[IR] Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation

Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation

The Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC), initially known as the Indian Ocean Rim Initiative, is an international organization with 20 member states. It was first established in Mauritius on March 1995 and formally launched on 6–7 March 1997.

The Association disseminates information on trade and investment regimes, with a view to helping the region's business community better understand the impediments to trade and investment within the region. These information exchanges have been intended to serve as a base to expand intra-regional trade

-------Member Countries
-------Dailogue Partners

[Indian Polity] President of India: Powers, Election, Eligibility

President of India: Powers, Election, Eligibility

Election of the President

The President of India is elected by an electoral college consisting of:

• Elected members of the two Houses of Parliament and Legislative Assemblies of the States - Article 54
• It includes the national capital territory of Delhi and the Union territory of Pondicherry
• The President’s election is held in accordance with a system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote
• there shall be uniformity in the scale of representation of the different states at the election of the President - Article 55

CBSE Class XII board exam results 2013 | Class 12 board exam results 2013 declared today at 8.30 AM.

The CBSE declared results of Senior School Certificate Examination 2013 (Class XII) of the Board today at 8:30 AM.

Students can check their result by providing their roll number.
Students can also check the result of CBSE Class 12 board examination using the IVRS.
The number for IVRS is - +91- 11 - 24300699
Schools can also check the results of all candidates by choosing the option "School Wise Results".
Students or Schools can check the CBSE class 12th result by visiting the below websites -

Maharashtra Board Result 2013 | Maharashtra HSC Results 2013 will declared soon by MSBSHSE

Students who appeared for the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary & Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) Class XII examination 2013 are eagerly waiting for their results.

The Maharashtra HSC result 2013 will be declared soon (probably in the last week of May) by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE), Pune.

Civil services Preliminary examination Question papers 2013 Download

 
Union Public Service Commission have take preliminary examination for 1000 various A' and B' Grade vacancies on 26th May 2013 whose question papers are uploaded on the link given below through which you can download the question papers

The exam consisted of 2 papers; paper 1 and paper 2(CSAT). There were 100 questions in paper 1. It was earlier known as General Studies. The time duration was of 2 hours(From 9:30 am to 11:30 am). The question paper carried 200 marks. There was penalty for wrong answers. The questions were asked from several areas like

MPSC STATE SERVICES PRELIMINARY ANSWER KEY 2013

MPSC answer key 2013 Maharashtra Public Service Commission Answer Sheets, Solved Paper sets A B C D

 

MPSC Stands for Maharashtra Public Service Commission. MPSC take the responsibility to conduct examination for recruitment in various Government departments of Maharashtra. MPSC has announced vacancies for 265 different posts.

THE ISRAEL - PALESTINE SAGA

THE ISRAEL - PALESTINE SAGA 

Prior to First World war, the Jerusalem and surrounding Palestine region was under the control of Ottoman Turks.

• During the course of First world war, British army captured Jerusalem and put this Palestine region under military administration.
• This created resentment among the Native Arabs residing in Palestine. Especially after the Jewish people started immigrating here, due to the oppression by Hitler.

Siachen Issue And India

 Siachen Issue

Why is Siachen Glacier important?

*The Siachen glacier is considered to be the largest single source of fresh water on the Indian subcontinent.
*It is located in the Karakoram range
*Siachen is the source of the Nubra River that eventually feeds the mighty Indus— the major water source that irrigates the Punjab plains in Pakistan.
*Siachen is near the Karakoram pass, forming almost a triangle with India, China and territory occupied by Pakistan touching the edges.

The Constitution 118th Amendment Bill, 2012

• The Constitution 118th Amendment Bill, 2012  was introduced in the Lok Sabha on September 7, 2012 by the Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Sushil Kumar Shinde.  The Bill was referred to the Standing Committee on Home Affairs (Chairperson: Mr. M. Venkaiah Naidu), which is scheduled to submit its report by the first week of the Winter Session of the Parliament.    

• A resolution to make special provisions for the Hyderabad-Karnataka Region was passed by the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council of Karnataka in March 2012.  The resolution aims to establish an institutional mechanism to develop the region and promote inclusive growth.  It aims to reduce inter-region and inter-district disparity in the State of Karnataka.  This Bill was introduced in Parliament to give effect to this resolution.

Some Important Tips for IAS Aspirants

Civil Services (IAS) Prelim exam 2013 will be conducted by UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) on 19 May 2013. The successful candidates in the exam will be eligible to appear for IAS Main exam 2013. It’s time now to start your exam preparation if you want to clear the prelim stage. Candidates who have already appeared once or twice in the prelim exam must be aware of the exam pattern but for the first-time candidates, the whole examination process could seem confusing and lengthy.

To get out of this dilemma, one needs to put the Civil services examination in the right context. This examination is not only a test of your knowledge. It goes beyond that. The whole examination process is structured in a way so that it could filter out only those candidates who can apply their knowledge and understanding to find the solution to the problems which India is facing now. The candidates have to understand the changing role of an IAS officer.

Civil Service Syllabus-Prelims

If you have already decided to appear for the civil services (IAS) Prelim 2013 then it’s time to understand the exam pattern and the prelim exam syllabus. The changed prelim exam pattern which consists of Paper 1 and Paper 2 was applied first in the IAS Prelim exam 2011. The paper popularly referred as CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) replaced the optional subject paper. Both Paper 1 and Paper 2 carry 200 marks each and having time duration of 2 hours each.
The new exam pattern provides equal opportunity to all the candidates irrespective of the fact that they belong to Arts, Science or Commerce stream.

The Syllabus of IAS Prelim 2013 exam is given as following:-

Verma committee Report Summary and Downdload

 Justice Verma Committee Report Summary

Justice Verma Committee was constituted to recommend amendments to the Criminal Law so as to provide for quicker trial and enhanced punishment for criminals accused of committing sexual assault against women.  The Committee submitted its report on January 23, 2013.

Background: On December 23, 2012 a three member Committee headed by Justice J.S. Verma, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, was constituted to recommend amendments to the Criminal Law so as to provide for quicker trial and enhanced punishment for criminals accused of committing sexual assault against women.  The other members on the Committee were Justice Leila Seth, former judge of the High Court and Gopal Subramanium, former Solicitor General of India. 

[Polity] Juvenile Justice Act 2000 and other Info Regarding it

What is Juvenile Justice Act 2000?

·         In India, we have accepted the policy of “no imprisonment for children” for any offence.

·         The Juvenile Justce Act of 2000 is the “tool” to implement that policy.

·         The Crimes committed by those under the age of 18, fall under this act.

·         Applicable across India (minus Jammu and Kashmir).

·         Full name: Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children )Act, 2000 (JJA)

·         JJ Act deals with two categories of children

	Child in need of care and protection	Juvenile in conflict with law
Who?	Children found in difficult circumstances and are in danger of survival and growth.For example rescued from a brothel, illegal factory etc.	Children involved in crime.
Authority	Child Welfare Committee.	Juvenile Justice Board.

·         Under JJ act, ^each category of children are kept in separate care-houses.

·         Child himself can appear before the Competent Authority and demand his/her rights.

Features of Juvenile Justice Act

1.   Juvenile cannot be kept in police lock-up or jail.

2.   Juveniles cannot be treated or sentenced in the same manner as the adult criminals.

3.   Cases involving juveniles are tried by juvenile Justice board and not by regular courts.

4.   Juvenile Justice board consists of magistrate and two social workers.

5.   The case is decided by majority.

6.   If a Juvenile criminal is convicted, at maximum he gets three years in a reform facility. Thereafter he must be released on probation.

7.   Juvenile can only be kept at the special home till he attains 18 years of age.

8.   Capital punishment (hanging) or life imprisonment cannot be imposed on a Juvenile offender, irrespective of the gravity of the crime.

Special Juvenile Police Unit

·         JJ Act has provision for setting up such unit in every police station.

·         Police office of ASI or above rank shall work as as Child Welfare Officer.

·         He shall be assisted by two local NGOs.

·         These units are supposed to identify the children who are vulnerable to engaging in criminal behavior, and extend help to them.

·         But in most of the districts in India, such police units are either not formed, or they’re non-functional.

Why in News/Controversy?

·         One of the rapist in Delhi case, claims to be a Juvenile.

·         Delhi police will file a separate charge sheet against him in a juvenile court.

·         Even if he is convicted, he’ll get maximum 3 years stay in a Juvenile reform facility.

·         Once he attains majority (18+), he cannot be kept with minor convicts at Juvenile reform facility AND he can he be sent to jail with adult convicts. So he’ll be released.

·         This so called “juvenile accused”, had beat that Delhi gangrape-victim with an iron rod mercilessly. Yet the law calls him a juvenile and he’ll be released with very light punishment.

·         Therefore, people are angry.

Reforms Sought

·         The age limit should be lowered for juvenile criminals.

·         In case of heinous crimes such as rape and murder, the Juvenile criminals should be tried just like adult criminals.

Pro arguments (= reform needed)

The National Crime Records (2011) speaks for itself

Crime	Juveniles (boys under 18) caught approx. numbers
Rape	1200
Murder	1100
Kidnapping	500
Burglary	500

3 years very low

·         The JJ Act provides that a Juvenile Criminal be placed in a reform facility for maximum 3 years.

·         But there is no logical or scientific reason which shows that a juvenile will be “reformed” within three years.

·         In the case of the Delhi rapist, there is no assurance he will be reformed in three years and will not pose a threat to society for the rest of his life once released.

Juvenile Justice in other countries

United Kingdom

·         Here, the age of criminal responsibility, is set at 10 years.

·         Means any individual above the age of 10 is considered fully aware of the difference between right and wrong.

·         In case of a juvenile offender, he can either be tried as a juvenile or as an adult, depending on the heinousness of the crime.

United States of America

·         Same as UK= if the crime was heinous (rape, murder etc.), the juvenile offenders are tried as adults.

Australia

·         Any individual over 14 years of age is held accountable of any crime committed by him.

·         whether the individual is to be tried as a minor or an adult depends again on the heinousness of the crime.

India

·         In India, we’re giving blanket protection to everyone less than 18 years old. Hell, Juveniles are exempt even from special laws such as POTA, National Security Act etc.

·         India too should move towards a Juvenile Justice system with differential penal provisions. (=if a juvenile has Committed any heinous crime, he must be tried and punished just like a regular adult criminal.)

PIL in Delhi Highcourt

·         This PIL seeks Delhi Highcourt to declare some provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act as ‘ultra vires’.

·         Because recent incidents show that juveniles, who have attained the age of 16 years, are involved in serious crimes.

·         Such Juveniles are quite well developed and they do not need the care and protection of the society. Rather the society needs care and protection against them.

·         A person committing a serious crime after attaining the age of 17 years and 364 days cannot be treated differently from the person who commits the same crime after attaining the age of 18 years and one day.

Anti-arguments (no reform needed)

The age limit for juvenile justice should not be reduced because

·         Most of these children grow up in an environment where they are neglected or face mental, physical or sexual abuse themselves.

·         These happen because most of the children belong to the poorest of the poor sections of society and grow up watching violence and abuse in their families and neighbourhoods.

·         Throwing them in a jail will not help in their rehabilitation.

·         Main reason for juvenile crime is the failure to protect vulnerable children from falling under the influence of drugs or in the wrong company of adults.

·         Delhi alone has around 80,000 children on its streets.

·         When children are living on the streets or in pitiable conditions, they can easily come under the influence of criminal-minded adults.

Juvenile Criminals have not increased

·         The rate of crime by children (that is, the number of children committing offences per lakh of the population) has not seen a substantial increase in the last decade

·         It has gone from 0.9 in 2000 to 2.1 in 2011.

·         Hence, the demand to lower the age of juvenility is not supported by crime data relating to children in India.

·         Similarly India has seen very low Juvenile crime compared to Development countries such as  USA.

Country	Juveniles arrested (2011)
USA	More than 11 lakhs
India	Around 34,000.

·         Awarding death penalty to a Juvenile will be barbarous in a civilized society.

·         A juvenile should not be imprisoned for life, without parole. Because it would place an unnecessary burden on the taxpayer.

·         If a Juvenile is sentenced for long-term prison, he might get into company of hardcore criminals and come out as a member of organized crime rather than reformed and responsible citizens.

·         It is the certainty rather than the severity of punishment that deters.

Reforms initiated

UP

·         The Uttar Pradesh government has put forward a proposal that in the case of rape, only those under the age of 16 be treated as juveniles. (=age limit reduced).

Kerala

·         Kerala state Government  has decide to amendment to the Kerala Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules

·         The Social welfare department officials have also suggested that of juvenile justice rules need not apply in gruesome crimes such as the Delhi gang rape and such juvenile offenders be treated like adult criminals.

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)

·         It is a statutory body. (not Constitutional body like CAG or EC)

·         Act passed 2005

·         But Commission actually set up in 2007

Functions of NCPCR?

·         Review national laws, policies regarding Child rights.

·         Recommend measures to Government for their effective implementation.

·         Present annual reports to central Government.

Examine all factors affecting child-rights and suggest steps to Government	Look into matters relating to
1.   Terrorism 2.   Communal Violence 3.   Riots 4.   Natural Disasters 5.   Domestic Violence 6.   HIV AIDS 7.   Trafficking 8.   Maltreatment 9.   Torture And Exploitation 10.               Pornography	1.   Children in distress, 2.   Marginalised and disadvantaged children, 3.   Children in conflict with law (juveniles offenders) 4.   Children without family 5.   Children of prisoners.

Other functions

1.   Study international treaties and their implementation in India.

2.   promote research in the field of child rights

3.   Spread child rights literacy

4.   promote awareness

5.   through publications, media, seminars and other available means

6.   Inspect juvenile custodial homse

7.   Inquire into violation of child rights and recommend initiation of proceedings in such cases

8.   Can Receive Complaints. (any language under 8^th schedule, no fees).

9.   Can take sup moto notice for child rights cases.

10.               Enjoys powers of a civil court. (can summon documents, persons, witnesses etc.)

11.               Can recommend Government to provide interim relief to the victim/his family.

12.               Can approach the Supreme Court or the High Court and request them to issue orders or writs.

13.               Can recommend Government to initiate prosecution against child rights violators.

Constitutional Provisions

15/3	State to make special provisions for women and children.
21A	Right to education
23	Human trafficking and forced labour
24	Child labour
39	Healthy Development of children
45	Early childhood care +education
47	State to raise level of nutrition and standard of living

UN DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

According to UN definition, Children=All under Age of 18.

Category	Provisions
Survival	1.   The child shall be entitled from his birth to a name and a nationality. 2.   Enjoy the benefits of social security. 3.   Adequate pre-natal and post-natal care. 4.   Adequate nutrition, housing, recreation and medical services. 5.   Child shall not be separated from his mother, unless exceptional circumstances. 6.   Child shall be among the first to receive protection and relief, in all circumstances and disasters.
Protection	7.   State shall provide special treatment for physically, mentally or socially handicapped children. 8.   Society and the public authorities shall provide special care to children without a family or means of support. 9.   Shall not be the subject of traffic, in any form. 10.               Protected against all forms of neglect, cruelty and exploitation
Development	11.               Shall not be employed before an appropriate minimum age. 12.               Free and compulsory education, at least in the elementary stages. 13.               Full opportunity for play and recreation.