UPSC Prelims Bits For Today July 11, 2022

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”UPSC Prelims Bits For Today” is every day published in the morning between 11:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and contains selective current affairs articles. ”UPSC Prelims Bits For Today” covers various topics from UPSC Prelims Syllabus and is very helpful and time managing for UPSC Aspirants. The framing of this daily current affairs compilation article is easy to read and understandable also.

In the ”UPSC Prelims Bits For Today” article, we focus on UPSC Preliminary exam-oriented current affairs covering various sections from leading National Newspapers, PIB, and other various official sources.

Forest (Conservation) Rules, 2022

Forest (Conservation) Rules, 2022: Why In News

Ministry for Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) published proposed amendments to the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, easing diversion of forests and exempting certain categories of development from the need to take clearance from the Ministry.

Forest (Conservation) Rules, 2022: Proposed Amendments

All land acquired by the Railways and Roads Ministries prior to 1980 be exempted from the Act.
For individuals whose lands fall within a state-specific Private Forests Act or come within the dictionary meaning of forest as specified in the 1996 Supreme Court order, the government proposes to allow “construction of structures for bona fide purposes’’ including residential units up to 250 sq m as a one-time relaxation.
Defence projects near international borders will be exempted from forest clearance.
Oil and natural gas extraction from forested lands will be permitted, but only if technologies such as Extended Reach Drilling are used.
The Ministry has proposed doing away with levies for non-forestry purposes during the renewal of a lease, saying the double levy at the time of awarding of the lease and the renewal is “not rational”.
Strip plantations alongside roads that would fall under the Act will be exempted.

Vellore Sepoy Uprising

Vellore Sepoy Uprising: Why In News

Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi payed homage at the Vellore Sepoy Mutiny Memorial Pillar on Sunday.
Lasted just a day but costed around 400 lives, the Vellore Mutiny was a signal that dissent against the British was beginning to gain hold.

Vellore Sepoy Uprising: Key Facts

It was a time when India was under British rule. Though the atmosphere was fairly peaceful, anger against the rules imposed on Indians was gradually building up.
In 1805, General Sir John Craddock, who was the Commander-in-Chief of the Madras Army, ordered a change in the army’s uniform that hurt the sentiments of both Hindu as well as Muslim soldiers.
Hindus were prohibited from putting religious marks on their forehead and Muslims were forced to trim their moustaches and beards.
Further, in place of the turban they were used to wearing, they were asked to wear a round hat usually associated with Europeans. This naturally angered the soldiers. Those who protested were punished with whipping and sent out of the army.
Another trigger point was Tipu Sultan, who was the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore till he was defeated and killed by the British in 1799.
After his death, his wives, children and servants were confined to the city of Vellore. People were angry about the disrespect shown by the British to the erstwhile ruler’s sons. An attack was planned.
Though the revolt was suppressed within a day, it was successful in sending across a message to the British — that dissent was starting to simmer.

Section 69A of the IT Act

Section 69A of the IT Act : Why In the News?

On July 5, microblogging platform Twitter moved the Karnataka High Court seeking to set aside multiple blocking orders of the Central government as well as to alter their directions to identify specific violative content than imposing a blanket ban on individual accounts.
According to Twitter, the blocking orders were “procedurally and substantially” non-compliant with Section 69A of the Information Technology Act (IT Act).

What kind of content has fallen under the purview of Section 69A?

Between February 2, 2021 and February 28 this year, Twitter received directions to block 1,474 accounts and 175 tweets in India. Of these, it is challenging 39 URLs with its latest petition. Several of these URLs had journalistic or political content. Previous judgments of the Supreme Court have suggested the content must be viewed from the standards of a “strong-minded, firm and courageous” person. The assessment must not be from the standpoint of a “weak” and “vacillating” individual who may sense danger in every hostile point of view. It is in this light that Twitter has argued the blocked content does not meet the “threshold” for restricting access. Twitter has also argued that the vast majority of people who consume the content under scrutiny are necessarily literate and can reasonably perceive the full context of the content.

Shreya Singhal vs Union of India (2012)

The Supreme Court had upheld the constitutionality of Section 69A in Shreya Singhal vs Union of India (2012) because its adherence to accord a hearing to the author of the content as well as the intermediary.
It is guaranteed under Rule 8 of the procedural norms but Twitter stated that the government has neither provided any notice nor any hearing.

Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

Environment (Protection) Act, 1986: Why In the News?

On July 1, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, put out a note, proposing amendments in the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

Environment (Protection) Act, 1986: Proposed Amendments

The Environment Ministry has proposed amendments in four key legislations: The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and the Public Liability Insurance (PLI) Act, 1991.
These are the cornerstone environmental laws that led to the setting up of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), empowering it to take action against individuals and corporate bodies who pollute air, water and land.