Commonwealth of Nations or Commonwealth

• Commonwealth of Nations is an association of countries that were once ruled by Britain. The current Commonwealth of Nations was formally constituted by the London Declaration in 1949. 
• The head of the Commonwealth is Britain's, Queen Elizabeth II.
• At present, there are 54 members Including India 

Headquarters:London , England 

Article 21 of the Indian constitution 

Protection of life and personal liberty.—No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law.

Uttarakhand High court in Lalit Kumar v. Union of India, 2018, observed that access to speedy justice is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) 1967 

It is a preventive detention act aimed at preventing activities that are directed against the integrity and sovereignty of India. It was enacted by the Parliament in 1967.

The act has been amended four times in 1969,2004,2012,2019

Important Points of UAPA Act 1967 

• With the recent 2019 amendment, the act meets commitments made at the Financial Action Task Force (an intergovernmental organization to combat money laundering and terrorism financing).
• As per the 2019 amendment, the government is now allowed to designate an individual as a terrorist without trial. The previous versions of the Bill allowed for only groups to be designated as terrorists.
• The burden of proof of innocence is on the accused.
• Under the UAPA, this pre-chargesheet time is extended to 180 days.
• Police normally have 60 to 90 days to investigate a case and submit a chargesheet failing which the accused may obtain default bail.
• In a ruling passed on 1 February 2021, the Supreme Court of India ruled that bail could be granted to accused if the right to a speedy trial was violated.

National Investigation Agency (NIA)

After the deadly 26/11 attacks in Mumbai, the government decided to setup a specific body to deal with terror-related activities in India, thereby establishing the NIA in 2008.

Key Points regarding NIA-

• At present NIA is functioning as the Central Counter-Terrorism Law Enforcement Agency in India.
• Though as per the constitution of India, law and order is a state subject but NIA has the power to investigate specific cases under concurrent jurisdiction framework across any state of India.
• NIA is prepared to deal with cases involving complex inter-state and international linkages related to terrorist attacks in insurgency or militancy affected areas, areas of left-wing extremism, hinterland terrorist attacks, smuggling of arms and drugs, circulation of fake Indian currency, infiltration from across the borders, hijacking of aircraft and ships and attacks on nuclear installations.
• The 2019 amendment empowers the NIA to probe terror attacks targeting Indians and Indian interests abroad and also offences like human trafficking; manufacture and sale of prohibited arms; and cyber-terrorism.
• Trial of NIA Cases are held at special courts as notified by the central government as per NIA Act.
• Judges are appointed by the Central Government on the recommendation of the Chief Justice of the High Court with jurisdiction in that region.
• The Supreme Court of India has also been empowered to transfer the cases from one special court to any other special court within or outside the state, in the interest of justice. Based on the prevailing circumstances in any particular state.
• The NIA Special Courts are empowered with all powers of the court of sessions under code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 for trial of any offense.
• Special Court in New Delhi has jurisdiction of all NIA investigation cases abroad in accordance with international treaties and domestic laws of other countries.

About G20

·         G20 or Group of 20 is an intergovernmental forum.

·         Member Countries - Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union.

·         Permanent invitees are African Union, ASEAN, FAO, ILO, IMF, Spain, OECD, UN, World Bank, WHO and WTO.

·         Members comprises both industrialized and developing countries and accounts to two-third of world population, 75-80% world trade and 90% of Gross World Product (GWP – Gross National Income of all countries)

·         The G20 Summit is often formally known as the “Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy”

·         G20 was founded in 1999 as a response to the severe Asian Economic Crisis of 1997-98, when it was acknowledged that the participation of major emerging market countries was necessary for a discussion on the international financial system. Thus from 1999, G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting started on major economic and monetary policy issues amongst major countries in the global financial system targeting stable and sustainable global economic growth

·         Since 2008 it is upgraded to head of the state level and from 2011 are held annually.

·         They work on addressing major issues related to the global economy, such as international financial stability, climate change mitigation, trade, energy, counter-terrorism, migration, refugees and sustainable development.

Air Transport Bubble

“Transport Bubbles” or “Air Travel Arrangements” are temporary arrangements between two countries aimed at restarting commercial passenger services when regular international flights are suspended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. They are reciprocal in nature, meaning airlines from both countries enjoy similar benefits.

Countries with which India Has Air Bubble agreements

Afghanistan

Bahrain

Bangladesh

Bhutan

Canada

Ethiopia

Finland

France

Germany

Iraq

Japan

Kenya

Kuwait

Maldives

Mauritius

Nepal

Netherlands

Nigeria

Oman

Qatar

Russia

Rwanda

Seychelles

Singapore

Sri Lanka

Tanzania

Ukraine

UAE

UK

USA

Uzbekistan

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-

-

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Constitutional Provision for Economically Weaker Section (EWS)

• The 103 Constitutional amendment act 2019  provides  for reservation to Economically Weaker Section(EWS) 

The main points of this amendment act are as follows:

• It amended article 15 and 16  and introduced a new clause  15(6), and  16(6) 
• Article 15(6) provides for 10% reservation in government educational institutions for EWS.
• Article  16(6) provides for 10% reservation in Public employment for EWS.
• The act gives the central government power  to lay down the criteria for determining EWS.

 Current  Central government criteria for determining EWS

• Currently, the EWS quota can be availed by persons with an annual gross household income of up to ₹8 lakh.

Who cannot avail the benefit of EWS 

• However the families that own over 5 acres of agricultural land,
•  a house over 1,000 square feet, 
• a plot of over 100-yards in a notified municipal area or over a 200-yards plot in a non-notified municipal area.
•  Persons belonging to communities that already have reservations such as Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and the "creamy layer" of Other Backward Classes are also not eligible for reservation under this quota.

 NEET

The National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET), formerly the All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT), is the qualifying test for MBBS and BDS programmes in Indian medical and dental colleges. It is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA)

• Justice A. Arumughaswamy Commission of Inquiry was set up by the Tamilnadu Government in 2017 to inquire into the cause of death of the former Chief Minister of Tamilnadu J.Jayalalitha.
• She died on 5 December 2016 at Apollo Hospital, Chennai.

National Crime Records Bureau(NCRB)

• It is a government of India agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is responsible for collecting and analysing the crime data as per the Indian Penal Code(IPC) and other laws.
• It is a repository of crimes and criminals in India 
• It was set up in 1986.
• Headquarters: New Delhi 

Indian Navy 

It is the Naval branch of the Indian Armed forces and the President of India is the supreme commander of the Navy.

The Chief of Naval Staff, a four-star admiral commands the Navy.

Headquarters: Integrated Defence Headquarters, Ministry of Defence, New Delhi.

Motto(s): “शं नो वरुणः” (sham noVarunah). Translation: May the Lord of Water be Auspicious to us. Taken from Taittiriya Upanishad.

Established: 26th January 1950, 

Indian Navy Day: 4 December 

Indian Navy Day is celebrated every year on December 4 to commemorate the attack on the Karachi harbour during the India-Pakistan war 1971 under operation Trident. 

Commands

Headquarters

Western Naval Command

Mumbai

Eastern Naval Command

Visakhapatnam

Southern Naval Command

Kochi

Andaman and Nicobar (tri-service)

Port Blair