LEGAL NEWS

The constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act has been upheld by the Supreme Court by a majority verdict of 4:1.

• The Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act,1955 with a 4:1 majority verdict.

• The majority judges, which includes Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices Surya Kant, M.M. Sundresh, and Manoj Misra, upheld Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955. Justice J.B. Pardiwala dissented in the verdict.

• This section pertains to the grant of Indian citizenship to immigrants in Assam.

• The court affirmed that Parliament has the legislative authority to enact this provision.

• The five-judge Constitution bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, noted that the Assam Accord provided a political resolution to illegal migration issues.

• Section 6A was introduced in 1985 following the Assam Accord.

• It established a rule declaring individuals of Indian descent who arrived from Bangladesh before January 1, 1966, as Indian citizens from that date.

• Those arriving in Assam between January 1, 1966, and March 25, 1971, were required to register for citizenship.

• Citizenship for these individuals was granted only after ten years of residency.

• The section categorizes anyone arriving after March 25, 1971, as an illegal immigrant.

• The ruling underscores the balance between immigration policy and historical agreements in Assam.

STATE NEWS

Nikita Porwal from Madhya Pradesh has been crowned Femina Miss India 2024.

• Nikita Porwal from Madhya Pradesh has been crowned Femina Miss India 2024.

• She will represent India at the 73rd Miss World beauty pageant.

• Rekha Pandey from the Union Territory and Aayushi Dholakia from Gujarat were named first and second runners-up, respectively.

• The Femina Miss India 2024 event took place on October 16 in Mumbai.

• This year's pageant marked the 60th edition of Femina Miss India.

• Nandini Gupta from Rajasthan was the titleholder in 2023.

• Nikita Porwal was born and raised in Ujjain and has acted in over 60 plays.

• The event highlights the celebration of beauty, talent, and cultural representation in India.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Om Birla addresses the 149th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Geneva

• Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla addressed the 149th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Geneva, Switzerland.

• He highlighted the importance of multilateralism and the need for dialogue and cooperation among Parliaments in science, technology, and innovation.

• The assembly took place at the IPU headquarters from October 13 to 17, 2024.

• The theme of the 149th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union was Harnessing Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) for a more peaceful and sustainable future.

• The IPU serves as the global organization for National Parliaments.

• The Indian delegation was led by Om Birla and included Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Singh and the Secretaries General of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

• At the 149th IPU Assembly in Geneva, the Parliament of Jamaica rejoined the IPU as its 181st Member Parliament. Jamaica had previously been a member of the IPU from 1983 to 1996.

Indo-Turkiye Friendship Association has been launched in Hyderabad.

• The Indo-Turkiye Friendship Association (ITFA) has been established in Hyderabad to enhance bilateral relations.

• ITFA aims to promote collaboration in key sectors including economy, trade, culture, tourism, science, technology, and education.

• The association will highlight the shared cultural heritage between India and Turkiye through various events.

• A major goal of ITFA is to position Hyderabad as a prime destination for Turkish tourists.

• In 2022, approximately 280,000 Indians visited Turkiye, with numbers increasing to 350,000 in 2023.

• There is a growing interest among Indians in learning the Turkish language.

• ITFA will organize cultural activities to deepen mutual understanding and appreciation.

• The initiative reflects the commitment to strengthen ties between India and Turkiye for mutual benefit.

SUMMIT AND CONFERENCE

The AROHA-2024 conference inaugurated by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud.

• The AROHA-2024 conference was inaugurated by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud on October 17 in New Delhi.

• The event focuses on the advancement of research and global opportunities for holistic Ayurveda.

• Organized by the All India Institute of Ayurveda, the conference aims to position Ayurveda as a key pillar of global health and wellness.

• The theme of the conference is “Advancements in Research and Global Opportunities for Holistic Ayurveda.”

• The agenda includes diverse topics such as Ayurveda, ethnomedicine, quality control, standardization, and drug delivery.

• The conference features 15 scientific sessions where over 400 research papers will be presented.

• It emphasizes evidence-based understanding and the globalization of Ayurvedic practices.

• The All India Institute of Ayurveda boasts a global presence, collaborating with leading organizations in over 74 countries.

• The three-day program highlights the growing importance of Ayurveda in contemporary healthcare.

GOVERNMENT SCHEMES

‘Scam se Bacho’ Campaign has been launched by the Government and Meta.

• The Government and Meta have launched the "Scam se Bacho" campaign to combat online scams.

• This initiative is a collaboration between Meta and several government bodies, including MeitY, MHA, MIB, and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C).

• The primary goal of the campaign is to tackle the rising issue of scams and cyber fraud.

• It reflects the government's commitment to enhancing cyber safety in response to increasing online scam cases.

• Over 1.1 million cyber fraud cases were reported in 2023, highlighting the urgency of the initiative.

• The campaign aims to empower Indian citizens with the knowledge and tools needed to protect themselves from cyber threats.

• It encourages public awareness and education on how to identify and avoid online scams.

• "Scam se Bacho" has the potential to become a national movement for promoting cybersecurity awareness in India.

AWARDS

President Murmu received an honorary doctorate in Algeria.

• President Droupadi Murmu was awarded an honorary doctorate in political science during her visit to Algeria.

• The degree was conferred by Sidi Abdellah Science and Technology Pole University in Algiers.

• Kamal Baddari, Algeria’s Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, presented the doctorate to President Murmu.

• In her remarks, President Murmu emphasized India’s commitment to offering quality education at affordable prices.

• Diplomatic relations between India and Algeria were established in July 1962, following Algeria's independence.

• This recognition reflects the strengthening ties between the two nations in education and research.

MISCELLANEOUS

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has notified amendments to income tax rules.

• The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has announced amendments to income tax rules.

• These changes aim to simplify the process for salaried employees to claim credits for TCS collected and TDS deducted.

• The amendments allow parents to claim TCS credit for their minor children.

• Modifications to the Income Tax Act enable tax deductions for salaried individuals on any tax collected or deducted at source.

• The new rules permit the TCS credit to be claimed by a parent when a minor's income is combined with theirs.

• A new Form No. 12BAA has been introduced, detailing the particulars employees must furnish.

• Overall, these amendments enhance the ease of tax compliance for employees and their families.

The new guidelines ban the use of words like natural, organic, etc. by brands.

• New guidelines prohibit brands from using terms like "natural" and "organic" in their marketing.

• Issued by the Consumer Protection Authority of India, these guidelines aim to combat greenwashing and misleading environmental claims.

• Greenwashing involves companies making exaggerated or false claims about their products’ environmental benefits.

• The authority states that such practices mislead consumers and diminish genuine environmental efforts.

• Titled “Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Greenwashing or Deceptive Environmental Claims, 2024,” the guidelines ensure transparency in environmental marketing.

• Clear definitions for "environmental claims" and "greenwashing" have been established to align understanding between businesses and consumers.

• All environmental claims must now be backed by credible scientific evidence or third-party certifications.

• Companies are required to provide adequate disclosures regarding product details, manufacturing processes, and packaging.