- Indian Heritage
- Culture
- Modern Indian history
- The Freedom Struggle
- Post-independence
- Indian Society
A. population and associated issues
B. poverty and developmental issues
C.urbanization
7. Geographical features
8.Indian Constitution
9. Polity
Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the Supreme Court of India
Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud ji, Judges of the Supreme Court, Chief Justices of various High Courts, our guest Judges from foreign countries, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal ji, Attorney General Venkataramani ji, Bar Council Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra ji, President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Dr. Adish Aggarwala ji, other dignitaries, ladies and gentlemen!
Two days ago, the Constitution of India entered its 75th year. Today also marks the commencement of the 75th year of the Supreme Court of India. It is indeed a pleasure to be present amidst you all on this historic occasion, and I extend my best wishes to all jurists.
Friends,
The framers of Bharat’s Constitution envisioned an independent Bharat based on the principles of freedom, equality, and justice. The Supreme Court of India has steadfastly endeavoured to uphold these principles. Whether it is the freedom of expression, personal liberty, or social justice, the Supreme Court has consistently fortified Bharat’s vibrant democracy. Over the course of more than seven decades, the Supreme Court has delivered numerous pivotal decisions on individual rights and freedom of speech, significantly influencing the socio-political landscape of the country.
Friends,
Presently, every institution and organization in Bharat, be it the executive or the legislature, is working with the objectives of the next 25 years in mind. This forward-thinking approach is driving major reforms in the country. Today’s economic policies will shape the bright Bharat of tomorrow, and the laws being enacted today will fortify the bright future of our nation. In the changing global landscape, all eyes are on Bharat, and the trust in Bharat is growing worldwide. In this scenario, it is crucial for Bharat to seize every opportunity and not let any slip away. Today, Bharat’s priorities include Ease of Living, Ease of Doing Business, Ease of Travel, Ease of Communication, and, importantly, Ease of Justice. Every citizen of Bharat is entitled to Ease of Justice, and the Supreme Court serves as the primary means for achieving this.
Friends,
The entire justice system of the country relies on the guidelines and guidance provided by the Supreme Court. It is our duty to ensure that this court is accessible to every corner of Bharat so that the needs of every Indian can be met. With this objective, the third phase of the E-Court Mission Project has recently received approval, with four times more funds allocated than the second phase. This is the subject of your interest; you may applaud. I can understand that it was a challenging task for you, Shri Manan Mishra. I appreciate the fact that Chief Justice Chandrachud himself is monitoring the digitization of courts across the country. I congratulate him for his efforts towards Ease of Justice.
Friends,
Our government is committed to enhancing the physical infrastructure in the courts. Since 2014, over Rs 7 thousand crore has been allocated for this purpose. I am cognizant of the challenges experienced by all of you in the current Supreme Court building. Just last week, the government sanctioned a sum of Rs 800 crore for the expansion of the Supreme Court building complex. I hope that no objections will be raised against it, akin to some criticisms faced by the new Parliament House, deeming it wasteful expenditure.
Friends,
Today, you have also given me the opportunity to unveil some Digital Initiatives of the Supreme Court. The introduction of Digital Supreme Court Reports means that decisions of the Supreme Court will now be accessible in a digital format as well. I was pleased to observe that the process of translating the Supreme Court’s decisions into local languages has also commenced. I trust that such a system will soon be implemented in other courts across the country.
Friends,
This event itself exemplifies how technology can contribute to the Ease of Justice today. The speech I am delivering is currently being translated into English using AI, and some of you are also listening to it through the Bhashini app. While there may be some initial challenges, this highlights the remarkable capabilities of technology. Utilizing similar technology in our courts can simplify the lives of ordinary citizens. You may recall that some time ago, I emphasized the need to draft laws in simplified language. I believe that rendering court orders in simplified language will prove more beneficial for the general public.
Friends,
It is equally crucial to infuse the same essence of Indianness and modernity into our laws during the ‘Amrit kaal’. The government is actively working on modernizing laws in accordance with current circumstances and best practices. By repealing outdated colonial criminal laws, the government has introduced the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Acts. Due to these changes, our Legal, Policing and Investigative Systems have entered a new era, bringing a massive transformation. It is imperative that we smoothly transition from archaic laws to new ones. To facilitate this, the training and capacity building of government employees have already commenced. I would urge the Supreme Court to take a leading role in such capacity building initiatives for all stakeholders.
Friends,
A robust judicial system serves as the cornerstone for building a developed Bharat. The government consistently makes decisions to establish a reliable system, and the Jan Vishwas Bill is a significant step in this direction. This measure aims to alleviate unnecessary burdens on the justice system in the future and reduce the backlog of pending cases. It is noteworthy that the government has also instituted provisions for the Law of Mediation for Alternative Dispute Resolution, thereby alleviating the burden on our judiciary, especially the subordinate judiciary.
Friends,
Achieving the goal of building a developed Bharat by 2047 requires collective efforts from everyone. The Supreme Court’s role in the next 25 years will undoubtedly play a crucial and positive part in this journey. Once again, I express my gratitude for the invitation extended to me. I would like to draw attention to an aspect concerning the Padma Awards this year. We conferred the Padma Bhushan upon Fatima Ji, a retired Supreme Court judge and the first Muslim Supreme Court judge of Asia. This achievement fills me with immense pride. Once again, I congratulate the Supreme Court on its Diamond Jubilee.
10. Governance
A. institutions
B. regulatory
C. Government policies
D. role of NGOs
E. measures
11. Social Justice
A. Welfare schemes
B Health
C. Education
Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB)
Drawing from themes in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the ongoing celebrations of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Sri Aurobindo, the Ministry of Education is organising a week long educational-cum-cultural tour to Auroville under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB). Under this initiative, 94 students from 8 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) will be attending the EBSB-Auroville exposure tour from 29 January to 2 February 2024. The emphasis of the tours will be on providing a holistic exposure to the youth to Sri Aurobindo’s unique philosophy of integral education and it’s implementation at Auroville, an experimental township of global significance. Auroville Foundation, an autonomous organisation of the Ministry of Education, will be organising the tours in collaboration with the participating HEIs.
Ninety-four students from the following institutes will be participating in the tours that will provide them with immersive experiences in Auroville and places associated with Sri Aurobindo. Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh (15); IIIT Sonepatm (18); Sikkim University, Gangtok (15); IIT Mandi (16); Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur (7); Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women (6); Pondicherry University (17).
Auroville, founded in 1968, is envisioned as a universal town where men and women of all countries can live in peace and progressive harmony above all creeds, all politics, and all nationalities. The purpose of Auroville is to realize human unity in diversity, based on the life, work, and direct action of Sri Aurobindo and his spiritual collaborator, the Mother.
Auroville, with its international community, collaborative approach to community living and commitment to human unity, aligns seamlessly with the goals of the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Programme, where unity is celebrated amidst the diversity of cultures and languages. Auroville’s diverse community, comprising individuals from various nationalities and cultural backgrounds, provides a meaningful opportunity for participants to engage in cross-cultural interactions, witness practical implementation of Sri Aurobindo’s unique philosophy of integral education and be exposed to spirituality rooted in Indian Knowledge Systems.
Across five days, the tour is designed to offer participatory and immersive learning experiences, such as, visits to Auroville units producing world-class sustainable products; Sadhana Forest, a volunteer-based organization focused on reforestation and food security in arid areas; Botanical Gardens (a concerted effort towards conservation and preservation); Art and Culture centres in Auroville. Students will get a taste of eclectic aspects of the township such as architecture; planning, education, Waste management system etc. Visit to Matrimandir (the spiritual core of Auroville) and Pondicherry Sri Aurobindo Ashram (Samadhi, school, playground, meditation and dinner) and participating in Dehashakti (physical education as taught by The Mother) will be key highlights of the tour. The wide array of activities and experiences are geared towards developing a deeper understanding and appreciation among students as to the significance of integral education, spirituality and values in contributing to nation building.
D. Human Resources
E. poverty and hunger
12. International relations
A. India and its neighbourhood
B. groupings and agreements
C.Indian diaspora
13. Economic Development
A. Government Budgeting
B. industrial
Modified Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal-ERCP (PKC-ERCP) Link Project
It is another feather in the cap for Government of India in water management sector in the country, especially for the interlinking of rivers (ILR) program and also a momentous occasion for the people of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh (MP), as an MoU was signed by both these states with Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS), Govt. of India (GoI) today at New Delhi for implementation of the “Modified PKC-ERCP” (integration of original PKC with Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project of Rajasthan), which is the second project under the national perspective plan of interlinking of rivers (ILR) program of Government of India.
The MoU was signed today on 28.01.2024 by Dr. Rajesh Kumar Rajora, ACS, WRD, Govt. of MP, Sh. Abhay Kumar, ACS, WRD, Govt. of Rajasthan and Smt. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, DoWR,RD&GR, MoJS, GoI on broad planning of the Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal (PKC) link duly integrated with Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) and preparation of its DPR. The Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Sh. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Sh. Mohan Yadav, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh and Sh. Bhajan Lal Sharma, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Rajasthan graced the occasion. Sh. Shriram Vedire, Chairman of the Task Force on Interlinking of Rivers and other officials of MoJS and states of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan were present on the occasion.
Led by Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Jal Shakti, intense consensus building exercise was done by the Jal Shakti ministry during the past few years to build a consensus amongst both the states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to implement this project. Achievement of consensus amongst both the states is a demonstration of inter-state cooperation under the able leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, thus paving the way for the joint development and inter-basin water transfers in Chambal basin on the lines of Ken-Betwa Link Project. This is a success of cooperative federalism in the country.
The Feasibility Report (FR) of Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal (PKC) link project under National Perspective Plan (NPP) was prepared and circulated to the concerned State Governments in February-2004. In the year 2019, Rajasthan came up with the proposal of ERCP. With a view to utilize the water resources optimally, the integration of the Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal (PKC) link of NPP with Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) was discussed in 11th and 12th meetings of the Task Force for Interlinking of Rivers (TFILR) in year 2019. Thereafter, the issue of integration of ERCP with PKC link has been deliberated regularly with states at various platforms.Looking at the importance and utility of the Modified PKC link project, Special Committee for Interlinking of Rivers (SCILR), in its 20th meeting held on 13.12.2022 in New Delhi has approved the “Modified PKC-ERCP” link as the part of the National Perspective Plan of Interlinking of rivers in the country and also declared it as one of the priority link projects in the country.
agri start-up hub
Jammu and Kashmir is emerging as agri start-up hub, said Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, they Republic Day tableau at Kartavya Path depicting lavender farms of Bhaderwah is a testimony of J&K being nationally hailed as the birth place of “Purple Revolution” which is now being emulated in other Himalayan States like Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh as well as Nagaland.
He said the foundation of this Agri StartUp hub has been laid in the picturesque Bhaderwah town of district Doda in Jammu and Kashmir, where cultivation of lavender has been taken up on a large scale
He recalled that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had in detail explained this success story in farming from district Doda, J&K in his “ Mann Ki Baat” broadcast and told the listeners about the small town of Bhaderwah where this experiment had been carried out as Aroma Mission by Ministry of Science & Technology, Govt of India.
This endeavour provides India an alternate source to propel its economy, Dr Singh stated.
Over 3,000 flourishing lavender entrepreneurs from Bhaderwah have shown the youth of India a new and lucrative avenue of StartUp through agriculture which is an exclusive domain of this country and will contribute value addition to India’s future economic growth and realisation of PM Modi’s vision of “Viksit Bharat” by 2047, he said.
E.issues
14. Technology
15. Environment
16. Security
17. Disaster Management