How is Hong Kong administered?

GS Paper 2: Topics Covered: Effects of policies of other countries on India.   Context: Hong Kong authorities are pursuing new laws to tighten the city-state’s grip on public discourse critical of its Beijing-aligned government.   Need for: Residents are resorting to self-censorship and many feel that their city’s progressive identity may have been permanently …

It’s time to define limits of sedition, says SC:

GS Paper 2: Topics Covered:  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.   Context: The Assam Police have charged the editor and co-owner of a local news portal in the Barak Valley with sedition (under 124A) for an editorial deemed to promote enmity between …

Anti-defection law:

GS Paper 2: Topics Covered: Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.   Anti-defection law: Context: The Congress Party has written to the Speaker, Meghalaya Legislative Assembly seeking disqualification of 10 of the 12 MLAs that recently deserted the Party to join the All India Trinamool Congress (AITMC).   Why …

How are MPs’ questions allowed, disallowed?

GS Paper 2: Topics Covered: Functioning of the Parliament.   Context: Over the last few sessions, MPs mainly from the Opposition have often alleged their questions have been disallowed in the Parliament. Some of the questions that were disallowed include: Whether NRIs were harassed at airports and sent back. Whether the Chinese have crossed the …

What’s in ART, Surrogacy Bills?

GS Paper 1: Topics Covered: Women related issues.    ART, Surrogacy  Context: Lok Sabha recently passed the Assisted Reproductive Technology Regulation Bill, 2020, which makes provisions for the safe and ethical practice of assisted reproductive technology (ART) services in the country.   Overview and key features of the Bill: It would lead to the creation …