Daily Current Affairs 27 July 2023 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 27 July 2023 focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill 2023

Source: PIB
GS II: Governance; GS III: Environment

Overview

1. Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill/Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980
2. What are the concerns of the bill?
3. T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad vs. Union of India

Why in News ?

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change moved the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill 2023 as reported by the Joint Committee of Parliament.

• After deliberations and taking the views of Members of Parliaments, the Lok Sabha passed the Bill.

Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill

• The Act’s abbreviated name will now be the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, per the Bill.

  

• It is a crucial central legislation for the protection of the nation’s forests.
• It states that prior approval from the Central Government is required for the
  • De-reservation of reserved forests
  • Use of forest property for non-forest purposes
  • Assignment of forest land to a private company through a lease or other means
  • Removal of naturally growing trees for reforestation.
• Initially provisions of the Act were being applied to the notified forest land only, subsequently after the Judgement dated 12.12.1996, the Act was made applicable to revenue forest land or in lands which were recorded as forest in government records and to areas which look like forest in their dictionary meaning.
• Exempts certain types of land include land within 100 km of India’s border needed for national security projects, small roadside amenities, and public roads leading to a habitation.
• Bill also allows running zoos, safaris and eco-tourism facilities.

Key Provisions

• Types of Land 
  • The Bill provides that two types of land will be under the purview of the Act:
    • Land declared/notified as a forest under the Indian Forest Act, 1927 or under any other law.
    • Land not covered in the first category but notified as a forest on or after October 25, 1980 in a government record.
• Exemptions of Land
  • Land situated within 100 km from international borders, Line of Control, or Line of Actual Control, for construction of a strategic linear project of national importance and concerning national security
  • Land up to 10 hectares, for constructing security-related infrastructure
  • Land proposed to be used for constructing defense related projects, camps for paramilitary forces, or public utility projects up to five hectares in a left-wing extremism affected area.
• Prior Approval for leasing
  • Prior approval of the central government to assign forest land to any entity not owned or controlled by government.
  • This is subject to terms and conditions under Central Government.
• Activities and Restriction
  • De-reservation of forests or use of forest land for non-forest purposes.
  • This include use of land for cultivating horticultural crops or for any purpose other than reforestation. 
  • Not restricted the following activities
    • Works related to the conservation, management, and development of forest and wildlife such as establishing check posts, fire lines, fencing, and wireless communication are not restricted.
    • Zoos and safaris covered by the Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972 that are run by the state or any other government agency in forested regions other than protected areas.
    • Besides ecotourism facilities, silvicultural operations (enhancing forest growth), and any other purpose specified by the central government. 
• Power of Central Government
  • The central government may issue directions for the implementation of the act.
  • It can direct to any authority/organisation under or recognised by the centre, state, or union territory (UT).

Need for the Bill

• Statement Of Object And Reasons Of Bill
  • It is necessary to broaden the horizon of the Act in order to achieve the objective of the country to increase the forest cover for creation of carbon sink of additional 2.5 to 3.0 billion tons of CO equivalent by 2030.
• Supreme court Judgement in 1996
  • Before judgement (T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad vs. Union of India) Act only applied to notified forest lands, not revenue forest areas and non-forestry use in the revenue forest.
  • After act applied to recorded forest areas, including those already used for non-forestry purposes.
  • The bill clarify the applicability to different types of lands to avoid confusion.
• Changes in Policies
  • Since the enactment of the act there are several changes in the ecological, social and environmental concept.
  • For make the act in combine with the change in concept the bill introduced.

What are the concerns?

• Exemptions
  • Land recorded as forest before October 25, 1980 but not notified as a forest and land which changed from forest-use to non-forest-use before December 12, 1996 are exempted
  • This is against the supreme court judgement in the case T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad vs. Union of India.
• Border area land exempted for national security purpose may adversely affect the prevention of deforestation.
• Zoos, eco-tourism facilities and reconnaissance survey also exempted will also affect land and wildlife.

Reservation for Transgender Persons

Source: The Hindu
GS II: Governance

Overview

1. News in Brief
2. How it helps

Why in News ?

Recently centre has told the Supreme Court that transgender persons can avail of any of the existing 50% reservation in admissions and government jobs already available to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Socially and Educationally Backward Communities (SEBC) across the country.

Reservation Status

• The Centre has informed the Supreme Court that transgender people are eligible for any of the 50% reservations that are currently in place.
  Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, and Socially and Educationally Backward Communities
• They can utilise the reservation in admissions and government positions currently provided to SEBC across the country.
• According to the government, transgender people are eligible for a 10% quota set aside for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) of society.
• The transgender community has not, however, been designated by the Ministry as a separate class for reservations.

National Legal Services Authority of India (NALSA) v Union of India (2014)

• Due to the fact that transgender people are a socially and educationally backward class the Supreme Court declared that they are entitled to reservations.
• We direct the Centre and the State Governments to take steps to treat them [transgender persons] as socially and educationally backward classes of citizens and extend all kinds of reservation in cases of admission in educational institutions and for public appointments,” the judgement stated in reference to reservations.
• After the ruling, transgender people are entitled to reservations.
• However, it makes no indication of the type of reservations, such as whether they are to be horizontal or vertical.

India-Australia Defence Policy Talks

Source: PIB
GS II:  International Relation; GS III: Internal Security

Overview

1. News in Brief
2. India Australia Defense Relation

Why in News ?

The 8th India-Australia Defence Policy Talks (DPT) was held at Canberra in Australia on 24-25 July 2023.

About India-Australia Defence Policy Talks

• Both sides reviewed the bilateral defense cooperation between the two countries.
• Explored new initiatives to further strengthen and deepen bilateral defense engagements.
• The discussions also focused on identifying ways to strengthen partnership in co-development and co-production of defense equipment.
• Committed to fully implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership based on mutual trust and understanding, common interests and shared values of democracy and rule of law.
• The Indian side highlighted cooperate with Australian Armed forces in its shipbuilding and maintenance plans.
• Both sides agreed for early finalization of hydrography agreement.

India Australia Defence Relation

• Major focus on maritime security, counter-terrorism, and regional stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

  

• In 2020, Australia and India elevated their Secretaries 2+2 dialogue (Defence and Foreign Affairs) to the Ministerial level.
• India and Australia confirm Mutual Logistic Support Arrangement in 2020.
  • C-17 strategic transport aircraft
  • C-130 tactical transport aircraft
  • P-8 maritime reconnaissance aircraft
  • Chinook heavy-lift helicopters

India Australia Exercise

• Malabar Exercise: Started in 2020 joined the U S and Japan. 
• AUSINDEX: Royal Australian Navy and the Indian Navy has been part in bilateral exercise.
• Talisman Sabre exercises: India has been invited to join the exercises in 2023.

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