Daily Current Affairs | 06 March 2020

General Studies-II-Statutory, Regulatory and various Quasi-judicial Bodies

1. Appointment of new Chief Information Commissioner

News

President Ram Nath Kovind administered the oath of office to Mr. BimalJulka as CIC in the Central Information Commission.

Highlights

After Sudhir Bhargava retired on January 11, the Central Information Commission was functioning without a chief. After the appointment of Julka as CIC, 5 more posts of Information Commissioner in the Commission are vacant.

Prelims Facts

Central Information Commission:

• The Central Information Commission was established in 2005 under the Right to Information Act.
• It is a highly authorized and independent body.
• Wajahat Habibullah was made the first Chief Information Commissioner of the country.
• Mr. Julka is the tenth Chief Information Commissioner of the country.
• It hears complaints and appeals regarding offices, financial institutions, public sector undertakings etc. operating under the Central Government and Union Territories.
• Its decisions are final and binding. But they can be appealed in the High Court or the Supreme Court.
• The Commission consists of a maximum of 10 members, including a Chief Information Commissioner and other Information Commissioners.
• The President appoints all these on the recommendation of a committee.
• The Chief Information Commissioner and other Information Commissioners continue in their posts till the age of 5 years or 65 years, whichever is earlier.
• These can also be removed by the President based on various defects.

 

General Studies-II-Important Aspects of Governance, Transparency and Accountability

2. Freedom in the World 2020 Report

News

The Freedom in the World 2020 report has recently been released by the US-based watchdog Freedom House.

Highlights:

• Freedom House has been tracking global politics and civil liberties for almost half a century.
• According to the report, the 5 countries with the highest political and civil liberties are Finland, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
• Botswana, Peru, India, Timor Leste and Tunisia are the countries with the lowest political and civil liberties.

India’s position in the report:

• The report ranked India 83^rd along with Timor-Leste and Senegal.
• Freedom in the World 2020 report puts India among the least free democracies.
• India’s score fell four points to 71, with the worst decline among the world’s 25 largest democracies.
• India scored 34 out of 40 in the political rights category while it scored 37 out of 60 in the civil liberties category, taking the total score to 71, 4 points less than the previous year’s score of 75.
• There are three main reasons for this-
• Kashmir issue
• National Register of Citizens and Citizenship Amendment Act
• Mass protests in India for some time

 

General Studies-II-Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India’s interests

3. United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)

News

US Commission on International Religious Freedom heard witnesses to the National Register of Citizens and Citizenship Amendment Act. The commission also discussed the Rohingya situation in Myanmar. However, this hearing has not produced any automatic legal consequences.

Prelims Facts

United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF):

• It is a US federal government commission created by the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA), 1998.
• The major responsibilities of the commission are to review the facts and circumstances of the violation of religious freedom internationally and make policy recommendations to the President, Secretary of State and Congress.
• It issues the International Religious Freedom report annually.
• Its commissioners are appointed by the President and the representative leadership of both the political parties of the Senate and the House.
• It was founded on October 28, 1998.
• Its headquarters are located in Washington, D.C.

 

General Studies-II-Statutory, Regulatory and various Quasi-judicial Bodies

4. Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA)

News

CARA has sought suggestions from all stakeholders for the simplification of the adoption process.

Highlights

The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) has invited suggestions and feedback from all stakeholders, including child welfare committees and the general public, for simplification of the adoption process.

People can send their suggestions till the 3^rd of next month i.e. 3^rdApril.

Prelims Facts

Central Adoption Resource Authority:

• It is a statutory body, which functions under the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
• It is a nodal agency for the upbringing and adoption of orphan children in India.
• As a central authority under the Hague Convention, 1993, it promotes and regulates the adoption process in the country and at the country level.
• It was built in 1990 and was approved by the Government of India in 2003.