🔆Indo-UK pact on electric propulsion system
#gs2
#ir
#gs3
#science_technology
@upsc_4_ir
@upsc_science_and_technology
#gs2
#ir
#gs3
#science_technology
@upsc_4_ir
@upsc_science_and_technology
🔆Global treaty on plastic waste
#gs2
#ir
#gs3
#environment
@upsc_4_environment
@upsc_the_hindu_ie_editorial
#gs2
#ir
#gs3
#environment
@upsc_4_environment
@upsc_the_hindu_ie_editorial
🔆Geneva-based UN-related body to review India’s human rights accreditation status
✅India’s processes under scanner after GANHRI deferred the country’s rating in 2023; criticism included lack of pluralism, appointing police officials, ruling party members to NHRC
✅For the second time in a decade, Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) deferred the accreditation of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), citing objections like political interference in appointments among others.
✅The GANHRI had granted ‘A’ status of accreditation to NHRC in 2017, after deferring it the year before — the first such instance since NHRC was established (1993).
✅Without the accreditation, NHRC will be unable to represent India at the UN Human Rights Council
📍Why are the Reasons for Deferment?
✅The GANHRI cited reasons such as:
🔰Lack of diversity in staff and leadership
🔰Insufficient action to protect marginalized groups
🔰Involving the police in probes into human rights violations
🔰Poor cooperation with civil society
✅The GANHRI said the NHRC has repeatedly failed to deliver its mandate, in particular to protect the rights of people from marginalized communities, religious minorities, and human rights defenders.
✅NHCR's lack of independence, pluralism, diversity and accountability are contrary to the U.N.’s principles on the status of national institutions (the ‘Paris Principles’).
📍What are the Paris Principles and ‘A’ Status?
✅The United Nations’ Paris Principles, adopted in 1993 by the UN The General Assembly provides the international benchmarks against which National Human Rights Institutions (NHRI) can be accredited.
✅The Paris Principles set out six main criteria that NHRIs are required to meet. These are:
🔰Mandate and competence
🔰Autonomy from government
🔰Independence guaranteed by a statute or Constitution
🔰Pluralism
🔰Adequate resources
🔰Adequate powers of investigation.
✅The GANHRI is a group of 16 human rights agencies – 4 from each region; the Americas, Europe, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific – that have the Highest Rating (‘A’) for following the Paris Principles.
✅The ‘A’ rating also lets them join the work of the GANHRI and the UN on human rights issues.
✅The NHRC got its ‘A’ rating in 1999 and kept it in 2006, 2011, and 2017 after a delay. The GANHRI had delayed it because of some problems with the NHRC’s staff and appointments.
✅The NHRC is led by Justice Arun Mishra, who used to be a Supreme Court judge.
#gs2
#ir
#polity_governance
@upsc_4_ir
@upsc_polity_governance
✅India’s processes under scanner after GANHRI deferred the country’s rating in 2023; criticism included lack of pluralism, appointing police officials, ruling party members to NHRC
✅For the second time in a decade, Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) deferred the accreditation of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), citing objections like political interference in appointments among others.
✅The GANHRI had granted ‘A’ status of accreditation to NHRC in 2017, after deferring it the year before — the first such instance since NHRC was established (1993).
✅Without the accreditation, NHRC will be unable to represent India at the UN Human Rights Council
📍Why are the Reasons for Deferment?
✅The GANHRI cited reasons such as:
🔰Lack of diversity in staff and leadership
🔰Insufficient action to protect marginalized groups
🔰Involving the police in probes into human rights violations
🔰Poor cooperation with civil society
✅The GANHRI said the NHRC has repeatedly failed to deliver its mandate, in particular to protect the rights of people from marginalized communities, religious minorities, and human rights defenders.
✅NHCR's lack of independence, pluralism, diversity and accountability are contrary to the U.N.’s principles on the status of national institutions (the ‘Paris Principles’).
📍What are the Paris Principles and ‘A’ Status?
✅The United Nations’ Paris Principles, adopted in 1993 by the UN The General Assembly provides the international benchmarks against which National Human Rights Institutions (NHRI) can be accredited.
✅The Paris Principles set out six main criteria that NHRIs are required to meet. These are:
🔰Mandate and competence
🔰Autonomy from government
🔰Independence guaranteed by a statute or Constitution
🔰Pluralism
🔰Adequate resources
🔰Adequate powers of investigation.
✅The GANHRI is a group of 16 human rights agencies – 4 from each region; the Americas, Europe, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific – that have the Highest Rating (‘A’) for following the Paris Principles.
✅The ‘A’ rating also lets them join the work of the GANHRI and the UN on human rights issues.
✅The NHRC got its ‘A’ rating in 1999 and kept it in 2006, 2011, and 2017 after a delay. The GANHRI had delayed it because of some problems with the NHRC’s staff and appointments.
✅The NHRC is led by Justice Arun Mishra, who used to be a Supreme Court judge.
#gs2
#ir
#polity_governance
@upsc_4_ir
@upsc_polity_governance
🔆India has surpassed China as the largest source of international students in Germany
#gs2
#prelims
#ir
@upsc_4_ir
#gs2
#prelims
#ir
@upsc_4_ir
🔆What Marijuana Reclassification Means for the United States?
📍Why in News?
✅The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has proposed to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug by moving it from “Schedule-I” to less tightly regulated “Schedule-III” group.
📍What has Changed and Why?
✅Technically, nothing yet as the proposal is to be scrutinized by White House Officials, undergo public-comment period and review by administrative judge. It was reclassified on the suggestion of President Biden because Schedule-I put marijuana on par with heroin, LSD etc. and the President supports legalizing marijuana for medical use based on medical and scientific evidence.
📍Effects of Reclassification-
✅Legal Status- It won't change much as Schedule-III drugs including ketamine and anabolic steroids are still controlled substances, subject to various rules that allow for some medical uses, and for federal criminal prosecution of anyone trafficking the drug. Also, there haven’t been many federal prosecutions for possessing marijuana in recent years, even under Schedule-I status.
✅Research- Until now ,it was very difficult to conduct authorized clinical studies of marijuana that involved its administration. As Schedule-III drugs are easier to study, reclassification will surely allow research on human subjects with cannabis.
✅Taxes-Under the federal tax code, businesses involved in “marijuana trafficking” or any other Schedule-I or II drug can’t deduct rent, payroll or various other expenses that other businesses can write-off. Schedule-III drugs are exempted from this rule, so the proposed change would cut cannabis companies’ taxes substantially.
✅Business Problems- Reclassification won't provide much relief as marijuana businesses deal with problems related to difficulty accessing banks, particularly for loans, because federally regulated institutions are wary of marijuana’s legal status. Instead, the industry is looking forward to SAFE Banking Act which has repeatedly passed the House but stalled in the Senate.
#gs2
#ir
@upsc_4_ir
📍Why in News?
✅The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has proposed to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug by moving it from “Schedule-I” to less tightly regulated “Schedule-III” group.
📍What has Changed and Why?
✅Technically, nothing yet as the proposal is to be scrutinized by White House Officials, undergo public-comment period and review by administrative judge. It was reclassified on the suggestion of President Biden because Schedule-I put marijuana on par with heroin, LSD etc. and the President supports legalizing marijuana for medical use based on medical and scientific evidence.
📍Effects of Reclassification-
✅Legal Status- It won't change much as Schedule-III drugs including ketamine and anabolic steroids are still controlled substances, subject to various rules that allow for some medical uses, and for federal criminal prosecution of anyone trafficking the drug. Also, there haven’t been many federal prosecutions for possessing marijuana in recent years, even under Schedule-I status.
✅Research- Until now ,it was very difficult to conduct authorized clinical studies of marijuana that involved its administration. As Schedule-III drugs are easier to study, reclassification will surely allow research on human subjects with cannabis.
✅Taxes-Under the federal tax code, businesses involved in “marijuana trafficking” or any other Schedule-I or II drug can’t deduct rent, payroll or various other expenses that other businesses can write-off. Schedule-III drugs are exempted from this rule, so the proposed change would cut cannabis companies’ taxes substantially.
✅Business Problems- Reclassification won't provide much relief as marijuana businesses deal with problems related to difficulty accessing banks, particularly for loans, because federally regulated institutions are wary of marijuana’s legal status. Instead, the industry is looking forward to SAFE Banking Act which has repeatedly passed the House but stalled in the Senate.
#gs2
#ir
@upsc_4_ir
🔆Ruang volcano
A series of explosive eruption of the Ruang Volcano has raised concerns about the danger of residing on the island
#gs2
#prelims
#mapping
#Places_in_news
@upsc_4_ir
Join @Mapping_prelims_mains
A series of explosive eruption of the Ruang Volcano has raised concerns about the danger of residing on the island
#gs2
#prelims
#mapping
#Places_in_news
@upsc_4_ir
Join @Mapping_prelims_mains