Current Affairs 07-MAR-2024 (The Hindu)

INS Jatayu

D => (Pg-14)

Why in News?

The Indian Navy commissioned INS Jatayu at Minicoy island and its first MH-60R multi-role helicopter squadron INAS 334 'Seahawks' at Kochi on Wednesday. INS Jatayu strengthens the Navy's presence in Lakshadweep islands and enhances surveillance capabilities in strategically located areas and critical sea lanes of communication.

Lakshadweep Islands

• Tropical archipelago consisting of 36 atolls and coral reefs in the Laccadive Sea.
• Located 280 km to 480 km off the coast of Kerala.
• Out of the 36 atolls, 11 are inhabited.
• Malayalam is the official and widely spoken native language in Lakshadweep.
• Fishing is the primary industry in the islands.
• The Amindivi Islands are the northernmost islands, while Minicoy Island is the southernmost.
• All islands are tiny coral atolls surrounded by fringing reefs.
• Capital city: Kavaratti.
• Lakshadweep comes under the jurisdiction of the Kerala High Court.
• It is the only district of the Union Territory.
• The principal languages spoken in Lakshadweep are Malayalam, Jeseri (Dweep Bhasha), and Mahl.
• Lakshadweep consists of three main groups of islands: Amindivi Islands, Laccadive Islands, and Minicoy Island.

INS Jatayu

• Second Naval base in Lakshadweep after INS Dweeprakshak in Kavaratti.
• Situated amidst vital Sea Lines of Communications (SLOCs), making it strategically important as a gateway to the Indian Ocean.
• It strengthens India's foothold in the Lakshadweep islands.
• Used for extending operational surveillance, reach, and sustenance.
• Allows operations for a range of aircraft, including P8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft and fighter jets.

Prelims Practice Question

Which one of the following pairs of islands is separated from each other by the ‘Eight Degree Channel’?

(a) Andaman and Nicobar

(b) Nicobar and Sumatra

(c) Maldives and Lakshadweep

(d) Sumatra and Java

Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act

D => (Pg-8)

Why in News?

The acquittal of G.N. Saibaba and five others underscores no guilt by association. The Bombay High Court's exoneration highlights procedural safeguards against stringent laws like the UAPA. It also exposes flaws in the law's bail-denying features and emphasizes the need for evidence in terrorism-related cases.

Practice Question – Mains GS – II

The Indian government has recently strengthened the anti-terrorism laws by amending the unlawful activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967 and the NIA Act. Analyze the changes in the context of prevailing security environment while discussing the scope and reasons for opposing the UAPA by human rights organizations.

Introduction

• Unlawful Activities Prevention Amendment (UAPA) Bill is an anti-terror legislation that seeks to designate an individual as a "terrorist".
• Recently, parliament cleared the changes to the existing law as well as some features in the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act.

Designation of Individuals as Terrorists

• Earlier limited to organizations, the Bill now authorizes the central government to label an individual as a “terrorist”.

Giving Enhanced Authority for NIA

• The Act’s amendment empowers NIA officers of the rank of Inspector or above to investigate cases.
• For property seizures linked to terrorism, the Director-General of NIA’s approval is now deemed sufficient.

Expansion in the List of Treaties

• The inclusion of the International Convention for Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (2005).
• Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings (1997)
• Convention against Taking of Hostages (1979).
• International Convention for Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (2005).

Concerns

• Ambiguity in Definition: The lack of a precise definition for “terror” or “terrorist” in the UAPA Bill
• Potential for Misuse: The power to unilaterally designate individuals as terrorists could be weaponized against dissenters.
• Procedural Shortcomings: The absence of stringent checks and balances raises due process concerns.
• Infringement on Personal Rights: Prolonged detention without formal charges, property seizures without transparent justification, and investigations based on the “personal knowledge” of police officers.

Conclusion

• India stands at a crucial juncture, where the imperatives of national security and individual freedoms converge.
• The amendments to the UAPA and the NIA Act symbolize this intersection.
• The foundational principles of justice, transparency, and individual rights aren't overshadowed.

Project Tiger and Tiger Reserves

D => (Pg-1)

Why in News?

The Supreme Court condemned the illegal felling of over 6,000 trees in Jim Corbett National Park as a "classic case" of nexus between politicians and officials for short-term commercial ends. The court directed the Ministry of Environment to form a committee to study whether tiger safaris should be allowed in buffer zones. It also approved a CBI probe into the case and urged Uttarakhand to restore the forest to the last tree.

Project Tiger and Tiger Reserves

• Project Tiger India - 1973
• Objective: To prevent alarming decline in tiger populations.
• Number of Tiger Reserves in India: 54
• Latest Addition: Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.
• Under Project Tiger, several tiger reserves were established.

Tiger Reserves Classification

• Tiger reserves are divided into:
• Core Areas
• Buffer Zones
• Core Areas:
  • Most critical for tiger conservation.
  • Strictly protected zone.
  • Activities such as tourism, grazing, and commercial exploitation are usually prohibited.

• Buffer Zones:
  • Surrounds the core zone.
  • Allows for certain sustainable land uses and human activities.
  • Supports the ecological integrity of the core area.

National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)

• Statutory body established under the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972.
• Works with state governments, non-governmental organizations, and local communities.

Practice Question – Prelims

Which of the following statements about tiger reserves in India is correct?

a) Tiger reserves are declared by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) of the Government of India.

b) Tiger reserves consist of only core areas where human activities are strictly prohibited.

c) The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is responsible for declaring and managing tiger reserves in India.

d) Buffer zones within tiger reserves are designated for unrestricted human activities, including agriculture and urban development.