Daily Current Affairs – 11-JULY-2023
1.NATO-Plus CLICK FOR HINDI MED.
2.Ayushman Bharat
3.The International Maritime Organization
4.Article 226
1.NATO-Plus
NATO-Plus is a hypothetical military alliance that would include India. It is not an official proposal, but it has been discussed by some analysts as a way to counter the growing influence of China in the Asia-Pacific region.
The potential benefits of India joining NATO-Plus include:
- Increased security against China: NATO-Plus would provide India with a security umbrella against China, similar to the protection that NATO members enjoy against Russia.
- Access to advanced military technology: NATO members have access to the latest military technology, which could help India to modernize its own armed forces.
- Increased cooperation with other regional powers: NATO-Plus would allow India to cooperate more closely with other regional powers, such as Japan and Australia.
However, there are also some potential drawbacks to India joining NATO-Plus:
- It could undermine India’s strategic autonomy: NATO is a Western-led alliance, and joining NATO-Plus could be seen as a move away from India’s traditional policy of strategic autonomy.
- It could increase tensions with China: China is likely to see NATO-Plus as a threat, and joining the alliance could lead to increased tensions between India and China.
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to join NATO-Plus is a complex one for India. There are both potential benefits and drawbacks to consider, and the decision will likely depend on a number of factors, including the evolving security situation in the Asia-Pacific region.
Here are some additional thoughts on the importance of NATO-Plus for India:
1.NATO-Plus could help to deter China from taking aggressive actions against India.
2.NATO-Plus could provide India with access to advanced military technology and training.
3.NATO-Plus could help to increase India’s influence in the Asia-Pacific region.
However, it is important to note that there are also some potential drawbacks to India
joining NATO-Plus. For example, it could undermine India’s strategic autonomy and increase tensions with China. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to join NATO-Plus is a complex one for India, and there are both potential benefits and drawbacks to consider.
2.Ayushman Bharat
Ayushman Bharat, also known as Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), is a national health insurance scheme launched by the Government of India in 2018. It is the world’s largest government-funded health insurance scheme, providing a health cover of up to ₹5 lakhs per family per year.
The scheme covers over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families (approximately 50 crore beneficiaries) that form the bottom 40% of the Indian population. The households included are based on the deprivation and occupational criteria of Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 (SECC 2011) for rural and urban areas respectively.
Beneficiaries of the scheme can avail cashless treatment at any public or private hospital empanelled under the scheme. The list of empanelled hospitals is available on the official website of the scheme.
The scheme has been very successful in providing access to healthcare to the poor and vulnerable sections of society. In the first two years of its operation, the scheme has covered over 10 crore beneficiaries and provided treatment to over 1 crore patients.
The scheme has also been credited with reducing out-of-pocket expenditure on healthcare, which is a major financial burden for many families in India.
Here are some of the benefits of the Ayushman Bharat Scheme:
- It provides a health cover of up to ₹5 lakhs per family per year.
- It is a cashless scheme, which means that beneficiaries do not have to pay any upfront costs for treatment.
- The scheme is portable, which means that beneficiaries can avail treatment at any empanelled hospital across the country.
- The scheme is free of cost for beneficiaries.
The Ayushman Bharat Scheme is a major step towards achieving universal healthcare in India. It has the potential to improve the health of millions of people and reduce the financial burden of healthcare on families.
Here are some of the challenges faced by the Ayushman Bharat Scheme:
1.The scheme is not yet fully implemented in all parts of the country.
2.There is a shortage of doctors and hospitals empanelled under the scheme.
3.The scheme is not well-known among the poor and vulnerable sections of society.
The Government of India is working to address these challenges and make the Ayushman Bharat Scheme more effective.
3.The International Maritime Organization
The International Maritime Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for regulating international shipping. Its primary goal is to ensure the safety, security, and environmental sustainability of shipping operations worldwide.
Established in 1948, the IMO serves as a global forum for member states to discuss, develop, and adopt international regulations and standards related to maritime safety, security, and environmental protection. The organization works closely with its member countries, industry stakeholders, and other international organizations to address various challenges and issues in the maritime sector.
The IMO’s key areas of focus include:
1.Safety of Navigation: The IMO sets regulations and standards to promote safe and efficient navigation, including guidelines for ship construction, stability, equipment, and navigation systems. It also works to prevent and respond to maritime accidents and incidents.
2.Pollution Prevention: The IMO aims to minimize the environmental impact of shipping activities by developing regulations and measures to prevent pollution from ships, such as air emissions, ballast water, and marine debris. The organization’s efforts include the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from ships.
3.Maritime Security: The IMO collaborates with member states to enhance maritime security and combat threats such as piracy, armed robbery, and terrorism. It has developed guidelines and measures to improve ship and port security and promote international cooperation in maritime security efforts.
4.Technical Cooperation and Capacity Building: The IMO provides technical assistance, training programs, and capacity-building initiatives to support its member states, particularly developing countries, in implementing international maritime regulations and improving their maritime capabilities and infrastructure.
5.Legal Framework: The IMO develops and maintains a comprehensive legal framework for international shipping. This includes conventions, codes, and protocols that address various aspects of maritime activities, such as ship safety, pollution prevention, liability and compensation, and the facilitation of international maritime trade.
The IMO’s work is guided by various conventions, including the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), and the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), among others.
Member states of the IMO actively participate in its decision-making processes through various committees, sub-committees, and working groups. The IMO also engages with industry stakeholders, non-governmental organizations, and the academic community to gather expertise and promote collaboration.
4.Article 226
Article 226 of the Constitution of India grants the High Courts the power to issue certain writs, including writs in the form of habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto, and certiorari, to any person or authority, including the government. These writs are used to protect the fundamental rights of citizens and to ensure that the government acts within the bounds of the law.
The power to issue writs under Article 226 is a discretionary power, and the High Courts are not bound to issue a writ in every case. However, the High Courts have used this power to great effect in protecting the rights of citizens and in ensuring that the government acts fairly and justly.
Some of the most important writs that can be issued under Article 226 are:
Habeas corpus: This writ is used to secure the release of a person who is being illegally detained.
Mandamus: This writ is used to command a person or authority to perform a public duty.
Prohibition: This writ is used to prevent a person or authority from exceeding their legal powers.
Quo warranto: This writ is used to inquire into the legality of a person’s claim to a public office.
Certiorari: This writ is used to quash an order or decision that has been made by a lower court or tribunal.
Article 226 has been used by the High Courts to address a wide range of issues, including:
1.The protection of fundamental rights
2.The enforcement of statutory rights
3.The prevention of abuse of power by the government
4.The ensuring of fair and just administrative action
The power to issue writs under Article 226 is a vital part of the Indian constitutional framework. It provides a powerful tool for the protection of citizens’ rights and for the ensuring of good governance.
Examples of how Article 226 has been used in the past:
1.In the case of Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India, the Supreme Court used Article 226 to strike down a government rule that required citizens to obtain a passport in order to travel abroad. The Court held that this rule violated the fundamental right to freedom of movement.
2.In the case of Bandhua Mukti Morcha v. Union of India, the Supreme Court used Article 226 to order the release of bonded laborers who were being held in illegal captivity. The Court held that the government had a duty to protect the fundamental rights of these laborers, and that the rule of law required that they be released.
3.In the case of Narmada Bachao Andolan v. Union of India, the Supreme Court used Article 226 to order the government to halt the construction of the Sardar Sarovar Dam. The Court held that the dam would displace thousands of people and that the government had not adequately considered the environmental impact of the project.
These are just a few examples of how Article 226 has been used to protect the rights of citizens and to ensure that the government acts fairly and justly. The power to issue writs under Article 226 is a vital part of the Indian constitutional framework, and it has played a significant role in the protection of human rights in India.
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