Rapid Fire Current Affairs | 19 May 2023

NIA's Operation Dhvast

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) recently conducted a nationwide operation called 'Operation Dhvast' targeting the interconnected network of terrorists, gangsters, and drug smugglers. Collaborating with the police in Punjab and Haryana, the NIA carried out raids at 129 locations across multiple states, resulting in the arrest of three individuals. The operation was aimed at breaking the terror nexus of terrorists, and other notorious gangsters involved in targeted killings, terror funding of pro-Khalistan outfits, and extortion, and smuggling of drugs and weapons.

The NIA is a federal agency established in 2009 by the Indian government to investigate and prosecute crimes related to terrorism, insurgency, and national security. It operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs and has jurisdiction over matters that affect the entire country. The NIA was formed in response to the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks and operates under the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act, 2008. The agency was further empowered by the National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Act, 2019. The NIA is authorized to take over terrorism-related cases from state police forces and other agencies, and it can investigate cases across state boundaries without requiring prior permission from state governments. Its functions include collecting, analyzing, and disseminating intelligence on terrorism and national security, coordinating with law enforcement agencies within and outside India, and prosecuting cases before the NIA Special Court. It seeks the sanction of the Central government for prosecuting accused individuals under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and other scheduled offenses.

Caste-Based Survey

The Supreme Court of India has refused to lift the interim stay order passed by the Patna High Court on the caste-based survey in Bihar. The survey was initiated by the Bihar government to collect data on the socio-economic status and educational level of various castes in the state. The Supreme Court also said that it needs to determine whether the survey was a census or a voluntary exercise.

A caste-based survey is a process of collecting information on the population of different castes in a region or a country. Caste is a system of social stratification based on birth, occupation, and religion. Caste-based surveys are often conducted to identify the backward classes and provide them with reservation and welfare schemes. However, caste-based surveys are also controversial as they may affect social harmony, political representation, and individual privacy.  Article 340  mandates the appointment of a commission to investigate the conditions of socially and educationally backward classes and make recommendations as to the steps that should be taken by governments.

Read more: Caste Census

e-Malkhana

Visakhapatnam Police Commissionerate, Andhra Pradesh is set to introduce e-Malkhana, a scientific storage system for property and evidence recovered from crime scenes, in all 23 police stations by June 2023. The initiative aims to enhance efficiency and organization in storing recovered items. Previously, properties and evidence were stored in traditional storerooms, causing difficulties in retrieval. With e-Malkhana, the seized property and evidence will be stored in standardized cardboard boxes, each labeled with a unique number and additional details. A dynamic QR code will be generated and affixed to the box, allowing easy access to case-related information through scanning. This technological upgrade streamlines the storage and retrieval process, ensuring greater transparency and convenience for law enforcement officials.

MoU Between CCI and ECA

The Union Cabinet approved the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Competition Commission of India (CCI) and the Egyptian Competition Authority (ECA).

The MoU envisages the promotion and strengthening of cooperation in competition law and policy through the exchange of information and sharing of best practices as well as through various capacity-building initiatives. The MoU also aims to develop and strengthen linkages between CCI and ECA and learn and emulate from each other's experiences in the enforcement of competition law in their respective jurisdictions through experience sharing and technical cooperation.

Section 18 of the Competition Act, 2002 permits CCI to enter into any memorandum or arrangement with any agency of any foreign country for the purpose of discharging its duties or performing its functions under the Act.

The Competition Act, 2002, regulates competition in the Indian market and prohibits anti-competitive practices such as cartels, abuse of dominant market position, and mergers and acquisitions that may have an adverse effect on competition. The Act has been amended by the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2007.

Read More: Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2022