16 June 2023 The Hindu Newspaper Analysis

Questions

1. It is a mosquito-borne viral disease, caused by RNA virus, and transmitted to humans by the bites of infected female mosquitoes. There is no commercial vaccine available to protect against this virus infection.

Identify the disease using the description given above:

• a.  Polio
• b.  Measles
• c.  Meningitis
• d. Chikungunya

2. Consider the following statements with respect to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)

1. CBI can investigates crime of corruption, economic offences and serious and organized crime including terrorism.
2. CBI can take up suo-moto investigation of offences anywhere in the country.
3. The Supreme Court and High Courts can order CBI to investigate a crime anywhere in the country without the consent of the State.
4. CBI works under the administrative control of the Ministry of Personnel, Pension & Public Grievances.

How many of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

• a.  Only one
• b.  Only two 
• c.  Only three
• d. All four

• CBI investigates crime of corruption, economic offences and serious and organized crime other than terrorism.
• It is also the nodal police agency in India, which coordinates investigation on behalf of Interpol Member countries.
• As per section 2 of the DSPE Act, CBI can suo-moto take up investigation of offences notified in section 3 only in the Union Territories.
• The Supreme Court and High Courts can order CBI to investigate a crime anywhere in the country without the consent of the State.
• Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, allows the CBI to investigate cases without its State government’s permission in the State.
• A general consent to CBI granted by State governments enables the central agency to carry out investigations without such hindrances.
• So far 10 States including Tamil Nadu had withdrawn their general consent given to CBI.
• The 10 states includes Mizoram, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Kerala, Jharkhand, Punjab, Meghalaya and Tamil Nadu.

3. Consider the following statements:

1. Pradhan Mantri Primitive Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PM-PVTG) Development Mission aims to provide basic government service to all PVTG villages.
2. NESTS Scheme aims to provide quality upper primary, secondary and senior secondary level education to ST and PVTG students in tribal dominated areas.
3. Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana aims at integrated development of villages in which the population of Scheduled Castes is above 50%.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

• a.  Only one
• b.  Only two 
• c.  All three
• d. None

Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana

• The Scheme aims at integrated development of villages in which the population of Scheduled Castes is above 50%.
• Under this scheme over 36,000 tribal villages are being developed to become model villages.

National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS)

• NESTS is a centrally monitored and administered society.
• It aims to provide quality upper primary, secondary and senior secondary level education to ST and PVTG students in tribal dominated areas along with extra-curricular activities for their all-round development.
• It also resolved the shortage of the teachers in the Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) for tribal students.

Prelims Specific News Items

1. Memorial wall for fallen United Nations peacekeepers

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj introduced the draft resolution titled ‘Memorial wall for fallen United Nations peacekeepers’ in the UN General Assembly hall.

• Memorial Wall – The UN General Assembly has adopted a draft resolution introduced by India to establish a memorial wall in the UN Headquarters to honour fallen peacekeepers.
• The resolution was submitted by 18 countries including Bangladesh, Canada, China, Denmark, Egypt, France, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Nepal, Rwanda and the U.S.
• The resolution was co-sponsored by nearly 190 UN Member States and was adopted by consensus.

International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers – May 29

India’s Contribution to UN Peacekeeping – India is currently the 3^rd largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN Peacekeeping with more than 6,000 military and police personnel.

Blue helmets are the UN military personnel that work alongside the UN Police and civilian colleagues to promote stability, security and peace processes.

2. Withdrawal of general consent for CBI

Tamil Nadu announced that it has withdrawn the general consent given to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)

• It was set up in 1963 by a resolution of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• It is now under the Ministry of Personnel, Pension & Public Grievances.
• It was established based on the recommendations of Santhanam Committee.
• It is a non-constitutional body.
• CBI is governed by The Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946.  
• Section 6 of the DPSE Act authorises the central government to direct CBI to probe a case within the jurisdiction of any state on the recommendation of the concerned state government.
• The Supreme Court and High Courts, however, can order CBI to investigate such a crime anywhere in the country without the consent of the state.
• There are 2 types of consent for a probe by the CBI. These are: general and specific.
• General Consent – When a state gives a general consent to the CBI for probing a case, the agency is not required to seek fresh permission every time it enters that state in connection with investigation or for every case.
• Specific Consent – When a general consent is withdrawn, CBI needs to seek case-wise consent for investigation from the concerned state government.
• If specific consent is not granted, the CBI officials will not have the power of police personnel when they enter that state.

3. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

• It is a UN Refugee Agency.
• Aim – To save lives, protecting rights and building a better future for people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution.
• It serves as the ‘guardian’ of the 1951 Convention and its 1967 Protocol.
• So far, 146 countries are party to the 1951 Convention, and 147 to the 1967 Protocol.
• Countries that have ratified the Refugee Convention are obliged to protect refugees that are on their territory, in accordance with its terms.
• India is not a member to this convention nor to the protocol.

4. Mayon Volcano

A gentle eruption of the most active volcano in Philippines has forced nearly 18,000 people to flee to emergency shelters.

• Mayon Volcano – It is a highly active stratovolcano in the southeastern Luzon, Philippines.
• It is called the world’s most perfect volcanic cone because of the symmetry of its shape.
• It is located at the centre of Mayon Volcano National Park.
• It is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, the rim of seismic faults where most of the world’s earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.