Rapid Fire
Rapid Fire Current Affairs
- 24 Nov 2023
- 5 min read
Jammu and Kashmir Government Terminates Employees Citing Article 311(2)(C)
Recently, the Jammu & Kashmir government has terminated four employees, on grounds of being deemed a "threat to the security of the state."
- The terminations were executed under Article 311(2)(C) of the Constitution.
- Article 311 (2) says that no person who is a member of a civil service of the Union or an all-India service or a civil service of a State or holds a civil post under the Union or a State shall be dismissed or removed or reduced in rank except after an inquiry in which he has been informed of the charges against him and given a reasonable opportunity of being heard in respect of those charges.
- Exceptions to Article 311 (2):
- 2(a) where a person is dismissed or removed or reduced in rank on the ground of conduct which has led to his conviction on a criminal charge.
- 2(b) The authority empowered to dismiss or remove a person or to reduce him in rank is satisfied that, for some reason, which must be recorded in writing by that authority, it is not reasonably practicable to hold such an inquiry; or
- 2(c) In cases where the President or the Governor, as applicable, is convinced that, in the interest of the security of the State, it is not expedient to conduct an inquiry, such an inquiry may be deemed unnecessary.
Read more: Article 311 of the Constitution
Digital Mapping of Cities
In a move towards transforming India's mapping ecosystem, Genesys International, a leading 3D mapping company, signed a strategic tie-up with Survey of India (SOI), the country's national surveying and mapping authority.
- This collaboration is set to revolutionize India's map content through the implementation of the ‘3D Digital Twin Mapping Program.'
- This is In line with India's National Geospatial Policy 2022, emphasizing self-reliance in geospatial data.
- This initiative will provide previously unavailable data layers, including high-precision 3D data, digital terrain models (DTMs), digital surface models (DSMs), and ortho imagery(image corrected by removing distortion).
- The project will leverage Genesys’ navigable maps of India and its constellation of sensors. The company will access datasets from the SOI’s CORS (Continuously Operating Reference Stations) network of 902 stations across all states, which provides for real-time, high-precision positioning data
Read more: National Geospatial Policy 2022
Advancing Ayurveda: AGNI Initiative & Mainstreaming Research
The Central Council for Research in Ayurveda Sciences (CCRAS), under the Ministry of Ayush, launched the "Ayurveda Gyan Naipunya Initiative" (AGNI) to promote evidence-based practices and scientific validation within Ayurveda.
- AGNI serves as a platform for Ayurveda practitioners to report innovative treatments and experiences in various diseases.
- Additionally, CCRAS has previously initiated programs like SPARK, PG-STAR, and SMART to foster research in Ayurveda colleges and hospitals, recognizing the need for evidence-based research in managing contemporary health challenges through Ayurveda interventions.
BDS Movement
The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict has once again brought the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement into the spotlight, as it urges the boycott of major multinational companies.
- The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, born in 2005 from the collaboration of over 170 Palestinian groups, aims to rally global support for the rights of Palestinian people.
- Drawing inspiration from the successful South African anti-apartheid movement, it seeks nonviolent means to pressure Israel into complying with international law.
- It utilizes nonviolent methods to pressure Israel into adhering to international law, focusing on ending occupation and colonization, equality for Palestinian citizens, and the rights of Palestinian refugees as stipulated in UN Resolution 194.
- The resolution stated that refugees wishing to return to their homes should be permitted, and that compensation should be paid for the property of those choosing not to return.
Read more: Israel-Hamas Conflict and its Global Impact
