Current Affairs 17-OCT-2023 (The Hindu)

International Institute for Population Sciences(IIPS)

(D => Pg-10)

(IIPS)

Mission and Focus

• Conducts training and research in Population Studies.
• Areas - Asia and Pacific region.
• Established in July 1956.
• Location - Mumbai.
• Initial name - Demographic Training and Research Centre (DTRC).
• Established under the joint sponsorship of Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, GoI & UN.

Administration

• Under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• August 1985 - Declared as 'Deemed to be University'.
• Recognized by the Ministry of Human Resource Development.
• Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956.

Objective

• Collecting, organizing & publishing demographic information about the population of India and other countries.
• Undertaking scientific research on population problems in India.

Functions

• Teaching and research activities regarding population studies.
• Providing consultancy to Government and Non-Government organizations.
• Training students from over 42 different countries of Asia and the Pacific region.
• Subject demographic aspects including family planning.
• Publishes journals & research papers and books related to population sciences.
• Maintains libraries and information service regarding population sciences.

Practice Question – Prelims

Q. International Institute for Population Sciences

Which is a premier Institute for training and research in Population Studies, comes under the administrative control of which Ministry?

• (a) Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation.
• (b) Ministry of Family health and welfare.
• (c) Ministry of Human Resource Development.
• (d) Ministry of Home affairs.

Writ Jurisdiction

(C => Pg-2)

Writ Jurisdiction

Introduction

• It is a Fundamental right - Article 32.
• Dr B. R. Ambedkar - Article 32 is the 'heart and soul' of the Constitution.
• Issued by the higher Judiciary (SC & HCs) to prevent the violations of Fundamental Rights of the citizens.

Types of Writs

• Article 32 - Supreme Court.
• Article 226 - High Court.
• Writ jurisdiction of High Courts is wider than the Supreme Court.
• Supreme Court - power to issue writs for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights only.
• High Courts - both Fundamental Rights and legal rights.
• Supreme Court cannot refuse the writs, but High Courts can refuse them.
• There are 5 writs in India:
• Habeas corpus.
• Mandamus.
• Prohibition.
• Certiorari.
• Quo-warranto.

Quo-warranto

• Literal meaning - "under what authority?"
• Issued to ensure whether the holder of a public office is legally entitled to it or not.
• It is used to prevent the illegal assumption of any public office.
• Locus Standi is not required.
• Any interested person can approach the court for the enforcement of the writ of quo warranto.
• Can be issued against a public office of a permanent character
• Created by the Constitution or by a statute.
• Cannot be issued against:
• Ministerial office,
• Private office,
• Against individuals.

Practice Question – Prelims

Q. Consider the following statements about the Right to constitutional remedies:

1. Supreme court can enforce both the Fundamental and legal rights under Article 32 of the constitution.
2. Parliament can empower any courts to issue writs and orders to enforce fundamental rights.
3. All of the writs should possess locus standi principle.

How many of the statements given above is/are correct :

• (a) Only one
• (b) Only two
• (c) All three
• (d) None

Arab League

(D,C,H,T => Pg-14)

Arab League

Introduction

• Other name - League of Arab States (LAS).
• Intergovernmental regional organization.
• Members - Middle East & parts of Africa.

Formation of the League

• Formation - 1945, in Cairo.
• Creation - after the adoption of the Alexandria Protocol (1944).
• Headquarters - Cairo, Egypt.

Members of the League

• Founding members - Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Transjordan, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.
• Currently - 22 countries.

Objectives of the League

• To coordinate political, cultural, socio-economic programs of members.
• Mediation of disputes among the members or between members and third parties.
• Coordination in military defense measures.

Structure of the Arab League

• Arab League Council.
• Special Ministerial Committees.
• General-Secretariat.

Arab League Council - Political Organ

• Sets guidelines for cooperation with other international organizations.
• Mediation of disputes.
• Composition - foreign ministers of members.
• Decisions - taken by majority through the voting process.
• Each member has one vote on the Council.
• Decisions are binding only on those states that have voted for them.
• Meets twice a year to supervise the agreements between member-states.

The Special Committees

• Attached to the Council.
• Form common policies for increasing cooperation in their respective fields.

The General-Secretariat

• Headed by a Secretary-General.
• Usually, the Secretary-General is elected by the Council for a five-year term.
• It executes the decisions of the Council.
• It is largely responsible for the internal administration of the league.

Practice Question – Prelims

Q. Consider the following statements about the Arab League/League of Arab states:

1. It comprises of all the countries in the Middle East and Africa.
2. Syria was recently expelled from the group.
3. India was an observer in the Arab League.

How many of the statements given above is/are correct :

• (a) Only one
• (b) Only two
• (c) All three
• (d) None