The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) is an Indian law that was enacted in 1967 to effectively prevent unlawful activities that pose a threat to the sovereignty and integrity of India.

Key highlights of the UAPA

• Objective: The primary objective of the UAPA is to provide law enforcement agencies with effective tools to combat terrorism and other activities that threaten the security of the nation.
• Definition of Unlawful Activities: The act defines unlawful activities to include actions that intend to or support the cession of a part of the territory of India or disrupt the sovereignty and integrity of the country.
• Powers of Designation: The government has the authority to designate an organization as a terrorist organization if it believes that such an organization is involved in terrorism. This designation has significant legal consequences, including the freezing of assets.
• Powers of Arrest and Detention: The UAPA provides law enforcement agencies with powers of arrest and detention to prevent individuals from engaging in unlawful activities. The act allows for preventive detention to curb potential threats before they materialise.
• Banning of Terrorist Organizations: The government can proscribe organizations as terrorist organizations, making their activities illegal. This includes banning these organisations, freezing their assets, and taking other measures to curb their operations.
• Admissibility of Confessions: The UAPA allows for confessions made to police officers to be admissible in court, subject to certain safeguards. This provision has been a point of contention, with concerns about potential misuse and coercion.
• Designation of Individuals as Terrorists: In addition to organizations, the UAPA allows the government to designate individuals as terrorists. This designation carries legal consequences, including restrictions on travel and freezing of assets.
• Amendments and Stringency: Over the years, the UAPA has undergone several amendments to strengthen its provisions and make it more effective in dealing with emerging threats. However, these amendments have also been criticized for potential violations of civil liberties.
• International Cooperation: The UAPA allows for cooperation with foreign countries in matters related to the prevention of unlawful activities. This includes extradition of individuals involved in such activities.

3. Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Human Rights

The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and human rights lie in the impact the act can have on various fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India and international human rights standards.

The key points connecting the UAPA and human rights:

• The UAPA allows for preventive detention, which means individuals can be detained without formal charges based on suspicions of involvement in unlawful activities. This raises concerns about the right to liberty, as individuals may be deprived of their freedom without the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
• The admissibility of confessions made to police officers under the UAPA raises issues related to the right against self-incrimination. There is a risk that such confessions might be obtained under duress or coercion, compromising the fairness of legal proceedings.
• Designating individuals as terrorists and proscribing organizations without due process may impinge on the right to a fair trial. This includes the right to be informed of charges, the right to legal representation, and the right to present a defense.
• The UAPA provides authorities with the power to proscribe organizations as terrorist organizations, limiting their activities. Critics argue that this may infringe upon the right to freedom of association, particularly when such designations are made without sufficient evidence or proper legal procedures.
• The potential for misuse of the UAPA to target individuals or organizations critical of the government raises concerns about freedom of expression. If the act is used to suppress dissent or stifle legitimate political or social activities, it can undermine this fundamental right.
• The UAPA grants authorities the power to intercept communications and conduct surveillance on individuals suspected of engaging in unlawful activities. This raises concerns about the right to privacy, as individuals may be subjected to intrusive surveillance without adequate safeguards.
• Human rights standards require that any restrictions on rights, such as those imposed by the UAPA, must be proportionate and necessary for achieving a legitimate aim. Critics argue that the broad scope of the UAPA may lead to disproportionate measures that unduly restrict individual rights.
• The UAPA's compatibility with international human rights standards, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), is a critical point of consideration. Ensuring that the act aligns with these standards is essential to upholding human rights principles.

4. Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Article 22 of the Constitution

The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Article 22 of the Indian Constitution lie in how the UAPA's provisions for arrest and detention intersect with the constitutional safeguards provided under Article 22. 

• Article 22 provides certain protections to individuals who are arrested or detained. It outlines the rights of arrested individuals, emphasizing safeguards to prevent arbitrary or unlawful detention.
• Article 22(1) states that every person who is arrested and detained shall be informed, as soon as may be, of the grounds for such arrest. This provision ensures that individuals are aware of the reasons behind their arrest, preventing arbitrary or secret detentions.
• Article 22(1) also guarantees the right of an arrested person to consult and be defended by a legal practitioner of their choice. This ensures that individuals have access to legal assistance during the legal process, contributing to a fair and just legal system.
• The UAPA includes provisions for preventive detention, allowing authorities to detain individuals to prevent them from committing certain offences. However, Article 22(4) allows preventive detention only under specific circumstances, and certain safeguards must be followed, such as providing the detenu with the grounds for detention and an opportunity to make a representation against the detention.
• Article 22(4) further mandates that a person detained under a law providing for preventive detention must be afforded the earliest opportunity to make a representation against the detention. Additionally, the case of every person detained is required to be placed before an advisory board within three months.
• The UAPA allows for confessions made to police officers to be admissible in court, subject to certain safeguards. However, this provision has been a point of concern concerning Article 22, as confessions obtained under duress or coercion may violate the right against self-incrimination.
• Article 22(2) ensures the right to be brought before the nearest magistrate within 24 hours of arrest, excluding the time necessary for the journey. This provision aims to prevent prolonged detention without judicial oversight and contributes to the right to a speedy trial.

Source: The Indian Express

SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLE

• A Black hole is a region of space-time exhibiting gravitational acceleration so strong that nothing no particles or even electromagnetic radiation such as light can escape from it.
• The theory of general relativity predicts that a sufficiently compact mass can deform space-time to form a Black hole. The boundary of the region from which no escape is possible is called the event horizon.
• The concept was theorized by Albert Einstein in 1915 and the term 'black hole' was coined in the mid-1960s by American physicist John Archibald Wheeler.

• One category ranges between a few solar masses and tens of solar masses. These are thought to form when massive stars die.
• The other category is supermassive black holes. These range from hundreds of thousands to billions of times that of the sun from the solar system to which Earth belongs.

3.Types of Black Holes

1. Stellar
2. Intermediate
3. Supermassive
4. Miniature

• The first is the SMBH, or supermassive black hole. This is the largest variety, with an unquantifiable number of solar masses. This is typically found at the heart of the universe's biggest galaxies. The SMBH is located in Sagittarius A in our solar system.
• The second is the singularity, which is the black hole's eye (or core). This is the point at which the curve becomes infinite.
• The photon sphere, a spherical boundary (with no thickness) where photons move perpendicularly to the sphere and are imprisoned in an elliptical orbit about the black hole, is the third.
• A micro black hole, also known as a little black hole or a quantum mechanical black hole, is the last form. Stephen Hawking first mentioned them in 1971.

4.Formation of Black hole

• Astronomers believe that depending on a star's mass, only one of the three things can happen once it runs out of fuel. A star with a mass less than that of the sun falls into a 'white dwarf' with a radius of barely a few thousand kilometres.
• If the mass of the star is between one and four times that of the sun, it can form a 'neutron star with a radius of only a few kilometres, which is known as a 'pulsar'.
• Only a few stars with mass greater than four times that of the sun may avoid collapsing and creating black holes within their Schwarzschild radii. As a result, black holes could be the remains of enormous stars.
• Milky way, according to most astronomers, was born from a vast cloud of gas that collapsed and broke up into individual stars.
• The nucleus, or core, of the galaxy, presently contains the most densely packed stars. It's possible that there was too much substance at the very centre to form a regular star, or that the stars that did form were too close together to form a black hole.
• As a result, it's been proposed that black holes as huge as a hundred million Suns could exist in the centre of some galaxies.

5.Rare Supermassive blackhole

• A rare supermassive black hole has been spotted by a team of Indian researchers and The monster black hole is about one billion light years away from the Earth. The black hole in question was captured, spewing a jet of radiation and particles in one direction, unlike others that fire jets in opposite directions. But strangely for this galaxy, only one side of the jet is seen. The supermassive black holes create powerful jets and radiation and particles.
• The supermassive black hole occupies the centre of the RAD 12 galaxy, which is elliptical or egg-shaped. RAD 12 is in the process of merging with another galaxy, RAD 12b, in the next one billion years. RAD 12b, which is elliptical, is bigger and brighter than RAD 12. The jet is bigger than its host, RAD 12. It resembles a 440 thousand light-years-long mushroom.
• This discovery may help scientists study why star formation does not occur in elliptical galaxies. Star formation requires extremely cooled gas, usually forged in a cloud of interstellar gas and dust. The temperature in these regions ranges from -253.15°C-263.15°C, according to the University of Oregon. Theoretically, jets remove cold gas and suppress star formation. Researchers speculate that jets fired by supermassive black holes will likely suppress future star formation.

WHO

 

 

1.Context

On January 20, 2025, the United States government issued an executive order to withdraw from membership of the World Health Organization (WHO). This has raised apprehensions that reduced funding for WHO would impact the functionality of the organisation

 

2. About WHO

• The World Health Organization (WHO) was born three years later, when its constitution came into effect on April 7, 1948
• It states that health is a human right that every human being is entitled to, “without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition” and that “the health of all peoples is fundamental to the attainment of peace and security.”
• The organization’s headquarters are based in Geneva, Switzerland, with six regional and 150 country offices across the world
• WHO leads global efforts to expand universal health coverage
• They direct and coordinate the world’s response to health emergencies and promote healthier lives  from pregnancy care through old age
• WHO’s work remains firmly rooted in the basic human right to health and well-being principles, as outlined in their 1948 Constitution. 
• The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of WHO and is attended by delegations from all Member States
• The Global Health Histories project was established within the WHO headquarters in late 2004 and expanded into the regional offices from 2009 onwards
•  An official WHO activity, its mission is based on the principle that understanding the history of health, especially during the last 60 years, helps the global public health community to respond to the challenges of today and help shape a healthier future for everyone, especially those most in need

3. Challenges faced by WHO

3.1. Small Pox

• One of the biggest successes in the WHO’s quest to ensure the global population’s well-being came in 1980, when the organization officially announced it had wiped out a common but deadly centuries-old infectious disease
• Smallpox eradication was a perfect example of when the WHO works best
• During the Cold War, there was wide-reaching agreement across the two blocs that the eradication of smallpox was a goal to be tackled. That’s when the WHO has seen its biggest successes: When members agree on which projects are worthy to be undertaken and how

3.2. Ebola Outbreak

• 2014 Ebola outbreak in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leoneoffers an example of a WHO job less well done
• The organization was criticized, among other things, for not reacting swiftly enough to address the epidemic
• There were unrealistic expectations for WHO, with many expecting, to go in force to the affected countries to confront the outbreak
• This is not within the WHO’s mandate. Its role is to guide the response, develop guidance, but not to go into a country to help address a specific health threat
• In fact, the WHO has no authority to take action in a member state unless that member state asks for help
• After the Ebola epidemic from 2014 to 2016, the organization made significant changes to its structure
• Example: It now relies to a lesser degree on national governments for crucial health information, thus lowering the chances of missing the start of another serious disease outbreak

3.3. Malaria Eradication attempt

• The organization’s agreement to give up on trying to eradicate malaria in the 1960s represents another example of what some consider a botched job
• The WHO launched the Global Malaria Eradication Programme (GMEP) in 1955.
• It looked promising, with 15 countries and one territory managing to eradicate the disease
• But there was little to no progress in sub-Saharan Africa under the program, and in many places, failure to sustain GMEP actually led to a resurgence of malaria. In 1969, the program was discontinued
• One reason that the eradication didn’t work, is that malaria isn’t solely a human disease, but has reservoirs in nature. This differentiates it from smallpox

3.4. Covid-19

• Some critics, then-US-President Donald Trump among them, complained at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic that the WHO was not doing enough to support member states in their fight against the disease
• But experts like El-Sadr and Gradmann say that it wasn’t the WHO’s job to take action and introduce initiatives at the height of the coronavirus pandemic
• During COVID, the WHO provided data and did administrative work, But initiatives to fight The disease had to come from the individual member states. I don’t think the WHO played a large role in the COVID pandemic
• Members’ national governments were in charge of making decisions on how to best contain the pandemic in their country

 

 

 

Source: WHO, indianexpress

 

MONETARY POLICY COMMITTEE (MPC)

 

 

1. Context

With a non-inflationary Budget marked by fiscal discipline, the Centre has done its bit to support growth and aid monetary policy making, India’s top Finance Ministry official said on Tuesday, signaling that monetary and fiscal policies must not work at ‘cross purposes’ as the economy will gain more traction if interest rates are eased once inflation is reined in

 

2. What is Monetary policy?

Monetary policy refers to the actions and strategies undertaken by a country's central bank to control and regulate the supply of money, credit availability, and interest rates in an economy. Its primary goal is to achieve specific economic objectives, such as price stability, full employment, and sustainable economic growth.

Central banks use various tools to implement monetary policy, including:

Interest Rates: Adjusting the interest rates at which banks lend to each other (known as the federal funds rate in the United States) influences borrowing and spending in the economy.

Open Market Operations: Buying or selling government securities in the open market to regulate the money supply. When a central bank buys securities, it injects money into the system, and when it sells them, it reduces the money supply.

Reserve Requirements: Mandating the amount of reserves banks must hold, affecting their ability to lend money.

By influencing the availability and cost of money, central banks aim to stabilize prices, control inflation, encourage or discourage borrowing and spending, and promote economic growth. However, the effectiveness of monetary policy can be influenced by various factors such as global economic conditions, fiscal policies, and market expectations.

3.What is the primary objective of the monetary policy?

The primary objective of monetary policy typically revolves around maintaining price stability or controlling inflation within an economy. Central banks often set an inflation target, aiming to keep it at a moderate and steady level. Stable prices help in fostering confidence in the economy, encouraging investment, and ensuring that the value of money remains relatively constant over time.

However, while controlling inflation is often the primary goal, central banks might also consider other objectives, such as:

Full Employment: Some central banks have a secondary objective of supporting maximum employment or reducing unemployment rates.

Economic Growth: Encouraging sustainable economic growth by managing interest rates and credit availability to stimulate or cool down economic activity.

Exchange Rate Stability: In some cases, maintaining stable exchange rates might be an important consideration, especially for countries with open economies heavily reliant on international trade.

These additional objectives can vary depending on the economic conditions, priorities of the government, and the central bank's mandate. Nonetheless, ensuring price stability is typically the fundamental goal of most monetary policies, as it forms the basis for a healthy and growing economy.

4. Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)

• In line with the amended RBI Act, 1934, Section 45ZB grants authority to the central government to establish a six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) responsible for determining the policy interest rate aimed at achieving the inflation target.
• The inaugural MPC was formed on September 29, 2016. Section 45ZB stipulates that "the Monetary Policy Committee will ascertain the Policy Rate necessary to meet the inflation target" and that "the decisions made by the Monetary Policy Committee will be obligatory for the Bank."
• According to Section 45ZB, the MPC comprises the RBI Governor as the ex officio chairperson, the Deputy Governor overseeing monetary policy, a Bank official nominated by the Central Board, and three individuals appointed by the central government.
• The individuals chosen by the central government must possess "capabilities, ethical standing, expertise, and experience in economics, banking, finance, or monetary policy" (Section 45ZC)

5.Monetary Policy Committe and Inflation

• The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) plays a crucial role in managing inflation through its decisions on the policy interest rate.
• When inflation is too high, the MPC might decide to increase the policy interest rate. This action aims to make borrowing more expensive, which can reduce spending and investment in the economy.
• As a result, it could help decrease demand for goods and services, potentially curbing inflation.
• Conversely, when inflation is too low or the economy needs a boost, the MPC might decrease the policy interest rate.
• This move makes borrowing cheaper, encouraging businesses and individuals to spend and invest more, thus stimulating economic activity and potentially raising inflation closer to the target level.
• The MPC's goal is to use the policy interest rate as a tool to steer inflation toward a target set by the government or central bank.
• By monitoring economic indicators and assessing the current and expected inflation levels, the MPC makes informed decisions to maintain price stability within the economy

6. Way forward

With more than half of the current financial year witnessing positive developments in the economy, the full financial year should conclude as projected with a strong growth performance and macroeconomic stability. Yet risks on the downside persist. Inflation is one of them that has kept both the government and the RBI on high alert. Financial flows in the external sector also need constant monitoring as they impact the value of rupee and the balance of payments. A fuller transmission of the monetary policy may also temper domestic demand

 

 

 

 

For Prelims: Economic and Social Development For Mains: General Studies III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.

 

 

Previous Year Questions   1. Consider the following statements:  (UPSC 2021) 1. The Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is appointed by the Central Government. 2. Certain provisions in the Constitution of India give the Central Government the right to issue directions to the RBI in the public interest. 3. The Governor of the RBI draws his natural power from the RBI Act. Which of the above statements is/are correct?  A. 1 and 2 only    B.  2 and 3 only     C. 1 and 3 only     D. 1, 2 and 3   Answer: C   2. Concerning the Indian economy, consider the following: (UPSC 2015) Bank rate Open Market Operations Public debt Public revenue Which of the above is/are component(s) of Monetary Policy? (a) 1 only   (b) 2, 3 and 4    (c) 1 and 2     (d) 1, 3 and 4 Answer: C 3. An increase in Bank Rate generally indicates: (UPSC 2013) (a) Market rate of interest is likely to fall. (b) Central bank is no longer making loans to commercial banks. (c) Central bank is following an easy money policy. (d) Central bank is following a tight money policy. Answer: (d)  4. Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)? (UPSC 2017)  1. It decides the RBI's benchmark interest rates. 2. It is a 12-member body including the Governor of RBI and is reconstituted every year. 3. It functions under the chairmanship of the Union Finance Minister. Select the correct answer using the code given below: A. 1 only      B.  1 and 2 only      C. 3 only      D. 2 and 3 only Answer: A

 

Source: Indianexpress