Centre bans PFI, 8 front bodies for five years under UAPA
The Union Home Ministry on Wednesday declared the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its front organisations, including its student wing, the Campus Front of India (CFI), an “unlawful association” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
- The Ministry will now set up a tribunal under the UAPA to try the case where PFI could defend its case against the ban.
- More than 1,400 criminal cases have been registered against leaders and activists of the now proscribed Popular Front of India (PFI) and its affiliates across the country over the years, according to investigating agencies
About the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act:
- Passed in 1967, the law aims at effective prevention of unlawful activities associations in India.
- The Act assigns absolute power to the central government, by way of which if the Centre deems an activity as unlawful then it may, by way of an Official Gazette, declare it so.
- It has death penalty and life imprisonment as highest punishments.
Key points:
Under UAPA, both Indian and foreign nationals can be charged.
- It will be applicable to the offenders in the same manner, even if crime is committed on a foreign land, outside India.
- Under the UAPA, the investigating agency can file a charge sheet in maximum 180 days after the arrests and the duration can be extended further after intimating the court.
As per amendments of 2019:
- The Act empowers the Director General of National Investigation Agency (NIA) to grant approval of seizure or attachment of property when the case is investigated by the said agency.
- The Act empowers the officers of the NIA, of the rank of Inspector or above, to investigate cases of terrorism in addition to those conducted by the DSP or ACP or above rank officer in the state.
- It also included the provision of designating an individual as a terrorist.
Delhi High Court defines the contours of UAPA:
In June 2021, delivering a judgment defining the contours of the otherwise “vague” Section 15 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, (UAPA), the Delhi High Court laid down some important principles upon the imposition of Section 15, 17 & 18 of the Act.
Sections 15, 17 and 18 of UAPA:
- S. 15 engrafts the offence of ‘terrorist act’.
- S. 17 lays-down the punishment for raising funds for committing a terrorist act.
- S. 18 engrafts the offence of ‘punishment for conspiracy etc. to commit a terrorist act or any act preparatory to commit a terrorist act’.
Key observations made by the court:
- “Terrorist Act” Should not be used lightly so as to trivialise them.
- Terrorist activity is that which travels beyond the capacity of law enforcement agencies to deal with under ordinary penal law (Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Hitendra Vishnu Thakur).
Govt. gives nod to PM-GKAY extension
The government on 28 September 2022 announced an extension of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY) for another three months until December 2022. The decision was taken in the meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister.
What is the PM-GKAY?
- The PM-GKAY is a scheme under which the government provides free foodgrains — 5 kg per person per month — to eligible beneficiaries of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013. This is over and above their monthly entitlement under the NFSA.
- The scheme was started as one of the components of the government’s Rs 1.7 lakh crore Covid relief package announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on 26 March 2020 — two days after the country went into national lockdown following the outbreak.
What are NFSA beneficiaries entitled to?
- There are two categories of beneficiary households under the NFSA — the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households, and the Priority Households (PHs).
- Each AAY household is entitled to 35 kg of foodgrains every month irrespective of the number of members in the household.
- PHs are entitled to receive foodgrains according to the number of family members. Each member of a PH is entitled to receive 5 kg of foodgrains every month under the NFSA. So, the bigger a PH family, the greater is the quantity of foodgrains it gets.
- NFSA beneficiaries are entitled to receive foodgrains at highly subsidised rates. Under the food law, rice is provided at Rs 3 per kg, wheat at Rs 2 per kg, and coarse grains at Re 1 per kg.
How is the PM-GKAY different from the NFSA?
- The NFSA is a right-based scheme under a law of Parliament, while the PM-GKAY is a scheme announced by the executive as a top-up to the entitlements of beneficiaries covered under the NFSA.
- So, only those people who were already getting subsidised food grains can get free food grains under the PM-GKAY.
- The PM-GKAY provides additional benefits to NFSA beneficiaries, but does not cover additional beneficiaries beyond the accepted limit of 81.35 crore persons under the NFSA.
DRDO tested VSHORADS missiles
THE Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted two successful test flights of Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missiles capable of neutralising low altitude aerial threats at short ranges.
What
- The Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missile was successfully flight tested from a ground based portable launcher, off the coast of Odisha.
- The VSHORADS missiles were launched from a ground-based portable launcher at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) of the DRDO at Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha.
- The missile is a Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD) designed and developed indigenously by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad in collaboration with other DRDO facilities and various Indian industry partners.
- The air defence missile incorporates many novel technologies including miniaturised Reaction Control System (RCS) and integrated avionics, which have been successfully tested during the trials.
- The missile has been designed to neutralise low altitude aerial threats at short ranges and is propelled by a dual thrust solid motor.
ASI finds Buddhist caves, temples in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in M.P
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) earlier this year discovered Buddhist caves and stupas, and Brahmi inscriptions, dating back to the 2nd century, and Hindu temples from the 9th11th centuries, and possibly the world’s largest Varaha sculpture also dating to the same period, at the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh
- The Varaha sculpture is among the many monolithic sculptures of the 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu discovered by the ASI at the national park earlier this year.
- The ASI team discovered 26 mostly Buddhist caves dating back to the 2nd and 5th centuries.
- The caves and some of their remains had Chaitya [rounded] doors and stone beds typical of Mahayana Buddhism sites.
- The inscriptions mention sites such as Mathura and Kaushambi, and Pavata, Vejabharada and Sapatanaairikaa. The kings they mention include Bhimsena, Pothasiri and Bhattadeva.
- The remains of 26 temples date to the Kalachuri period between 9th and 11th centuries. In addition to this, two Saiva maths have also been documented. The Kalachuri dynasty, which spread over parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, is also associated with the earliest Ellora and Elephanta cave monuments.
- Discovery of these archaeological remains had added a new chapter to the history of the region also known as Baghelkhand.

History of Bandhavgarh
- Bandhavgarh is a legendary place that has many historical importances. In literal terms, Bandhavgarh is a combination of two words Bandhav (Brother) and Garh (Fort)
- The name Bandhavgarh given to the reserve is due to the presence of an ancient fort which is believed to be gifted by Lord Rama, to his younger brother Lakshmana
- The Bandhavgarh region also unveils the history to find the major dynasties that ruled the Bandhavgarh regions including Sengars, the Kalchuris and the Baghels
- Until 1968, the Bandhavgarh region was the hunting spot of the Maharajas of Rewa. After which, the royal family handed over the area to the state government which converted it into a National Park
- The Bandhavgarh National Park was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1993 under the Project Tiger
Geographical Features of Bandhavgarh National Park
- Bandhavgarh National Park resides on the extreme north-eastern border of Madhya Pradesh and the northern edges of the Satpura mountain ranges
- Due to the tropical monsoon climatic zone, the park has been characterized by well-defined winters summers and rains
- It is flourished with 32 hills with a large natural fort in the centre of the park
- The park has been divided into three major zones, namely
- Tala (zone rich in biodiversity for tiger spotting)
- Magdi (Elephant shows are organized in this region)
- Bamera
- The core zone of the national park is composed of four other zones:
- Magdhi
- Kallwah
- Khitauli
- Panpatha
Flora & Fauna at Bandhavgarh National Park
The diverse mix of habitats in Bandhavgarh supports a corresponding plentitude of flora and fauna. Starting from tiny butterflies to majestic tigers, the park is extremely rich in biodiversity.
- There are more than 22 species of mammals and 250 species of birds
- Carnivores include the Asiatic Jackal, Bengal Fox, Sloth Bear, Ratel, Gray Mongoose, Striped Hyena, Jungle Cat, Leopard and Tiger
- The artiodactyls include Wild Pigs, Spotted Deer, Sambar, Chausingha, Nilgai, Chinkara and Gaur
- Mammals such as Dhole, the small Indian Civet, Palm Squirrel and Lesser Bandicoot Rat can also be sighted
- The lesser predators that can be found are fox, jungle cat, ratel, palm civet, and mongoose
- This National Park is a famous natural habitat for White Tigers.
- The important prey species consists of chital, sambhar, barking deer, nilgai, chinkara, wild pig, langur and rhesus macaque
About Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve
- Bandhavgarh Tiger reserve is located in the eastern Satpura hill range of Umaria and Katni districts
- The area of Tiger Reserve holds a mythological significance as found in the Narad Panch Ratna and Shiva Sanhita Puran
- The Tiger Reserve is known for the healthy population of tigers and a variety of herbivores
Anil Chauhan is Chief of Defence Staff
The government on Tuesday appointed Lt. Gen. Anil Chauhan (retd.), former General Office Commanding in Chief, Eastern Army Commander, as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). The post has been vacant since the death of the country’s first CDS, Gen. Bipin Rawat, in a helicopter crash in December 2021.
- He shall also function as the Secretary to Government of India, Department of Military Affairs
- In June, the government amended the Service Rules of the Army, Navy and Air Force allowing retired Service Chiefs and three star rank officers eligible for consideration for the country’s top military post.
- In December 2019, the government approved the creation of the post of CDS who would also function as the Principal Military Adviser to the Defence Minister and Permanent Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC). In addition, the DMA was created as the fifth department in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) with the CDS functioning as its Secretary
About CDS:
- He will be the single-point military adviser to the government as suggested by the Kargil Review Committee in 1999.
- He will be a Four-star General.
- CDS acts as the permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee which will also have three service chiefs as members.
- His core function will be to foster greater operational synergy between the three service branches of the Indian military and keep inter-service frictions to a minimum.
Conditions:
- Not eligible to hold any Government office after demitting the office of CDS.
- No private employment without prior approval for a period of five years after demitting the office of CDS.
Roles and functions:
- CDS will provide “single-point military advice”to the government, inject synergy in planning, procurements and logistics in the armed forces.
- It will ensure integration of land-air-sea operations through the eventual setting up of theatre commands.
- The CDS will also function as the military advisor to the PM-led Nuclear Command Authority,as also have direct command of tri-Service organizations to handle the new warfare domains of space and cyberspace.
- He will function as the Principal Military Adviser to the Defence Minister and also as the Permanent Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC).
- The CDS will be member of Defence Acquisition Council and Defence Planning Committee.