cancer subtype derives its name from the excess amount of SPINK1 oncogene found in the cancer cells.

         ★ Excess production of SPINK1 gene responsible for tumour and metastasis is not restricted to prostate cancer alone but also seen in colorectal, lung, pancreatic, breast and ovarian cancers.

         ★ The insights gained in this study might therefore help in the treatment and disease management of several SPINK1-positive malignancies.

         ★ In addition to excess amount of the SPINK1 oncogene, the researchers found that most cancer cells belonging to this subtype also have more than normal amount of a particular protein called EZH2.

         ★ Also, the levels of two microRNAs (miRNA-338-5p and miRNA-421) produced in SPINK1-positive cancer cells were much less.

                                                                                                                                Source:- The Hindu

Carbon microneedles: Low-cost, painless injections

GS PAPER - 03 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights

 

Context:

         ★ Tiny needles less than 1 mm in size have been developed by researchers from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur.

         ★ When arranged on a patch, the tiny hollow microneedles can be used for painless drug delivery.

         ★ Last year, the team had developed microneedles from a widely used photosensitive polymer (SU-8).

 

Highlights:

           ★ Since the needles were not hard enough and biocompatible, they modified it using a simple process of extreme heating or pyrolysis.

           ★ This produced glassy carbon needles which were almost 300 times stronger than the original ones.

           ★ Since it was made of carbon it was also biocompatible.

           ★ Heating removed most of the nitrogen and oxygen in the polymer and the needle was solely made of carbon.

           ★ The needles showed no toxicity when tested on mice models, says Prof. Bidhan Pramanick who completed his post-doctoral research from the institute.

           ★ The needles were arranged in a patch (10 X10) and tested for drug delivery.

           ★ The patch was attached to a 5 ml syringe and flow rate studied.

           ★ They found the flow corresponds to the inlet pressure suggesting that drug delivery can be controlled by managing the pressure.

 

Drug Delivery System:

         ★ When a needle is inserted into the skin, it experiences resistance from the skin. A good needle should be able to overcome the forces to penetrate the skin.

         ★ Using compression and bending tests, the researchers found that the needles did not break or bend when force was applied.

         ★ The patch was tested on mouse models and even after 15 insertions, the patch and needles remained intact.

                                                                                                                                     Source:- The Hindu

FASTags

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation

 

Context:

         ★ To ensure easier availability of FASTags, Indian Highways Management Company Ltd. (IHMCL), a company promoted by NHAI, is signing MoUs with state-run Oil Marketing Companies (IOCL, BPC, and HPC) for issuance of FASTags through petroleum retail outlets.

 

Mobile application:

        ★ IHMCL is also planning the launch of two mobile applications –

                     ☆ MyFASTag and IHMCLPOS.

                     ☆ These apps will enable customers to link the FASTags with their preferred bank account, recharge the FASTag via UPI platform, and also ensure that the tags are bank neutral.

 

Benefits of this measure:

        ★ These measures will eventually help NHAI cater to its commitment of providing a safe, smooth and seamless journey to commuters on National Highways.

        ★ The enhanced adoption of FASTag program will increase user convenience by offering seamless toll-fee payments at Plazas and thus help save time, money and fuel.

        ★ The online payments will improve transparency of toll transactions, reduce revenue leakages, and improve overall efficiency and commercial competitiveness.

        ★ IHMCL is also striving for the vision of One Nation – One Tag by aligning with various State Authorities/SPV to ensure that FASTag becomes the preferred digital payment instrument at State/Municipal Plazas.

 

FASTags:           ★ FASTag is a simple to use, reloadable tag which enables automatic deduction of toll charges and lets you pass through the toll plaza without stopping for the cash      transaction.           ★ FASTag is linked to a prepaid account from which the applicable toll amount is deducted.           ★ The tag employs Radio-frequency Identification (RFID) technology and is affixed on the vehicle's windscreen after the tag account is active.          ★ FASTag is a perfect solution for a hassle free trip on national highways.          ★ Validity of 5 Years   Benefits:          ★ Ease of payment – No need to carry cash for the toll transactions, saves time          ★ Near non-stop movement of vehicles leading to lower fuel cost.          ★ Online Recharge – FASTag can be recharged online through Credit Card / Debit Card / NEFT/ RTGS or Net banking          ★ SMS alerts for toll transactions, low balance, etc.          ★ Online Portal for customers   Other benefits are: Environmental benefit  :                ★ Reduced air pollution,               ★ Reduced use of paper   Social benefit    :          ★ Reduced toll payment hassles ,           ★ Analytics for better highway management      Economic benefit :        ★ Reduced effort in management at toll plaza,       ★ Reduced effort in monitoring centrally

                                                                                                                                            Source:- PIB

National Awards to Anganwadi Workers under ICDS Scheme

GS PAPER - 03 AWARDS AND HONORS

 

Context:

          ★ The Minister of Women & Child Development, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi gave away National Level Awards to anganwadi workers to recognize their exemplary voluntary service in the field of child development and related areas under the ICDS Scheme.

 

ICDS Scheme:

          ★ The Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS) Scheme providing for supplementary nutrition, immunization and pre-school education to the children is a popular flagship programme of the government.

          ★ It is one of the world’s largest programs providing for an integrated package of services for the holistic development of the child.

          ★ ICDS is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented by state governments and union territories.

 

Objective:

          ★ To improve the nutritional and health status of children in the age-group 0-6 years;

          ★ To lay the foundation for proper psychological, physical and social development of the child;

          ★ To reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropout;

          ★ To achieve effective co-ordination of policy and implementation amongst the various departments to promote child development; and

          ★ To enhance the capability of the mother to look after the normal health and nutritional needs of the child through proper nutrition and health education.

 

Benificiers:

          ★ Children in the age group of 0-6 years

          ★ Pregnant women and

          ★ Lactating mothers

 

Services under ICDS:

The ICDS Scheme offers a package of six services

          ★ Supplementary Nutrition

          ★ Pre-school non-formal education

          ★ Nutrition & health education

          ★ Immunization

          ★ Health check-up and

          ★ Referral services

                                                                                                                                                  Source:- PIB

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------