01 July 2024: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

B. GS 2 Related

Category:Polity

1. New criminal laws in force; Cr.PC, IPC applicable only for old cases

Syllabus: Functions and Responsibilities of the Union and the States

Mains: New criminal laws: Salient  features and concern

Introduction of New Criminal Laws:

• Three new criminal laws have come into effect across India since Monday despite objections from many states.
• The Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) replaces the Code of Criminal Procedure (Cr.PC).
• The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) replaces the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860.
• The Bharatiya Sakshya (BS) replaces the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.

Amendments and Procedures:

• The IPC and Cr.PC will still apply to old cases and crimes reported before July 1.
• States are free to amend BNSS provisions.
• BNSS mandates procedures for arrest, bail, custody, and forensic examination.
• Compulsory audio-video recording of search and seizure and mandatory forensic examination for crimes punishable by seven years or more are required.

Specific Provisions and Amendments:

• BNS may soon include a section on sexual crimes against men and transgender persons.
• Until the amendment, police will use allied charges such as wrongful confinement and physical hurt for such complaints.

Implementation and Upgrades:

• Over 650 district courts and 16,000 police stations will migrate to the new system from July 1.
• FIRs will be filed through the upgraded Crime and Criminal Tracking Network Systems (CCTNS), allowing e-FIR and zero FIR capabilities.
• CCTNS software has been updated to register FIRs in languages other than English and Hindi.
• The e-sakshya platform will host data securely and will be managed by the National Informatics Centre.

Training and Forensic Capabilities:

• Training and support have been provided to all States for the new system.
• States have until June 2029 to upgrade their forensic capabilities.
• Forensic examination is mandatory for all crimes punishable by over seven years, but States need time to build capacity and train officials.

Nut Graf: Three new criminal laws in India replace the Cr.PC, IPC, and Indian Evidence Act, effective July 1. States can amend provisions, with mandatory forensic exams for severe crimes. Updated systems enable e-FIRs and support multiple languages.

Category:INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. Modi’s visit to Moscow timely, say experts

Syllabus: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests

Mains: Election process of Speaker and Deputy Speaker

Introduction: 

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Moscow on July 8-9 for a standalone state visit to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.
• The visit aims to reverse the perception of a drift in India-Russia relations and balance India’s ties with Western countries.
• It will be Modi’s first visit to Moscow since 2015 and resumes the annual India-Russia summit format.

Focus Areas of the Visit:

• Discussions will cover strategic, economic, and military ties.
• Key topics include the rise in India-Russia trade due to oil imports, smoothing out payment issues from Western sanctions, the Chennai-Vladivostok maritime route, and the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS).

Importance of the Visit:

• The visit is considered timely and overdue, aimed at recharging the strategic partnership.
• It will signal to Western countries that Modi intends to balance India’s relations, especially in the context of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict which began two years ago.
• Experts believe the visit will help resolve pending issues and remove apprehensions about waning political ties.

Strategic and Economic Implications:

• Modi’s visit will allow for a firsthand account of the Russia-Ukraine war and discussions on the recruitment of Indians as Russian military “helpers.”
• The visit will speed up the supply of defence hardware and spares delayed by the war.
• India and Russia are discussing increased investments in the Chennai-Vladivostok maritime corridor and Siberia, sourcing minerals from Russia, and resolving transit issues with ports in China.

Nut Graf: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Moscow aims to strengthen India-Russia ties by focusing on strategic, economic, and military cooperation, signalling balanced foreign relations amidst the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and enhancing bilateral trade and defence collaborations.

D. GS 4 Related

Nothing here for today!!!

Category:Eduction

1. The rot in India’s higher education system

Syllabus: Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources

Mains: Debate over Admission for Higher Education 

Introduction of CUET and Its Impact:

• The academic year 2022-23 faced delays in university admissions due to the National Testing Agency (NTA)-run Common University Entrance Test (CUET).
• CUET regime affected both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees; a CUET for PhD admissions was initially planned but dropped in mid-September 2022.
• University administrations faced challenges due to this shift, affecting the autonomy of universities.

Case Study: Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU):

• JNU, India’s second-ranked university, traditionally conducted its own entrance exams for nearly 50 years without issues.
• The NTA’s multiple choice question format replaced JNU’s pen and paper exams, leading to demands for a return to JNU’s traditional exam methods.
• Despite internal critique and public posturing by the Vice Chancellor, JNU continued using the NTA format.

Delays and Regulatory Changes

• PhD admissions for 2022-2023 were completed by mid-March 2023, with an eight-month delay.
• November 2022: The Gazette of India notified UGC Regulations, 2022, allowing universities to conduct their own entrance exams.
• Despite these regulations, the NTA continued to control the PhD entrance exams, supported by institutional heads.

NTA’s Control and University Autonomy:

• JNU Vice Chancellor cited the Ministry of Education’s mandate as a reason for adherence to the NTA.
• The central government and UGC Regulations, 2022, deny any contract mandating this, raising questions about the decision-making process.
• JNU administration decided to accept scores of only the June 2024 UGC-NET exam for PhD admissions without a proper mandate.

Conclusion: The Nexus and its Consequences

• The NTA’s control over academic calendars has made universities its prisoners, supported by UGC’s vigorous promotion.
• Vice-chancellors have colluded with the UGC, suppressing internal concerns about exam security and format.
• An investigation is needed into the nexus between UGC, Vice-Chancellors, and the NTA, and steps must be taken to restore university autonomy and student confidence in the system.

Nut Graf: The NTA’s CUET regime has disrupted India’s higher education admissions, compromising university autonomy and causing delays. JNU’s struggles exemplify broader issues, highlighting a concerning nexus between the UGC, institutional heads, and the need for restored academic independence and timely admissions