Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 29 October 2024 | Download PDF

• Recently, the panel meeting on the Waqf Bill concluded with intense disagreements.

Key Points:

• • The Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024, introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 8, 2024, proposes significant changes to the governance and management of Waqf properties in India. 
  • This legislation seeks to amend the Waqf Act of 1995, aiming to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the administration of Waqf properties while addressing long-standing issues within the system.
    • A Waqf is a property donated by Muslims for a specific religious, charitable, or private purpose. 
    • Ownership of the property is considered to belong to God, while its benefits are directed to the specified purposes.
• Key Provisions:

• • Waqf Formation: Waqfs can be formed by (i) declaration, (ii) recognition of long-term use, or (iii) endowment when succession ends. 
  • Government Property: Government properties identified as waqf will revert to state ownership. The District Collector will determine ownership in disputed cases.
  • Central Waqf Council: Two non-Muslim members are added. MPs, judges, and eminent persons need not be Muslims. However, Muslim members must include two women.
  • Appeals: Tribunal decisions can be appealed to the High Court within 90 days.
  • Separate Waqf Boards: Separate Waqf Boards are allowed for Bohra and Agakhani sects.

& Simlipal Tiger Reserve (STR)

• The Odisha government has translocated a female tiger from Maharashtra’s Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve to the Similipal Tiger Reserve, the State’s largest, to enhance the genetic diversity of its tiger population.

Key Points:

• Simlipal Tiger Reserve (STR)
  • • Location: STR is located within the Mayurbhanj District, in the Northernmost part of Odisha.
    • It is surrounded by high plateaus and hills, the highest peak being the twin peaks of Khairiburu and Meghashini (1515m above mean sea level).
    • It was declared a ‘Tiger Reserve’ in the year 1956 and included under the national conservation programme ‘Project Tiger’ in 1973.
    • Terrain: The terrain is mostly undulating and hilly, interspersed with open grasslands and wooded areas.
    • Vegetation: It is a mix of different forest types and habitats, with Northern tropical moist deciduous dominating some semi-evergreen patches.
    • It is the only landscape in the world that is home to melanistic tigers.
    • The region around STR is home to a variety of tribes, including Kolha, Santhala, Bhumija, Bhatudi, Gondas, Khadia, Mankadia and Sahara.
• Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve

• • Location: It is located in the Chandrapur district in Maharashtra.
  • It is the largest and oldest Tiger Reserve of Maharashtra. 
  • Corridor: The reserve has corridor linkages with Nagzira-Navegaon and Pench Tiger Reserves within the State.
  • Vegetation: Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous

• The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has issued a warning about illegal payment gateways set up with mule bank accounts by transnational cyber criminals involved in money laundering.

Key Points:

• • I4C has been established under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to deal with cybercrime in the country in a coordinated and comprehensive manner. 
  • The I4C focuses on tackling issues related to cybercrime for citizens, including improving coordination between various Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) and stakeholders.
  • The center is located in New Delhi.
• Functions:

• • To act as a nodal point in the fight against cybercrime.
  • Identify the research problems and needs of LEAs and take up R&D activities in developing new technologies and forensic tools in collaboration with academia / research institutes within India and abroad.
  • To prevent misuse of cyberspace for furthering the cause of extremist and terrorist groups.
  • Suggest amendments, if required, in cyber laws to keep pace with fast changing technologies and international cooperation.
  • To coordinate all activities related to implementation of Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLAT) with other countries related to cybercrimes in consultation with the concerned nodal authority in MHA.

• Justice K.S. Puttaswamy, who challenged the government’s view that privacy is a privilege for the wealthy, passed away at 98.

Key Points:

• • Retired Justice Puttaswamy challenged the constitutionality of Aadhar before the SC by filing a writ petition.
  • The petitioner contended that all the previous apex court judgements upheld the Right to Privacy as a fundamental right and the Aadhar procedure violated this right.
  • The petitioner put forth that the right to privacy of an individual was an intrinsic part of the right to life and personal liberty as guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution.
  • The judgment, pronounced by a 9-judge bench of the SC upholds the fundamental right to privacy emanating from Article 21. 
  • The court also laid down that the ambit of Article 21 is ever-expanding due to the agreement over the years among the SC judges as a result of which a plethora of rights has been included within Article 21. 
• Significance of Puttaswamy Judgement

• • It formed the cornerstone of privacy jurisprudence in the country, holding that the right to privacy was an integral part of the fundamental rights under the Indian Constitution.
  • Six separate opinions of the Court spelt out an expansive interpretation of the right to privacy. 
  • It enables us to make free decisions, and is deeply tied to human dignity and autonomy.

• South Africa has submitted “evidence” of a “genocide” allegedly committed by Israel in the Gaza Strip to the International Court of Justice.

Key Points:

• • The ICJ, also known as the World Court, is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN).
  • It was established in June 1945 by the Charter of the UN and began work in April 1946.
  • The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands).
  • Of the six principal organs of the UN, it is the only one not located in New York, United States.
• The hearings of the ICJ are always public.

• Official Languages: French and English
• The ICJ decides disputes in accordance with international law as reflected in international conventions, international custom, general principles of law recognized by civilized nations, judicial decisions, and the writings of the most highly qualified experts on international law.

• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has registered a plea seeking intervention to enforce the ban on firecrackers in seven non-attainment cities of Odisha. 
• These seven cities include: Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Angul, Talcher, Balasore, Kalinganagar and Rourkela. 
• In these cities, the ambient air quality does not meet NAAQS with respect to PM10 and PM2.

About:

• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) is a specialized environmental court in India. 
• It was established in 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act. 
• The NGT has the power to hear and decide on civil cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources.

Composition:

• Chairperson: A retired Supreme Court judge appointed by the Central Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of India.   
• Judicial Members: Retired High Court judges appointed by a Selection Committee.   
• Expert Members: Professionals with at least 15 years of experience in environment-related fields, appointed by the Selection Committee.

Benches:

• The NGT has five zonal benches located in New Delhi (Principal Bench), Bhopal, Kolkata, Chennai, and Pune, to ensure easy accessibility for people from different regions.   

• NAAQS stands for National Ambient Air Quality Standards. 
• These are limits set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the concentration of six pollutants in outdoor air:   
  • Ozone (O3)   
  • Particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10)   
  • Lead (Pb)   
  • Carbon monoxide (CO)   
  • Sulfur oxides (SOx)   
  • Nitrogen oxides (NOx)   
• These pollutants can cause smog, acid rain, and other health hazards. 
• NAAQS are set to protect public health and the environment.   

• Odisha govt has announced to launch the Debalaya Yojana.
• It is a dedicated scheme to address the problems faced by religious shrines across the state. 
• The scheme aims to support the preservation and management of temples and mutts, going beyond basic maintenance to address issues like reconstruction, conservation, and overall functioning.  

Key Points

• The scheme will build upon the previous Augmentation of Basic Amenities & Development of Heritage and Architecture (ABADHA) scheme, which focused on reconstruction efforts 

• Ayurveda Day is an annual celebration dedicated to promoting Ayurveda, an ancient system of medicine with roots in India, that emphasizes holistick health and wellness. 

About:

• • Ayurveda Day is celebrated on Dhanvantari Jayanti, which is the 13th day of the dark fortnight in Ashwin.
  • The Government of India officially declared Ayurveda Day in 2016 to promote Ayurveda as a traditional system of medicine”.
  • 9th Ayurveda Day is to be celebrated on October 29, 2024.
  • Over 150 countries are participating globally.
• Theme:
• “Ayurveda Innovations for Global Health” is the focal theme for this year’s celebrations.

The logo for the Ayurveda Day has the following elements.

1. The silhouette of lord Dhanwantari in the centre of the logo represents the lord of Medicine.
2. The five petals in the logo symbolize Pancha Mahabhuta and three circles beneath signify Vata, Ptta, Kapha, the fundamental principles of Ayurveda.
3. An oval leaf encircling the elements depicts the essence of healing through Nature based on these fundamental principles.

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