1. Census
- Context: India’s next Census exercise will include a caste count.
- The decision was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister.
Census:
- The census provides information on size, distribution and socio-economic, demographic and other characteristics of the country’s population.
- The Census was first started under British Viceroy Lord Mayo in 1872.
- It helped in framing new policies, government programs to uplift areas of improvement in the community.
- The first synchronous census in India was held in 1881.
- Every ten years: Since then, censuses have been undertaken uninterruptedly once every ten years.
Who conducts the census?
- The responsibility of conducting the decennial Census rests with the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
The Census is one of the most credible sources of information on the following:
- Demography.
- Economic Activity.
- Literacy and Education.
- Housing & Household Amenities.
- Urbanization, Fertility, and Mortality.
- Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
- Language.
Census in India:
- India’s first Census was held in 1872, conducted non-synchronously in different parts of the country.
- After that, India has held its decadal censuses regularly from 1881 to 2011.
SECC (Socio-Economic and Caste Census):
- SECC was first conducted in 1931 which aimed to collect information on the economic status of Indian families, both in rural and urban areas, to identify indicators of deprivation.
- It also collects data on specific caste names to evaluate the economic conditions of different caste groups.
Difference Between Census & SECC:
- Census provides a general portrait of the Indian population, while SECC is used to identify beneficiaries of state support.
- Census data is confidential under the Census Act of 1948, while personal information in SECC is open for use by government departments to grant or restrict benefits to households.
Prelims special:
Q. Consider the following statements: (UPSC 2009)
- Between Census 1951 and Census 2001, the density of the population of India has increased more than three times.
- Between Census 1951 and Census 2001, the annual growth rate (exponential) of the population of India has doubled.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Ans: (d)
2. Right to life and liberty
- Context: Inclusive and meaningful digital access to e-governance and welfare delivery systems is a part of the fundamental right to life and liberty, the Supreme Court held in a judgment.
Key Highlights:
- Court held:
- The state has obligations under Articles 21(right to a dignified life),14(equality), 15(right against discrimination). 38(Directive Principles of State Policy)of the Constitution.
- It must encompass the responsibility to ensure that digital infrastructure, government portals, online learning platforms and financial technology are universally accessible and responsive to all vulnerable and marginalized sections.
What were the cases that led to this ruling?
- Pragya Prasun vs Union of India: Filed by an acid attack survivor who faced problems during the Digital KYC process at a bank that required blinking for a “live photograph”
- Amar Jain vs Union of India: Filed by a person with 100% blindness who regularly suffers from inaccessible KYC formalities
Article 14(Equality Before Law)
- It says that no person shall be denied treatment of equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.
- The right is extended to all persons whether citizens or foreigners, statutory corporations, companies, registered societies or any other type of legal person.
Article 15(Prohibition of Discrimination):
- It provides that no citizen shall be discriminated against on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.
- Exception: Certain provisions can be made for the women, children, citizens from any socially or educationally backward class for their upliftment (such as reservation and access to free education).
Article 21(Protection of Life and Personal Liberty):
- It declares that no person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law. This right is available to both citizens and non-citizens.
- The right to life is not merely confined to animal existence or survival but also includes the right to live with human dignity and all those aspects of life which go to make a man’s life meaningful, complete and worth living.
Article 38:
- The State shall strive to promote the welfare of the people by securing and protecting as effectively as it may a social order in which justice, social, economic, and political, shall inform all the institutions of national life.
Prelims Special
Q. A legislation which confers on the executive or administrative authority an unguided and uncontrolled discretionary power in the matter of the application of law violates which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India? (UPSC 2021)
- Article 14
- Article 28
- Article 32
- Article 44
Ans: (a)
3. National Human Rights Commission(NHRC)
- Context: The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report about the abduction, rape and murder of a minor girl, as well as the death in an alleged police encounter of a man arrested over the crime in Karnataka’s Hubballi.
What is the NHRC?
- The NHRC is an autonomous statutory body established to promote and protect human rights in India.
- It was created under the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993, which was amended in 2006 and 2019.
- The NHRC was set up in line with the Paris Principles, international standards adopted by the United Nations (UN) in 1991 and endorsed in 1993 to guide National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) globally.
Role and Functions of NHRC:
- Intervention in Court Proceedings: NHRC can intervene in court cases involving human rights violations, subject to court approval.
- Review of Safeguards: It assesses constitutional and legal provisions related to human rights protection and recommends improvements.
- Evaluation of Inhibitors to Human Rights: The commission studies factors like terrorism that may impede the enjoyment of human rights and suggests remedies.
- Study of International Instruments: NHRC examines international treaties and conventions on human rights and recommends their implementation in India.
- Research and Promotion: It conducts research and promotes human rights education through publications, seminars, and media.
Powers of NHRC:
- NHRC has powers similar to those of a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, including:
- Ordering discovery and production of documents
- Receiving evidence via affidavits
- Requisitioning public records
- Issuing commissions for witness examination
- Exercising additional powers as prescribed by law
NHRC Investigation Team:
- NHRC has an investigation team led by a Director General of Police (DGP).
- It collaborates with Central and State Government officers and NGOs to conduct investigations.
Prelims special:
Q. Consider the following: (UPSC 2011)
- Right to education
- Right to equal access to public service
- Right to food.
Which of the above is/are Human Right/Human Rights under “Universal Declaration of Human Rights”?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans: (d)
4. Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Booth-Level Officers (BLOs)
- Context: The Election Commission of India began a capacity-building training programme for Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Booth-Level Officers (BLOs) from Bihar, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh.
Electoral Registration Officer (ERO):
- The Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) is responsible for the preparation of electoral rolls for a Parliamentary/Assembly constituency.
- The Election Commission of India, in consultation with the State/Union Territory government, appoints an officer of the government or the local authorities as the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO).
Booth-Level Officers (BLOs)
- BLOs distribute voter slips and organise amenities for the polling team.
- BLOs work with polling staff to relay hourly poll percentages to the DEO via the Polling Area Management System (PAMS), enabling voters to monitor queue status.
Prelims Special
Q. Which one of the following statements is correct as per the Constitution of India?(UPSC 2024)
- Inter-State trade and commerce is a State subject under the State List.
- Inter-State migration is a State subject under the State List.
- Inter-State quarantine is a Union subject under the Union List.
- Corporation tax is a State subject under the State List.
Ans: (c)
5. Lokpal
- Context: A Special Bench of the Supreme Court shifted a suo motu case concerning the jurisdiction of the anti-corruption ombudsman, the Lokpal, to act on complaints against serving High Court judges to another Bench.
Lokpal:
- It is a statutory body established under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act 2013.
- Mandate: To inquire into allegations of corruption against certain public functionaries and for related matters.
- Organisational Structure:
- It consists of a chairperson and eight Members, out of whom four are Judicial Members.
- The Chairperson should be either the former Chief Justice of India, or a former Judge of the Supreme Court, or an eminent person who fulfills the eligibility criteria as specified.
- The judicial member of the Lokpal should be either a former Judge of the Supreme Court or a former Chief Justice of a High Court.
- A minimum of 50 percent of the Members will be from SC/ST/OBC/Minorities and women.
- How are members appointed?
- The Chairperson and the Members are appointed by the President of India on the recommendation of a selection committee composed of:
- Prime Minister as the Chairperson
- Speaker of Lok Sabha
- Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha
- Chief Justice of India or a Judge nominated by him/her
- one eminent jurist.
- They hold office for a term of five years from the date on which they enter upon the office or until they attain the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier.
- The salary, allowances, and other conditions of services of the Chairperson are the same as that of the Chief Justice of India.
- The salary, allowances, and other conditions of services of the members are the same as that of a Judge of the Supreme Court.
Jurisdiction:
- It has jurisdiction to inquire into allegations of corruption against anyone who is or has been Prime Minister, a Minister in the Union government, or a Member of Parliament, as well as officials of the Union Government under Groups A, B, C, and D.
- It covers chairpersons, members, officers, and directors of any board, corporation, society, trust, or autonomous body either established by an Act of Parliament or wholly or partly funded by the Union or State Government.
- It also covers any society, trust, or body that receives a foreign contribution above Rs 10 lakh.
- A complaint under the Lokpal Act should be in the prescribed form and must pertain to an offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988,against a public servant.
- There is no restriction on who can make such a complaint.
- When a complaint is received, the Lokpal may order a preliminary inquiry by its Inquiry Wing or any other agency or refer it for investigation by any agency, including the CBI, if there is a prima facie case.
- The Lokpal, with respect to Central government servants, shall refer the complaints to the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).
Exceptions for Prime Minister:
- Lokpal cannot inquire into allegations against the PM relating to international relations, external and internal security, public order, atomic energy, and space.
- Also, complaints against the PM are not to be probed unless the full Lokpal bench considers the initiation of the inquiry and at least 2/3rds of the members approve it.
Powers of Lokpal:
- It has powers to superintendence over and to give direction to the CBI.
- If it has referred a case to the CBI, the investigating officer in such a case cannot be transferred without the approval of Lokpal.
- Powers to authorize CBI for search and seizure operations connected to such cases.
- The Inquiry Wing of the Lokpal has been vested with the powers of a civil court.
- Lokpal has powers of confiscation of assets, proceeds, receipts, and benefits arisen or procured by means of corruption in special circumstances.
- Lokpal has the power to recommend the transfer or suspension of public servants connected with the allegation of corruption.
- Lokpal has the power to give directions to prevent the destruction of records during the preliminary inquiry.
- In terms of Section 48 of the said Act, the Lokpal is required to present annually to the President a report on the work done by it, which is caused to be laid in both the Houses of the Parliament.
Prelims Special:
Q. With reference to Lokpal, consider the following statements:
- The complaints against the PM are not to be probed unless the full Lokpal bench considers the initiation of the inquiry and at least 1/3rds of the members approve it.
- It covers any society, trust, or body that receives a foreign contribution above Rs 10 lakh.
Which of the statements above is/are incorrect?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Ans: (a)