Society 

6.21 lakh applications for 1.27 lakh opportunities under PM internship scheme - The Hindu 

The Union Corporate Affairs Ministry said in a release on Sunday (December 29, 2024) that the pilot scheme of the Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme received approximately 6.21 lakh applications against 1.27 lakh opportunities. 

PM Internship Scheme

• About: Offers internships to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world experience.

Goals:

• Pilot phase: 1.25 lakh youth.
• Five-year target: Internships for 1 crore individuals.

Benefits:

• Monthly stipend: ₹5,000 for 12 months.
• One-time grant: ₹6,000.
• Eligibility Criteria:
  • Age: 21–24 years, not in full-time employment.
  • Education: Minimum qualification of Class 10; no post-graduates eligible.
• Exclusions:
  • Families with government jobs.
  • Graduates from premier institutes like IIT, IIM, IISER, or those with CA/CMA qualifications.
  • Households with an annual income of ₹8 lakh or more (2023–24).

Polity 

The challenge of holding judges accountable - The Hindu 

A speech delivered by Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav of the Allahabad High Court, that made apparent his biases against the Muslim community has once again spotlighted the difficulty in India’s review mechanism to hold judges of the higher judiciary accountable.

Accountability Mechanism for Judges

• Legal Framework: Governed by Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, and Articles 124(4), 124(5), 217, and 218 of the Constitution.
• Process: Judges can be removed for "proved misbehaviour or incapacity" determined by a three-member committee:
  • A Supreme Court judge
  • A Chief Justice of a High Court
  • An eminent jurist
• Impeachment:
  • Motion initiated in Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha with presiding officer's approval.
  • Removal requires a two-thirds majority in both Houses of Parliament.

Case Studies 

Justice V. Ramaswamy (Supreme Court)

• Allegations: Financial impropriety, extravagant spending, misuse of public funds.
• Outcome:
  • Found guilty by a committee; no work allocated by the CJI.
  • Impeachment motion failed in Lok Sabha in 1993 due to Congress abstentions.
  • Continued in office, retired with full benefits, exposing gaps in the impeachment process.
• Justice Soumitra Sen (Calcutta High Court)
• Allegations: Misappropriation of ₹33.23 lakh and misrepresentation.

Outcome:

• Guilty verdict by a committee; Rajya Sabha voted for removal.
• Resigned before Lok Sabha could table the motion, avoiding further accountability.

Justice P.D. Dinakaran (Sikkim High Court)

• Allegations: Land grabbing and other serious misconduct.
• Outcome:
  • Resigned before committee proceedings began.
  • Resignation halted the investigation, exposing a loophole in the accountability mechanism.

Need for Reforms

• Investigations Post-Resignation: Resignation should not terminate investigations, ensuring accountability.
• Independent Oversight: A robust framework for investigating allegations without initial parliamentary approval.
• Judges (Inquiry) Act: Amendments required to address procedural delays and minimize political interference in impeachment motions.

World Affairs 

On India’s obligations towards the Rohingya - The Hindu 

A recent study examining the plight of Rohingya refugees detained in India, conducted jointly by The Azadi Project, a U.S.-registered non-profit, and Refugees International, an American organisation advocating for displaced populations, has highlighted “gross violations of constitutional and human rights” and criticised India’s “failure to uphold its obligations under international human rights treaties.” 

Rohingya Refugees

• About: World's largest stateless group, with 2.8 million individuals.
• Persecution: Denied citizenship & faced decades of oppression in Myanmar.
• Current Status: Dispersed across multiple countries; ~22,500 reside in India (UNHCR).

Legal Protections

• Non-Refoulement Principle:
  • Enshrined in the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol.
  • Prohibits states from expelling individuals facing persecution, torture, or severe rights violations upon return.
  • Binding on all states irrespective of formal ratification.
• UNHCR Advisory Opinion (2007):
  • Reiterated non-refoulement's binding nature on all states, including those outside the Refugee Convention or Protocol.
  • Declared it as an absolute principle with no exceptions.

India’s Stand on Rohingya Refugees

• Non-Signatory Status: India is not a signatory to the Refugee Convention, Convention against Torture, or International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.
• No Legal Obligation: Claims no binding duty to provide asylum.
• Domestic Framework: Detains Rohingya refugees under the Foreigners Act, 1946, and Passport Act, 1967.
• Categorisation: Refugees are classified as "illegal migrants".
• Judicial Stance
  • Mohammad Salimullah v. Union of India case (2021):SC upheld deportation of 170 detained Rohingyas citing national security concerns.
  • Article 21 Interpretation: Recognized refugees' right to life but denied rights to reside or settle in India.
  • Delhi High Court (2024): Dismissed a plea to admit Rohingya children in local schools.

India’s International Obligations

• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Article 7 prohibits refoulement to places where individuals may face torture.
• Other Ratified Conventions:
  • International Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
  • Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• Convention Against Torture: Signed but not ratified, making provisions non-binding.

Existing Concerns

• No Standardized Refugee Policy: Disparate treatment of refugee groups based on geopolitical and diplomatic interests.
• Partial treatment: Preferential treatment to Tibetans, Sri Lankans, and Afghans, while Rohingya refugees face arbitrary detention.
• Issues in CAA, 2019: Excludes persecuted Muslim minorities, including the Rohingya.
• Lack of Legal Aid: Detained Rohingya refugees lack legal representation and assistance.
• Restrictions on civil society organizations: They face funding shortages due to revoked FCRA licenses.
• Hesitatiobn in lawyers: They hesitate to take Rohingya cases fearing adverse outcomes and repercussions.
• Inhumane Detention Conditions: Refugees, including pregnant women and children, face dehumanizing conditions in detention centres.

Indians and the H-1B visa - Indian Express

Weeks before he returns as US President, Donald Trump’s supporters are locked in a public row about skilled immigration and H-1B visas. The infighting was triggered by the appointment of Chennai-born Sriram Krishnan as Trump’s top AI adviser earlier this month.

H-1B Visa Program for Skilled Migrants

• About: Designed for hiring skilled immigrant workers with at least a bachelor’s degree in specialized occupations.
• Initiation: 1990 to address workforce gaps in the US.
• Visa validity: 6 years.
• Post-expiry options: Leave US for 12 months before reapplying/ apply for permanent residence (Green Card).
• Annual Cap:
  • Regular cap: 65,000 visas annually.
  • Other additions: ~ 20,000 visas for applicants with advanced degrees from US universities.
• Exemptions: Petitions for continuing employment and positions in higher education, nonprofit research, or government research organizations.

Beneficiaries of the Program

• Indians: Account for over 70% of H-1B approvals annually since 2015.
• Chinese: Second largest group, at 12-13% since 2018.
• Criticism: Misuse by tech companies to hire low-to-mid-level workers at lower wages.

India to host first WAVES summit in February - Indian Express 

India will host the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) for the first time in February next year which will be a global platform for its creative talents, fostering collaborations and showcasing the country's potential as a hub for world-class content creation.

WAVES Summit

• About: First global summit covering the entire Media and Entertainment industry.
• Objectives:
  • Unite industry leaders, stakeholders, and innovators.
  • Discuss prospects, challenges, and trade opportunities in India.
  • Influence the sector's future direction.
• Focus Areas
  • India's progress in animation, gaming, & entertainment technology.
  • Promotion of regional and mainstream cinema.

WAVES-India

• Vision: Establish India as a global leader in Media & Entertainment (M&E).
• Mission: Offer exclusive investment opportunities to global M&E leaders through WAVES.
• Objectives:
  • Facilitate idea exchange, collaborations, and knowledge sharing among global M&E leaders.
  • Boost India's creative economy through Intellectual Property (IP) creation for global and domestic markets.
  • Promote India as a business-friendly investment hub.
  • Strengthen M&E infrastructure and develop a skilled workforce for global demands.
  • Adapt to emerging trends, technologies, and transformations in the M&E industry.

Environment 

NGT issues notice to authorities over suspected gas leak in Jaipur - The Hindu 

The National Green Tribunal has sought a response from the Central Pollution Control Board and Jaipur's District Magistrate in a matter related to several students getting hospitalised after a suspected gas leak in the Rajasthan capital.

National Green Tribunal (NGT)

• Establishment: 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.
• Purpose: Handles cases related to environmental protection, forest conservation, and natural resource management.
• Procedure: Not bound by Code of Civil Procedure, 1908; follows principles of natural justice.
• Timeline: Aims to dispose of cases within 6 months of filing.
• Principal Bench: New Delhi.
• Other Benches: Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata, and Chennai.
• Composition:
  • Chairperson: Retired Supreme Court judge.
  • Judicial Members: Retired High Court judges.
  • Expert Members: Professionals with at least 15 years of experience in environment or forest-related fields.

Science and Technology 

Parker Solar Probe - The Hindu / PARKER PROBE GETS CLOSEST-EVER TO THE SUN: WHY THIS MATTERS - Indian Express 

NASA scientists announced recently that the Parker Solar Probe survived the closest-ever approach to the Sun. The craft was operating normally after it passed just 6.1 million km from the solar surface.

Parker Solar Probe

• Launch Year: 2018 by NASA under the "Living With a Star" program.
• Aim: To study Sun's upper atmosphere (corona) and its impact on Earth.
• Features:
  • 4 instrument suites for detailed solar observations.
  • Contributes to forecasting space weather changes.
• Progress:
  • Completed 21 orbits around the Sun.
  • Conducted Venus flybys to gradually approach closer to the Sun.

How Parker Solar Probe Survives Close Proximity to the Sun

• Proximity: Closest human-made object to the Sun at 6,92,000 km/h.
• Heat Shield:
  • Equipped with a 4.5-inch-thick carbon-composite heat shield.
  • Absorbs intense heat
• Cooling Mechanism:
  • Circulates a gallon of water through its solar panels.
  • Heat absorbed by water is radiated out into space to prevent overheating.

Significance 

• Corona's Heat: Data may explain why the Sun’s corona reaches temperatures of 1–2 million °C.
• Solar Winds Origin: Provides insights into the source of solar winds.
• Magnetic Field Protection: Strong solar winds can disrupt power grids, satellites, and communication systems.
• Research: Measurements will address questions about Sun’s behavior.