The Supreme Court (SC) asked the Centre to provide data which may point to a more dignified, less painful and socially acceptable method of executing prisoners other than death by hanging.
Death Penalty:
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Different modes of Death Execution:
Centre’s stand on hanging as a death penalty:
Concerns of alternatives:
Amid the allegation of the Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, on the present central government members in Lok Sabha, against which the rule 357 and conduct of Business mentioned under parliamentary functioning gained traction.
What is Rule 357?
Powers of Speaker under the Rules for the Conduct of Business:
The National Security Act has been invoked in the case of self-styled Sikh preacher and on-the-run ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief Amritpal Singh.
National Security Act, 1980:
Under National Security Act, Article 22 (1) of the Indian Constitution and Section 50 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CRPC) are not available to the person detained. “Article 22 (1) of the Indian Constitution says an arrested person cannot be denied the right to consult, and to be defended by, a legal practitioner of his choice. “ “According to Section 50 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CRPC), any person arrested has to be informed of the grounds of arrest and has the right to bail.” |
What are the grounds for detention?
What is the protection available under the Act?
The Supreme Court in earlier cases had held that to prevent “misuse of this potentially dangerous power, the law of preventive detention has to be strictly construed”, and “meticulous compliance with the procedural safeguards” has to be ensured. |
Recently, the Parliament informed that India has exploited 29 per cent of its hydropower potential against over 80 per and 70 per cent developed by the US and European Union respectively.
The stocking norms are 20 to 26 days in non-pithead plants and 12 to 17 days in pithead plants so as to ensure sufficient coal stock at power plants to meet demand. |
Central Electricity Authority:
Hydroelectric Potential in India:
India has an estimated hydropower potential of 1,45,320 MW, excluding small hydro projects (SHPs) which have 20 GW potential. |
India ranks as the fourth country in the world by undeveloped hydropower potential, after Russia, China and Canada, and fifth by total potential, surpassed also by Brazil. |
Issues in Hydropower generation:
Major Hydropower projects in India:
The United Nations (UN) 2023 Water Conference will take place in New York from March 22-24, 2023.
Mar del Plata Conference:
Other steps to conserve Water:
Under the Dublin Principles, a policy agenda was dictated, and water was established as an “economic good”. |
Terms related to water:
Causes for water scarcity:
Impacts:
Geography Earthquake in Afghanistan
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The US Geological Survey (USGS) measured the earthquake to be 6.5 in magnitude, and located its origin about 300 km northwest of Kabul, towards the border with Tajikistan, which has been felt in Northern India too. About Hindu Kush region:
Reason for fragility of the region:
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Polity and Governance World Water Day |
World Water Day is being observed on March 22 every year. Background:
About:
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Economy Beijing experiences first population decline |
The death rate in China’s capital Beijing surpassed its birth rate in 2022, official data showed, pushing its natural population growth into negative territory for the first time since 2003. About:
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Science and Technology INS Androth |
The INS Androth, second in a series of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC), was launched in Kolkata. Background: The first ship of the series, the INS Arnala, was launched three months ago. About:
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Context:
Details of the visit:
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