NCRB to track complaints on sexual violence

Why in news?

A high-level meeting was recently convened to discuss recommendations on ways to curb “sexual violence” videos involving women and children.

What was decided in meeting?

• It was decided in the meeting that the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) would be the designated nodal agency for monitoring the complaints received on a government portal that records child pornography and sexual violence videos.
• The NCRB would coordinate with service providers such as Facebook, YouTube and WhatsApp and ask them to block malicious videos and contents.

 About NCRB

• It was set-up in 1986 to function as a repository of information on crime and criminals so as to assist the investigators in linking crime to the perpetrators.
• NCRB is the Nodal Agency for authentic source of Data on crime, accidents, suicides, and prisons for policy matters and research.
• It was set up by merging the Directorate of Coordination and Police Computer (DCPC), Inter State Criminals Data Branch of CBI, Central Finger Print Bureau of CBI, and Statistical Branch of BPR&D.

Changes in SC/ST law

Why in news?

Amendment passed by both Houses of Parliament, reinstating a controversial clause allowing immediate arrests in complaints filed under the SC/ST Act, has been challenged in the Supreme Court.

3 new clauses inserted

• The first stipulates that for the purposes of the Act, “preliminary enquiry shall not be required for registration of a First Information Report against any person.”
• The second stipulates that the arrest of a person accused of having committed an offence under the Act would not require any approval.
• The third says that the provisions of Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure — which deals with anticipatory bail — shall not apply to a case under this Act, “notwithstanding any judgment or order of any Court.”

Background

• On March 20, the Supreme Court issued a slew of guidelines to protect people against arbitrary arrests under the Act, directing that public servants could be arrested only with the written permission of their appointing authority, while in the case of private employees, the Senior Superintendent of Police concerned should allow it.
• A preliminary inquiry should be conducted before the FIR was registered to check if the case fell within the ambit of the Act, and whether it was frivolous or motivated, the court ruled.
• Following this, the government introduced a Bill to restore the original provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

UDAN scheme for international routes

Why in news?

The centre has unveiled the draft International Air Connectivity (IAC) scheme.

About scheme

• The Airport Authority of India will be the implementing agency of the scheme.
• The scheme is to be made operational only for states, which demonstrate their commitment to implement and provide the requisite support for promoting operations under the scheme.
• According to the draft, state governments will identify the routes to be connected, and airline operators will assess demand on the identified routes and submit proposals for providing connectivity.
• Operations under the scheme will be permitted through fixed-wing aircraft only with more than 70 seats.
• The scheme has proposed to set up an International Air Connectivity Fund (IACF) — a dedicated fund for providing subsidy support under the scheme. It will be created through the contributions of state governments.
• The subsidy support shall be provided to selected airlines only for the passenger seats, which remain unsold at the time of IAC flight operation, from the total number of passenger seats for which subsidy has been requested by the selected airline as part of its proposal.
• The subsidy support will be extended only up to three years.

President appoints Governors of seven states

Why in new?

President Ram Nath Kovind has appointed Governors of seven states including Bihar, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim, Meghalaya, and Tripura.

About governor

• Governor is the head of the Executive power of any state in India, just like the President who is the head of the executive power in the Union.
• Governor is the nominal head of a state, unlike the Chief Minister who is the real head of a state in India.
• The governor is neither directly elected by the people nor indirectly elected by a specially constituted electoral college as is the case with the president. He is appointed by the president by warrant under his hand and seal.
• The governors and lieutenant-governors are appointed by the president for a term of 5 years.
• Usually, there is a governor for each state, but the 7th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1956 facilitated the appointment of the same person as a governor for two or more states.

Koswar

•  Tehran unveils Koswar, the first Iranian-built fighter jet
• It is Designed and manufactured solely by Iranian military experts, the Kowsar is described as a fourth-generation fighter jet, which classifies it among military fighters in service from approximately 1980 to the present day.

CERT-In report on cyber attacks

Why in news?

The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has prepared a report on cyber attacks in the country.

About report

• It has been observed that China continues to “intrude” Indian cyberspace in a “significant” way. The cyber attacks from China made up 35% of the total number of cyber attacks on official Indian websites, followed by US (17%), Russia (15%), Pakistan (9%), Canada (7%) and Germany (5%).
• There is also the possibility of “malicious actors from Pakistan using German and Canadian cyberspace for intruding into Indian cyberspace and carrying out malicious activities”.
• They are targeting by sending spear phishing emails with malware attachments. Phishing attacks are usually in the form of an email from a trusted source where they ask for personal details such as bank details personal details, passwords.

 About CERT-In

• CERT-In (the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team) is a government-mandated information technology (IT) security organization.
• CERT-In was created by the Indian Department of Information Technology in 2004 and operates under the auspices of that department.
• The purpose of CERT-In is to respond to computer security incidents, report on vulnerabilities and promote effective IT security practices throughout the country.

ICOMOS

 Why in news?

The ICOMOS, a global monument conservation body, has launched an initiative to assess the damage to the rich cultural and built heritage in flood-devastated Kerala and set up an emergency response platform.

About ICOMOS

• The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) is a prestigious non-government organisation.
• It promotes the application of theory, methodology and scientific techniques for conservation of architectural and archaeological heritage across the world.
• ICOMOS is also an advisory body to the UNESCO for cultural heritage, in particular for implementation of the World Heritage Convention.