The

Analyst
Handout
15th February,2024
UAPA
Context: A recent report showcased 5023 cases of sedition filed between 2018-22 under
UAPA

What is UAPA ? ● “Terrorism”, “Security” etc

● 1967
● “More effective prevention of Unlawful
activities of Individuals & Associations”
● Unlawful activity: Any action taken to
disrupt “Territorial integrity”, “Sovereignty of
India” & “Security”
● Prevent use of funds for terrorist activity
Provisions of bail under UAPA :
Provisions of UAPA :
● Absolute power to Central Govt
● Both Indian & Foreign nationals
● NIA can file chargesheet in maximum 180
days after arrests (normally 90 days)
● Remand Order: 30 days (normally 15 days)
● Death penalty & Life imprisonment
Amendments :
● UAPA 2004: “Terrorist act” to list of offences
to ban Organisations:
DEBATE REGARDING “BAIL” UNDER UAPA
○ Eg- LET, JEM, KZF etc
○ Tribunal to confirm notification
○ Ban - 2 years
● UAPA 2013:
○ Extended ban to 5 years
○ In line of requirements of FATF
○ Included “Money laundering”
● UAPA 2019:
● Director General of NIA - grant
approval of seizure or attachment of
property
● Officer of NIA (rank Inspector or
above) to investigate cases of
Terrorism
● “Individual” as terrorist
● Pre-emptive arrest & detention: Arrest
based on suspicion or anticipation of
“potential offences”
● Human Right violations: Eg - Case of G.
Chakraborty
● Antithetical to ordinary Criminal Law:
Higher bar for granting bail
●
● Section 43 (D): No person “accused” of
offence under Chapter IV & VI of this act,
in custody, shall be released on Bail
○ “Unless Public Prosecutor has
argued on application of such
release”
● Section 173 of CrPC: “Court is of opinion
that there are reasonable ground for
believing that accusation are
“prima-facie” true, then Bail shall not be
granted”
● BALCHAND CASE 1978: “Bail is the rule, jail
is the exception”
● ZAS WATALI vs NIA CASE 2019: “Courts
must not examine evidence but only
accepts it as face value”
● UOI vs KA NAJEEB CASE 2021: “Bail under
UAPA is exception but shall be balanced
by “Speedy trial”
● V. GONSALVES CASE 2023: “Surface
analysis of probative value of evidences
is necessary”

CRITICISM OF UAPA ● GURWINDER SINGH CASE 2024: “Bail is

exception, Jail is rule under UAPA”
● Low conviction rate: Eg - 2018-22: 149
convicted out of 4690 people arrested
● Ambiguity in Law: Vague definition of
 The
Analyst
Handout WILDLIFE PROTECTION ACT
15th February,2024

Context: Kerala Assembly adopted a resolution urging the Centre to amend the Wildlife
Protection Act.

What is WPA ? ● Schedule 2 - Animal species

Wildlife Protection Act 1972 provides legal
framework for:
● Protection of various species of wild animals
and plants
● Management of habitats
● Regulation & Control of trade in Plants,
Animals and products made from them What is CITES ?
with lesser level of protection
● Schedule 3 - Protected plant
species
● Schedule 4 - Specimen
protected under CITES
● International agreement to
ensure International trade in
animals and plants
● Drafted by IUCN
● Entered into force in 1975
● Secretariat is administered by
UNEP & located at Geneva,
Switzerland
● India became signatory in 1976
● CITES is legally binding but not
self executing

HUMAN - ANIMAL CONFLICT

● Urbanisation & Population

burden: Habitat loss
● Habitat degradation due to
growth of invasive alien species
● Changing cropping pattern
● Unregulated growth of wild
animals
BODIES ESTABLISHED BY WPA 1972 ● Illegal collection of Forest
produce
● NBWL
● Empowering Gram Panchayats
● SBWL
under WPA 1972
● NTCA
● Insurance under PMFBY
● CZA
● Augmenting Fodder & Water
sources within Forest areas
AMENDMENT BY WPA 2022
● Sensitisation of masses: eg-
Schedule 1 - Animal species with highest level of Amrita Devi Bishnoi award
protection
 The
Analyst
Handout ONE NATION, ONE ELECTION
15th February,2024

Context: Various states such as Tamil Nadu has opposed the proposals of “One Nation,
One Election (ONOE)”

REASON FOR DEMAND OF ONOE CONCERNS ASSOCIATED WITH ONOE

● Constitutional challenges:
● Polity “perennially” in election Amendment to RPA 1951 & Article 172

● Disrupt regular administrative & ● Undermine Federalism: Suspending

development work
● “Populist mode” vs “Policy making”
mode
● Showmanship vs Statesmanship
● Greater scope of Corruption
● Polarisation of Society
election, extending tenure of
Legislature
● Violates “Periodic Accountability”
principle of Democracy
● Difficult for masses to understand
● Single party Dominance

ADVANTAGES OF ONOE

● Continuity in Governance

● Long term policies

● Creation of more dedicated cadre of

Public Officials

● Reduction in Election expenditure

● Curb divisive politics

● Improve Centre-State relations

 The
Analyst
Handout INSAT 3DS
15th February,2024
Context: ISRO will launch meteorological satellite INSAT-3DS from Sriharikota on 17th
February
Specifications:
● Launch on board GSLV F14
● User funded project with Ministry
of Earth & Science (MoES)
● Lift off mass: 2275 kg
● Continuation to 3rd Generation
Meteorological Satellite series
from Geostationary orbit:
○ INSAT 3D
○ INSAT 3DR
Objectives:
● Payloads:
○ Data Relay Transponder
(DRT)
○ Satellite aided Search &
Rescue (SAS & R)
transponder
HORSESHOE CRAB
Context: Environmental groups petitioned US Government seeking “endangered
species” protection for “Living fossil” American Horseshoe crab
● Marine “Living Fossil”
● Classified not as “true crab” but
“arthropods”
● Shallow coastal water on Intertidal
beaches
● Ecological function:
○ Imp part of Food chain
○ Shell serves as “Microhabitat”
4 extant Horseshoe crab species:
● American Horseshoe crab - Eastern
coast of USA & Gulf of Mexico
● Three Indo-pacific species:
○ Tri-spine
○ Coastal
○ Mangrove
● Indo-Pacific species:
○ India
● Enable development of newer satellite
products: cyclone, monsoon,
thunderstorms
● Observations of Atmosphere, land &
oceans
● Circle Earth right above the Equator
from West to East
● Completing a rotation in 23 hours, 56
minutes & 4 seconds
● Moving at 3 km/ s at altitude of 35,786
km
● Antenna on Earth is fixed to stay
pointed towards satellite without
moving
● Cover large range of Earth
● Uses:
○ Telecommunication
○ Weather monitoring
○ SE Asia
○ China & Japan
IUCN STATUS : VULNERABLE
CAUSES OF DECLINE:
● 66% population decline in Delaware Bay
estuary since 1990: Egg densities fallen by
80%
● Overharvesting: Food, Bait etc
● Biomedical testing: Limulus Amebocyte
Lysate (LAL)
● Habitat loss: Oceanfront development,
pollution, coastal erosion and sea-level
rise