27 February 2025-Current Affairs

1. Human Smuggling Must Engage Parliament’s Attention – Governance

Why in News?

• Human smuggling is a growing humanitarian crisis, with many Indians seeking better opportunities abroad through illegal channels.
• The Emigration Act of 1983 and Punjab Travel Professionals Regulation Act of 2012 are outdated and fail to address modern smuggling networks.
• Parliamentary intervention is needed to update legal frameworks and strengthen enforcement mechanisms.

Key Issues in Human Smuggling

1. Socio-Economic Factors Driving Illegal Migration

• Lack of local employment opportunities forces people to seek jobs abroad.
• Smugglers exploit vulnerable individuals by making false promises.
• Many families sell assets or take on debts to finance illegal migration.

2. Exploitation by Smuggling Networks

• High fees charged by smugglers create a cycle of financial distress.
• Migrants face dangerous travel routes, overcrowded transport, and mistreatment.
• Many become victims of forced labor, abuse, or even death during the journey.

Legal Framework and Gaps

1. Emigration Act of 1983

• Lacks clear definitions of human smuggling.
• Weak penalties allow traffickers to operate with minimal risk.
• Focuses more on regulating legal emigration rather than preventing smuggling.

2. Punjab Travel Professionals Regulation Act, 2012

• Only applicable within Punjab, limiting its national and international scope.
• Enforcement issues make it ineffective in tackling organized smuggling networks.

Why Legislative Reforms Are Necessary?

• Existing laws are outdated and do not criminalize human smuggling effectively.
• Human trafficking is a violation of fundamental human rights and international conventions.
• Parliament must introduce comprehensive laws with strict penalties to deter smugglers and protect Indian migrants.

Exam Relevance

• Governance & Law: Need for updated legal frameworks on migration.
• Social Issues: Impact of unemployment and poverty on illegal migration.
• International Relations: India’s role in global anti-trafficking efforts.
• Current Affairs: Recent cases of Indian migrants being trafficked abroad.

Potential Questions for Exam:

1. Discuss the socio-economic factors that contribute to human smuggling in India.
2. Critically analyze the gaps in the Emigration Act of 1983 and suggest reforms.
3. Explain the role of organized crime networks in human smuggling and how India can counter this menace.

2. NAKSHA Scheme To Update Urban Land Records – Governance

Why in News?

• Union Rural Development Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, launched the NAKSHA initiative (National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations).
• Aims to modernize urban land records and improve transparency in property ownership and transactions.
• Part of the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP).
• The pilot project covers 152 urban local bodies across 26 states.

Objectives of NAKSHA

• Create a comprehensive geospatial database for urban land records.
• Employ advanced surveying techniques (aerial and field surveys integrated with GIS technology).
• Enhance land governance, reducing land disputes and improving transparency.

Scope of the Initiative

• Targets smaller urban areas (Cities with an area ≤ 35 sq km and population under 2 lakhs).
• 100% centrally funded for effective implementation and nationwide reach.

Why is Land Record Modernization Necessary?

• Lack of accurate land records leads to governance inefficiencies and legal disputes.
• Unauthorized constructions and encroachments create urban planning challenges.
• Property tax leakages due to incorrect land data.
• Complexity in property transactions due to outdated records.

Benefits of NAKSHA

• Enhanced urban planning with precise land records.
• Reduced land disputes through accurate ownership data.
• Efficient property tax collection, boosting municipal revenue.
• Smoother real estate transactions, improving ease of doing business.
• Stronger digital governance under Digital India initiatives.

Exam Relevance

• Governance & Urban Development: Modernization of land records is crucial for urban planning.
• Technology & GIS Applications: Use of geospatial data in land governance.
• Economy & Infrastructure: Impact on property tax collection and real estate.

Potential Questions for Exam:

1. What is the NAKSHA scheme, and how does it contribute to urban land governance?
2. Discuss the challenges in India’s urban land records system and how NAKSHA aims to resolve them.
3. Explain the role of geospatial technology in modernizing urban governance.

3. Cali Fund Launched at CBD COP16 – Environment

Why in News?

• The Cali Fund, an international biodiversity financing mechanism, was launched on February 25, 2025, at the 16th Conference of Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Rome.
• It aims to enhance biodiversity conservation globally by collecting funds from private companies that use Digital Sequence Information (DSI) from nature.
• Supports biodiversity conservation projects, scientific research, and indigenous community initiatives.

Key Features of the Cali Fund

1. Funding Source

• Businesses that utilize genetic data (DSI) from plants, animals, and microorganisms must contribute financially to the fund.

2. Utilization of Funds

• 50% of the funds will be allocated to indigenous and local biodiversity initiatives.

3. Global Management

• Managed by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
• Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTFO) oversees financial operations.

4. Alignment with Global Goals

• Supports the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), which aims to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.
• First-of-its-kind initiative involving direct private sector contributions to a global UN biodiversity fund.

What is Digital Sequence Information (DSI)?

• DSI refers to genetic data extracted from plants, animals, and microorganisms.
• It is widely used across various industries:

About the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

• Established at the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro.
• 196 contracting parties, making it the most comprehensive international agreement on biodiversity conservation.

Main Objectives of the CBD

• Conservation of biological diversity (genetic, species, and habitat diversity).
• Sustainable use of biological resources.
• Fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resource use.

Conference of the Parties (COP)

• The governing body of the CBD, which meets biennially to assess progress and set priorities.
• Secretariat: Located in Montreal, Canada.

Two Key Binding Protocols Under CBD

Significance of the Cali Fund

• Strengthens global biodiversity financing mechanisms.
• Encourages private sector involvement in conservation.
• Supports indigenous communities dependent on biodiversity.
• Aligns with international agreements like the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Exam Relevance

• Environment & Ecology: Role of global biodiversity agreements.
• Economy & Sustainable Development: Private sector participation in biodiversity financing.
• Science & Technology: Importance of Digital Sequence Information (DSI) in various industries.
• International Relations: India’s role in global biodiversity commitments.

Potential Questions for Exam:

1. What is the Cali Fund, and how does it contribute to biodiversity conservation?
2. Explain the significance of Digital Sequence Information (DSI) and its industrial applications.
3. Discuss the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and its relevance in global conservation efforts.

4. African-Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO) – International Relations

Why in News?

• The 21st AARDO Conference recently concluded, highlighting the importance of community-based rural development, local knowledge, technology use, and South-South cooperation.
• AARDO is a key inter-governmental organization focused on rural development in Africa and Asia.

About AARDO

• Established: 1962
• Type: Autonomous inter-governmental organization
• Headquarters: New Delhi, India
• Membership:
  • 32 full member countries
  • 3 associate members
  • Open to countries in the Afro-Asian region that are part of the United Nations or its specialized agencies.

Functions of AARDO

• International Collaboration: Works with organizations like FAO, IFAD, UNCTAD, UNESCO, and UNDP.
• Capacity Building: Organizes training programs for sustainable agriculture and rural development.
• Research & Data Sharing: Conducts studies, collects statistics, and disseminates best practices.
• Technical & Financial Support: Funds pilot projects for rural development, which can be replicated in member countries.

Significance of AARDO

• Promotes South-South Cooperation for shared learning between African and Asian countries.
• Supports Rural Development through agricultural innovation, infrastructure, and local empowerment.
• Encourages Technology Adoption in farming, irrigation, and rural industries.
• Enhances Policy Formulation with data-driven strategies.

AARDO & India

• India is a key member and host of AARDO’s headquarters in New Delhi.
• India provides financial, technical, and policy expertise to support rural development projects.
• AARDO aligns with India’s initiatives like Digital Agriculture, Rural Skill Development, and Sustainable Farming.

Exam Relevance

• International Relations: India’s role in South-South Cooperation.
• Agriculture & Rural Development: Strategies for sustainable rural progress.
• Economic & Social Issues: Impact of technology and policy interventions in rural sectors.

Potential Questions for Exam:

1. What is AARDO, and how does it contribute to rural development in Afro-Asian nations?
2. Discuss the significance of South-South Cooperation in global rural development.
3. Explain India’s role in AARDO and its benefits for rural development initiatives.

5. High Court’s Verdict on Nighttime Arrests of Women – Polity

Why in News?

• The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court issued a key ruling on the arrest of women at night, interpreting Section 46(4) of the CrPC under the new Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.
• The court declared that nighttime arrests of women are not strictly prohibited, making the law directory (flexible) rather than mandatory.
• The ruling raises concerns about potential misuse and calls for clear guidelines on “exceptional circumstances” under which women can be arrested at night.

Key Legal Provisions

1. Section 46(4) of the CrPC (Now Under BNSS, 2023)

• General Rule: Women cannot be arrested between sunset and sunrise.
• Exception: If necessary, a woman police officer must obtain prior written permission from a magistrate.

2. Key Takeaways from the Court’s Ruling

• Not an Absolute Ban: The restriction on nighttime arrests is flexible rather than mandatory.
• Exceptional Circumstances: The law allows arrests in special cases, but no clear definition of what qualifies.
• Physical Contact Restrictions: Male officers cannot physically touch a woman unless:
  • A woman officer is present, or
  • The situation demands it (self-defense, public safety, etc.).
• Police Responsibility: The ruling reinforces that law enforcement must follow due process, but strict adherence should not hinder justice.

Concerns & Implications

Positive Impacts

• Ensures law enforcement flexibility in urgent cases.
• Balances women’s safety with the need for effective policing.
• Reinforces the importance of judicial oversight in nighttime arrests.

Concerns & Challenges

• Ambiguity in “exceptional circumstances”: No clear definition may lead to misuse or arbitrary arrests.
• Potential for misuse by police: Officers may justify improper arrests under vague “exceptional” conditions.
• Women’s safety concerns: Weakens existing legal protections against wrongful detention and harassment.

Impact of the Madras High Court Ruling

• Legal Interpretation: Non-compliance with Section 46(4) does not automatically make an arrest illegal.
• Law Enforcement Balance: Encourages police accountability while ensuring crime prevention.
• Need for Clear Guidelines: The government must define “exceptional circumstances” to prevent arbitrary misuse.

Exam Relevance

• Constitution & Law: Women’s rights and legal safeguards in India.
• Governance & Policing: Role of law enforcement and judicial oversight.
• Social Justice & Human Rights: Protection against gender-based violence and discrimination.

Potential Questions for Exam:

1. What are the legal provisions regarding the arrest of women at night? How has the Madras High Court ruling affected them?
2. Discuss the challenges in balancing women’s safety and effective law enforcement in the context of nighttime arrests.
3. How does the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, impact policing and women’s rights in India?