LAW AND GOVERNANCE

BJP FILES FIR OVER DOCTORED VIDEO OF AMIT SHAH ON RESERVATION: 

The Delhi Police registered an FIR following a complaint by the BJP regarding a doctored video of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The video allegedly showed Shah advocating for the scrapping of SC/ST reservation, but the BJP claimed it was edited. They stated that the original video was about removing “unconstitutional” reservations for Muslims in Telangana. Several social media handles, including Congress, shared the video, leading to accusations of spreading misinformation. The BJP vowed to file FIRs across the country. In 2023, Shah had criticized the 4% Muslim reservation in Telangana, promising to reallocate it to SC/ST/OBCs if the BJP won in the state.

CONGRESS ACCUSES PM MODI OF DISTORTING RAHUL GANDHI’S STATEMENTS:

Congress accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of distorting Rahul Gandhi’s statements to fuel communal tensions. This came after PM Modi criticized Rahul Gandhi for allegedly insulting Rajas and Maharajas while remaining silent on atrocities by Sultans, Nawabs, Nizams, and Badshahs. Jairam Ramesh of Congress condemned Modi’s remarks as “shameful” and accused him of twisting Rahul Gandhi’s words to incite communal prejudices. Rahul Gandhi’s original statement highlighted the change brought by the Congress in achieving independence, and democracy, and changing the country’s Constitution. PM Modi, in response, accused Rahul Gandhi of playing vote bank politics and being silent on historical atrocities committed by certain rulers.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT COMPLAINT AGAINST KARNATAKA MP PRAJWAL REVANNA: 

A 47-year-old woman filed a sexual harassment complaint against Janata Dal (Secular) MP Prajwal Revanna and his father, MLA HD Revanna. The woman, who worked as a house help, accused them of assaulting women workers at their home. She alleged that Prajwal Revanna tried to flirt with her daughter as well. The complaint led to the registration of a case under IPC Sections 354A, 354D, 506, and 509. Prajwal Revanna, who is seeking re-election from Hassan, is also embroiled in a scandal involving explicit videos purportedly showing him. The Karnataka government has formed a Special Investigation Team to probe the alleged scandal, while Prajwal has denied the videos’ authenticity, claiming they are morphed.

GOVERNMENT SCHEMES

NATIONAL AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICES IN PREVENTION OF ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE

(Ministry Of Social Justice and Empowerment)

• Objective: The scheme aims to acknowledge and appreciate the commendable efforts of institutions and individuals in the prevention of alcoholism and substance abuse. By recognizing their contributions, the scheme seeks to encourage excellence and further promote initiatives in this crucial area of public health.
• Frequency: The awards are presented once every two years, starting from the year 2016. This regularity ensures that recent achievements and innovative approaches are recognized and celebrated on a biennial basis.
• Categories: The awards cover a wide range of services related to the prevention of abuse of various substances, including alcohol, narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and other addictive substances (excluding tobacco and its products). This broad scope ensures that efforts in different areas of substance abuse prevention are recognized and encouraged.
• Benefits: Each awardee is honored with a Citation, Memento, and a Cash award of ₹2,00,000. These awards not only serve as a token of appreciation but also provide tangible support to the awardees to further their work in the field of substance abuse prevention.
• Presentation: The awards are presented on June 26th, which has been declared as the “International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.” The prestigious nature of the award ceremony, where the awards are presented by the President or Prime Minister of India, adds to the significance and recognition accorded to the awardees.
• Eligibility: The awards are open to all Indian institutions, organizations, and individuals without any distinction or discrimination on grounds of religion, race, sex, caste, or creed. Nominations for the awards must be recommended in writing by someone authorized to do so, ensuring that only deserving candidates are considered for the award.

INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL WIDOW PENSION SCHEME (IGNWPS)

(Ministry Of Rural Development) 

• Objective: The scheme aims to provide social security to widows from poor families, ensuring that they have a basic level of financial support to meet their daily needs and live with dignity.
• Pension Amount: Under the scheme, widows between the ages of 40 and 79 receive a pension of ₹300 per month, while those aged 80 and above receive ₹500 per month. This financial assistance helps alleviate some of the economic hardships faced by widows in this vulnerable age group.
• Eligibility: To be eligible for the scheme, the applicant must be a widow in the specified age group and belong to a household living below the poverty line as per the criteria prescribed by the Government of India. This ensures that the benefits of the scheme reach those who are most in need of support.
• Exclusions: The pension under the scheme is discontinued in case of the widow’s remarriage or if she moves above the poverty line. This provision ensures that the benefits are targeted towards those who continue to face financial hardship due to their widowhood.

SOURCE – INDIA TODAY

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